Hints

Choctaw Language

• Unlike other puzzles encountered, the Choctaw puzzle merely requires a switch from English to another language. There may be a document that provides a helpful translation from words in English to those in Choctaw.
• There are some instances of this language that appear to be modified. Knowing which characters use this language may help direct you to a document that can help you decode this modification.
• Looking at Ben's photograph may help you figure out how to decode the modified Choctaw language.

Construction Memo

• The construction memo plainly lays out the encoded text, but not the keyword. Is there something significant in this document that could be the keyword?

Glyph

• Multiple documents from different characters bear a series of glyphs that appear to be part of the same symbolic language. Figuring out which characters have encountered these glyphs may help you decode them.
• The glyphs appear on some documents with no context. Cross-referencing other documents, particularly ones with a little more information, may be the key to decoding them.
• The glyphs appear in the nature notes, burnt paper, blueprints, and the unsigned letter.

Letter from Poirot

• Poirot lays out each step to solving the various Playfair codes. If you find yourself stuck on one, try to refer back to Poirot's letter. He'll provide the proper technique.

Lock

• Harrington Pace is a believer in numerology. Are there any numbers of significance in his life that may apply to the lock?
• What opens the lock might not be one three-digit number itself, but three individual digits.
• Each number in the lock may be assigned some symbol of significance to Harrington Pace other than its numerical value.
• To discover every number in the lock, you will need to be able to complete every individual puzzle in the documents you have available to you at the start.
• Looking at documents that Pace has personally touched may help you figure out the combination.

Menu Draft

• There are certain letters in the menu draft that appear different from others. Consulting other documents written by this document's author may help solve the puzzle.
• The menu draft appears to be a conversation between Agnes and Zoe. Another document mentions a secret form of communication that only the two of them shared.
• Consulting Zoe's diary will help reveal the technique needed to solve the menu draft.

Missing Journal Page

• The missing journal page provides the encoded text, but not the keyword. Is there anything on this document that could provide a path to follow to find out what the keyword is?

Playfair Code

• The Playfair code is mentioned by name somewhere in the box. Could a character have left clues to solve it?
• There are multiple instances of Playfair code in the box, with each successive appearance amping up in difficulty. If you want to try to solve the code yourself, try referring back to the tutorial a character has provided.

Redacted Information

• Certain documents contain redacted information. Manipulating these documents may help you to discover how to read the hidden information.

Reveals

Ben's Envelope

• The note written on the back of Ben's photograph is signed "Otihc". From Ben's envelope, it can be deduced that Ben goes by the name "Chito" back home. Together, these can be taken as a clue to Ben's manipulation of Choctaw words to further disguise his meaning in his letter to Coahoma.

Blueprints

• The glyph on the blueprints represents the words "hiding place".

Burnt Paper

• The glyph on the burnt paper represents the word "passage".

Choctaw Language

• The English translations for Choctaw words are found in the cryptography pamphlet.
• Some words that appear to be in Choctaw are, in fact, written backward. The clue to this can be found in the way Ben writes his Choctaw name on the back of Ben's photograph.

Construction Memo

• The construction memo bears encoded text that is recognizable as decoded by a Playfair code. The transcribed text is GFWUKCSOPSQDUWBQ. Pace has secretly provided the keyword to the code, by underlining "Wally" in his handwriting. The grid, however, is not provided and must be created. By following the grid setup instructions in the letter from Poriot, creating your own grid should result in the following:

• Properly decrypting GF, the first pair of letters, will result in a decrypted FE. G and F are both on the same row, so to properly decrypt, move backward by one along the same row. So far, the decrypted message reads FE.
• The second pair of letters, WU, decrypts to AT using the first method described in Poirot's tutorial. Create a box with W and U at the diagonally opposite corners, and then move to the opposite ends of the respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads FEAT.
• The third pair of letters, KC, decrypts to HE using the same method. Create a box around K and C, with the letters in the diagonally opposite corners. Moving to the ends of their respective rows will decrypt K and C to H and E. So far, the decrypted message reads FEATHE.
• The fourth pair of letters, SO, decrypts to RS. Because S and O are on the same row, you must move backward by one along the row to decrypt them, with O shifting from the beginning of the row to the S at the end of the row. So far, the decrypted message reads FEATHERS.
• The fifth pair of letters, PS, decrypts to OR. Because P and S are on the same row, you must move backward by one along the row to decrypt them. So far, the decrypted message reads FEATHERSOR.
• The sixth pair of letters, QD, decrypts to PE. Creating a box around Q and D, with the letters at the diagonally opposite corners, will put P and E on the opposite ends of the respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads FEATHERSORPE.
• The seventh pair of letters, UW, decrypt to TA. Creating a box around U and W, with the letters at diagonally opposite corners, will put T and A on the opposite ends of the respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads FEATHERSORPETA.
• The final pair of letters, BQ, decrypts to LS. Creating a box around B and Q, with the letters at diagonally opposite corners, will put L and S on the opposite ends of their respective rows. The final decrypted message reads FEATHERSORPETALS.

• By breaking out the individual words in the decrypted message, you will end up with FEATHERS OR PETALS.

Cryptography Pamphlet

• Claude: Pace has his sights set on your family's home.
• Ben: I have to find out for sure.
• Claude: He's a vermin.
• Ben: What are you trying to say?
• Claude: That we should stop him.
• Ben: How?
• Claude: Be ready to fight. I can cover for you.

Event Invitation

• Claude: 2200. Pompous ass. Pretends he fought. Never did. Never would. Not a soldier.
• Ben: What is a hunting party?
• Claude: Hunting for sport. You wouldn't like it. But good chance to see more of the country. Help you get in good with someone in the army. Ready?
• Ben: Yes.

Glyph

Below is a 1:1 translation of each glyph that appears in various documents:

Investigation File

• The following are sections of the investigation file with the revealed redacted information in bold:

  • Case

    • Investigation into an incident at the Battle of Grandville on 17 July, 1918, leading to the deaths of all but one soldier in Unit 993.

  • Members

    • Allen, Arthur - deceased
    • Bailey, Claude - wounded
    • Benson, Henry - deceased
    • Brown, Simon - deceased
    • Evans, James - deceased
    • John, James "Jimmy" - deceased
    • Phillips, Elliot - deceased
    • Smith, Daniel - deceased
    • Smith, Winston - deceased
    • Thompson, Oscar - deceased
    • Willams, Theodore "Teddy" - deceased
    • Wilson, Noah - deceased
    • Photo of unit attached.

  • The sole survivor came to our department requesting we launch an official investigation.

  • 5 January, 1919

    • Official statement transcribed from interview with Pte. Claude Bailey:

      "I had no real desire to become a soldier. Not 'til the Great War began, anyway. I was an apprentice to a mechanic in London. Honest work. Thought I'd find a nice girl, settle down soon after. But then the war started, and I knew it was about something bigger than me, knew I had to do my part. Even lied on my enlistment form to get in. I'm allergic to peanuts and goose down, broke plenty of bones as a kid. Didn't matter to them, I guess. What I heard from the front, I thought it was going to be rushing into battle every day. Most days we actually just sat in a cold, wet trench, eating bully beef out of tin cans. Waiting for something to happen. Kind of funny, actually. My unit passed the days getting to know one another, playing poker with no chips and muddy cards. Grew quite close.

      Can't say the same for my superiors. There was nothing superior 'bout them. Their orders would come down on high without the foggiest of what was actually going on on the ground. Of course, I ain't the type to just sit there and take it. So, sure, I got myself into my fair share of scraps, but not with anyone who weren't deservin'. If the Lurchers were still alive, they could attest to my true character.

      But they ain't. Got sent to ambush a group of Germans thought to be hiding somewhere in Grandville. We were real good at sniffing out Jerrys along the Western Front. That's how we got the name Lurchers. Anyway, I don't know what happened, how they knew we were comin', but they were ready for us. We managed to find cover from the crossfire. I remember Jimmy fired the first shot, then Winston, then me. Only when we pulled the trigger, nothing came out. That's when we realized we were sitting ducks. With nothing to defend ourselves but a couple of sidearms. Some people may say a gun is a gun, but those people ain't never been in a gunfight. Ain't no way a Colt's the same as a Lee-Enfield. I was certain that was my last day on Earth. Made my peace with god and the lot. But somehow I made it out alive. Had to kill my way through a dozen Jerrys by myself. There were a couple times I thought they were gonna get me, took a couple bullets, but I got them all. And now I'm sittin' at a desk, starin' at the clock as the time ticks by.

