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The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Warzone The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Mobile The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War The subject of this article exists in or is relevant to the real world. This article was previously featured
August10 Website PawnTakesPawn

First version of Pawn Takes Pawn

Pawn Takes Pawn is a viral website that was part of an ARG leading to the reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and its pre-launch marketing campaign.

The ARG also involved Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Mobile.

Box and slides[]

In early August 2020, Activision sent a box to different content creators and media outlets, such as CharlieIntel, Chaos, NoahJ456, butters, Hayashii, PrestigeIsKey or Mark Medina from IGN among others. The boxes were to be opened on August 10, 2020 at 12PM ET.

The boxes contain a slide projector, each with different models sent, with 10 slides and a manifest. The manifest read:

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS:

These are TOP SECRET documents containing compartmentalized information essential to national security.

You are requested to immediately distribute the provided intelligence to your operatives in the field. These materials are to be used in the investigation of Site [REDACTED] in the Ural Mountains.

[REDACTED]

Please ensure that your package contains the documents listed in the column marked MANIFEST.

You will also be supplied a PROJECTOR to aid in distributing the materials.

AUTHORIZED BY: [REDACTED]
— Manifest

The slides contained different types of codes as well as five numbered map displaying London (1), Paris (2), New York (3), Moscow (4) and Tokyo (5). Some slides also contained part of the Summit minimap from Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

List of slides[]

Summit[]

The minimap of Summit and the mention of a site in the Ural Mountains led people to investigate on the map in Black Ops 4. People found new screen displays which were similar to some of the slides. The five cities were also linked to five clocks on the map showing different hours. The numbers associated with a city were found on the map with each number having a different color. The colors were identical to the colors used in some of the slides.

By overlapping specific slides on top of the Summit clocks, a sentence was found: "BISH YOU WERE HERE".

The phrase "Bish you were here" was a reference to the World Chess Championship 1972 between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky.[1]

Using the remaining slides and overlapping them with the new screen displays found on the map and an image posted by Treyarch on Instagram, a sentenced was deciphered: "TURN ELEVEN WHITE".

The phrase "Turn eleven white" was a reference to the first game between Fischer (Black) and Spassky (White) where Spassky took Fischer's pawn with another pawn during the eleventh turn.

Website (First version, Aug. 10 - 20)[]

Discovery of the site[]

The image posted by Treyarch also contained a 13-word phrase with only the letter "K" shown at the seventh position. People found out that the mysterious phrase was "Pawn Takes Pawn", the move made by Spassky.

The website http://pawntakespawn.com/tv was quickly discovered and associated with Activision. The website featured an image of a CRT, an acoustic coupler, a black pawn and a white pawn, an old computer and a VCR flashing "8-14" and "12:00" indicating the next step would happen on August 14, 2020 at 12PM ET.

Second update (August 12)[]

On August 12, 2020, the website was updated and a post-it note was added at the bottom of the CRT. The note read "/TANGLEDWEB" which led to a new page http://pawntakespawn.com/tangledweb featuring a note.

Wars are won not just on the battlefield, but behind closed doors.

Tactics. Maneuvers. Strategies.

All pieces of a complex puzzle that means the difference between life and death - conquering or being conquered.

Codes. Signals. Ciphers.

Secret communications used by enemies and allies for thousands of years.

The plot unfolding now is decades in the making. It will not be unraveled overnight.

While some battles can be won swiftly, others will take days to unfold.

You have found the first piece of many.
Relish the journey. It's all part of the game.

The spoils of victory come not to those in haste, but to those who know -

"Every battle is won before it is ever fought."

Know your history.
— /TANGLEDWEB note

Third update (August 14)[]

On August 14, the website was updated with a VHS tape called "1961-62 v.1" added on top of the VCR. The post-it note was also updated with "/EMC2" which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/emc2 featuring a small note displaying "8/14 - DAY ONE: 1961-62".

1961-62 v.1[]

The VHS could be interacted with and, when pressed, would change place and enter the VCR. The CRT would then display a 20-minute video about events that occured between 1961 and 1962.

The video included reports of the Laotian Civil War and Algerian War, important snow falls in Chicago and San Francisco, the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy, the meeting between Kennedy and British prime minister Harold Macmillan, the construction of the Berlin Wall, the Vienna summit between Kennedy and Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev, the Berlin Crisis, Kennedy before Congress about the "Urgent National Needs", the reenactment of the Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, the Bay of Pigs Invasion and its aftermath, Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human to travel into space, the launch of Mercury-Redstone 3 and Alan Shepard becoming the first american to travel into space, the Albany Movement led by Martin Luther King, the detonation of the Tsar Bomba, Kennedy witnessing the launch of an ICBM from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Ole Miss riot, the Congo Crisis, the funeral of Eleanor Roosevelt, the "We choose to go to the Moon" speech, the visit of Kennedy to the Marshall Space Flight Center with Wernher von Braun, the Project Gemini, Chiang Kai-shek celebrating in Taiwan the 50th anniversary of the overthrow of the Qing dynasty, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Sino-Indian War, the Vietnam War

The numbers 37, 25 and 48 would appear in the video. The VCR also flashed the code "WZ-H6-49285163".

Warzone[]

This code was related to Call of Duty: Warzone and pointed to a location in H6 which was in the Verdansk Farmland. A locked door with a keypad could be found in a barn at this location. When the code 49285163 was entered, the door would open allowing the players to look inside.

Inside the room, players found, among some loots, several pieces of papers and figured out they were ciphers that needed to be solved.

Ciphers[]

Once the players opened the door and found the ciphers, the /EMC2 page was updated to feature a new version of the note displaying "8/15 - DAY TWO: [REDACTED]" with a fallen black pawn.

Fourth update (August 15)[]

On August 15, the website was updated with a second VHS tape called "1968-69 v.1" added on top of the previous VHS renamed "1961-62 v.2". The "/EMC2" note was updated to display "8/15 - DAY TWO: 1968-69".

1968-69 v.1[]

The VHS, when interacted with, would insert itself in the VCR. The CRT would then display a 20-minute video about events that occured between 1968 and 1969.

The numbers 06, 25, 11, 19 and 16 would appear in the "1968-69 v.1" video. The VCR also flashed the code "WZ-B5-87624851".

1961-62 v.2[]

Four new numbers (08, 15, 60, 63) were also added in the video from the VHS tape "1961-62 v.2". The numbers 08, 37, 15, 25, 60, 48, and 63 would appear throughout the video.

Warzone[]

The "WZ-B5-87624851" code was once again related to Warzone and pointed to a location in B5 which was in the western part of Verdansk. Bunker 03 could be found in this location. When the code 87624851 was entered, the bunker would open allowing the players to look inside.

Inside Bunker 03, players found, among some loots, another set ciphers that needed to be solved. The Bunker 03 also featured an elevator, unavailable however, as well as a bust of Vladimir Lenin on a desk with a code on the back of the bust.

Ciphers[]

After the players entered Bunker 03, the /EMC2 page was updated to feature a new version of the note displaying "8/16 - DAY THREE: [REDACTED]" with a fallen white pawn.

Fifth update (August 16)[]

On August 16, the website was updated with a third VHS tape called "1972-73 v.1" added on top of the previous ones. The other VHS were renamed "1968-69 v.2" and "1961-62 v.3". The "/EMC2" note was updated to display "8/16 - DAY THREE: 1972-73".

1972-73 v.1[]

The VHS, when interacted with, would insert itself in the VCR. The CRT would then display a 20-minute video about events that occured between 1972 and 1973.

The numbers 07, 25, 09, 54, 07, 50 and 02 would appear in the "1972-73 v.1" video. The VCR also flashed the code "WZ-H8-72948531".

1968-69 v.2[]

Six new numbers (15, 24, 18, 12, 13, 01) were also added in the video from the second VHS tape renamed "1968-69 v.2". The numbers 15, 06, 24, 25, 18, 11, 12, 19, 13, 01 and 16 would appear throughout the video.

1961-62 v.3[]

Five new numbers (60, 15, 93, 08, 28) were also added in the video from the first VHS tape renamed "1961-62 v.3". The numbers 60, 08, 15, 93, 37, 15, 08, 25, 60, 48, 63 and 28 would appear. throughout the video.

Warzone[]

The "WZ-H8-72948531" code was once again related to Warzone and pointed to a location in H8 which was located west of the Zordaya Prison in Verdansk. A small hut could be found in this location. When the code 72948531 was entered, the hut would open allowing the players to look inside.

Inside the swamp hut, players found, among some loots, another set ciphers that needed to be solved. The chassis of a RC-XD with a remote controller and several batteries could also be found.

Ciphers[]

After the players entered the hut and retrieved all the numbers from the tapes, the /EMC2 page was updated to feature a new version of the note displaying "8/17 - DAY FOUR: [REDACTED]" with a second fallen black pawn.

Sixth update (August 17)[]

On August 17, the website was updated with a fourth VHS tape called "1977-78 v.1" added on top of the previous ones. The other VHS were renamed "1972-73 v.2", "1968-69 v.3" and "1961-62 v.4". The "/EMC2" note was updated to display "8/17 - DAY FOUR: 1977-78".

1977-78 v.1[]

The VHS, when interacted with, would insert itself in the VCR. The CRT would then display a 20-minute video about events that occured between 1977 and 1978.

The numbers 03, 02, 07, 08, 05, 01, 01, 07 would appear in the "1977-78 v.1" video. The VCR also flashed the code "WZ-B7-97264138".

1972-73 v.2[]

Five new numbers (54, 06, 50, 59, 25) were also added in the video from the second VHS tape renamed "1972-73 v.2". The numbers 07, 25, 54, 09, 06, 54, 50, 07, 59, 25, 50, 02 would appear throughout the video.

1968-69 v.3[]

Four new numbers (09, 10, 04, 22) were also added in the video from the second VHS tape renamed "1968-69 v.3". The numbers 15, 09, 06, 10, 24, 04, 25, 18, 11, 12, 22, 19, 13, 01 and 16 would appear throughout the video.

1961-62 v.4[]

Four new numbers (52, 71, 37, 18) were also added in the video from the first VHS tape renamed "1961-62 v.4". The numbers 60, 08, 52, 15, 93, 37, 71, 15, 08, 25, 37, 60, 48, 18, 63 and 28 would appear throughout the video.

Warzone[]

The "WZ-B7-97264138" code was once again related to Warzone and pointed to a location in B7 which was in the western part of Verdansk. Bunker 01 could be found in this location. When the code 97264138 was entered, the bunker would open allowing the players to look inside.

Inside Bunker 01, players found, among some loots, another set ciphers that needed to be solved. The interior of Bunker 01 was similar to the one from Bunker 03 and also featured an elevator. Several wheels of a RC-XD as well as batteries could also be found on a desk.

Ciphers[]

After the players entered Bunker 01, the /EMC2 page was updated to feature a new version of the note displaying "8/18 - DAY FIVE: [REDACTED]" with a second fallen white pawn.

Seventh update (August 18)[]

On August 18, the website was updated with a fifth VHS tape called "1979 v.1" added on top of the previous ones. The other VHS were renamed "1977-78 v.2", "1972-73 v.3", "1968-69 v.4" and "1961-62 v.5". The "/EMC2" note was updated to display "8/18 - DAY FIVE: 1979".

1979 v.1[]

The VHS, when interacted with, would insert itself in the VCR. The CRT would then display a 20-minute video about events that occured in 1979

The numbers 02, 00, 03, 03, 06, 01, 09, 07, 00, 09, 04 and 01 would appear in the "1979 v.1" video. The VCR also flashed the code "WZ-F4-27495810"

1977-78 v.2[]

Six new numbers (07, 08, 00, 02, 08, 00) were also added in the video from the fourth VHS tape renamed "1977-78 v.2". The numbers 03, 07, 02, 07, 08, 08, 00, 05, 02, 08, 01, 00, 01, 07 would appear throughout the video.

1972-73 v.3[]

Three new numbers (51, 22, 25) were also added in the video from the third VHS tape renamed "1972-73 v.3". The numbers 07, 51, 25, 54, 09, 06, 22, 54, 50, 25, 07, 59, 25, 50 and 02 would appear throughout the video.

1968-69 v.4[]

Two new numbers (12, 13) were also added in the video from the second VHS tape renamed "1968-69 v.4". The numbers 15, 09, 12, 06, 10, 24, 04, 25, 18, 11, 13, 12, 22, 19, 13, 01 and 16 would appear throughout the video.

1961-62 v.5[]

Two new numbers (80, 80) were also added in the video from the first VHS tape renamed "1961-62 v.5". The numbers 60, 08, 52, 80, 15, 93, 37, 71, 15, 08, 25, 37, 80, 60, 48, 18, 63 and 28 would appear throughout the video.

