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Revision as of 21:54, 25 September 2020
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.
The ARG also involved Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Box and slides
In early August 2020, Activision sent a box to different Youtubers and Media outlets, such as CharlieIntel, Chaos, NoahJ456, butters, Hayashii, PrestigeIsKey or Mark Medina from IGN among others. The boxes were to be open 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. 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 reenactement of the Inauguration of Abrahma 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.
| “ | 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
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:
Two phrases were hidden inside the solution. The first sentence was:
And the second sentence was:
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.
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
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” |
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
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” |
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
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” |
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
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” |
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
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” |
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
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” |
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:
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:
When entering Insight:
When entering Tribute:
When entering Spectrum:
When entering Avarice:
When entering Tempest:
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 influencers 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
Exempt from General Declassification — T1 Instruction Note
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” |
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
Exempt from General Declassification — T2-A Instruction Note
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” |
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
Exempt from General Declassification — T3 Instruction Note
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” |
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
Exempt from General Declassification — T4-A Instruction Note
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” |
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
Exempt from General Declassification — T5-A Instruction Note
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” |
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
Exempt from General Declassification — T6-A Instruction Note
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” |
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)
Following the instructions found in the crates sent to influencers, 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 23th, 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.
The /dotmatrix page was also updated with another note:
| “ | ..........
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 STEP TWO
- Apply Grids — /dotmatrix#002 note
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” |
Each command featured in the "Open-Drop-Save-Restore" was relate to one of the terminals received by the influencers 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 | 
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| Terminal 1 | IRREGULARWARFARE-TP22 | Modification Grid | 
|
| Terminal 1 | CLIMATECHANGE-M7H6 | Cadet Level | 
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| Terminal 2 | AIRSUPPORT-P63E | A pile of bricks lays on the ground | 
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| Terminal 2 | SCHEMEOFMANEUVER-R9U4 | Based Boards | 
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| Terminal 2 | CHIEFOFFIRES-Q672 | Cadet Level | 
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| Terminal 3 | TACTICALQUESTIONING-RF82 | There is a massive bellows in the room | 
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| Terminal 3 | ALERTORDER-D273 | Modification Grid | 
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| Terminal 3 | BEACHMASTERUNIT-K87J | Cadet Level | 
|
| Terminal 4 | RESCUEESCORT-R2E7 | Thousands of red eyes watch you | 
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| Terminal 4 | CONTAMINATIONMITIGATION-E694 | Board Modifiers | 
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| Terminal 4 | HOMELAND-T3P9 | Cadet Level | 
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| Terminal 5 | GROUNDOPERATIONS-EU92 | It looks like something is written on the spire | 
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| Terminal 5 | CONTACTPROCEDURE-L342 | Modification Grid | 
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| Terminal 5 | CIVILEMERGENCY-X7R4 | Cadet Level | 
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| Terminal 6 | NAVSPECWARCOM-B736 | There is a cable with a handwritten label | 
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| Terminal 6 | COUNTERINSURGENCY-J7V4 | Modification Grid | 
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| Terminal 6 | UNANTICIPATEDTARGET-HG73 | Cadet Level | 
|
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
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” |
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, the password "BONUSSTAGEUNLOCKED" was found. After submitted 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:
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:
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 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 | 
|
| Terminal 2 | HOSTILEINTENT-N629 | Commander Level | 
|
| Terminal 3 | ISOLATEDPERSONNEL-W763 | Commander Level | 
|
| Terminal 4 | PSYCHOLOGICALOPERATIONS-Z783 | Commander Level | 
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| Terminal 5 | LISTENINGWATCH-G678 | Commander Level | 
|
| Terminal 6 | STABILITYACTIVITIES-M94U | Commander Level | 
|
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
— /vcharlie note
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” |
Using the same method found in /dustoff on the /vcharlie note, 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
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” |
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.
| “ | ..........
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
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” |
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 influencers.
The commands were used to find a code to enter in the safe. The code was 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.
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
- ↑ https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044722
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/blackopscoldwar/comments/icqwtc/phone_number_code_recording/
- ↑ https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044267&kpage=3
- ↑ https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1008404&kpage=7
- ↑ https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044586