      Some said I was lucky, but it doesn't feel that way. More of a punishment than a blessing. Made it my personal duty to visit each of their wives and families. Know they have someone do it, but it felt right for me to. Let them know what happened out there and what decent men they all were. How they died by no fault o' their own. And I made each of them a promise. That I would find out who was behind this. Can't help but question everything now. Who gave us those bullets? Did they leave the factory like that? Got the feelin' the Red Tabs want to keep it all hush-hush, but I'll tell you this, if someone did this knowingly, they'd never want to be in a room alone with me."

  • Investigation Note

    • Despite Pte. Bailey's rather aggressive disposition, I have no reason to believe he is lying. Based on his testimony, further investigation into where the bullets were manufactured is required.

  • 20 March, 1919

    • Reports show bullets manufactured at a factory in London, but the name of the factory has been redacted. However, my research concludes there are only two factories in London that currently provide ammunition for the British Armed Forces.

      • Winston
      • iokheira

      I plan to visit both in the coming month.

  • 4 April, 1919

    • Spoke with the Winston factory manager, Harold Dean. Official statement.

      "Yes, we supplied the British Armed Forces with ammunition from 1915-1918, however, during that time frame we had no recalls or incidents of squib bullets on record."

      Note: Mr. Dean permitted me to look through the factory records, which verified his account.

  • 7 April, 1919

    • First spoke with the iokheira factory manager, Walter Gray. Official statement.

      "There was a recall of bullets in 1918, but the issue was isolated and resolved quickly. Nothing in our records indicate any squib bullets making it into the hands of the British Armed Forces. We take great pride in our work and have a long history in manufacturing. I'm afraid I can speak no further about it until the owner, Mr. Harrington Pace, returns."

      Note: Mr. Gray refused access to the factory records.

      Before I left, I was stopped by a factory worker who wished to remain anonymous. Official statement.

      "I don't know if I should be saying this, but I told Mr. Gray we were spreading the gunpowder too thin. We didn't have enough for such a large order. He said to do as I was told, and he said that order came from the very top. I couldn't afford to lose my job, so I didn't question him."

      Note: Will attempt to speak with the owner, Mr. Harrington Pace.

  • 8 April, 1919

    • Attempted to reach Mr. Harrington Pace for comment. Secretary stated he is travelling for business. Will return in two weeks.

  • 22 April, 1919

    • Attempted to reach Mr. Harrington Pace for comment. Secretary stated he is out of the country for a month and cannot be reached.

  • 22 May, 1919

    • Attempted to reach Mr. Harrington Pace for comment. Secretary stated he is out of the country for a month and cannot be reached. When I told her she had given me the same line the month prior, the call was abruptly disconnected.

  • 13 June, 1919

    • An upset Mr. Gray came to my office this afternoon. Told me he was recently fired from iokheira. Stated Mr. Harrington Pace was made well aware of gunpowder issues and gave authorization to continue with production. Mr. Gray then proceeded to provide me with the 1918 iokheira factory records, confirming the factory recall of squib bullets knowingly sold to the British Armed Forces.

  • CONCLUSION

    • It is the belief of this investigator that the cause of the squib round incident was due to malfeasance on the part of manufacturing. The bullets were created at the iokheira factory in London, owned by Mr. Harrington Pace. At his authorization, the bullets were made with less gunpowder than required to function properly. This caused the bullets to lack the force needed to exit the barrel, resulting in the deaths of the majority of Unit 933.

    • Amendment

      • 14 September, 1919

        • It is the belief of the British Armed Forces that no wrongdoing occured. We are ruling the squib round incident an accident. The case is officially closed.

Letter from Poirot

• Step-by-step instructions to the Playfair code are given in the letter from Poirot. Keeping that handy can help if the other instances prove too challenging.
• The letter from Poirot gives a tutorial for the Playfair code, but even so, it is a very challenging puzzle. Each instance has its own unique keyword and message.
• First, find the encoded message and the keyword. They are TFDVMFRTBIEA and POIROT, respectively.
• Playfair works by first splitting the coded message into pairs of two letters. By pairing them, you should end up with TF, DV, MF, RT, BI, and EA. If you have an odd number of letters, add X as the final letter. This will occur in a different Playfair cipher you will encounter later, but it is not necessary to use in the letter from Poirot.

• Next, you should create a 5x5 grid of letters. Begin by placing the keyword first, in this case, POIROT. Omit any repeated letters in the keyword, and then fill the rest of the grid with the remainder of the alphabet, excluding J. For the letter from Poirot, your finished grid should appear as it does on the back of the letter itself:

• Your first pair of letters are T and F. Since those letters aren't in the same row or column, draw a box around them, with T and F at the diagonally opposite corners. Next, replace them with the furthest letters on the same rows. In this case, P is the farthest from T, and L is the farthest from F. This means you have successfully decoded the first pair of letters in the code to be PL.
• The next pair of letters are DV. Use the same method to decode these two letters. The furthermost letter from D is A, and the furthermost letter from V is Y. You have successfully decoded the second pair of letters to be AY. So far, you have a decrypted message that reads PLAY.
• The third pair of letters in the encoded text are MF. If you have encrypted letters that are in the same column, move upward by one to decrypt them. In this case, the encrypted M would decode to F, and the encrypted F would decode to A. So far, you have a decrypted message that reads PLAYFA.
• The fourth pair of letters in the encoded text are RT. If you have encrypted letters that are in the same row, move one to the left to decrypt them. In this case, the encrypted R would decode to I, and the encrypted T would decode to R. So far, you have a decrypted message that reads PLAYFAIR.
• The fifth pair of letters in the encoded text are BI. This pair uses the same decryption method as the first two pairs; draw a box, with B and I in the diagonally opposite corners, and then move to the opposite ends of the respective rows. In this pair, the encrypted B would decode to C, and the encrypted I would decode to O. So far, you have a decrypted message that reads PLAYFAIRCO.
• The sixth pair of letters, EA, introduces a new decryption method. If a letter pair appears at the beginning and end of the same row, the letter at the end of the row would shift once to the left while the letter at the beginning of the row would shift to the end of the row. In this pair, the encrypted E would decode to D, and the encrypted A would decode to E. You will then have a complete decrypted message that reads PLAYFAIRCODE.
• Finally, simply read the entire message to discover where spaces naturally occur. In this case, the decrypted message reads PLAYFAIR CODE.

Letter to Coahoma

• The following bolded words are decrypted from backward Choctaw:

  • There has been a casualty/death. Harrington Pace, the man whose home I am staying in. I am afraid these people will band together and blame me, the outsider. This Mr. Pace was a very strange man, and it seemed he could have any number of enemies.
  • In what little he spoke to me, he told me of the "metaphysicality of numbers", but it is a vocal story he told me that makes me fear for my fate here. Mr. Pace drunkenly told me of his hunting of a mountain lion while he was in America. He claimed there was a group of eight of them, but that he managed to corner one and slay it. I did not tell him that mountain lions do not travel in packs. I did not say anything at all for fear of contradicting him, and yet I know the guests saw the ire in my look. I am afraid they may think I killed him out of some sense of honor. They already know how disturbing I find the concept of trophy hunting.
  • People here hunt for sport instead of food. They dress up in impressive suits and hunt for everything from rabbit to eagle. There are many animals I have not ever seen or heard of mounted on Mr. Pace's walls. The way he boasts about his ruthless business ventures, I would not be surprised if he intended to mount the heads of his enemies.
  • I am writing to you to tell you what I discovered about what Mr. Pace intends to do. He wants to build. Our closest word may be ammunition building/house? He plans to build one of those at our home. To do this could be to destroy it. I discovered a memorandum of his that discusses it. I managed to steal away in the middle of the night and take it from his strange trophy room. On my way, I was almost caught by his servant, who I saw emerging from a hidden door down the hall. She was carrying some sort of soiled package, and would have seen me had I not managed to sneak into the trophy room and out the house's backdoor.
  • Even my new friend, Claude, has behaved strangely. I was assigned to train him to use our language as code, as I did with the American military. He in turn began training me with codes of his own. We've begun to grow closer, but I wonder if I can trust him. He allowed Mr. Pace to walk right into his gun sight line during our hunt. I cannot understand how a soldier like him would allow that to happen.
  • Be careful, brother. Stay aware of the encroaching, wider world. I feel it coming for our home, as it comes for me now.

