# A crossword (+ a secret message)

What number does this top-secret message point to?

Ftq mzeiqd ue: ftq ecgmdq daaf ar fia tgzpdqp mzp fiqzfk ruhq

This table and crossword could help:

Crossword clues:

Across:

5. A lifeboat, perhaps
6. Strips in Geography class
9. Somewhat thin
10. Whirlybird
11. Olympic God
12. They come in last

Down:

1. Kept in a gallery
2. Circumference measurement
3. Pointer
4. Elbows etc.
5. Space shuttle which launched the Hubble telescope
7. Permanent mark
8. Ball queen

Table:

1: A B C D E F G H I J
2: K L M N O P Q R S T
3: U V W X Y Z


The first hint will be added tomorrow

• Did you miss 7D clue? – Sid May 9 at 8:24
• @Sid yes I did, I edited the puzzle layout (clues are the same), thanks – Daniil May 9 at 10:06
• @Sid need a hint? – Daniil May 9 at 13:43

The number is

15

Using a Caesar shift of 14 on the text, it decodes to "The answer is: the square root of two hundred and twenty five".

I'm still not sure how the crossword or table is linked.

### Crossword solution

1D commented by @Stiv (although not the intended solution -- see comments).
3D commented by @Swati.

Next step:

• Find how the crossword and table are used to hint to the solution.
• Sure: correct clues: rot13(rttorngre,nerf,qvfpbirel,gnggbb) For they come in last think about rot13(gur nycunorg) – Daniil May 9 at 18:14
• Good progress, everything looks right so far, need any more clues? – Daniil May 9 at 20:02
• 1D How about rot13(FGNGHRF be fbzrguvat negl yvxr gung)? – Stiv May 10 at 11:37
• This is a bit of a reach, but for 1D, maybe 13/ 'oebamrf'. – Lanny Strack May 10 at 12:06
• rot13(fgnghrf) can work for 1D as the word I intended is quite hard and uncommon, the puzzle can still be solved with your word – Daniil May 10 at 12:32