Warzone[]

The "WZ-F4-27495810" code was once again related to Warzone and pointed to a location in F4 which was north of Tavorsk District in Verdansk. A small shack could be found in this location next to the TV Station. When the code 27495810 was entered, the shack would open allowing the players to look inside.

Inside the shack, players found, among some loots, another set ciphers that needed to be solved. A map of Verdansk could also been seen on one of the walls.

Ciphers[]

After the players entered the shack and retrieved all the numbers from the tapes, the /EMC2 page was updated to feature a new version of the note displaying "8/19 - DAY SIX: [REDACTED]" with a second fallen black pawn.

Eighth update (August 19)[]

On August 19, the website was updated with a sixth VHS tape called "1981 v.1" added on top of the previous ones. The other VHS were renamed "1979 v.2", "1977-78 v.3", "1972-73 v.4", "1968-69 v.5" and "1961-62 v.6". The "/EMC2" note was updated to display "8/19 - DAY SIX: 1981".

Several numbers, 274058, were added to the acoustic coupler.

A new page also became available, https://pawntakespawn.com/11thhour featuring a note. A few hours later a small note saying "Timing is everything" was added to the "/11thhour" page.

A Tangled Web We Weave - Fischer vs Myagmarsuren, 1967
Playing Against Einstein's Theory - Fischer vs Tal, 1961
The 11th Hour - Saidy vs Fischer, 1964

Three of the most famous matches of all time.

Chess is a game of war played out in the open. Every move seen. No hidden information. Rules established and followed for centuries.

Real wars have no such etiquette.

Liars. Spies. Moles. Double agents. Secrets bought and sold, leaked and stolen. No one is to be trusted.

To emerge victorious, we must be resourceful, strategic, and adaptable. Perseverance is KEY - Here's the one you've been waiting for.
— /11thHour note.

1981 v.1[]

The VHS, when interacted with, would insert itself in the VCR. The CRT would then display a 20-minute video about events that occured in 1981.

The numbers 01, 03, 02, 02, 03, 04, 01, 01, 02, 01, 03, 01, 02, 02, 06, 02, 03, 04, 03, 01, 05, 01, 02 and 01 would appear in the "1981 v.1" video. The VCR also flashed the code "WZ-F8-60274513".

1979 v.2[]

Eleven new numbers (09, 01, 07, 07, 01, 06, 03, 07, 07, 08, 05) were also added in the video from the fifth VHS tape renamed "1979 v.2". The numbers 02, 00, 09, 01, 03, 03, 06, 01, 07, 07, 01, 06, 03, 09, 07, 07, 07, 00, 08, 05, 09, 04 and 01 would appear throughout the video.

1977-78 v.3[]

Ten new numbers (04, 01, 03, 05, 08, 09, 05, 08, 03, 04) were also added in the video from the fourth VHS tape renamed "1977-78 v.3". The numbers 04, 03, 07, 01, 03, 02, 07, 08, 08, 05, 00, 08, 05, 02, 09, 08, 01, 05, 08, 03, 00, 01, 04 and 07 would appear throughout the video.

1972-73 v.4[]

Nine new numbers (07, 50, 02, 54, 25, 57, 25, 58, 25) were also added in the video from the third VHS tape renamed "1972-73 v.4". The numbers 07, 50, 07, 51, 02, 25, 54, 54, 25, 09, 57, 06, 22, 54, 25, 50, 25, 07, 59, 58, 25, 50, 25 and 02 would appear throughout the video.

1968-69 v.5[]

Seven new numbers (13, 21, 11, 05, 17, 07, 02) were also added in the video from the second VHS tape renamed "1968-69 v.5". The numbers 15, 09, 13, 21, 12, 06, 10, 24, 04, 11, 05, 17, 25, 18, 07, 11, 13, 12, 22, 19, 13, 01, 16 and 02 would appear throughout the video.

1961-62 v.6[]

Six new numbers (48, 80, 92, 81, 38, 93) were also added in the video from the first VHS tape renamed "1961-62 v.6". The numbers 60, 08, 52, 48, 80, 15, 93, 37, 71, 15, 80, 08, 92, 25, 81, 37, 80, 38, 60, 48, 93, 18, 63 and 28 would appear throughout the video.

Warzone[]

The "WZ-F8-60274513" code was once again related to Warzone and pointed to a location in F8 which was south of Tavorsk District in Verdansk. Bunker 10 could be found in this location. When the code 60274513 was entered, the bunker would open allowing the players to look inside.

Similarly to Bunker 01 and Bunker 03, the interior of Bunker 10 featured several desks and an elevator. But Bunker 10 also featured an additional room with a view to a missile silo and a Soviet ICBM. Players also found, among some loots, the remaining set of ciphers that needed to be solved.

Ciphers[]

Ninth update (August 20)[]

On August 20, the website was updated again. The VHS tapes were removed and the lights turned off.

Solving the Ciphers[]

Once all the VHS tapes were released and the numbers in the videos retrieved, the community started solving the ciphers found in the Warzone bunkers and shacks.

Using the "/11thHour" note from the website, they linked each VHS and numbers to a specific cipher.

  • The numbers in the 1961-62 VHS tape (Green) would be used for the PSG cipher (Green)
  • The numbers in the 1981 VHS tape (Yellow) would be used for the Chemical cipher (Blue)
  • The numbers in the 1979 VHS tape (Red) would be used for the (λ) & f cipher (Purple)
  • The numbers in the 1968-69 VHS tape (Orange) would be used for the Nix-Charge cipher (Yellow)
  • The numbers in the 1972-73 VHS tape (Blue) would be used for the Nix-Stack cipher (Red)
  • The numbers in the 1977-78 VHS tape (Purple) would be used for the Venona cipher (Orange)

PSG[]

The community found in Warzone four parts for the PSG cipher.

Some of the parts featured locations found in the Warzone map Verdansk: "Quarry", "Boneyard" and "Prison". The locations indicated the order for the PSG cipher parts. When the parts are put over the Verdansk map, they formed a Four-square cipher.

The code from the 1961-62 VHS tape was then used as a decription key:

60, 08, 52, 48, 80, 15, 93, 37, 71, 15, 80, 08, 92, 25, 81, 37, 80, 38, 60, 48, 93, 18, 63, 28

The numbers need to be entered alternatively in the top-right and bottom-left squares. The rows and columns of the large square is numbered 0 to 9.

60 is entered as Row 6 and Column 0, which reads as E on the top-right square.
08 is entered as Row 0 and Column 8, which reads as M on the bottom-left square.

To decipher 60 and 08, one needs to find the letter crossed by E and M in the top-left square first, then in the bottom-right square. In this case, it is A and R.

Once the all the numbers were deciphered, the solution found was AROPBDTOGCATMEINDTERRUSR

Chemical[]

The community found in Warzone two parts for the Chemical cipher.

To solve this cipher, the formula of the chemical compounds need to be written using the Hill system where the atom C is followed by H in the first place and the other atoms that follow are written in an alphabetical order.

The code from the 1981 VHS tape was then used as to solve the cipher:

01, 03, 02, 02, 03, 04, 01, 01, 02, 01, 03, 01, 02, 02, 06, 02, 03, 04, 03, 01, 05, 01, 02, 01

Each number representes the position of an atom in the formulas, with the first number (01) being the atom in the first position in the first formula, C. The second number (03) is the atom in the third position of the second formula, W.

Once all the numbers were deciphered, the solution found was: CWHHNYHIBBIHOHSIOSNCSHNH

(λ) & f[]

The community found in Warzone five parts of the cipher.

The code from the 1979 VHS tape was used to identify the first part of the cipher:

02, 00, 09, 01, 03, 03, 06, 01, 07, 07, 01, 06, 03, 09, 07, 07, 07, 00, 08, 05, 09, 04, 01

The code was related to the frequencies used in a Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling or DTMF.

[1]209 Hz, 1336 Hz, 1[4]77 Hz, 163X Hz, [6]97 Hz, 770 Hz, 85[2] Hz and 941 Hz

As such, the first part depicted a keypad that needed to be filled with numbers from 0 to 9 as well as * and # symbols. The fourth column was unused.

To solve the ciphers, the first three parts of the cipher have to be combined. The last two parts are used to obtain a phone number. Each letter from the military alphabet matches a number on the first part. To determine the specific number, one need to look at the number crossed by two identical military letters.

Following the order found in the fourth and fifth parts of the cipher, a phone number was discovered: +1 (831) 290 - 6578.

When the phone was called, an automated voice asked for a 6-digit code. The code was found on the acoustic coupler in the main page of the website on August 19: 274058.

After entering the 274058 code, the automated voice recited several letters in the military alphabet[2] which gave the solution: OATAILMHSKGREDEIECMNOEEE


A missing number, 03, was omitted from the 1979 VHS tape where it should have appeared at 8:25. This led to a slight offset in the letters of the solution where the last E wasn't tied to any number. When 03 is reintroduced in the code in the thirteenth position (between 06 and 03), the final letter E was now tied with the last number, 01.

Nix-Charge[]

The community found in Warzone four parts for the Nix-Charge cipher.

To solve the Nix-Charge cipher, the code from the 1968-69 VHS tape needs to be turn into letters following the alphabet where A=1, B=2, etc.

15, 09, 13, 21, 12, 06, 10, 24, 04, 11, 05, 17, 25, 18, 07, 11, 13, 12, 22, 19, 13, 01, 16, 02

After the numbers are changed into letters:

OIMULFJXDKEQYRGKMLVSMAPB

The third and fourth parts of the Nix-Charge need to be overlap and each letter need to be put in each square.

To solve decipher the letters, one need to look at each square to find if a square is "Silver" (Negative Effects) or "Flat Black" (Positive Effects).

A "Silver" square indicates that the number featured on the nixie tube needs to be substracted from the number associated with the letter (O = 15, I = 09, etc.). A "Flat Black" square indicates that the number featured on the nixie tube needs to be added to the number associated with the letter. The resulting number is then converted to a letter using the alphabet (A=1, B=2, etc.)

Examples:

  • The letter O is on a "Silver" square. The number featured on the nixie tube is 3. This means the number 3 will be substracted from the number associated with O, which is 15 in this case. 15 - 3 equals 12 which is turned into the letter L.
  • The letter M is on a "Flat Black" square. The number featured on the nixie tube is 6. This means the number 6 will be added to the number associated with M, which is 13 in this case. 13 + 6 equals 19 which is turned into the letter S.

Once all the numbers were deciphered, the solution found was: LDSNUGOTFTETWNFSRIRLODRA

Nix-Stack[]

The community found in Warzone three parts for the Nix-Stack cipher.

The second part of the cipher indicates the order numbers in the nixie tubes for a Russian model named ИH-12A (IN-12A). The order for this model is, from the front to the back, 3 8 9 4 0 5 7 2 6 1.

This order of numbers was then put in the third part of the cipher. This allows turning numbers into different ones.

The code from the 1972-73 VHS tape is used in this cipher:

07, 50, 07, 51, 02, 25, 54, 54, 25, 09, 57, 06, 22, 54, 25, 50, 25, 07, 59, 58, 25, 50, 25, 02

The numbers simply need to be converted into new numbers using the IN-12A order featured in the third part of the ciphers (0=1, 1 = 6, etc).

19, 01, 19, 06, 12, 20, 05, 05, 20, 13, 09, 14, 22, 05, 20, 01, 20, 19, 03, 08, 20, 01, 20, 12

The new numbers are then turned into letters following the alphabetical order (A=1, B=2, etc).

Once all the numbers were deciphered, the solution found was: SASFLTEETMINVETATSCHTATL

Venona[]

The community found in Warzone four parts for the Venona cipher. The Venona cipher is a reference to the Venona project, a US counterintelligence program.

To solve the Venona cipher, the community used the phrase "RESUME COVER AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTION" visible inside Bunker 11 in Verdansk to get the numbers from the third part of the cipher and enter them in the second part.

The numbers then have to be put in four sections of five numbers. The code "J4722" then needs to be put in front of the numbers. This code came from the Warzone victory screen inside the helicopter.

The letter J is omitted to be used for the decription, leaving the code: 472206432518235478661164

The code from the 1977-78 VHS tape was then used for an addition with the previous code.

04, 03, 07, 01, 03, 02, 07, 08, 08, 05, 00, 08, 05, 02, 09, 08, 01, 05, 08, 03, 00, 01, 04, 07

The first 0 of each number had to be removed. Only the single number is kept, the tens are discarded.

  472206432518235478661164
 + 437132788508529815830147
 _________________________
  809338110016754283491201

To decipher the result, one need to look into the fourth part of the Venona cipher and check the J column as each number matches a specific letter. Example: 8 = L, 0 = I, etc.