Lock

• No document contains one single number that will open the lock. The key is finding several individual digits and the order in which those digits occur.
• Each individual digit is assigned an animal representative. The order in which these occur can be found on the back of the photograph of Pace and Wallace, where Pace lists his favorite trophies as being the ones he hunted in North America; the wolf, the owl, and the mountain lion.
• Each number in the sequence is hidden behind one of the individual codes. To find the wolf number, you will need to be able to decode the glyphs. To find the owl number, you will need to be able to solve the Playfair code. And to find the mountain lion number, you will need to translate Choctaw.
• The specific numbers for the lock can be found in the nature notes, the construction memo, and the letter to Coahoma.
• The key to the lock is 458.

Menu Draft

• Certain letters on the menu draft have a mark above them. From context, it can be inferred that the menu draft is a conversation between Agnes and Zoe. From the unsigned letter, it is clear that Agnes has a secret that Zoe knows the truth about, and according to Zoe's diary, Agnes and Zoe share a secret form of written communication using "little ticks".

• Agnes and Zoe have a secret conversation in the menu draft that can be decoded as follows:

  • Agnes: Added the mushroom to teach him a lesson
  • Zoe: Good, Pace has it comin

Missing Journal Page

• Wallace's handwriting on the missing journal page reads "You still have time. DINDHNGIBFPDMCIDXK." He has provided the encoded text, but only left a clue as to the necessary keyword. "You still have time" is a reference to the watch that is also included behind the lock.

• By examining the watch, you will find it's been engraved with the word "iokheira". This is the keyword necessary to solve the encryption Wallace has left. Using "iokheira" as the keyword will result in the following grid:

• The first pair of letters, DI, decrypt to RE. Creating a box around D and I, with the letters in diagonally opposite corners, will put R and E on the opposite ends of their respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads RE.
• The second pair of letters, ND, decrypts to DE. Since N and D are in the same column, you must go up by one to decrypt the letters. So far, the decrypted message reads REDE.
• The third pair of letters, HN, decrypts to EM. Creating a box around H and N, with the letters in diagonally opposite corners, will put E and M on the opposite ends of their respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads REDEEM.
• The fourth pair of letters, GI, decrypts to FO. Creating a box around G and I, with the letters in diagonally opposite corners, will put F and O on the opposite ends of their respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads REDEEMFO.
• The fifth pair of letters, BF, decrypts to RL. Creating a box around B and F, with the letters in diagonally opposite corners, will put R and L on the opposite ends of their respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads REDEEMFORL.
• The sixth pair of letters, PD, decrypts to UR. Creating a box around P and D, with the letters in diagonally opposite corners, will put U and R on the opposite ends of their respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads REDEEMFORLUR.
• The seventh pair of letters, MC, decrypts to CH. Since M and C are in the same column, you must go up by one to decrypt the letters. So far, the decrypted message reads REDEEMFORLURCH.
• The eight pair of letters, ID, decrypts to ER. Creating a box around I and D, with the letters in diagonally opposite corners, will put E and R on the opposite ends of their respective rows. So far, the decrypted message reads REDEEMFORLURCHER.
• The final pair of letters, XK, decrypts to SX. Since X and K are in the same column, you must go up by one to decrypt the letters. This easily changes X to S, but since K is at the top of the column, you must shift to the bottom of the column, which changes K to X. The final message reads REDEEMFORLURCHERSX.
• Remember that a decrypted message with an odd number of letters will have an X at the end. Breaking the final message into its separate words will create the phrase REDEEM FOR LURCHERS.

Nature Notes

• On page 1, under the entry dated "28 February 1923", the glyph represents the following in bold:

  • passage
  • Found on a tree trunk near the path. Not there before.

• On page 3, under the entry dated "1 April 1923", the glyphs represent the following in bold:

  • In a tree over the elderberry bush
  • food
  • By the bogs
  • dangerous terrain
  • Near the field
  • star

• On page 4, under the entry dated "5 May 1923", the glyph represents the following in bold:

  • She loved looking up at the star in the night sky.

• On page 5, under the entry dated "12 May 1923", the glyphs represent the following in bold:

  • Used some old blueprints to help her draw up her own map with all the secret passages around the lodge. Even marked a spot for our hiding place in the trophy room where we can leave our letters to one another.

• On page 5, under the entry dated "10 June 1923", the glyph represents the following in bold:

  • A four-pointed star in the sky

• On page 6, under the entry dated "10 July 1923", the glyphs represent the following in bold:

  • Rufus ate a yellow-stainer out in the dangerous terrain.
  • Wanderers were right to mark it poisonous

• On page 7, under the entry dated "24 August 1923", the glyphs represent the following in bold:

  • These won't make the hiding spot in the trophy room.
  • How to tell her I love her?

• On page 8, under the entry dated "10 September 1923", the glyphs represent the following in bold:

  • Followed him out to the dangerous terrain, found a skull.
  • Pick up dog food

Redacted Information

• The redacted information can be read by turning the document over. The debossed text will make the information appear mirrored, but they will be visible. If the information is still difficult to read, try reading in a well-lit area.

Service Record

• The following are sections of the service record with the revealed redacted information in bold:

  • 2. Promotions, reductions, casualties, etc.

    • 5 July, 1915 - Promoted in Rank, Lance Corporal
    • 1 August, 1915 - Insubordination, verbal altercation with commanding officer
    • 2 September, 1916 - Promoted in Rank, Corporal
    • 10 October, 1916 - Non-compliance, disobeyed direct order of commanding officer
    • 24 October, 1916 - Insubordination, verbal altercation with commanding officer
    • 11 January, 1917 - Physical altercation with commanding officer
    • 31 January, 1917 - Official reduction in Rank to Private
    • 1 September, 1918 - Official declared unfit for combat. Reassigned to clerical office
    • 16 August, 1923 - Special Assignment: Act as local attache to Private Benjamin Davenport, United States Armed Forces on special cryptography assignment

  • 3. Campaigns

    • Battle of Rue d'Overt, 1914
    • Battle of Saint - Mihiel, 1916
    • Battle of Grandville, July 17, 1918

  • 4. Wounded

    • July 17, 1918
    • Bullet wound to right arm
    • Blade wound to left abdomen
    • Bullet wound to left abdomen
    • Blade wound to left upper thigh

  • 2. If you are suffering from any disease, wound, or injury, state what it is, the date upon which it started, and what in your opinion was the cause of it.

    • I was wounded in the Battle of Grandville. The official order was to ambush a group of Alleymen in the area. We thought we were the ones who had the upper hand. We set up, started the crossfire, but none of our damned bullets would leave the barrels. This happens when there isn't enough gunpowder.
    • My opinion; there was a regimental foul-up and someone needs to take responsibility for those bullets.

  • 6. Mental State: ---

    • Pte. Baily is able to maintain a calm level of composure for the majority of our interview. However, steering the conversation in the direction of the Battle of Grandville sets him into a fury that affects everything from his speech patterns to his posture. In such a state, Pte. Bailey becomes easily irritable, emotionally disturbed, and appears to lack the moral fibre expected of a soldier of the Crown. It is my professional belief Pte. Bailey suffers from neurasthenia, making him unfit for combat. Recommend reassignment to clerical work for the remainder of his engagement.

Unsigned Letter

First Paragraph → Second Sentence → Agnes's Handwriting

• I am in danger.

 

First Paragraph → Fifth Sentence → Agnes's Handwriting

• With Mr. Pace falling ill during dinner, I fear the Captain will suspect I added poison to his food, contributing to his death.

