A puzzle.

[Locutus]

As many of you know, I sometimes go out geocaching as a hobby.  There are several of us that have developed some camaraderie by putting down challenges to each other.

At any rate, a friend of mine put out a puzzle cache and has challenged others to find it.  I haven't solved the puzzle as of yet, but I figured I would share it here in case any of my fellow Zoners feel like taking a crack at it. 

The puzzle is based on the Matrix (however the title of the cache is called the Architect).

Here is the description of the cache directly from geocaching.com.

The Architect is the program that created The Matrix and oversees its function. As a program of The Matrix, he is artificial yet unlike most other programs, The Architect is mechanical in his actions, in that he speaks in long logical chains of reasoning, utilizing several connectors and has little variance in his tone of voice. He exhibits little facial expression beyond smirks and glares, but does show emotion on limited occasions such as regret, annoyance and arrogance.

The true purpose of The Architect is to balance the mathematical equations that make up the programming of The Matrix. He is unable to see the world as anything other than a series of equations. Because of this he cannot comprehend the concept of choice and free will and cannot see the results of such choices as they are no more than variable factors in an equation to him.

Your goal is to reach the Isle of Zion and locate the treasure. To succeed in reaching Zion, you must first contact the Oracle. She possesses the power of foresight, which she uses to advise and guide the humans attempting to fight the Matrix's system. Her purpose is to help humans, not in order to destroy the Matrix, but rather so that they can voluntarily disconnect themselves from the system, ensuring its stability while preventing its destruction. The Oracle has entrusted the Source with the numerical sequence necessary to access the treasure.

This is an offset cache which will require some puzzle solving ability, basic orienteering skills, substantial hiking, moderate bushwhacking and above average geo senses.

Apparently, the initial coordinates for the cache can somehow be gleaned from this quipu:




and these Runes:




Those are the only clues given.  The answer, once found, will be in the following Lat/Lon format:

N 28° 20.000 W 080° 56.000

^  That is simply a sample so that you would know what format the answer will be in.


Anyone care to assist me in solving this puzzle and being the first to find the cache?

[Locutus]

This image also may have something to do with the solution as well, although I'm not certain.

[Locutus]

And in case it helps, here's a direct link to the cache listing.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=fc187eaa-78d8-47ed-9ff5-929289fbb4c5

[Palehorse]

34 / 33.000 / 89.4  / 24.000  ???????????????

I am sur ethat isn't right. . . 

[Palehorse]

Well, the latest I got takes you to Libya 

34 32.58 - 46.00

http://www.boulter.com/gps/#34%2032.58%20-%2046.00

[Palehorse]

Or it could take you off the coast of Shodoshima Island in Japan! 

34 34.320 - 585 45.200

http://www.boulter.com/gps/#34%2034.320%20-%20585%2045.200

[Locutus]

This guy lives in Central Florida somewhere.   The eventual coordinates would lead to somewhere in that area. 

[Locutus]

This image also may have something to do with the solution as well, although I'm not certain.

Using the Runes, the letters in the above image are:

E S N L
C H S (V or W)
(V or W) U S E
A N O D

   What could it mean?

[Palehorse]

Yeah, I kind of guessed that much, which is why its so funny that I'm so far off on the coordinates. . . 

[Palehorse]

Well I might live in Indiana, but I'm no Indiana Jones! 

[Locutus]

Well I might live in Indiana, but I'm no Indiana Jones! 

Well I'm not either.  From the listing, the initial coordinates (that you're supposed to be able to glean from the runes and quipu) lead to this location somewhere in Central Florida:



Those benches look dilapidated, so I'm not sure if this is in a remote area or what.   Perhaps this area was once a park??

[Palehorse]

This image also may have something to do with the solution as well, although I'm not certain.

"M" = Horse
s= "yew"
I = "ice"
Backwards 7 = lake

< = ??
H = Hail
s = "yew
P = joy

P =Joy
N = ??
s = Yew
M = horse

F = ash
t = need
  = estate
Bowtie = day

(Germanic Rune Alphabet??)

[Locutus]

From the runes image, and a Wikipedia article, I think it is a Scandinavian variant of the runes called Futhark (for the first letters in the alphabet as depicted on the Runes)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runes

[Palehorse]

From the runes image, and a Wikipedia article, I think it is a Scandinavian variant of the runes called Futhark (for the first letters in the alphabet as depicted on the Runes)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runes

Yeah that is it alright!

[Locutus]

And what does all this BS about contacting the Oracle mean?

Your goal is to reach the Isle of Zion and locate the treasure. To succeed in reaching Zion, you must first contact the Oracle. She possesses the power of foresight, which she uses to advise and guide the humans attempting to fight the Matrix's system. Her purpose is to help humans, not in order to destroy the Matrix, but rather so that they can voluntarily disconnect themselves from the system, ensuring its stability while preventing its destruction. The Oracle has entrusted the Source with the numerical sequence necessary to access the treasure.

"..the numerical sequence necessary to access the treasure?"   What the hell does that mean?