Once all the numbers were deciphered, the solution found was: LITAALEEIIESCODGLADTEGIE

Know Your History teaser[]

Once all the ciphers were solved, the "/11thHour" page was updated to feature a note displaying "Timing is everything". The page was then updated a second time to display a torn paper with several timestamps on it.

This led the community to use all the timestamps when the numbers appeared in the six VHS tapes. It was found that each number appeared every 5 seconds from 2:05 to 14:00.

When all the numbers from the VHS tapes were written in the order they appeared and then converted to the letters tied to those numbers in the solutions of the ciphers, the solution found was:

SALCOLDAWARSISNTHFOUGHTPONLAABATTLEFIELDYTHETTIMEHBOMBEISGTICKINGAWITHMEVEROESECONDFTHEIDISASTERNISDCOMINGTCLOSERHANDECLOSERTTHERDANGERUISTREALH

Two phrases were hidden inside the solution. The first sentence was:

SALCOLDAWARSISNTHFOUGHTPONLAABATTLEFIELDYTHETTIMEHBOMBEISGTICKINGAWITHMEVEROESECONDFTHEIDISASTERNISDCOMINGTCLOSERHANDECLOSERTTHERDANGERUISTREALH
"A Cold War isn't fought on a battlefield. The time bomb is ticking with ever[y] second. The disaster is coming closer and closer. The danger is real"

And the second sentence was:

SALCOLDAWARSISNTHFOUGHTPONLAABATTLEFIELDYTHETTIMEHBOMBEISGTICKINGAWITHMEVEROESECONDFTHEIDISASTERNISDCOMINGTCLOSERHANDECLOSERTTHERDANGERUISTREALH
"Slash. Play the game. Find the truth."

The second phrase led to a new page on the Pawn Takes Pawn website, https://pawntakespawn.com/playthegamefindthetruth, which featured a teaser trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War called "Know Your History".

Once the teaser was found, the "/EMC2" page was updated to feature a film reel with the date "Aug 26" written on it. The date for the reveal of Black Ops Cold War.

Website (Second version, Aug. 30 - 31)[]

On August 30, 2020, the Pawn Takes Pawn website was updated following a short clip broadcasted during the Call of Duty League Championship 2020 which ended with "It's time to learn the truth. Pawn Takes Pawn".

A new page became available https://pawntakespawn.com/codecave/ alongside the /tv page from the first version of the website. The /codecave featured a computer with the game Zork against its monitor, a miniature of the Verdansk stadium, a printer, a lamp with a dog tag and a shelf with a rubber duck and a clock on it. People were also able to register an account and sign-in.

The printer could be interacted with and led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/codecave/dotmatrix which featured a long note giving instructions to the players on how to get specific achievements inside Zork.

Welcome to the Underground.

What could be more fitting to kick off the unraveling of a maze of secrets than THE maze of secrets?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ   ZZZZZZZZ   ZZZZZZZZZZ   ZZZZZ   ZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZ   ZZZZZZZZZZ  ZZZZ   ZZZZ  ZZZZZ  ZZZZ
     ZZZZ    ZZZZ    ZZZZ ZZZZ  ZZZZ   ZZZZZ ZZZZ
    ZZZZ     ZZZZ    ZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZ    ZZZZZZZZZ
   ZZZZ      ZZZZ    ZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZ    ZZZZZZZZZ
  ZZZZ       ZZZZ    ZZZZ ZZZZ  ZZZZ   ZZZZ  ZZZZ
 ZZZZZZZZZZZ  ZZZZZZZZZZ  ZZZZ   ZZZZ  ZZZZ   ZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ   ZZZZZZZZ   ZZZZ    ZZZZ ZZZZ    ZZZZ

To launch the game, go to TERMINAL 0, type: ZORK, and press ENTER.

Here is a guide to get you started on your journey:

Achievement: Easter Egg From the beginning of the game (“West of House”), go North to “North of House”, head North again to the “Forest Path”, and go Up the tree. You should see a bird’s nest with a large egg inside. “Take”, “Grab”, or “Get” the egg to earn your first achievement!

Achievement: With Great Effort Now that you have the egg, climb back Down the tree. Then head South to “North of House”, and East to “Behind House”. There, you will see a window that is slightly ajar. Open the window to allow entry, then go West into the house to earn your second achievement!

Achievement: Bat Repellent You should now be in the Kitchen, where you will find a closed brown sack. Open the sack to reveal a lunch and a clove of garlic. Take the garlic to earn your next achievement - plus, you’ll need it later!

Achievement: Dungeon Delver Go West from the Kitchen into the Living Room, and take the lamp from off the trophy case. For now, resist the urge to take the sword, as you’re not quite strong enough to wield it yet. Now, move the rug to reveal a trap door, open the trap door, and go Down the steps into the darkness.

Achievement: Night Vision After a brief but nasty surprise, simply turn on your lantern to light up the room!

Good luck.
— /dotmatrix note

The computer on the /codecave page could be interacted with. When doing so, players could find a terminal requiring an input. When using the code found on the post-it note on the computer "ZORK" players were able to start a game of Zork.

By signing-in and following the instructions found on the /dotmatrix note, players could unlock 7 achievements which the last one "Zork Adventurer" inviting players to provide their mailing address for the "next piece of the puzzle".

Players were also able to play the entire Zork game to complete it, earning 29 achievements along the way. Once a player completed the game, they earned one last achievement called "Escaped From Zork".

This achievement led to another page https://pawntakespawn.com/pitchblack which featured a new note.

It's pitch black.

Just like the operations that happen in secret everyday. In every corner of the world, forces compete and collude - the line blurred between enemy and ally.

Good job on making out of the dungeon alive.

More to come.
— /pitchblack note

Second update (August 31)[]

On August 31, the /tv page was update and a VHS title "We Are All Pawns" was added on top of the VCR. When the tape was put in the VCR, it played the short clip broadcasted during the Call of Duty Championship.

"We Are All Pawns" Transcript

Hooded Man: Every game has a champion. Heroes drop into battle. The fight for glory. We watch and we cheer. We choose sides and pledge our allegiance. What happens when that loyalty is betrayed? What if nothing is like what it seems? And everything you think you know? It's just a game. A game of wars and lies. Cover-ups and disinformation. Secret operations that never took place. We are all pawns in their simulations. But every system has weaknesses. Join me. It's time to learn the truth.

Postcards[]

Starting September 4, 2020, several people who entered their mailing address on the website received postcards from Activision.

15 different postcards were sent, the front of the postcard featured the logo of ZORK with a code to redeem a 30th achievement on the website called "You've got mail". Depending on the card number the phrase above the ZORK logo would change, some postcard also featured parts of a QR code.

The back of the postcards either featured part of the ZORK map consisting of the map of the Underground, the map of the House and Forest and the map of the Maze with a word or the image of an item found in ZORK such as the sapphire-incrusted bracelet.

List of cards[]

Website Pages[]

Using the words found on the back of the postcards, the community discovered several new pages on Pawn Takes Pawn.

/sacredbeetle[]

The page https://pawntakespawn.com/sacredbeetle featured a page from the book The Great Underground Empire: A history as well as the first incantation.

Several letters were highlighted in the text from the book which read as "Construct map from". The incantation was a series lines with rooms featured in the game ZORK. By connecting all the rooms of each line in the order shown on the incantation, letters were formed.

- Maze(7), Forest Path, Grating Room, Shaft Room, Frigid River(3)
- Maze(15), Forest Path, Bat Room, Frigid River(4); Atlantis Room, South of House
- Bat Room, Up a Tree, Maze(14), East of Chasm
- Mine Entrance, Gallery, Stream, Dam, Drafty Room, Altar
- Stone Barrow, Maze(13)
- Cyclops Room, Rocky Ledge, Engravings Cave, Atlantis Room
- Strange Passage, Mine Entrance, Drafty Room, Frigid River(5), Frigid River(1), Grating Room
- Atlantis Room, South of House, Rocky Ledge, Treasure Room
- Mine Entrance, Gallery
- Squeaky Room, Ladder Top, Sandy Cave, Cella, Squeaky Room
- Maze(5), North of House, Troll Room, Squeaky Room
— Incantation #1

The incantation read: Machination.

/hallowedbones[]

The page https://pawntakespawn.com/hallowedbones featured a page from the book The Great Underground Empire: A history as well as the second incantation.

Several letters were highlighted in the text from the book which read as "Printed intelligence travel". The incantation was a series lines with rooms featured in the game ZORK. By connecting all the rooms of each line in the order shown on the incantation, letters were formed.

- Coal Mine(3), Sandy Cave
- Maze(11), Forest(1), Land of the Dead, Shaft Room
- Bat Room, Up a Tree, South of House, Atlantis Room, Narrow Passage, Maze(7)
- Behind House, Maze(8)
- Cold Passage, Attic, Maze(14), Torch Room, Deep Canyon, Grating Room
- Squeaky Room, Mirror Room(South), Stream, Maintenance Room, Frigid River(4), Shaft Room
- Forest(1), Forest(2), Forest Path, Maze(7)
— Incantation #2

The incantation read: Insight.

/sanctified[]

The page https://pawntakespawn.com/sanctified featured a page from the book The Great Underground Empire: A history as well as the third incantation.

Several letters were highlighted in the text from the book which read as "As the crow flies". The incantation was a series lines with rooms featured in the game ZORK. By connecting all the rooms of each line in the order shown on the incantation, letters were formed.

- Ladder Bottom, Canyon View, Mirror Room(North), Egyptian Room
- Maze(15), North of House, Mine Entrance, Twisting Passage, South of House, Entrance to Hades
- Forest(1), Maze(11)
- Forest(4), Strange Passage, Frigid River(3), Dam Lobby, Canyon Bottom, Machine Room, Smelly Room, Forest (4)
- West of House, Maze(9), Mirror Room(South), Mirror Room(North)
- Forest Path, Coal Mine(4), Bat Room, East of Chasm
- Twisting Passage, Behind House, Maze(14), Winding Passage, Maze(14), Maze(1), Deep Canyon
— Incantation #3

The incantation read: Tribute.

/preciousmetal[]

The page https://pawntakespawn.com/preciousmetal featured a page from the book The Great Underground Empire: A history as well as the fourth incantation.

Several letters were highlighted in the text from the book which read as "Bring six pictured". The incantation was a series lines with rooms featured in the game ZORK. By connecting all the rooms of each line in the order shown on the incantation, letters were formed.

- Shaft Room, Forest(4), Canyon Bottom, Dam Lobby, Frigid River(5), Treasure Room
- Maze(15), Up a Tree, Gas Room, Dam, Maze(4)
- Egyptian Room, Maze(8), Forest(2), Coal Mine(1), Forest(2), Forest(3), Reservoir North
- Twisting Passage, Canyon View, Cyclops Room, Narrow Passage
- South of House, Maintenance Room, End of Rainbow, Strange Passage
- Land of The Dead, Maze(3), Stream View, Mirror Room(North), Living Room, Maze(10)
- North of House, Maze(7), Gallery, Squeaky Room
- Treasure Room, Canyon View, Maze(7), Inside the Barrow, Maze(12)
— Incantation #4

The incantation read: Spectrum.

/magnificentblue[]

The page https://pawntakespawn.com/magnificentblue featured a page from the book The Great Underground Empire: A history as well as the fifth incantation.

Several letters were highlighted in the text from the book which read as "Treasures to trophy case". The incantation was a series lines with rooms featured in the game ZORK. By connecting all the rooms of each line in the order shown on the incantation, letters were formed.

- Maze(10), Forest(1), Mine Entrance, Entrance to Hades, North-South Passage, Maze(2)
- North of House, Strange Passage, Timber Room
- Gallery, Mine Entrance, Up a Tree, Maze(1), Stream View, Maze(1), Maze(8)
- Mirror Room(South), Rocky Ledge, Atlantis Room, Mine Entrance, Forest(4), Treasure Room
- Dam Lobby, Frigid River(4)
- Slide Room, North of House, Maze(14), Dome Room
- Coal Mine(1), Forest Path, Maze(1), Reservoir South, Maze(1), Maze(8), Egyptian Room
— Incantation #5

The incantation read: Avarice.

/triquest[]

The page https://pawntakespawn.com/triquest featured a page from the book The Great Underground Empire: A history as well as the sixth incantation.

Several letters were highlighted in the text from the book which read as "And recite incantations". The incantation was a series lines with rooms featured in the game ZORK. By connecting all the rooms of each line in the order shown on the incantation, letters were formed.