 

Second Paragraph → Fourth Sentence → Agnes's Handwriting

• I'm afraid in all the confusion of last night I even lost my map of the secret passage somewhere in the lodge, and I fear it is in the Captain's possession.

 

Third Paragraph → First Sentence → Agnes's Handwriting

• After my Royce's accident, I did not think it was possible to love another man, but then there was you.

 

Third Paragraph → Last Sentence → Wallace's Handwriting

• I believe you, love.

Hidden Text

Investigation File

• The following are sections of the investigation file with the revealed redacted information in bold:

  • Case

    • Investigation into an incident at the Battle of Grandville on 17 July, 1918, leading to the deaths of all but one soldier in Unit 993.

  • Members

    • Allen, Arthur - deceased
    • Bailey, Claude - wounded
    • Benson, Henry - deceased
    • Brown, Simon - deceased
    • Evans, James - deceased
    • John, James "Jimmy" - deceased
    • Phillips, Elliot - deceased
    • Smith, Daniel - deceased
    • Smith, Winston - deceased
    • Thompson, Oscar - deceased
    • Willams, Theodore "Teddy" - deceased
    • Wilson, Noah - deceased
    • Photo of unit attached.

  • The sole survivor came to our department requesting we launch an official investigation.

  • 5 January, 1919

    • Official statement transcribed from interview with Pte. Claude Bailey:

      "I had no real desire to become a soldier. Not 'til the Great War began, anyway. I was an apprentice to a mechanic in London. Honest work. Thought I'd find a nice girl, settle down soon after. But then the war started, and I knew it was about something bigger than me, knew I had to do my part. Even lied on my enlistment form to get in. I'm allergic to peanuts and goose down, broke plenty of bones as a kid. Didn't matter to them, I guess. What I heard from the front, I thought it was going to be rushing into battle every day. Most days we actually just sat in a cold, wet trench, eating bully beef out of tin cans. Waiting for something to happen. Kind of funny, actually. My unit passed the days getting to know one another, playing poker with no chips and muddy cards. Grew quite close.

      Can't say the same for my superiors. There was nothing superior 'bout them. Their orders would come down on high without the foggiest of what was actually going on on the ground. Of course, I ain't the type to just sit there and take it. So, sure, I got myself into my fair share of scraps, but not with anyone who weren't deservin'. If the Lurchers were still alive, they could attest to my true character.

      But they ain't. Got sent to ambush a group of Germans thought to be hiding somewhere in Grandville. We were real good at sniffing out Jerrys along the Western Front. That's how we got the name Lurchers. Anyway, I don't know what happened, how they knew we were comin', but they were ready for us. We managed to find cover from the crossfire. I remember Jimmy fired the first shot, then Winston, then me. Only when we pulled the trigger, nothing came out. That's when we realized we were sitting ducks. With nothing to defend ourselves but a couple of sidearms. Some people may say a gun is a gun, but those people ain't never been in a gunfight. Ain't no way a Colt's the same as a Lee-Enfield. I was certain that was my last day on Earth. Made my peace with god and the lot. But somehow I made it out alive. Had to kill my way through a dozen Jerrys by myself. There were a couple times I thought they were gonna get me, took a couple bullets, but I got them all. And now I'm sittin' at a desk, starin' at the clock as the time ticks by.

      Some said I was lucky, but it doesn't feel that way. More of a punishment than a blessing. Made it my personal duty to visit each of their wives and families. Know they have someone do it, but it felt right for me to. Let them know what happened out there and what decent men they all were. How they died by no fault o' their own. And I made each of them a promise. That I would find out who was behind this. Can't help but question everything now. Who gave us those bullets? Did they leave the factory like that? Got the feelin' the Red Tabs want to keep it all hush-hush, but I'll tell you this, if someone did this knowingly, they'd never want to be in a room alone with me."

  • Investigation Note

    • Despite Pte. Bailey's rather aggressive disposition, I have no reason to believe he is lying. Based on his testimony, further investigation into where the bullets were manufactured is required.

  • 20 March, 1919

    • Reports show bullets manufactured at a factory in London, but the name of the factory has been redacted. However, my research concludes there are only two factories in London that currently provide ammunition for the British Armed Forces.

      • Winston
      • iokheira

      I plan to visit both in the coming month.

  • 4 April, 1919

    • Spoke with the Winston factory manager, Harold Dean. Official statement.

      "Yes, we supplied the British Armed Forces with ammunition from 1915-1918, however, during that time frame we had no recalls or incidents of squib bullets on record."

      Note: Mr. Dean permitted me to look through the factory records, which verified his account.

  • 7 April, 1919

    • First spoke with the iokheira factory manager, Walter Gray. Official statement.

      "There was a recall of bullets in 1918, but the issue was isolated and resolved quickly. Nothing in our records indicate any squib bullets making it into the hands of the British Armed Forces. We take great pride in our work and have a long history in manufacturing. I'm afraid I can speak no further about it until the owner, Mr. Harrington Pace, returns."

      Note: Mr. Gray refused access to the factory records.

      Before I left, I was stopped by a factory worker who wished to remain anonymous. Official statement.

      "I don't know if I should be saying this, but I told Mr. Gray we were spreading the gunpowder too thin. We didn't have enough for such a large order. He said to do as I was told, and he said that order came from the very top. I couldn't afford to lose my job, so I didn't question him."

      Note: Will attempt to speak with the owner, Mr. Harrington Pace.

  • 8 April, 1919

    • Attempted to reach Mr. Harrington Pace for comment. Secretary stated he is travelling for business. Will return in two weeks.

  • 22 April, 1919

    • Attempted to reach Mr. Harrington Pace for comment. Secretary stated he is out of the country for a month and cannot be reached.

  • 22 May, 1919

    • Attempted to reach Mr. Harrington Pace for comment. Secretary stated he is out of the country for a month and cannot be reached. When I told her she had given me the same line the month prior, the call was abruptly disconnected.

  • 13 June, 1919

    • An upset Mr. Gray came to my office this afternoon. Told me he was recently fired from iokheira. Stated Mr. Harrington Pace was made well aware of gunpowder issues and gave authorization to continue with production. Mr. Gray then proceeded to provide me with the 1918 iokheira factory records, confirming the factory recall of squib bullets knowingly sold to the British Armed Forces.

  • CONCLUSION

    • It is the belief of this investigator that the cause of the squib round incident was due to malfeasance on the part of manufacturing. The bullets were created at the iokheira factory in London, owned by Mr. Harrington Pace. At his authorization, the bullets were made with less gunpowder than required to function properly. This caused the bullets to lack the force needed to exit the barrel, resulting in the deaths of the majority of Unit 933.

    • Amendment

      • 14 September, 1919

        • It is the belief of the British Armed Forces that no wrongdoing occured. We are ruling the squib round incident an accident. The case is officially closed.

Service Record

• The following bolded text on the service record has been redacted.

  • 2. Promotions, reductions, casualties, etc.

    • 5 July, 1915 - Promoted in Rank, Lance Corporal
    • 1 August, 1915 - Insubordination, verbal altercation with commanding officer
    • 2 September, 1916 - Promoted in Rank, Corporal
    • 10 October, 1916 - Non-compliance, disobeyed direct order of commanding officer
    • 24 October, 1916 - Insubordination, verbal altercation with commanding officer
    • 11 January, 1917 - Physical altercation with commanding officer
    • 31 January, 1917 - Official reduction in Rank to Private
    • 1 September, 1918 - Officially declared unfit for combat. Reassigned to clerical office
    • 7 July, 1920 - Reassigned to cryptography office
    • 16 August, 1923 - Special Assignment: Act as local attache to Private Benjamin Davenport, United States Armed Forces on special cryptography assignment

  • 3. Campaigns

    • Battle of Rue d'Overt, 1914
    • Battle of Saint - Mihiel, 1916
    • Battle of Grandville, July 17, 1918

  • 4. Wounded

    • July 17, 1918
    • Bullet wound to right arm
    • Blade wound to left abdomen
    • Bullet wound to left abdomen
    • Blade wound to left upper thigh

  • 2. If you are suffering from any disease, wound, or injury, state what it is, the date upon which it started, and what in your opinion was the cause of it.

