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A Game of Hide and Seek in the Digital Age Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

MaplessInSeattle: Archived

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Hidden : 12/31/2007
Difficulty:
4.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Cache is NOT at posted coordinates. Solve the puzzle to get the coordinates. The container, although not visible, will not require moving or overturning of any items.

-=[MaplessInSeattle]=-
Presents
A Game of HIDE and SEEK


This is our first puzzle cache, we had a number of problems getting it published, but thanks to the patience of the local reviewer(MUCH Patience) we believe we have finally come to the conclusion of the planning phase.
This puzzle has two methods for finding the cache. The first is the original method, which the cache was titled after, the second is a Geocaching.com compliance method, both should prove to be equally nerve wracking and deserving of the difficulty rating. If not, I think I will not make another Puzzle cache for quite some time.
Rules:
I will give clues if you need them. If you need further clarification simply ask for it. I am very willing to help anyone with this puzzle, but I will not GIVE it away to you.
If you solve the puzzle, do not just give it out to others, I will gladly help anyone that needs it, but part of the joy of a puzzle is putting at least SOME work into it. If you even make the slightest attempt to solve this, I'm sure you will feel much more excited about your smiley, than if you just phone a friend for the coordinates. Enjoy!
Puzzle Begins

Herodotus and Demeratus got confused when they tried to play a game of just plain hide and seek. They were born too early for computers, and alas, they could not use Windows, Linux or MacOS to play. Their descendants however were able to find a way to play. One day they were walking through gasworks, and they took this picture:



They put the picture in their jacket, and zipped it up. But the zipper was broken so it took a pair of pliers to open it. Once they opened it, they were astonished to find that they were in the wrong place when they took the picture. They should have just looked at good picture example for information about little things like coordinates to find what they were seeking.



Puzzle End - Additional Note per site regulations

In order to make the cache adhere to Geocaching.com rules. An alternate means of solving the puzzle had to be provided, what follows is that method, it does not apply to those who are solving the original puzzle. Only to those who wish to not participate in that method of solving.
Your coordinates will be in Decimal Degrees format.
I will give you this much to start:
47.ABCDE
-122.FGHIJ

At coordinates S 31° 55.558 E 115° 54.646 you will find a sign.
On this sign is some useful information for solving some of the above variables.
what appears to be flower petals on the sign, upon closer examination are actually branches of a tree. Count them, and store this number as "P" P squared plus P squared, minus ten will give you FGH Count the number of "o"'s on the sign. Double this number, this will yield IJ
Utilizing the code found in appedix F of ISBN 0-385-49531-5, implement EASYOUT for the square key, and DUNCHEAT for the column key. Then decode the following message to get the north coordinates:

AVADD VAVDA DGXGX DADDG XAVAD XFGAG AADAA GDXVD VDDGV FGFDA 
XDAGV DGAAD DGDAD DXDGD VAAGG GDDGV FAXDF GADDA GFVGA XFFDF 
AFGAD VAFVA DXDAG FFXFF FADDF GDXAV AXAXA VFDFV GFDDD XGDGG 
FAVFA FADGF VGXAX XGDFV VDDDD XADAD GVVAA GFFXA VDXAV VAGFV 
GGAXF DAVAG ADDGV DAXAF VVADG DAGAX FGVXD FFGDD AGAFA AFFAF 
GFDAA FFDAV VGADF VXDGA DFADA AFAFF DFXVA DFFDD DFVAF GXGDD 
GFADF AFFDF GXXGD GGXDG AVXAD DDDFA VDDVA GDAAF DGGAX FAAGD 
DDDAA DDDFA VVAGA DFXFA VAVDD AXGVD AGDAA DGDXF ADDVD DDFDG 
AXDAF AVVDA VVXDD AGDXA GAGDG DDADD DFFVA AXXAG GDAAA DADDA 
DDADF DDXGF FFVFD GAVAA AFVAF AVVFD XAGDG DGFDX GDADF GXDFG 
DAFAX FDADX VVAFD XXDDX ADFAG FFGFA FFVAA GADFD XFAAD GGAXA 
GXVDD FGDGA XVGAA AFDFG XGDVV AFVDA DVVAF ADVFA DDDGF DGFFV 
ADVGA GVFVD GFGVA FGAAG FDFGF FDD

Happy New Year Everyone, Maybe this will be the last cache placed of the 2007 year.
This is a DUAL FTF puzzle, btw. Please post whether you found it using the first or second method. The first person from both methods is awarded title of FTF. So if someone solves it the second way, and you solve it the first way, you can STILL get FTF, even after it is found.
Primary Method: Solved Co-FTF goes to bolosky and PryingPandora/Plaidguy
Secondary Method: FTF honors to the newcomers ljkdh, great job you two.
Special thanks to R0gue, who made the alternate method possible, and very difficult.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fghzcrq?

Decryption Key

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

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)