- Gallery, Bat Room, Coal Mine(4), Forest(2)
- Drafty Room, Mine Entrance, Stream, Dam, Stream, Winding Passage, Egyptian Room
- Temple, Atlantis Room, Cyclops Room, Living Room, Maze(10)
- Maze(15), Maze(4), Chasm, Mirror Room(North), Living Room, Maze(4)
- Land of The Dead, Maze(8), Maze(1), North-South Passage, Maze(1), North of House, Cold Passage
- Maintenance Room, End of Rainbow, Troll Room, White Cliffs Beach(North), Egyptian Room, Treasure Room
- North of House, Ladder Top, Mine Entrance, Cellar
— Incantation #6

The incantation read: Tempest.

ZORK[]

The /triquest page featured an instruction at the bottom of the page that read: "Say "reconnoiter" in the Great Underground to unlock the use of the six incantations". After entering "reconnoiter" in the terminal, the following phrase appeared:

"You utter the word "reconnoiter" and the world seems to subtly shift. You get the feeling that a host of new possibilities have become available to you."

With the sentence formed by the 6 pages: "Construct map from printed intelligence. Travel as the crow flies. Bring six pictured treasures to the trophy case and recite incantations" and the six treasures featured on the postcards, the community unlocked new sentences in the game by putting the Jeweled Scarab, the Pot of Gold, the Crystal Trident of Poseidon, the Sapphire Bracelet, the Bag of Coins and the Crystal Skull from Hades inside the trophy case and typing the six incantations.

When entering Machination:

"You hold the scarab in the palm of your hand and speak the word MACHINATION. You watch in wonder as its wings click open, revealing a scintillating pattern of interlocking, ticking gears. As they click in sequence, they move into place to spell out the word FUGAZIFILE."

When entering Insight:

"You look into the eyes of the crystal skull and speak the word INSIGHT. Blinding light emanates from the skull, filling the room until all you can see are the shining eyes of the skull. In a voice which rattles your teeth, it speaks the word BURNBAG before the light dies down."

When entering Tribute:

"You pluck a handful of coins from the bag and speak the word TRIBUTE. The painting of the ferryman on the western wall moves, as he reaches from the canvas to accept your offering. Satisfied, he unties the ferry from the dock and paddles away. In his wake, the waves spell out the word INTELFIRE."

When entering Spectrum:

"You set the pot of gold down on the ground and speak the word SPECTRUM. A rainbow pours from the mouth of the pot, splashing against the northern wall. As the colors drip and evaporate from the wall, they leave behind residue in the shape of a word: INFOHAX."

When entering Avarice:

"You slip the bracelet onto your wrist and speak the word AVARICE. You feel a searing pain as the links suddenly heat up, and you tear it off. Burnt into your flesh is the word SHREDITALL."

When entering Tempest:

"You grasp the haft of the crystal trident and speak the word TEMPEST. Sparks crackle along its length, arcing between the tines, before firing a bolt of lightning at the eastern wall. When the sparks clear, the word GRIDSQUARE has been scorched into the wall next to the kitchen doorway."

Putting the new words together formed the phrase: "FUGAZIFILE, BURNBAG, INTELFIRE, INFOHAX, SHREDITALL, GRIDSQUARE. Players also unlocked an achievement for each incantation entered.

"Iron Curtain" Truck Skin[]

On the front of the postcards 3, 6, 8, 12, 13 and 15 were parts of a QR code, when put together the QR code led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/invisibletruths. The page asked for 6 codes to be entered to unlock the page.

After entering the codes found in Zork following the incantations, the page became available and a new achievement called "Advanced Pawn" was available for the players.

The achievement led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/advancedpawn which contained a unique code to be redeemed on the Call of Duty website. The code awarded the players with the Epic "Iron Curtain" Vehicle Skin for the Cargo Truck available in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Warzone.

Crates[]

On September 22, 2020, several content creators received crates from Activision which contained various items and instructions.

T1-A Crate[]

The T1-A Crate was received by Jackfrags which contained a Bolex 160 Macrozoom video camera, an empty Polybius square, a note with instruction and a USB drive.

RESTRICTED

CONTROL NO: 1

SUBJECT: TERMINAL LOGIN AND INTRODUCTORY COMMAND

  1. Copy term1.zip from the provided drive to your desktop. Unzip the file. Open the resulting folder and run TERM1.exe.
  2. To determine your terminal's passcode, use the provided Polybius Cipher in combination with the keyphrase and coordinates below:
    INFILTRATION (44 34 23 21 15 13 22 14 14)
    [REDACTED]
  3. Once you have logged in, refer to this documentation for a breakdown of your unit's usable commands. [REDACTED]
  4. [REDACTED] As you acquire commands for your terminal, each one will return an intel when entered into the program. [REDACTED]
  5. [REDACTED] returned intel may require supporting ressources to properly interpret and utilize. [REDACTED] immediately disseminate evidence of retrieved intel with your operatives. [REDACTED] LoadSignal-R463 [REDACTED]
Classified by: [REDACTED]
Exempt from General Declassification
— T1 Instruction Note

Entering INFILTRATION in the Polybius Square and reading the letters using the coordinates with 44 meaning Row 4, Column 4; 34 meaning Row 3, Column 4; etc gave the password SHORTFALL.

Entering SHORTFALL in the TERM1.exe opened Terminal 1 which required a command. After entering LoadSignal-R463 in the terminal, an image of the pot of gold from ZORK was displayed with the message "The pieces are in play"

T2-A Crate[]

The T2-A Crate was received by MrDalekJD which contained a Kodak Brownie Super 27 photo camera, a message that read "The most important weapon in any war is information. Secrets hide inside everything.", an empty Polybius square, a note with instruction and a USB drive.

RESTRICTED

CONTROL NO: 2

SUBJECT: TERMINAL LOGIN AND INTRODUCTORY COMMAND

  1. Copy term2.zip from the provided drive to your desktop. Unzip the file. Open the resulting folder and run TERM2.exe.
  2. To determine your terminal's passcode, use the provided Polybius Cipher in combination with the keyphrase and coordinates below:
    [REDACTED]
    EYES ONLY (42 22 12 21 14 22 25)
    [REDACTED]
  3. Once you have logged in, refer to this documentation for a breakdown of your unit's usable commands. [REDACTED]
  4. [REDACTED] As you acquire commands for your terminal, each one will return an intel when entered into the program. [REDACTED]
  5. [REDACTED] returned intel may require supporting ressources to properly interpret and utilize. [REDACTED] immediately disseminate evidence of retrieved intel with your operatives. [REDACTED] CounterProliferation-G63Y [REDACTED]
Classified by: [REDACTED]
Exempt from General Declassification
— T2-A Instruction Note

Entering EYES ONLY in the Polybius Square and reading the letters using the coordinates with 42 meaning Row 4, Column 2; 22 meaning Row 2, Column 2; etc gave the password PAYLOAD.

Entering PAYLOAD in the TERM2.exe opened Terminal 2 which required a command. After entering CounterProliferation-G63Y in the terminal, the phrase "PTP/WAVESOFATTACK" was displayed with the message "The pieces are in play"

T3-A Crate[]

The T3-A Crate was received by MarleyThirteen which contained a cassette deck, a message that read "The most important weapon in any war is information. Secrets hide inside everything.", an empty Polybius square, a note with instruction and a USB drive.

RESTRICTED

CONTROL NO: 3

SUBJECT: TERMINAL LOGIN AND INTRODUCTORY COMMAND

  1. Copy term3.zip from the provided drive to your desktop. Unzip the file. Open the resulting folder and run TERM3.exe.
  2. To determine your terminal's passcode, use the provided Polybius Cipher in combination with the keyphrase and coordinates below:
    CLEARANCE (13 34 22 14 15 25 35)
    [REDACTED]
  3. Once you have logged in, refer to this documentation for a breakdown of your unit's usable commands. [REDACTED]
  4. [REDACTED] As you acquire commands for your terminal, each one will return an intel when entered into the program. [REDACTED]
  5. [REDACTED] returned intel may require supporting ressources to properly interpret and utilize. [REDACTED] immediately disseminate evidence of retrieved intel with your operatives. [REDACTED] WarningIntelligence-V769 [REDACTED]
Classified by: [REDACTED]
Exempt from General Declassification
— T3 Instruction Note

Entering CLEARANCE in the Polybius Square and reading the letters using the coordinates with 13 meaning Row 1, Column 3; 34 meaning Row 3, Column 4; etc gave the password EMBARGO.

Entering EMBARGO in the TERM3.exe opened Terminal 3 which required a command. After entering WarningIntelligence-V769 in the terminal, the phrase "PTP/WAVESOFATTACK" was displayed with the message "The pieces are in play"

T4-A & T4-B Crates[]

The T4-A and T4-B Crates were received by NoahJ456 which contained a Tandy 1000 SX computer with a monitor, a boot disk and a software disk, a guide, an empty Polybius square, a note with instruction.

RESTRICTED

CONTROL NO: 4

SUBJECT: TERMINAL LOGIN AND INTRODUCTORY COMMAND

  1. Use the START HERE GUIDE to ensure proper setup of your computer terminal.
  2. To determine your terminal's passcode, use the provided Polybius Cipher in combination with the keyphrase and coordinates below:
    [REDACTED]
    PROPAGANDA (12 13 35 35 23 14 24 34)
    [REDACTED]
  3. Once you have logged in, refer to this documentation for a breakdown of your unit's usable commands. [REDACTED]
  4. [REDACTED] As you acquire commands for your terminal, each one will return an intel when entered into the program. [REDACTED]
  5. [REDACTED] returned intel may require supporting ressources to properly interpret and utilize. [REDACTED] immediately disseminate evidence of retrieved intel with your operatives. [REDACTED] CombinedArmsTeam-LW83 [REDACTED]
Classified by: [REDACTED]
Exempt from General Declassification
— T4-A Instruction Note

Entering PROPAGANDA in the Polybius Square and reading the letters using the coordinates with 12 meaning Row 1, Column 2; 13 meaning Row 1, Column 3; etc gave the password ROLLBACK.

Entering ROLLBACK in the computer opened Terminal 4 which required a command. After entering CombinedArmsTeam-LW83 in the terminal, the phrase "PTP/WAVESOFATTACK" was displayed with the message "The pieces are in play"

T5-A & T5-B Crates[]

The T5-A and T5-B Crates were received by Drift0r which contained a Tandy 1000 SX computer with a monitor, a boot disk and a software disk, a guide, an empty Polybius square, a note with instruction.

RESTRICTED

CONTROL NO: 5

SUBJECT: TERMINAL LOGIN AND INTRODUCTORY COMMAND

  1. Use the START HERE GUIDE to ensure proper setup of your computer terminal.
  2. To determine your terminal's passcode, use the provided Polybius Cipher in combination with the keyphrase and coordinates below:
    [REDACTED]
    HANDLER (32 13 25 15 45 21 13 24 21)
    [REDACTED]
  3. Once you have logged in, refer to this documentation for a breakdown of your unit's usable commands. [REDACTED]
  4. [REDACTED] As you acquire commands for your terminal, each one will return an intel when entered into the program. [REDACTED]
  5. [REDACTED] returned intel may require supporting ressources to properly interpret and utilize. [REDACTED] immediately disseminate evidence of retrieved intel with your operatives. [REDACTED] TaskingOrder-F48P [REDACTED]
Classified by: [REDACTED]
Exempt from General Declassification
— T5-A Instruction Note

Entering HANDLER in the Polybius Square and reading the letters using the coordinates with 32 meaning Row 3, Column 2; 13 meaning Row 1, Column 3; etc gave the password INFLUENCE.

Entering INFLUENCE in the computer opened Terminal 5 which required a command. After entering TaskingOrder-F48P in the terminal, the phrase "PTP/WAVESOFATTACK" was displayed with the message "The pieces are in play"

T6-A & T6-B Crates[]

The T6-A and T6-B Crates were received by ShawnJ Gaming which contained a Tandy 1000 EX computer with a monitor, a boot disk and a software disk, a guide, an empty Polybius square, a note with instruction.

RESTRICTED

CONTROL NO: 6

SUBJECT: TERMINAL LOGIN AND INTRODUCTORY COMMAND

  1. Use the START HERE GUIDE to ensure proper setup of your computer terminal.
  2. To determine your terminal's passcode, use the provided Polybius Cipher in combination with the keyphrase and coordinates below:
    [REDACTED]
    DEAD DROP (31 15 44 34 32 41 12)
    [REDACTED]
  3. Once you have logged in, refer to this documentation for a breakdown of your unit's usable commands. [REDACTED]
  4. [REDACTED] As you acquire commands for your terminal, each one will return an intel when entered into the program. [REDACTED]
  5. [REDACTED] returned intel may require supporting ressources to properly interpret and utilize. [REDACTED] immediately disseminate evidence of retrieved intel with your operatives. [REDACTED] Constellation-MU93 [REDACTED]
Classified by: [REDACTED]
Exempt from General Declassification
— T6-A Instruction Note

Entering DEAD DROP in the Polybius Square and reading the letters using the coordinates with 31 meaning Row 3, Column 1; 15 meaning Row 1, Column 5; etc gave the password HOTLINE.