    • I was wounded in the Battle of Grandville. The official order was to ambush a group of Alleymen in the area. We thought we were the ones who had the upper hand. We set up, started the crossfire, but none of our damned bullets would leave the barrels. This happens when there isn't enough gunpowder.
      My opinion; there was a regimental foul-up and someone needs to take responsibility for those bullets.

  • 6. Metal State: ---

    • Pte. Bailey is able to maintain a calm level of composure for the majority of our interview. However, steering the conversation in the direction of the Battle of Grandville sets him into a fury that affects everything from his speech patterns to his posture. In such a state, Pte. Bailey becomes easily irritable, emotionally disturbed, and appears to lack the moral fibre expected of a soldier of the Crown. It is my professional belief Pte. Bailey suffers from neurasthenia, making him unfit for combat. Recommend reassignment to clerical work for the remainder of his engagement.

Transcripts

Ben's Envelope

• Benjamin "Chito" Davenport
  War Office
  Whitehall, London
  United Kingdom
• Coahoma Davenport
  Choctaw Reservation
  1905 Chukka Hina
  Durant, Oklahoma
  United States of America

Ben's Photograph

Back → Ben's Handwriting

• London, August 24, 1923.
  Everything is so different here. The Thames is not quite the mirrored water in which we used to wade and trade anumpa, brother.
  
  Otihc

Blueprints

In the Trophy Room → Wallace's Handwriting

• here

 

In the Kitchen → Hastings's Handwriting

• ring & burnt paper found here

 

In the Servants' Quarters → Hastings's Handwriting

• Agnes

 

In the Master Bedroom → Hastings's Handwriting

• Pace

 

In the Northwestern-most Bedroom → Hastings's Handwriting

• Claude

 

In the Bedroom Next to Claude's → Hastings's Handwriting

• Roger & Zoe

 

In the Southwestern-most Bedroom → Hastings's Handwriting

• Ben

 

Along the Rough Map of the Grounds → Hastings's Handwriting

• pistol found here

 

Along the Rough Map of the Grounds, Right Side → Hastings's Handwriting

• Wallace's Cabin

Construction Memo

John Thomas's Handwriting

• John and James Thomas

 

Pace's Handwriting

• Wally says not to go through with it. GFWUKCSOPSQDUWBQ

Cryptography Pamphlet

• Ben: These might be useful. Maybe some ambiguity in translations would help hide meaning?

• Claude: Pace has his tanampo anumpisa set on your family's aiilli.
• Ben: I have to find out for sure.
• Claude: He's a poa.
• Ben: What are you trying to achi?
• Claude: That we should stop him.
• Ben: How?
• Claude: Be ahikma to itibbi. I can cover for you.

Diary

Page 1 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Property of Zoe Havering

 

Page 3 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Saturday, 1 Sept., 1923

  • This diary feels like the mark of a new start, a bright beginning, the first act of a new play. Which coincides perfectly with my starting to work again. And I shall not be taking those bawdy roles at the Grand Guignol any longer. I aim to become a serious actress, like Sarah Bernhardt.
    Roger's been so supportive of the whole thing. We met at the theatre after all. He absolutely adores seeing me on stage. Of course, I had to put my work on hold after we wed. His uncle disapproved of such frivolities and flights of fancy. Well, what his uncle doesn't know won't hurt him is what I say. I'm no household trinket. The theatre is where I belong and no one is going to tell me otherwise.

 

Page 4 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Sunday, 2 Sept., 1923

  • Today I discovered the Old Vic is in the process of holding auditions for their winter production fo Hamlet. The daft woman at the front desk was hesitant at my initial request to audition for the role of Ophelia. She knew who I was, even with my married name, and said my background wasn't quite what they were looking for. However, and I positively loathe myself for doing this, as soon as I mentioned who my husband is and, more importantly, who his uncle is, my name magically found its way onto the sheet. As much as I despise the old man, his name certainly has its advantages. No matter. I'll still get the role on my own merit. Perhaps Harrington would wish to attend this one. I think he'd find he has much in common with the character of King Claudius. Oh, I'm absolutely giddy. I'll need to get studying right away.

 

Page 5 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Monday, 3 Sept., 1923

  • Roger surprised me with a brand-new necklace this afternoon, one I know he couldn't afford, but I wasn't in the mood to start one of our many quarrels over money. These gifts almost always come with a bit of bad news. In fact, he had absolutely horrific news, which is why I'm assuming the gift was so extravagant.
    Apparently "dear" Uncle Harrington requests our presence at a charity event he is throwing for wounded soldiers. At least, that's it on its face. He always has a way of spinning even charitable contributions to his advantage. Roger's uncle has always had an obsession with the military, despite always finding some way of weaseling out of joining himself. And to make matters worse, we're to be spending most of the month of September at his hunting lodge in Derbyshire.

 

Page 6 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Roger simply adores his Uncle Harrington. He tries so desperately to win his favour, for reasons I shall never understand. Although I suppose there is one thing I like about him. His money. Someday he'll be gone and, with him childless, Roger can inherit his fortune. If only someday could come a little sooner. I dream of Roger and I using the money to start a theatre in London. I would act, of course, and Roger would take care of the business side of things. He is a businessman after all. Or at least he tries to be. He just needs a little guidance. Someone to tether him. It would be good for him. However, his uncle would never allow that as long as he was alive.
  An entire month away from the city and, worst of all, I'll have to miss my audition. I'm shattered about the whole ordeal, but I know I'll be able to keep a stiff upper lip for my Roger's sake.

 

Page 7 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Thursday, 6 Sept., 1923

  • I spent the entire day dizzy over what to pack. Not that it really matters. No matter what I wear, Harrington will make some snide remark, and I'll pretend to crease up as if he's said the funniest thing. All the while Roger seems as giddy as a school boy. He has some sort of new business venture he simply can't wait to discuss with his dear old uncle.
    The only thing I'm looking forward to is seeing Agnes again. I hope the poor girl is holding up alright stuck in that dreadful house with that dreadful Harrington. I almost feel guilty for helping her get that job in the first place. But she desperately needed work after Royce passed. Such a shame. He was such an honorable man.

 

Page 8 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Friday, 7 Sept., 1923

  • After what felt like the longest train ride known to Man, we were greeted at the station by a face I was quite pleased to see, dear old Wallace. He seemed in a proper good mood. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he is in love. Though when would he have met someone? He barely ever leaves that cottage of his, even when Harrington isn't staying at the lodge.
    Arriving at the lodge, the usual sense of dread filled my belly. Harrington gave us a warm-enough greeting, then proceeded to lead us on a tour of the grounds, as if we had never been there before, showing off his new decorations like a child showing you his new toys. His banner, some new trophies and guns, all terribly unexciting. At least I got to do some acting, oohing and ahhing at all the appropriate moments. For a man with so

 

Page 9 → Zoe's Handwriting

• much money, you'd think he could afford some good taste. He spent the entire evening prattling on and on about that garish banner of his hanging in the parlour. I swear, if I have to hear one more word about this numerology nonsense or any more about that bloody banner, I shall scream.
  And of course it wouldn't be an evening at the lodge without incurring some type of insult. He told me my dress was too loud, to which I replied I'd be happy to get him some earmuffs. Belt him up. Roger said nothing, as usual.

 

Page 10 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Saturday, 8 Sept., 1923

  • It was a true delight catching up with Agnes today, even if it was only for a brief moment between her chores. I thought I had it bad until I saw the way Harrington barked orders at the poor girl. He's meaner than ever. So hard to see her bumble around the house.
    I remember her being such an admirable woman. And a wicked prankster. I still laugh at the time a dreadful actor got on her bad side, so at our opening celebration she baked cupcakes and replaced the frosting of his with toothpaste. He was utterly incensed, and we were all simply bursting with laughter.
    Ah, those were the days. When Agnes and I had nothing to worry about except the next show and washing fake blood from our

 

Page 11 → Zoe's Handwriting

• costumes. We'd even developed our secret way of communicating, using little ticks so the others wouldn't be able to eavesdrop on us. We thought ourselves quite clever for that one.
  It's funny. Both our lives are seemingly so different now, yet so much of it is dictated by the same terrible ogre of a man. Doesn't matter what your title is, I suppose. As long as he's around, you're under his thumb.