Entering HOTLINE in the computer opened Terminal 6 which required a command. After entering Constellation-MU93 in the terminal, the phrase "PTP/WAVESOFATTACK" was displayed with the message "The pieces are in play"

Website (Third version, Sept. 22 - 28)[]

Following the instructions found in the crates sent to content creators, a new page was discovered on the Pawn Takes Pawn website: https://pawntakespawn.com/wavesofattack. The page indicated to access the "/tv" page on September 23rd, 2020 at 12PM EST.

The website also received a small update adding some effects to the terminal monitor.

Second update (September 23)[]

On September 23rd, the /tv page was updated with a second VHS titled "Open-Drop-Save-Restore" added on top of the previous one. When the tape was put in the VCR, it short clip was played with several commands flashing on the screen.

"Open-Drop-Save-Restore" Transcript

Hooded Man: Open. Drop. Save. Restore. We've only begun to make our way through this maze of secrets. How deep will you undergo? What paths will you travel? What are the commandes that you'll learn and follow? Let's blow this conspiracy up.

The /dotmatrix page was also updated with another note:

..........


09.23

While some crawl through tunnels and fight in the trenches, others dodge bullets in the sky.

/////////##----@@**----##/////////
                xX                      *
      __xxxxxxxxXXxxxxx____               &
    //      \\\\\\^^^^*******            /x^/.
 /<<        @x     xxxx@@@*******x //@     *
 \\\    ^^@#xX     XXX////////**^^^^^^^^^
   \\Xx  @#Xx     xxxxx////
       ~~\\@@@@. , , @//
           |x|        |x|
   \\\**\--##---------##---/**///

To begin your airborne mission, find the gameboards in TERMINALS 1-6. The following guidelines will aid in decoding efforts:

STEP ONE - Modify Boards
- Columns and Rows Wrap Around When Shifted

STEP TWO - Apply Grids
- Black Plus Black Equals Color
- Black Plus Color Equals Black
- Color Plus Color Equals Color

Once the gameboards have been properly modified and assembled, they will reveal your next instructions.
— /dotmatrix#002 note

Each command featured in the "Open-Drop-Save-Restore" was relate to one of the terminals received by the content creators depending on their color:

  • Terminal 1 (ZONEOFFIRE-Z6T3, IRREGULARWARFARE-TP22, CLIMATECHANGE-M7H6)
  • Terminal 2 (AIRSUPPORT-P63E, SCHEMEOFMANEUVER-R9U4, CHIEFOFFIRES-Q672)
  • Terminal 3 (TACTICALQUESTIONING-RF82, ALERTORDER-D273, BEACHMASTERUNIT-K87J)
  • Terminal 4 (RESCUEESCORT-R2E7, CONTAMINATIONMITIGATION-E694, HOMELAND-T3P9)
  • Terminal 5 (GROUNDOPERATIONS-EU92, CONTACTPROCEDURE-L342, CIVILEMERGENCY-X7R4)
  • Terminal 6 (NAVSPECWARCOM-B736, COUNTERINSURGENCY-J7V4, UNANTICIPATEDTARGET-HG73)

Depending on the commands various screenshots of Chopper Command, images of items from ZORK, four boards and different grids were displayed on the terminals.

Terminal Command Text Image
Terminal 1 ZONEOFFIRE-Z6T3 The sides of this brick hearth are caked with ash Command ZoneOfFire Terminal1 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 1 IRREGULARWARFARE-TP22 Modification Grid Command IrregularWarfare Terminal1 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 1 CLIMATECHANGE-M7H6 Cadet Level Command CimateChange Terminal1 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 AIRSUPPORT-P63E A pile of bricks lays on the ground Command AirSupport Terminal2 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 SCHEMEOFMANEUVER-R9U4 Based Boards Command SchemeOfManeuver Terminal2 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 CHIEFOFFIRES-Q672 Cadet Level Command ChiefOfFires Terminal2 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 TACTICALQUESTIONING-RF82 There is a massive bellows in the room Command TacticalQuestioning Terminal3 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 ALERTORDER-D273 Modification Grid Command AlertOrder Terminal3 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 BEACHMASTERUNIT-K87J Cadet Level Command BeachMasterUnit Terminal3 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 RESCUEESCORT-R2E7 Thousands of red eyes watch you Command RescueEscort Terminal4 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 CONTAMINATIONMITIGATION-E694 Board Modifiers Command ContaminationMitigation Terminal4 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 HOMELAND-T3P9 Cadet Level Command Homeland Terminal4 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 GROUNDOPERATIONS-EU92 It looks like something is written on the spire Command GroundOperations Terminal5 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 CONTACTPROCEDURE-L342 Modification Grid Command ContactProcedure Terminal5 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 CIVILEMERGENCY-X7R4 Cadet Level Command CivilEmergency Terminal5 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 NAVSPECWARCOM-B736 There is a cable with a handwritten label Command NavSpecWarcom Terminal6 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 COUNTERINSURGENCY-J7V4 Modification Grid Command CounterInsurgency Terminal6 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 UNANTICIPATEDTARGET-HG73 Cadet Level Command UnanticipatedTarget Terminal6 PawnTakesPawn

Taking the boards and applying the specific grids to them using the /dotmatrix#002 note revealed a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/dustoff.

The page featured a note with instructions.

AIRBORNE JUMP ORDERS:
- Scanner stack to reveal rendezvous point.
- Reserve heli count indicates pilot manual page.
- Heli latitude positioning and direction indicate order and jump direction.
- White helicopters jump twice.
- Yellow helicopters jump three times.
- Mission score indicates letter index.
— /dustoff note

By stacking all the long range scanners images received from the various commands, a new page was uncovered https://pawntakespawn.com/batdecoder which featured a manual for the Chopper Command game.

Following the instructions found on the /dustoff note, applying them to each of the redacted lines from the manual and rearranging the results led to the discovery of the password "BONUSSTAGEUNLOCKED". After submitting the password on the /dustoff page a new page was unlocked https://pawntakespawn.com/fireandair. The page invited people to return to ZORK.

Typing AUTOGYRO in ZORK added four new rooms in the game, Hearth, Spire Firepit, Bat Cave and Bellows Room with the message:

You utter the word "autogyro" and the world seems to subtly shift. You get the feeling that a host of new possibilities have become available to you.

The players, with a light source, would then have to go to the Engravings Room and type "ILLUMINATE" which would reveal an order: "Star, Circle, Plus, Square, Triangle", doing so would reward them with the "Altered Perception" achievement. They would then go to the Kitchen and enter the "Hearth" where they could take 5 bricks and place them in the same order, doing so would reward them with the "Clairvoyant" achievement and a message "CovertConflagration". They would then go to the Bat Cave, with the garlic in their inventory, and retrieve a power cable with a label.

The label read:

24V-DC power cable for use with Fialka encryption machine. Passcode: ADVENTURE.

The description of the machine lead to the discovery of a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/latincyrillic. Using the page the word ADVENTURE was converted into OBMYTEHKY.

They would then need to go to the Bellows Room and plug the power cable in the machine. The players would then enter the word OBMYTEHKY which rewarded them with the "Codebreaker" achievement. Inside the room, they would have to pump the bellows and return in the Bat Cave. Doing so would reward them with the "Chemical Warfare" achievement and a message "ForcefulGale".

"CovertConflagration" and "ForcefulGale" were the two keys that would need to be entered on the /fireandaire page the next day.

Third update (September 24)[]

On September 24, a new page was found after submitting the words "CovertConflagration" and "ForcefulGale" on the r/fireandair page which rewarded the player with the "Master of the Fire and Air" achievement. The page was https://pawntakespawn.com/vanguard which featured new commands.

Once the commands were entered in the terminals, 6 different images of Chopper Command were displayed.

Terminal Command Text Image
Terminal 1 DECEPTIONGOAL-F346 Commander Level Command DeceptionGoal Terminal1 September24 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 HOSTILEINTENT-N629 Commander Level Command HostileIntent Terminal2 September24 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 ISOLATEDPERSONNEL-W763 Commander Level Command IsolatedPersonel Terminal3 September24 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 PSYCHOLOGICALOPERATIONS-Z783 Commander Level Command PsychologicalOperations Terminal4 September24 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 LISTENINGWATCH-G678 Commander Level Command ListeningWatch Terminal5 September24 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 STABILITYACTIVITIES-M94U Commander Level Command StabilitiesActivity Terminal6 September24 PawnTakesPawn

After combining the images from Terminal 2 and Terminal 4, a new page was found https://pawntakespawn.com/vcharlie. The note on the page was related to Victor Charlie.

Reference#121534358296175742

Tranmission # 14-15. Designate: X-RAY

Intel suggests Soviet presence [REDACTED], Vietnam.

[REDACTED] Kravchenko running ops with VC and NVA forces.

Mason and SOG team to find evidence and eliminate Kravchenko.

1200 hrs, February 9, 1968

  1. After escaping the NVA push into Hue City, SOG unit X-RAY [comprised of [REDACTED] and Bowman] headed north by air toward the surmised location of [REDACTED] recovered from Hue City. Viet Cong forces [REDACTED] helicopter shared by Mason and Woods over southern Vietnamese DMZ.
  2. Mason and Woods survived and [REDACTED] They [REDACTED] with Bowman and SOG to commence the assault into the [REDACTED] house Kravchenko's operation. Once SOG dispatched all aboveground resistance, Mason and SOG operative Swift [REDACTED] "rat's nest" tunnels underneath the camp in search of Kravchenko.
  3. 3 Radio communications with [REDACTED] became unreliable once they fully descended into [REDACTED] Mason's debriefing statement, a [REDACTED] fatally stabbed Swift before Mason could respond. Mason attempted to contact Woods but failed to establish a [REDACTED] Mason then [REDACTED] tunnels, engaging VC hostiles and eventually locating an abandoned compound.
  4. Mason confirmed that the compound was [REDACTED] began to collect intelligence, but was forced to flee once he determined that the compound was rigged to explode. As Mason [REDACTED] Woods managed to re-establish radio connection with Mason and coordinate extraction.
  5. Mason emerged from the tunnels to a cliffside, where he engaged more VC combatants. Woods and Bowman arrived in a helicopter, which they [REDACTED] the cliffside so that Mason could grab onto the skids for extraction.
End Tranmission
— /vcharlie note

Using the same method found in /dustoff on the /vcharlie note with the help of the reference number, a new page was found https://pawntakespawn.com/subterraneansignal which required 6 codes. The 6 codes are featured in the Chopper Command screenshots from the terminals: CHECKPOINT, LOADOUT, COOLDOWN, SIDEQUEST, KILLSCREEN, CLOUDBOUNCE

After entering the 6 codes from the commands entered in the terminals, a new page was found https://pawntakespawn.com/extractioncomplete which rewarded players with the "Knight's Tour" achievement. The page featured a note, a letter as well as a map and an audio file.

The letter read:

M-
There is a developing situation at Lubyanka. They found something in the archives. Something from the War. I'm not sure about the Collegium, but several of the Deputy Chairmen are recommending that the Committee authorize a ground operation. I will try to find out what I can, but this is very worrying. These are very serious men, but I have never seen looks on their faces like I have in recent days.
Tatyana
— /extractioncomplete letter

The audio file read:

I know you're scared, but I need you to be brave... again. Tatyana has the package, but I'm worried about her. She hasn't been back to Lubyanka since she took it.. bad mistake. Her superiors are not stupid men, they will notice her absence. It is most unlike her. They will bring her in for interrogation. As soon as she hears the words "the KGB has irrefutable evidence that you have been actively engaged in anti-Soviet activities", she'll talk. But that won't stop them. Go to her house, get the package, whether she wants you to or not. I'm working with people in the West who can help us, help you... I want you to know, that whatever happens, your actions will save many lives.
— /extractioncomplete audio file

The "Knight's Tour" achievement led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/knightstour which contained a unique code to be redeemed on the Call of Duty website. The code awarded the players with the Epic "Mako" Vehicle Skin for the Tac Rover available in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Warzone.

Fourth update (September 25)[]

On September 25, the website was update with a new page available https://pawntakespawn.com/codecave/securitysafe which required a 15-digit code.

A new note was also added to the /dotmatrix page.

..........


09.25

Bombs drop from the sky and go Kaboom! Liberation for some, for others their doom.

       . \V /.            . \V /.          . \V /.
      . >`  '< .        . >`  '< .        . >`  '< . 
       .^//^\            .^//^\            .^//^\
        //                //                //
       |x|               |x|               |x|
   <*x******>        <*x******>        <*x******> 
 <**X*********>    <**X*********>    <**X*********>
<**XX**********>  <**XX**********>  <**XX**********>
<***XXX*********> <***XXX*********> <***XXX*********>
<***XXXX*******>  <***XXXX*******>  <***XXXX*******>
 <***XXXX*****>    <***XXXX*****>    <***XXXX*****> 
  ^**XX******^      ^**XX******^      ^**XX******^
   ^^^^^^^^^^        ^^^^^^^^^^        ^^^^^^^^^^

Pay close attention to the Mad Bomber’s moves to unlock the next phase of your journey. Once you find commands for TERMINALS 1-6, use them with the following:

STEP ONE
- Sift through the particles to crack the safe.
STEP TWO
- Use intel to set your crosshairs on the terminal bombing patterns.
STEP 3
- Detonate the secrets to reveal your next assignment in the Underground.
— /dotmatrix#003 note

The small Mad Bomber on top of the terminal in the /codecave page moved along the terminal monitor stopping at different marks. Each mark represented a letter of the alphabet. This led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/lockedandloaded which featured several commands for the 6 terminals received by the content creators.

Terminal Command Text Image
Terminal 1 NEEDTOKNOW-H998 A dried out riverbed sits beneath an immobile water wheel Command NeedToKnow Terminal1 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 1 JUMPMASTER-L39A Use with safe sequence Command JumpMaster Terminal1 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 1 TOXICINDUSTRIALCHEMICAL-D927 Conversion chart Command ToxicIndustrialChemical Terminal1 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 SHOOTLOOKSHOOT-A499 There is a ceramic garden gnome sticking out of the sand Command ShootLookShoot Terminal2 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 CANNIBALIZE-Z377 Trace down from city walls Command Cannibalize Terminal2 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 MIDCOURSEPHASE-C4H6 And apply to Command MidCoursePhase Terminal2 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 WEAPONEER-B73L Four roughly hewn stone blocks hang from the ceiling Command Weaponeer Terminal3 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 COMBATCAMERA-G49B Read from bottom up Command CombatCamera Terminal3 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 PRIMEBEEF-L730 Into standard Command PrimeBeef Terminal3 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 UNITYOFCOMMAND-Y4T9 You stand at the foot of a towering silo Command UnityOfCommand Terminal4 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 ASCENTPHASE-J742 Explosions remove all bombs across Command AscentPhase Terminal4 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 COLLATERALDAMAGE-G83V Sort particles Command CollateralDamage Terminal4 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 CATASTROPHICEVENT-C32V A lever juts from a block in the ground Command CatastrophicEvent Terminal5 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 AREAOFINFLUENCE-A762 Each level produces one result Command AreaOfInfluence Terminal5 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 PATHWAYDEFEAT-X2K3 Organization Command PathwayDefeat Terminal5 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 CONTINGENCYBASING-G832 You see a large weathered water pump Command ContingencyBasing Terminal6 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 BLASTINGAGENT-F842 ptpslashresult Command BlastingAgent Terminal6 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 COMBATPOWER-VW83 For safe release Command CombatPower Terminal6 PawnTakesPawn

After entering the commands, the terminals displayed several sreenshots from the game "Kaboom!" as well as several images related to Zork and various particles with a table. The table from Terminal 6 represented the Standard Model of particle physics. By arranging the different particles in the same manner than the Standard Model into the table for Terminal 6, each particle could be turned into a number.

Following the order shown by the small bar on top of each screenshot related to the particles, the numbers were turned into the 15-digit code used to open the safe: 431 371 688 520 954.

Inside the safe, two images were found. The two images were related to various reticles found on the walls of the Verdansk stadium in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Using the Director Key and uncovering all the reticles found in the stadium, each reticle was linked to a letter.

Applying the Reticle Cipher over the Kaboom! screenshots found in the terminals and linking each bomb with the correct reticle/letter from bottom to top led to the discovery of 6 new pages, each of them featuring a bomb.

A word was written in the center of each clock, which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/tickticktickboom featuring a note with symbols and a drawing of the stadium.

The symbols on the note can be found within the Verdansk stadium and are ordered clockwise. Each clock featured in the previous image displayed three different hands pointing to a number as well as different numbers of dots in the middle. The dots represented the order in which the clocks are to be used. By placing each hand (hour hand, minute hand, second hand) in the same place as the symbols on the stadium drawing, words can be formed.

On the /detlatango page, the hour hand pointed to 7, the minute hand to 1 and the second hand to 2. Stacking the clock over the drawing and reading which letter matched the hour, minute and second hands for each symbol formed the word "TWI".

Doing this with the other pages led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/twistedanomalies which invited people to return to ZORK.

The note on the /twistedanomalies page led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/decayedanddegraded which featured three pictures related to the Zombies mode.

Typing BOMBARDIER in ZORK added six new rooms in the game, Pump Station, Field of Silos, Sand Silo, Stone Chamber, Riverbed and Putrid Swamp with the message:

You utter the word "bombardier" and the world seems to subtly shift. You get the feeling that a host of new possibilities have become available to you.

Armed with the lantern or the torch, the players will need to go to the Maintenance Room to retrieve a vial of fuel before going to the Stone Chamber to pull the lever with the letter E missing. They then needed to go to the Pump Station, fill the pump with the vial of fuel and turn on the pump. Doing so would reward them with the "Primed and Ready" achievement.

Then they would need to go to the Sand Silo and pull the lever with the letter S missing before going to the Field of Silos and pull the lever with the letter W missing. The players would then have to return to the Stone Chamber and pull the lever with the letter E missing once again. Doing so would reward them with the "Block and Chain" achievement and a message:

You notice that the boulder in the middle of the pressure plates now has a word engraved on its surface: "DISSIPATE".

The players would then go to the Riverbed which rewarded them with the "Perfect Alignment" achievement and another message:

The three sections of the wheel have aligned, which has also lined up the letters into something readable. Oddly, however, the resulting sequence is gibberish:
XszmtrmtGrwvh

Entering the Putrid Swamp gave the players another message:

There is a ceramic garden gnome sticking out of the sand, newly revealed after draining the water. It holds a sign in one hand in which a message is written in decaying paint:
ABCDEFGHIJKLM
ZYXWVUTSRQPON

Deciphering "XszmtrmtGrwvh" using the code found on the ceramic garden gnome gave the password: "ChangingTides"

The players would then return to the Sand Silo and type the word "Dissipate" which rewarded them with the "Grain Drain" achievement and a final message:

You say "DISSIPATE" and watch through the windows as the sand begins to drain out of the silo. Once it is completely depleted, the door to the silo slowly swings open to reveal a message:
StonySilence

The words "ChangingTides" and "StonySilence" were the two keys that would need to be entered on the /twistedanomalies page on September 28.

Fifth update (September 28)[]

On September 28, a new page was found after submitting the words "ChangingTides" and "StonySilence" on the /twistedanomalies page which rewarded players with the "Master of Water and Earth" achievement. The page was https://pawntakespawn.com/shapedcharge which featured new commands.

Terminal Command Text Image
Terminal 1 DECONTAMINATION-E72K Bucket Brigade Command Decontamination Terminal1 September28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 THEATEROFWAR-V734 Bucket Brigade Command TheaterOfWar Terminal2 September28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 CASUALTYEVACUATION-BZ39 Bucket Brigade Command CasualtyEvacuation Terminal3 September28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 PROTECTEDEMBLEMS-C348 Bucket Brigade Command ProtectedEmblems Terminal4 September28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 DANGEROUSCARGO-Q874 Bucket Brigade Command DangerousCargo Terminal5 September28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 TERMINATIONCRITERIA-U48F Bucket Brigade Command TerminationCriteria Terminal6 September28 PawnTakesPawn

After assembling the Kaboom! screenshots, the players had to follow the instructions displayed on the images. By crossing each bomb between a letter on the same level, depending on which half of the image the bombs were, with the city skyline. By putting each letter in the same order as displayed in one of the screenshots, the words TARGETS ELIMINATED were found.

This led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/targetseliminated which required 6 codes to be submitted, the 6 words found on the images from the terminals: DIRTYBOMB, SHELLSHOCK, MUNITIONS, FUZEDELAY, HOWITZER and MAGNITUDE.

Entering the 6 words led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/kinghunt which rewarded the players with the "King Hunt" achievement. The page featured a note as well as two images, an audio file.

The audio file read:

Don't speak, just listen. They know what you did, they're on their way to you right now. So if you want to live, don't waste time being sentimental. The cat will be fine. The only thing that matters is the tape. I will coordinate with Requiem to arrange extraction, but for now, you have to stay hidden. Go to Misha's old farmhouse and hide in the barn - don't worry, the rats are not as big as you remember. Stay there 'til morning. Then, call me from the payphone by the station. We will get you out, I pr--. Good luck.
— /kinghunt audio file

The page also featured a video which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/truthbomb with a short video showing Soviets soldiers being attacked by zombies and announcing the reveal of Black Ops Cold War's Zombies mode on September 30th, 2020.

/truthbomb Transcript

Hooded Man: A philosopher once said "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things". If you're watching this, then you already know how twisted things can become. Research, experiments, particules, anomalies. Grossly simplistic words meant to confuse and mask from the think of these atrocities. The decaying of our humanity in full display. Maybe some things should stay covered up.

The Club[]

On October 15th, the eleventh season for Call of Duty: Mobile, Anniversary, was released which included a social hub called The Club. Inside the Club were two posters, one of Chopper Command and the other of a pawn. When using a glow stick to hit the two posters, players were rewarded with codes to be redeemed on the Pawn Takes Pawn website, and said codes would redeem additional codes for use in the Redemption Center, for exclusive rewards. Another set of codes could be earned by hitting the number 3 on the dartboard 5 times in a row as well as hitting four bottles scattered around the club with a soccer ball within a limited time.

Al codes were released to all players who could not complete the challenges.

Website (Fourth version, Oct. 17 - 29)[]

On October 17th, the /tv page was updated with a third VHS titled "What You're Made Of" added on top of the previous one.

"What You're Made Of" Transcript

Hooded Man: You've been playing along quite nicely, though we aren't here to be nice. Soon we'll see what you're made of. What you know. How you think. The reflexes on the pressure. Hard judgement calls in the heat of battle. Decisions that could mean the difference between being killed or staying alive to see your family again. A choice that my father got wrong.

The /dotmatrix page was also updated with another note:

..........

10.17

The stakes are high in this game we play. The world as the chess board, where the hunter becomes the hunted. Turn after turn. One skirmish after another.

  xXXx.   ./XXXYv,                "**,
 '  \XX\./X()X/  '                    "**
/**XXXXv,.vXXXXVv              vvv    ***
   x/()XXVvXXXXYY"\         xXXXXX     ***
 /"^ \X()/X \XX    '        xXXX^^       ***
    ^/X/ *  \XX          "xX  XX       **"
    X^  *   ~X"                 XX     ***
    ^  **    ^          *         XX  ***
      **              xX**         Xv**"
      **             XX  ***      **XX
      ***          XXX     ^"******""  ^X^
       ***        XX
- Your next assignment will take you across the globe.
- Use the instructions sent to your inbox to find the trailhead.
- From there, you'll have to make the call on where to go next.
- Though you can never go wrong starting in the West.
— /dotmatrix#004 note

An email called "Order from disorder" was also sent to the players who linked their email address to the website which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/deepcover.

The next stage of our journey is upon us. Here is your DECOMPILER KEY and instructions.

Find your SEQUENCE COMPILER at:

pawntakespawn.com/deepcover

and execute the following instructions-

  • Follow entrance arrow to first magenta cell.
  • From that cell, jump to another magenta cell that you haven't visited (in a straight horizontal or vertical line only).
  • Continue until all magenta cells have been visited (only once per cell), creating a path that leads to the exit arrow.
  • Apply the order of magenta cells visited to the DECOMPILER KEY above. This will give you a 9-digit data retreival sequence.
  • Call the provided number and follow the instructions. (Charges may apply)
HAPPY HACKING.
— October 17th email

The email also contained an image using a similar design as 1985 video game Hacker that needed to be used with the image found in the /deepcover page.

Following the instructions, players could find a 9-digit Decompiler Key which, in this case, was 677997992. At the bottom of the page, one could find a phone number and a 5-digit access code. When calling the number, an automated voice asked for the access code followed by the Decompiler Key. After both the code and the key were verified, the /deepcover page was updated which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/bestlaidplans and rewarded players with "Access Granted" achievement.