 

Page 12 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Sunday, 9 Sept., 1923

  • Roger and Harrington quarreling. No doubt money was the topic of conversation. One can only assume his loving uncle was not too keen on my husband's new business plans. Roger can be rather hasty when it comes to business. Doesn't have the same knack for it that his uncle does. But he is still his nephew. And Harrington has more money than he knows what to do with. Why treat your only family so poorly?
    Roger hasn't said much since. Not even to me. I suppose we're all miserable here now. What fun.

 

Page 13 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Wednesday, 12 Sept., 1923

  • I haven't been sleeping well since I got here. Roger's still in a sour mood. Harrington has been a particularly cruel host. I needed to get out of the house, so I went for a walk in the grounds to clear my head, get some fresh air. Stumbled upon some peculiar markings along the front gates. Haven't the foggiest idea where they came from. Certainly never saw them there before. Seemed harmless enough to ask Wallace about it, but he got all dodgy. Made me wonder if he's up to something. This is such a strange place. Seems to bring out the worst in people.

 

Page 14 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Friday, 14 Sept., 1923

  • Despite my initial reservations, the charity event was surprisingly delightful. Maybe it was just the jolt of fun we needed to liven up this dour trip. The band played my favourites all night long. Only after the fact did I discover Roger slipped them a few quid and a list of songs. It was wonderful to see him smiling again and wonderful to do so myself.
    We ended up dancing most of the evening. He even had them play our wedding song, "Why Didn't We Meet Before?" from A Night Out. I auditioned for the part of Marcelle when it was at the Winter Garden. Course that didn't pan out. "My background" and all. I loathed hearing it for the longest time, but Roger managed to make it special. He has a knack for that sort of thing. He said the band would have been

 

Page 15 → Zoe's Handwriting

• better had I joined in with them. Is it awful of me to agree with him?
  Met an interesting couple of chaps as well: a quiet American named Davenport, who appeared to be a Native, and an English soldier, Bailey. I thought the ladder especially was doomed to be a complete bore like the rest of them, "God and country" and what have you. But I was pleasantly surprised to learn he shared my distaste for our bumbling host. Apparently, the soldiers shall be joining us this weekend for hunting and dinner. It'll be good to chat with someone I have at least a little something in common with.
  Roger says only two more nights at this wretched lodge. Thank heavens. I'm going absolutely barmy here. Oh, how I long to be back in the city among my folk!

 

Page 16 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Saturday, 15 Sept., 1923

  • I don't think I've ever been more angry in my life. Harrington really outdid himself this afternoon. He demands we all attend this little hunting excursion of his, proceeds to hand me a gun, then says, in front of everyone, "Be careful. I know you are accustomed to only props. This one is real." And Roger stood there and said nothing, like always. Just like the time Harrington tried to get me to hunt a snipe.
    Does Roger have any idea what I gave up to be here? All that bloody old fool does is insult me, and his nephew sits by and lets it happen. I know full well how to use a gun, and there's only one animal I'd like to shoot here.
    The only good part of the whole day was when Harrington had to excuse himself from

 

Page 17 → Zoe's Handwriting

• dinner early because he fell quite ill. He deserved it. The old man could barely keep his soup down. Then Wallace proceeded to carry him up to his room like the baby that he is.
  Sadly, even that was spoiled when Roger came to our room stinking drunk moaning about money his uncle didn't give him again. I told him I have absolutely no sympathy for him or his uncle. That started a huge screaming match, ending in him leaving in a huff. This damn lodge. I've got to get out of this room. Clear my head.

 

Page 18 → Zoe's Handwriting

• Sunday, 16 Sept., 1923

  • Suppose it is in fact Sunday now. Taking a walk put me at ease, and yet I still find the need to write late into the night. It's simple to find frustration with Roger when he allows Harrington to behave as he does and when he allows his own frustrations to take precedence over mine. I worry this won't be the end of our "conversation".
    I was able to talk with Agnes after Harrington got sick. Happy to see she is up to her pranks again. Happy to see Harrington endure something horrid. Roger

Event Invitation

Front → Pace's Handwriting

• Please do me the honour of attending my private hunting party and dinner at my lodge tomorrow. Would love to have you both there. ~ 2200

 

Back

• Claude: 2200. Pompous ass. Pretends he itibbi. Never did. Never would. Not a tashka chipota.
• Ben: What is a hunting party?
• Claude: Hunting for sport. You wouldn't like it. But good chance to see more of the country. Help you get in good with someone in the tanap. Ahikma?
• Ben: Yes.

Investigation File

Page 4 → George Harold's Handwriting

• George Harold

 

Page 4 → Augusta Valentine's Handwriting

• General Augusta Valentine

 

Page 4 → George Harold's Handwriting

• 14/6/1919

 

Page 4 → Augusta Valentine's Handwriting

• 14/9/1919

 

Page 4 → Pace's Handwriting

• Thank you, dear friend, for resolving this little incident with the great leadership and foresight I have come to associate you with. Looking forward to hosting you again at the hunting lodge come this fall. - H.P.

 

Page 4 → Augusta Valentine's Handwriting

• My apologies again for any unpleasantries you may have incurred. Rest assured the responsible parties have been dealt with accordingly. We look forward to our continued partnership, and be sure of this - those grouse won't be getting the best of me this year. - A.V.

Last Will and Testament

Pace's Handwriting

• Harrington Place

 

James Thomas's Handwriting

• James Thomas 8 July, 1923

 

John Thomas's Handwriting

• John Thomas 8 July 1923

Letter to Coahoma

Front → Ben's Handwriting

• September 16, 1923
  
  Coahoma,
  Please, keep this letter from Mother. I don't want her to worry, but I am afraid I am in danger here in England, just as you are at home.
  There has been a apanakhsi. Harrington Pace, the man whose home I am staying in. I am afraid these people will band together and blame me, the outsider. This Mr. Pace was a very strange man, and it seemed he could have had any number of enemies.
  In what little he spoke to me, he told me of the "metaphysically of numbers", but it is a vocal story he told me that makes me fear for my fate here. Mr. Pace drunkenly told me of his hunting of a otihc iok while he was in America. He claimed there was a group or anihcutnu of them, but that he managed to corner one and slay it. I did not tell him that otihc iok do not travel in packs. I did not say anything at all for fear of contradicting him, and yet I know the guests saw the ire in my look. I am afraid they may think I killed him out of some sense of honor. They already know how disturbing I find the concept of trophy hunting.
  Katah here hunt for sport instead of food. They dress up in impressive suits and hunt for everything from ahsahcuk to issno. There are many animals I have not ever seen or heard of mounted on Mr. Pace's walls. The way he boasts about his ruthless business ventures, I would not be surprised if he intended to mount the heads of his enemies.

 

Back → Ben's Handwriting

• I am writing to you to tell you what I discovered about what Mr. Pace intends to do. He wants to ibki. Our closest word may be asnuh thsi nan ahoba? He plans to build one of those at our home. To do this could be to destroy it. I discovered a memorandum of his that discusses it. I managed to steal away in the middle fo the night and take it from his strange trophy room.
  On my way, I was almost caught by his servant, who I saw emerging from a hidden door down the hall. She was carrying some sort of soiled package, and would have seen me had I not managed to sneak into the trophy room and out the house's back door.
  Even my new friend, Claude, has behaved strangely. I was assigned to train him to use our apmuna as code, as I did with the American military. He in turn began training me with codes of his own. We've begun to grow closer, but I wonder if I can trust him. He allowed Mr. Pace to walk right into his asipmuna opmanat during our hunt. I cannot understand how a atopihc akhsat like him would allow that to happen.
  Be careful, brother. Stay aware of the encroaching, wider world. I feel it coming for our illiia, as it comes for me now.

Menu Draft

Front → Agnes's Handwriting

• 15 September

  • Dinner (5 guests)

    • Cocktail Hour
    • Dog's Day (Scottish Whisky, Ginger Ale, Orange Slice)
    • Champagne

 

Front → Zoe's Handwriting

• Let's serve the weenar. Or the moaye. However you spell those wines. Open them both.

 

Front → Agnes's Handwriting

• Fig and Stilton Salad with Port Wine Dressing

 

Front → Zoe's Handwriting

• One rank ol cheese at the table's enough, innit?

 

Front → Agnes's Handwriting

• Oysters with Champagne-Vinegar Mignonette
• Wild Mushroom Soup with Serry and Thyme

• Entree

  • Duck with Asparagus and Gravy

 

Front → Zoe's Handwriting

• Cod for Roger. No more red meat for him.

 

Front → Agnes's Handwriting

• Dessert

  • Almond and Cherry Chocolate Creams

 

Front → Zoe's Handwriting

• My favourite. You're a treasure, Agnes.

 

Front → Agnes's Handwriting

• Sticky Toffee Pudding with Chopped Dates and Vanilla Custard

• After-Dinner Drinks and Cigars

  • Armagnac Fauchon 1922

 

Back

• Agnes: I spent all day coming up with this menu, not that he would ever appreciate it. It doesn't matter how hard I work round here, he'll find something to complain about. He's always putting me down, insulting me, berating me. He hates me. I don't think he even knows what he did to my Royce. It just isn't right. Sometimes I wish things could go back to the way they were before. Miss those days.
  
  A

• Zoe: God knows you aren't the only one. He'd never miss an opportunity to try to "put me in my place". Maybe if he was half as clever as he thinks he is, he actually could. Certainly loves an audience for his dramatic outbursts. Here I thought I was the actor in the family.
  
  Z

Missing Journal Page

Wallace's Handwriting

4 March 1923

 

Harry,

I tossed the first couple of drafts in the fire before I found the proper words. These might be rubbish as well. But they're what you need to hear.

I lived here since I was a lad. Took over as groundskeeper when my father passed. We grew up together. Me in my cottage and you in all your fancy houses. You never turned up your nose at me. You treated me as kind, even though you were taught not to. That is how I think of you too. Kin. That's why I can't allow you to go on this trip without saying what I need to say. We've always been able to talk about anything. Except this. Perhaps it's too horrible to put into words. But we both know you need to take responsibility or you'll go all around the world only to do it all over again. You can use all you have for good instead of greed.

You still have time.

 

DINDHNGIBFPDMCIDXK

Nature Notes

Page 1 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 14 February 1923

  • Rufus - favourite dog. Quiet old bloke

  • To do:

    1. Pick up dog food
    2. Fix fence - rascals dug their way out the kennel again
    3. Clean guns

• 28 February 1923

  • [glyph]
  • Found on a tree trunk near the path. Not there before.
  • ???

 

Page 2 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 3 March 1923

  • Harry leaves for his big work holiday tomorrow. Been behavin like a real prat. Worried he'll make the same mistakes all over again. Need to get through to him. How?

 

Page 3 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 1 April 1923

  • Lodge quiet without Harry around.
  • Good stroll with a cigar, found more strange carvings round the property. Seen a couple wanderers passing through. Figure they use it to communicate with one another.
  • In a tree over the elderberry bush
  • [glyph]
  • By the bogs
  • [glyph]
  • Near the field
  • [glyph]

 

• 4 April 1923

  • New head of house started today. Mrs. Agnes Middleton. Seems nice. In over her head, but nice.

  • To do:

    • Shrubs
    • Weeds
    • Mulch

 

Page 4 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 16 April 1923

  • Introduced Mrs. Middleton to the horses. Think she liked them. Said they ain't like the ones in the city.

• 5 May 1923

  • Went for a walk with Agnes and Rufus in the field. She loved looking up at the [glyph] in the night sky. Even made up stories for all the constellations. Could never be that clever.
• Delphinium
  Solomon's Seal
  Hardy Geranium
  Agnes's favourite.
  To do:
  • Hardy Geraniums under Agnes's window.

 

Page 5 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 12 May 1923

  • Agnes still having trouble finding her way around. Used some old blueprints to help her draw up her own map with all the secret [glyph] around the lodge. Even marked a spot for our [glyph] in the trophy room where we can leave our letters to one another. Nice to have a little privacy for a change.

• 10 June 1923

  • Harry's back. Seems odd. Talked bout some dream he had. Chased by a pack of four wolves. A four-pointed [glyph] in the sky. Seemed fixated on that number. Been goin on and on bout that "numerology" rubbish a lot lately.

• 20 June 1923

  • Harry and Agnes ain't gettin on. She got a lot to learn still, but she ain't no nitwit neither. Ol bastard could stand to be nicer to her.

 

Page 6 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 8 July 1923

  • Today was a good day. Harry beginnin to heal.

• 10 July 1923

  • Yellow-stainer
  • Dead Cap
  • Rufus ate a yellow-stainer out in the [glyph]. Poor boy was sick all night. Upset stomach. Dead cap would have been the end of him.
  • Picked it. Wanderers were right to mark it [glyph]

• 26 July 1923

  • Harry actin like a daft old sod. Accused Agnes of nickin his pen, only to find the bloody thing in his own pocket. Just when I thought he was startin to change.

 

Page 7 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 24 August 1923

  • My Dear Agnes,
    Y̵o̵u̵ ̵s̵m̵e̵l̵l̵ ̵n̵i̵c̵e̵,̵ ̵l̵i̵k̵e̵ ̵a̵ ̵s̵w̵e̵e̵t̵ ̵s̵p̵i̵c̵e̵
    E̵y̵e̵s̵ ̵l̵i̵k̵e̵ ̵a̵ ̵p̵o̵n̵d̵,̵ ̵o̵f̵ ̵w̵h̵i̵c̵h̵ ̵I̵ ̵a̵m̵ ̵q̵u̵i̵t̵e̵ ̵f̵o̵n̵d̵
    I̵t̵'̵s̵ ̵y̵o̵u̵ ̵I̵ ̵f̵a̵n̵c̵y̵,̵ ̵w̵o̵u̵l̵d̵ ̵y̵o̵u̵ ̵c̵a̵r̵e̵ ̵f̵o̵r̵ ̵a̵ ̵d̵a̵n̵c̵e̵-̵y̵?̵
  • These won't make the [glyph] in the trophy room.
  • How to tell her I [glyph] her?

  • To do:

    • Read more Shakespeare.

 

Page 8 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 7 September 1923

  • Picked up Mr. and Mrs. Havering from the station. Roger was his usual self. Rambling on bout some nonsense I didn't follow. Always good to see Mrs. Havering though, even if she does feel the need to put on airs in front of Harry. She's always been good to me.

• 10 September 1923

  • Walkin the grounds with Rufus. Old bloke ran off on me, not like him. Followed him out to the [glyph], found a skull. Wolves ain't been in these parts for centuries. Got me thinkin of Harry's dream.

  • To do:

    • Pick up dog [glyph]
    • Clean guns
    • Remove dead cap - growin back. Closer to house now.

 

Page 9 → Wallace's Handwriting

• 14 September 1923

  • Agnes landed in the soup again. Harry carryin on bout some spoon she put int he wrong spot. As if he needs three! bloody spoons to eat a meal. Poor girl was gutted all night about it. Aint' lettin him get away with it no more.

• 15 September 1923

  • Fix fence - dogs dug out again
  • Read some Emily Dickenson. Pte. Davenport says it'll help with the poetry.

Obituary Card

Pace's Handwriting

• R̵a̵i̵s̵e̵?̵ ̵N̵e̵w̵ ̵h̵o̵m̵e̵?̵ How can I ever make this up to her?

Photograph of Pace and Wallace

Pace's Handwriting

• Shipped trophies arriving soon.

• South wall - Europe

  • Wild boar
  • Black Forest chamois
  • White stag

• North wall - North America

  • Grey wolf
  • Owl
  • Mountain lion
  • Over the fireplace. Perfect spot for my favourites.