The /bestlaidplans page featured several images including a postcard from Miami, a map of the Moscow Metro system, reports about Crash Site and Numbers.

The back of the Miami postcard led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/insertcoin which ask for the name of the arcade game featured in the Black Ops Cold War map. After entering the name "FISHING DERBY" a new page was found https://pawntakespawn.com/shardsofhistory which required a code.

Following the timeline found in the Visitor's Center on the Miami map and the back of the Miami postcard from /bestlaidplans where "3-4" meant "3rd word, 4th letter", "1-1" meant "1st word, 1st letter", "3-6" meant "3rd word, 6th letter", etc. A new code was found: HTLINGUALCHAOS which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/setinthewest and rewarded players with the "Set in the West" achievement.

Using the metro map from /bestlaidplans and the metro map found on the Moscow map, the code "SLASHFUNAMBULIST" was found which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/funambulist which required a code.

Following the instructions using the chessboard found on the Moscow map and reading each letter from top to bottom led to the finding of the code "PSEUDOSACRIFICE". When entered, it led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/riseintheeast and rewarded players with the "Rise in the East" achievement.

Obtaining the "Set in the West" and "Rise in the East" achievements rewarded players with the "Two Tribes" achievement which led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/twotribes announcing the Multiplayer Beta for Black Ops Cold War was extended for a day.

Second Update (October 22)[]

On October 22nd, the /tv page was updated with a fourth VHS titled "With The Lights Off" added on top of the previous one.

"With The Lights Off" Transcript

Hooded Man: You're getting quite good at following my breadcrumbs. I knew you would, you're a lot like me. When I was a kid, my mom had to work two jobs to make ends meet. That means I was home by myself and watched a lot of TV. But somehow she scraped up enough money to buy that 1st-gen console for my 13th birthday. That saved me. Kaboom!, Chopper Command, River Raid, too many to list. I was good at it. Didn't matter what was going at school or in the street. In my living room with the lights off, I was a hero.

The /dotmatrix page was also updated with another note:

..........

10.22

You’ve waited patiently – now is the time to strike.

   XX   XX
 xXXX._.XXXx
xXXXX| |XXXXx
XXXXX| |XXXXX
XXXXX| |XXXXX
 xXXX| |XXXx
  xXX| |XXx
    x|_|x
     |_|
     |_|
     |_|
     | |
     | |
     | |
     | |
     |X|
     |X|
     |X|
     "|"
     "|"
     "|"
     "|"
     "|"
     "|"
- Go to:
/killingtime
to retrieve details for your next set of mission objectives.
- They must be carried out with pinpoint accuracy.
- Every war has its fallen heroes. Today will be no exception.
— /dotmatrix#005 note

An email called "Time to Strike" was also sent to the players who linked their email address to the website. The email also contained the image of a pawn.

There are times when a soldier lies in wait, and then there are times to strike.

We’ve hunted for secrets in Mt. Yamantau, Verdansk, Miami, and Moscow. We’ve uncovered spy networks embedded in halls of power across the world. Cover-ups, spies, and lies; the journey continues.

Go to pawntakespawn.com/killingtime for your instructions on how to find and redeem your secret codes in Call of Duty Mobile.
— October 22nd email

Both the /dotmatrix note and the email led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/killingtime which featured a dartboard, a soccer ball, a poster of Chopper Command as well as a note. With the exception of the note, each item could be interacted with and led to different pages which required the codes earned from The Club in Call of Duty: Mobile.

The dartboard led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/pointandshoot which required the code from the Darts game in the Club. Entering the code updated the page and rewarded the players with the "Sure Shot" achievement.

The achievement led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/sureshot rewarding players with a code to be redeemed in Call of Duty: Mobile to receive a Zork-themed pack which included:

  • Rare "Zork" BK57 Weapon Camo
  • Rare "Zork" Avatar
  • Rare "Zork Frame" Avatar Frame
  • Rare "Zork" Calling Card
  • Rare "Zork" Spray

The Chopper Command poster led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/slashandburn which required the code from hitting the posters inside the Club. Entering the code updated the page and rewarded the players with the "Beneath the Surface" achievement.

The achievement led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/beneaththesurface rewarding players with a code to be redeemed in Call of Duty: Mobile to receive a Chopper Command-themed pack which included:

  • Rare "Chopper Command" AK-47 Weapon Camo
  • Rare "Chopper Command" Avatar
  • Rare "Chopper Command Frame" Avatar Frame
  • Rare "Chopper Command" Calling Card
  • Rare "Chopper Command" Spray

The soccer ball led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/shotongoal which required the code from hitting the four bottles with the soccer balls inside the Club. Entering the code updated the page and rewarded the players with the "Foot Soldier" achievement.

The achievement led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/footsoldier rewarding players with a code to be redeemed in Call of Duty: Mobile to receive a Kaboom!-themed pack which included:

  • Rare "Kaboom" Striker Weapon Camo
  • Rare "Kaboom" Avatar
  • Rare "Kaboom Frame" Avatar Frame
  • Rare "Kaboom" Calling Card
  • Rare "Kaboom" Spray

Earning the three achievements rewarded the players with a fourth achievement called "Overachiever" which led to the page https://pawntakespawn.com/overachiever leading to a second page https://pawntakespawn.com/aerialreconnaissance.

The /overachiever page also rewarded players with a code to be redeemed in Call of Duty: Mobile to receive pack which included:

  • Rare "Persisted" Helicopter Vehicle Camo
  • Uncommon "Urban Orange" ATV Vehicle Camo
  • Uncommon "Blue Camo" ORV Vehicle Camo
  • Epic "Red Shock" Battle Hardened Uniform

Third Update (October 26)[]

On October 26, content creators CharlieINTEL, eColiEspresso, The Oceane, PrestigeIsKey, ShawnJ, MrDalekJD, Drift0r, GeekyAcrylics, BennyCentral, JackFrags, EmZ, MarleyThirteen, NoahJ456, Xclusive Ace, Chaos received slides with a sticky note leading to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/lightson containing the words "Stay Tuned".

A few hours later the /lightson page was updated and featured a video revealing the hooded man was William Bowman, the son of Joseph Bowman. The page also featured the date of the next step, October 28 at 1PM PT. The page /tv was also updated to add another VHS tape called "Troublemaker" on top of the previous ones, the video displayed was the same as /lightson.

"Troublemaker" Transcript

Hooded Man: Hacker. That game felt so real. Like I was really breaking into government service somewhere and discovering something that I wasn't supposed to. I guess that's what I was always meant to be. The troublemaker that doesn't know when to stop. Just like my dad.

The man removes his hood

William Bowman: My name is William Bowman. Joseph Bowman was my father. We still got a lot of work to do. I'll see you really soon.

List of slides[]

Fourth Update (October 27)[]

On October 27, a video was posted by Activision on Facebook showing the coordinates 59°2'43.4"N 18°20'6.5"E which pointed to Björkö, Sweden. The video also shown the URL for the /deepcover page which was updated and required the coordinates shown in the video to be entered in the page on October 28 at 1PM PT.

Fifth Update (October 28)[]

On October 28, the /codecave page was updated with a small label was added on the printer leading to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/trailoftruth which featured a video recapping all the different parts of the ARG until that day.

Entering the coordinates from the Facebook video in the /deepcover page led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/boilerroom with an image

The /dotmatrix page was also updated with another note:

..........


10.28

The winds of war are changing – the current is strong and it’s full steam ahead.

We’ve battled on the ground and in the air. It’s only natural that we take this fight to the sea.


                            |K>
                            |
                      |X| |X|
                      |X| |X|
                     |XXXXXX\
                    ||||||||||
                    |XXXXXXXX|
    ======|TTTT|  ||||||||||||||  |TTTT|======
 ======|IIIIII|  ||||||||||||||||  |IIIIIII|======
\XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/
  \XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The wake of destruction must be stopped. Get underway to: /lightson

STEP ONE
- Follow the light to a cache of sensitive intel. It’ll take all hands on deck to track down the mailed intel slides.
- To decipher the aerial river maps, you’ll need the 6 branching navigation slides. They will lead to your waypoints and you’ll be going full bore in no time.

STEP TWO
With your TERMINAL commands in tow, execute the following charter:
- Assemble the scrambled map.
- Plot a course between the described targets from the bottom up.
- Follow the red and white flags, and you won’t go adrift.

STEP THREE
- Being in deep cover will come into play once anchored in The Great Underground Empire.
- Get ready to launch across the abyss, walk the sacred path, and defeat a shadowy foe!

***Need help earning all the ZORK achievements? Check out the new Walkthrough guide at: /welcomeadventurer
— /dotmatrix#006 note

Interacting with the lamp in /codecave led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/anchorsaweigh which featured documents and an audio file.

The audio file read:

Words are a powerful thing. So potent that they can sway nations to turn course, inspire armies to march into battlefields, incite uprisings and revolutions, become quotes that are remembered and retold for centuries. It's a strange thing not to know your Dad's voice. When most of what you know of him is wrapped in a folded flag, sitting on a shelf in a book case; Few pictures here and there, a few scattered memories that Mom was willing to talk about. Because of men like Dragovich and Perseus, I will never get to hear my Dad's voice - ever. Dragovich was taken out long ago, but Perseus? Perseus has to pay. I've got what I need to find him now, and I'm going to be the last person he ever sees.
— /anchoraweigh audio file

One of the documents led to another page https://pawntakespawn.com/bulkhead which required 6 codes to be entered. Using the slides starting with "*-" and reading the six River Raid screenshots from the bottom up, the 6 codes were found: BULLNUKE, BLUEWATER, SHELLBACK, DEVILTOPAY, AMPHIBIOUS and SHIFTCOLORS.

Entering the code led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/fullclip which featured codes for the different terminals from the content creators.

  • Terminal 1 (VULNERABILITYASSESSMENT-P967, COVERTOPERATION-B63Q, HALFLIFE-HU76)
  • Terminal 2 (COMBATSURVEILLANCE-DN38, GARRISON-X862, COMPLEXECATASTROPHE-R872)
  • Terminal 3 (DESIREDPERCEPTION-Q8B7, CHEMICALHAZARD-C329, SAFEHOUSE-W48V)
  • Terminal 4 (DYNAMICTHREATASSESSMENT-T836, CONTROLEZONE-FR64, BATTLERYTHM-C28A)
  • Terminal 5 (AREADAMAGECONTROL-F889, MAXIMUMORDINATE-PU84, CRISISMANAGEMENT-W8L6)
  • Terminal 6 (WEAPONOFMASSDESTRUCTION-R73Q, BATTLEDAMAGEASSESSMENT-W6X3, EXPLOSIVEORDNANCEDISPOSAL-L929)
Terminal Command Text Image
Terminal 1 VULNERABILITYASSESSMENT-P967
Terminal 1 COVERTOPERATION-B63Q
Terminal 1 HALFLIFE-HU76
Terminal 2 COMBATSURVEILLANCE-DN38 Derive signal from assembled map Command CombatSurveillance Terminal2 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 GARRISON-X862 PTPSLASHRESULT Command Garrison Terminal2 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 COMPLEXECATASTROPHE-R872 You notice diary page on the ground Command ComplexCatastrophe Terminal2 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 DESIREDPERCEPTION-Q8B7 PTPSLASHRESULT Command DesiredPerception Terminal3 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 CHEMICALHAZARD-C329 Derive signal from assembled map Command ChemicalHazard Terminal3 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 SAFEHOUSE-W48V A recessed mandala shaped pattern carved into the stony ground Command Safehouse Terminal3 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 DYNAMICTHREATASSESSMENT-T836 PTPSLASHRESULT Command DynamicThreatAssessment Terminal4 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 CONTROLEZONE-FR64 Inside the shed sits a safe Command ControlZone Terminal4 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 BATTLERYTHM-C28A Derive signal from assembled map Command BattleRythm Terminal4 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 AREADAMAGECONTROL-F889 PTPSLASHRESULT Command AreaDamageControl Terminal5 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 MAXIMUMORDINATE-PU84 Derive signal from assembled map Command MaximumOrdinate Terminal5 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 CRISISMANAGEMENT-W8L6 An ancient catapult sits in a corral made of wooden logs Command CrisisManagement Terminal5 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 WEAPONOFMASSDESTRUCTION-R73Q You see a wide well that emanates sufuric fumes Command WeaponsOfMassDestruction Terminal6 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 BATTLEDAMAGEASSESSMENT-W6X3 PTPSLASHRESULT Command BattleDamageAssessment Terminal6 October28 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 EXPLOSIVEORDNANCEDISPOSAL-L929 Derive signal from assembled map Command ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposal Terminal6 October28 PawnTakesPawn

Following the instructions found in the /dotmatrix#006 note, the screenshots of River Raid had to be combined together to form a map which needed to be read from the bottom up. Using the screenshots indicating the letters with the "L-NNN" slides led to the discovery of a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/bridgeslayer which featured a video of William Bowman interrogating Bruce Harris believing Harris is Perseus.

/bridgeslayer Transcript

A man is seen unconcious and tied to a chair

William Bowman: Wake up! Are you ready to talk now?

Bruce Harris: Who are you? I don't know anything, I swear I didn't tell them anything. It wasn't me.

Bowman: I know it was you. You killed my father, you took him away from my family. You deserve to die.

Harris: Your father? I killed a lot of people, fathers, brothers... sisters. Too many to count. There's no one that regrets that more, trust me!

Bowman: Do you even know his name? Do you know any of their names? Battles fought all over the world, thousands dead - because of greed and power! Was it worth it, Perseus?

Harris: Perseus?! I don't know who sent you here, but your intel's wrong! I'm not Perseus-

Bowman: Stop lying! I know who is you. You gave the order. Dragovich was working for you! If not because of you, my dad wouldn't be sent to Vietnam. If not because of you, I would have known my father...

Harris: No, no, no, no, no, no.

Bowman: Shut up! Shut up. Look at me! I want you to see these eyes when you die. I was told I have his eyes. They're gonna be the last thing you see before I kill you.

Harris: Save the drama! Do you know how many times I had my life threaten? You think this is worse than being a P.O.W. held by the Soviets?! You're gonna kill me? Let's get this over with. I'm way too old to do this again! Whoever you are jus-

Bowman: Bowman.

Harris: What?

Bowman: My father... his name... was Bowman. And your men slaughtered him in Laos.

Harris: It can't be... You're William.

Bowman: Hey! How do you know my name? How do you know who I am?!

Harris: Look, someone turns you around.

Bowman: No.

Harris: I'm not Perseus.

Bowman: No.

Harris: My name is Bruce Harris. Your dad and I served together, we crossed path many times.

Bowman: No! You're lying. You're a Russian spy!

Harris: Your mom's name is Angela! And I'm not who you think. I can prove it. I know this is hard on you. There're more secrets buried than you'll ever discover. Look in that closet behind you. Go ahead! In the back somewhere, there's a duffle bag... with your dad's name on it. The answers you're looking for are in there. Go on.

Bowman leaves to retrieve the bag

Harris: That's yours now, Will.

The end of the video led to another page https://pawntakespawn.com/hydrocamouflage which invited people to return to ZORK to acquire 3 codes to enter the next day.

Zork[]

Typing DREADNOUGHT in ZORK added eight different rooms in the game, Mandala, Stone Catapult, Stone Ring Shack, Generator Building, Makeshift Footbridge, Dilapidated Shack, Holding Cell and Mandala Shed with the message:

You utter the word "dreadnought" and the world seems to subtly shift. You get the feeling that a host of new possibilities have become available to you.

Armed with the torch, the players would need to go to the Atlantis Room which now featured a door leading to the west which featured a mandala-shaped pattern and a key. After taking the key, they would need to enter the mandala which rewarded them with the "Walkabout" achievement as well as a code for the Generator Building:

You enter the mandala and walk along its footpath. As you make your way through the path, you skirt around several deep pits. In the stony ground near one of the pits, someone has engraved the message "GENERATOR BUILDING: 27 18 32".

The players would now have to go south of Reservoir South to find the Stone Catapult which required different settings. The direction needed to be set to "West", the power needed to be set to "70", the angel needed to be set to "45", the catapult needed then to be loaded and fired which rewarded players with the "Bombs Away" and "Swish" achievements and the message:

You fire the catapult and the stone flies majestically over the chasm. In exactly two seconds, you hear the telltale smash of stone hitting stone. The earth trembles beneath you as somewhere, a trigger has been hit.

The players then needed to go West of Chasm to find the Stone Ring Shack where a code needed for /hydrocamouflage could be found:

The interior of the shack is completely bare, except for a message scrawled into the rear wall: BallisticTension

The players would then need to go west of North-South Passage to find the Generator Building. Inside the building was a safe that could be unlocked by using the code found in the Mandala. This allowed players to take a crank and place it in the generator. They would then need to turn the switch on and turn the crank.

They would then have to go south of the Dam Base to the Makeshift Footbridge and then south again to the Dilapidated Shack. The players would need to push the metal drum featured in the shack, electrocuting the grue and rewarding them with the "Grue Slayer" achievement. They would then have to go back to the Generator Building and turn the switch off and then go back to the Dilapidated Shack to pull on a lever and entering the Holding Cell to the east.

Reading the diary rewarded the players with the "Invasion Of Privacy" achievement and a message containing a code and another code to be used on /hydrocamouflage:

A few notes are scribbled on the margins of the page. Toward the top is a drawing of a mandala and the numbers "78 93 04". At the bottom is the message: EnvironmentalHazard

The players would then have to go to the Canyon View and then the Mandala Shed in the northeast. Using the key to unlock the door revealed a safe which required the code found in the diary which rewarded players with the "Safekeeping" achievement and a message that led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/birdseyeview

You dial the sequence 78 93 04. You hear a satisfying click, and the door of the safe creaks open. Within the safe is a small stack of aerial photos. One of them has a message written on its back which reads /BIRDSEYEVIEW.

Combining the drawing from /boilerroom with the one from /birdseyeview led to the discovery of the last code needed for /hydrocamouflage, SacredGeometry.

Sixth Update (October 29)[]

On October 29, a new page was found after submitting the words "BallisticTension", "EnvironmentalHazard" and "SacredGeometry" on the /hydrocamouflage page leading to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/opensecret and rewarding players with the "Master of Secrets" achievement.

The /opensecret page led to another page https://pawntakespawn.com/voicefromthepast which featured an audio file and a floppy disk which led to another page https://pawntakespawn.com/harborofrefuge which featured commands for the terminals.

The audio file read:

Surprise! What's up, baby? Bet you didn't think you'd be hearing my voice today, did you? Well, the last time you were on leave and Alex came over, I told him how I wish I could at least call you from time to time so you could hear my voice. Next thing I know, that man pulled some strings and we got this tape player for you! Now, before you get all mad about me breaking the protocols or whatever, you know I can't resist an opportunity for a good surprise, and I couldn't just tell you the news in a letter.
Oh Joe, I wanted to tell you in person but you never know when you're coming home and I-- I just can't hold it anymore... I'm pregnant, sweetheart! Marabelle and Mama and Gram are gettin' all crazy and feeding me all kinds of weird stuff for the baby and not letting me do things around the house; they're so excited. I hope you are too. That's what we wanted, right? A family.
I love you, Joe. I know you have a hard time saying it but you better get used to it. And in case you're wondering, no, I haven't pawned the ring! In fact, I haven't taken it off since the day you put it on me.
I can't wait for you to come home. You gonna be a Daddy.
— /voicefromthepast audio file


Terminal Command Text Image
Terminal 1 PERSISTENTAGENT-Q26E Apply signals to first six maps Command PersistentAgent Terminal1 October29 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 2 TABOOFREQUENCIES-G34H Apply signals to first six maps Command TabooFrequencies Terminal2 October29 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 3 TOTALMOBILIZATION-F874 Apply signals to first six maps Command TotalMobilization Terminal3 October29 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 4 CRITICALINTELLIGENCE-M2X4 Apply signals to first six maps Command CriticalIntelligence Terminal4 October29 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 5 FORCESEQUENCING-HN73 Apply signals to first six maps Command ForceSequencing Terminal5 October29 PawnTakesPawn
Terminal 6 COUNTERDECEPTION-J7F4 Apply signals to first six maps Command CounterDeception Terminal6 October29 PawnTakesPawn

The commands from the terminals led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/colorcompany which featured a cassette tape with an audio file. The tape led to another page https://pawntakespawn.com/semaphoreblackout featuring a note.

The audio file read:

My head is still swimming from what happened yesterday. I almost killed a man! It's scary how lies and half truths can mess with your head. Playing off of our vulnerabilities. Letting ourselves lose sight of what we cherish most.
Once we got somewhere safe, I stayed up all night with Bruce. He told me about how he fell off the catwalk on Mount Yamantau and how he survived the cold for six days before being found by the Soviets. How he was tortured and sent from one secret gulag to another. Until one day, the wall came down and he found himself a free man-- well, almost.
It was obvious that he was holding back, but that didn't matter. What he did tell me, I will never forget. Bruce didn't go on many missions with my Dad, but he was around him quite a bit. He told me how my Dad had this in-your-face, tough-as-nails front about him. Always playin' it cool. Always ready for action. Loyal as hell! How he would jump in front of danger without any hesitation! I guess he did that one too many times.
My Mom never said much about these things at all before she died. Maybe she never saw that side of him. Or maybe... Maybe it just hurt too much.
— /colorcompany audio file


The six River Raid screenshots from the /bulkhead page had to be combined in the same order as displayed in the terminals, from cyan to purple. Following the instructions found in /semaphoreblackout, lines had to be drawn between specific helicopters, boats, jets or fuel tanks. Comparing the lines with the "LL-NN" slides featuring black semaphore revealed 18 letters. By unscrambling the letters a new page was found https://pawntakespawn.com/nevergetofftheboat which featured a letter from Joseph Bowman to his fiancée Angela about their future child.

The page led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/discoveredcheck which required 6 codes to be entered. The codes were the ones displayed in the different terminals: AIREDALE, HEADWIND, WINDFALL, FREEBOARD, FATHOMS, SEACHANGE.

After entering the codes, a new page was found https://pawntakespawn.com/shoreleave rewarding players with the "Discovered Check" achievement. A note featured in /shoreleave led to another page https://pawntakespawn.com/byanymeans. Both pages featured documents about Perseus, Nikita Dragovich, Arash Kadivar, Qasim Javadi as well as letters wrote by Bruce Harris to William Bowman.

The /byanymeans page led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/colorbound which required a code by using tangrams found in both the Verdansk map of Call of Duty: Warzone and the Isolated map of Call of Duty: Mobile.

Each tangram found in Verdansk had a specific number written on them. A list of 36 tangrams could be made by arranging the tangrams by their number. Combining the Verdansk tangrams with their corresponding Isolated tangrams, based on the black-and-white squares, formed a third set of 36 tangrams with new colors.

By following the instructions on /colorbound where each number corresponded to a specific tangram from the third set, one needed to read the colors in the tangrams from left to right and top to bottom and find the matching colors in the conversion grid. The resulting code was : "1PIECES9IN8PLAY1".

After entering the code, a new page wound found https://pawntakespawn.com/perseusisoutthere which featured a video from William Bowman. Accessing the page rewarded players with the "Dead Draw" achievement.

/perseusisoutthere Transcript

William Bowman: Together we have begun to unravel the secrets that lie beneath the surface. The operations that take place under the cover of darkness. Heroes and traitors. And those caught somewhere in between. The Cold War is not just a thing of the past. The struggle for power and control is real. Across every nation on the planet. Make no mistake, Perseus is out there. Stay diligent. Know your history, or be doomed to repeat it.

The "Dead Draw" achievement led to a new page https://pawntakespawn.com/deaddraw which featured codes to be redeemed on the Call of Duty website to get some cosmetic rewards in Warzone and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Mobile and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

Trivia[]

  • The map of Verdansk from Call of Duty: Warzone could be seen in the background.
  • A cover of the game Chopper Command published by Activision in 1982 could also be seen in the background.
    • A cover of the game Hacker published by Activision in 1985 could also be seen in the background alongside Chopper Command.
  • The "/tangledweb" page is a reference to the "A Tangled Web We Weave" chess game between Bobby Fischer and Lhamsuren Myagmarsuren in 1967.[3]
  • The phrase "Every battle is won before it is ever fought" is a quote from The Art of War military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu.
  • The "/emc2" page is a reference to the E=mc² formula described by Albert Einstein in 1905 which became crucial in the understanding of nuclear fission and the creation of the first atomic bomb.
    • The page is also a reference to the "Playing Against Einstein's Theory" chess game between Bobby Fischer and Mikhail Tal in 1961.[4]
  • The "/11thhour" page is a reference to "The 11th Hour" chess game between Bobby Fischer and Anthony Saidy in 1964.[5]
  • The figure on top of the computer on the "/codecave" page is a reference to the Kaboom! game published by Activision in 1981.
  • The title "Unravel the Secrets" and the phrase "Great results can be achieved with small forces" were added to the source code of the "/codecave" page.
    • The phrase is a quote from The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
  • FUGAZI is a Vietnam War-era military slang standing for "Fucked Up, Got Ambushed, Zipped In"

References[]

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