• West wall - Africa - room for future additions

  • Rhinoceros
  • Leopard

• East wall - Asia

  • Oryx
  • Mountain sheep
  • Black bear

Ripped Cheque

Pace's Handwriting

• 15 September 1923
• Eighty thousand pounds
• £ 80,000
• Harrington Pace

• redemption

Service Record

Page 1 → First Section → Claude's Handwriting

• Question 1: Claude Bailey
  156 b Glazbury Road
  London
• Question 2: Yes or duration of War
• Question 3: Yes
• Question 4: No

 

Page 1 → Second Section → Claude's Handwriting

• First Line: Claude Bailey
• Second Line: Claude Bailey
• Third Line: 1/7/1914

 

Page 1 → Third Section → Peter Hall, MD's Handwriting

• First Line: Claude Bailey
• Second Line: 24
• Third Line: 9
• Question 1: Apprentice at Smith's Motor Garage
• Question 2: Single
• Part 1 of Question 3: 185.42 cm
• Part 2 of Question 3: 12.5 stone
• Part 1 of Question 4: 92.71 cm
• Part 2 of Question 4: 7.62 cm
• Part 1 of Question 5: Excellent
• Part 2 of Question 5: Excellent

 

Page 1 → Fourth Section → Peter Hall, MD's Handwriting

• First Line: fit
• Second Line: 1/7/14
• Third Line: Peter Hall, MD
• Fourth Line: Royal Hospital of London

 

Page 3 → Bottom → Jean-Luc Monet, MD's Handwriting

• First Line: Jean-Luc Monet MD
• Second Line: 12/8/1918

 

Page 3 → Bottom → Augustus Valentine's Handwriting

• Third Line: General Augustus Valentine
• Fourth Line: 28/8/1918

Theatre Poster

Back → Roger's Handwriting

Darling,

You must help me. Uncle Harry's dead, and I'm trying to put the pieces from last night together. The bloody rozzers are everywhere.

I need to get my story straight, but I don't remember everything; I was so bloody tippled. I remember storming off from our row, but nothing after. Heavens, how did we fight for nearly two full hours? How do we keep fighting?

So many times I promised you there was a sun on the horizon. I promised you I'd make my failures up to you. Uncle Harry was supposed to be the key to everything we ever wanted. My idea for the casino was aces.

So how did we get here? How did I get to drinking in the parlour by myself? Why did I spend the same time talking to that bloody solder Uncle Harry is so enamoured with? I was absolutely pissed by the time I went up to Uncle Harry's room, and then all I remember was the blood.

No matter what happens, please know that you will always have my immortal love. I have been holding it dearly since the night we met.

 

Your beloved,
Roger

Unsigned Letter

Agnes's Handwriting

My dearest,

I've been afraid to speak with you in person for fear Captain Hastings will believe you are involved. I am in [glyph]. I fear they will take me away from you for my hand in what happened. I must confess to you I am not completely innocent in last night's matters. With Mr. Pace falling ill during dinner, I fear the Captain will suspect I added [glyph] to his [glyph], contributing to his death. You must believe me when I tell you I never meant any mortal harm, just discomfort. Zoe knows the truth.

I told the Captain nothing of the sickness you and I witnessed, nor of my taking the two soiled pillows. I can't explain the disappearance of the third. It was there when I left him, but gone when I returned. I'm afraid in all the confusion of last night I even lost my map of the secret [glyph] somewhere in the lodge, and I fear it is in the Captain's possession. I see the way he looks at me. I know I am a suspect, and yet I can tell he respects you. He trusts you. You are the only one who can help me.

After my Royce's accident, I did not think it was possible to [glyph] another man, but then there was you. You looked out for me, secretly training me in the ways of a lady of the house. You even marked this secret way for us to be together. And after all that, I harmed your dear friend, doing it using something you taught me. I hope you can forgive me, my darling, and that you will find it in your heart to help me.

 

Yours forever.

 

Wallace's Handwriting

• I believe you, [glyph].

Solution

• In order to properly accuse a suspect of the murder of Harrington Pace, you will need to read every available document. This means accessing the documents behind the lock. The code to the combination is not found in one three-digit number, but in three single-digit numbers. Each of the numbers appears in conjunction with an animal somewhere within the box, and the order of the numbers can be found on the back of the photograph of Pace and Wallace. There, Pace lists several of his trophies that will be arriving at the hunting lodge, and points out that his favorites are the wolf, the owl, and the mountain lion. Behind separate puzzles, you will find mentions of these animals in conjunction with the numbers that will be necessary to open the lock.
• The first number, associated with the wolf, can be found within the nature notes and will necessitate solving the glyph language. These symbols appear in the nature notes, the unsigned letter, the blueprints, and the burnt paper. In some documents, they appear without context, and some with. By cross-referencing each document in which they appear, you should be able to use context clues to figure out what each symbol means. In the nature notes, Wallace details Pace's obsession with numerology and a dream in which he was chased by a pack of four wolves, assigning a significance to that number. Therefore, 4 is the first number in the combination.
• The second number, associated with the owl, can only be discovered by solving iterations of the Playfiar code. A tutorial is given for this code in the letter from Poirot, but each successive usage of it becomes increasingly difficult. The first step to discovering the owl number is found in the construction memo. Solving the Playfair here will reveal the decrypted phrase "FEATHERS OR PETALS". By cross-referencing this phrase with the banner, it can be seen that the number of petals in the flower, as well as the number of fully visible feathers on the owl, is five. Therefore, the combination so far is 45.
• The third number, associated with the mountain lion, can be found using the Choctaw language. In the letter to Coahoma, Ben recounts a story Pace told him in which he claimed to have hunted a group of eight mountain lions. Therefore, the mountain lion number is 8, and the final code to open the lock is 458. After opening the lock, you now have access to all the documents in the box and can make an informed decision when deciding on a suspect. When checking the means, motive, and opportunity for characters, it is helpful to often return to the crime scene report. Checking documents against what characters provide in this will help establish a proper timeline for the night of the murder.
• Though initially suspicious because of his mounting debts as seen in the theatre poster, Roger's criminal records, and the diary, as well as theoretically being first in line to inherit Pace's fortune, Roger is actually innocent. Though he may have had a theoretical motive, and was honest in that he did come upon the body, Roger's timeline put him downstairs in the parlor when Harrington Pace was murdered.
• Though they are not the murderers, Zoe and Agnes are not entirely innocent in the events of the night. By decoding the secret message in the menu draft, and reading the unsigned letter, it's revealed that Agnes, with Zoe's knowledge, added a toxic mushroom to Pace's meal. By cross-referencing Pace's symptoms with the types of mushrooms described in the nature notes, as well as reading the obituary card, it can be deduced that Agnes was looking for some kind of revenge after finding out that the factory in which her husband was killed in an accident was owned by Pace. In Zoe's diary, she also confesses knowledge of this plot, and goes along with it for a revenge against Pace for the classist taunts she's faced from him over the years. By reading these documents and constructing their timeline, you can discover that though they did poison Pace, they were both downstairs at the time of the murder.
• Wallace and Ben function as each other's alibis as well. While Wallace knew all of Pace's dirty secrets, his dated sketch of Ben in the nature notes in addition to his statement in the crime scene report puts him and Ben across the grounds at the time of the murder. Ben was not entirely honest in his statement in the crime scene report, and in the letter to Coahoma what he's omitted is revealed; Ben stole information from Pace in the form of the construction memo in hopes of finding out the truth to the rumor that Pace was planning to build on Choctaw land.
• Which leaves only the murderer, Claude. Though he may initially appear innocent, Claude's motive for killing Pace is hinted at in a redacted section of the service record. This is further elaborated upon in the investigation file that Claude was the victim of an oversight and coverup in one of Pace's munitions factories. The factory produced squib bullets that contributed to the deaths of many of the men in Claude's unit. Claude confronted Pace, where he was presented with the ripped cheque and its envelope, which bear Pace's expression for redemption and the symbol of Claude's unit, nicknamed the Lurchers, which can also be seen in the investigation file. Therein, Claude also confesses that he lied on his recruitment form and that he's allergic to, among other things, goose down. In the crime scene report, Hastings notes that Pace's good down pillows were likely used as a sound suppressor, later giving Claude an allergic reaction, as noted by his coughing.

Exclusive Epilogue