We sent emails to Sam with pictures of the trees that they need to collect wood from. Sam thanked us and said the Wes also is fairly knowledgable about tree types, so they should be able to find all of them in the Aglaura area. They are collecting the wood today and will be going over to Dale's house to burn it.
The bumper sticker at EOTW changed to say "Sysiphus sysiphus sysiphus sysiphus sysiphus sysiphus", which is the new password to Dale's email inbox.
The white time got a new message later in the afternoon...
Subject: What You Must Do
You, or one of the friends who aid, must bring us what we need to the appointed place at dusk tonight. A guide will be waiting.
the guides
After Sam and Wes got this message forwarded to them from us, they decided that Wes will be the one to go to Dale's house to burn the wood. Sam said that Wes seemed to be five years younger when he found out that a guide will be there. Why was he so excited? Does he know more about these guides than he has told us? Or is he just excited because he will get to witness something supernatural? Sam decided to stay at the municipal building and take care of things there. They also divided the wood into two bundles in case something should go wrong. Foreshadowing?
Around 5pm, Sam heard from Wes on his cell phone. He said that he was across the street from Dale's house waiting for something to happen. Once it started to get dark he said he decided to walk over to the house and his cell phone cut out.
Not shortly after that call, Sam received another and sent us the following email...
I got another call from Wes. As soon as I picked it up he said, "Shut up and listen." And then it sounded a little muffled, like he dropped the phone in his pocket or something. It was cutting in and out and difficult to hear but I heard Wes' footsteps as he walked through the ruined house, I think. And then a deep voice said "Keeler". Wes sounded suprised and said "You? It's you?" There was static and I thought I lost the call until I heard the deep voice say again "We must hurry. Someone has told them where we are and they are coming . . . their time." It was cutting in and out again so I was obviously missing some words. I heard Wes say "You know I won't let . . . to him" and then the phone went dead again. I'm not sure what to do. I'm thinking I should leave here and go out there.
Sam
So who is it that was there that Wes recognized? Someone from the town of Aglaura? Digitalis? Bruce? Sam then followed up with this email...
I'm hearing reports of a fire on Winton Pond Road now, which is the street Dale's house is on. Too many calls for me to try and stop, too. It won't be long until either the Police or the Fire Dept. or both will be there.
No answer on Wes' cell phone either. Actually, it's not even ringing. It just keeps repeating the "Your call cannot be completed" line. Please, please let me know if you or anyone else hears anything!
Sam
Sam then told us that he had decided to go to Dale's house to see what was going on.
A couple of hours later we received the following message from the guides...
It is time and there are things that you must know.
The one you have sought to help has returned to us, but his way has not been easy. He needs care that only we can provide, at least for a short while. He shall be returned to you very soon.
Despite this, there is much cause for concern. Someone within the sphere of those who have tried to help has betrayed us. The Numbered Ones knew where the fire would be lit and came sooner and with greater force than anticipated. Only the bravery and sacrifice of the one you call "Keeler" allowed the sacred wood to be fully consumed in flame and the portal opened. We fear he is in their hands and will soon be in the place that bears their name. A place from which no one returns.
They will not allow our small success to go unpunished. Soon the second ring shall be summoned, if they have not been already. When they do, their identity will no longer be concealed.
And now, his need is even greater. His first step has been completed. The length of his journey depends upon the direction of his second step.
"One by one, they were all becoming shades."
digitalis, a guide
Digitalis! So he is a guide!!! Is he the one that Wes recognized or someone else?
May 2nd
Sam emailed us today and told us that he went to Dale's house last night to see what was going on. The police and many city officials were already there and Sam spent a good part of the night trying to explain to Chief Prufrock, Mayor Dobbs, Doug Willingham, and the Fire Chief what he was doing there. He lied his way out of it by saying the he had heard the calls come in at the Municipal building while he was there working late and just wanted to see what was going on. It seems that there were reports of strange lights and noises coming from the house and there wasn't really a big fire or anything. Officials finally decided that it was just vandalism or a prank.
Sam also wrote to us later saying that there is still no sign of Dale or Wes. He drove by Dale's house and said that it is cordoned off. Sam tried to file a missing person's report with Chief Dawn, but she said that he hasn't been gone long enough yet. Sam tried to call Wes's shop and one of the employees answered the phone and told him that there was a letter for him there that read "For Sam" on the outside.
Dale received a new email today:
From: pfishtap@yahoo.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Your HIP
Date: 02 May 2003
Mr. Sprague:
I still await your response from our latest discussion about your "Human Interface Project". It is coming up on two months (if not longer) since last I heard from you about this. Although we discussed the need for development time, I anticipated some type of periodic updates along the way.
Believe me, I also understand that, due to the speculative (read "unpaid", at least for now, again as we discussed) nature of this project, that other, more lucrative jobs may have come up along the way. Heaven knows we all need to pay the bills to keep going. Mine are quite hefty, as you can imagine, from what I've told you about my systems and set-up. But still, I am nearing the point where the program as we
envisioned it, may be extremely useful to certain aspects of my overall goals. So, do you have any news for me?
It may be best to use this address to respond, at least for now. Bringing the rudimentary interactive component of the system online has been causing some instability and
problems with the main server that normally houses my regular e-mail address as well.
Looking forward to an update.
Peter
pfishtap@yahoo.com
Later Sam sent us a copy of Wes's note to him...
Sam -
I'm writing this quick note hoping you'll find it in case things go as I fear they might tonight. You see, I have strong reasons to believe that I may not be returning from my trip to Dale's house to meet the guides tonight. I didn't want to worry you with this before everything happened. I apologize for not being completely honest with you after all we have been through, but I didn't think you would go along with
what I have in mind for this evening. Have faith; despite my misgivings about the guides, I think they are sincere in helping us get Dale back tonight. For now at least, I think we share common goals. The dead eyes are another matter. Avoid them at all costs. I found something, a reference to what may be them in a somewhat obscure book. If we get through tonight, I'll fill you in, because I'm out of time now.
Here's the real reason for this message. When you couldn't find me the last couple of days, it was because I was off tracking down that damned disc. That's the "business"
I was attending to. I don't know how to explain it, but I have been dreaming of the damned thing every night since I sold it. I swear, it's as if it's haunting me. And you know Dale thinks it's important somehow, too. So I decided to try and find it. What I found, though, I certainly didn't expect.
The man who bought it from me weeks ago was a first time shopper in my store, who had been attracted by all the attention we had been getting lately. When he saw the disc, it was like he had to have it. He offered me quite a bit of money for it. As you know, I sold it to him. I tracked him down a few days ago (from the credit card he used) to a fairly nice home on Long Island. I introduced myself to the woman who answered the door. She turned out to be his wife.
Now get this... When I told her who I was and what I wanted, she broke down crying, sobbing hysterically. Eventually she calmed down enough to talk to me. To make a long story short, she claims her husband began acting very strange after returning home with the disc. He was literally obsessed with it and trying to figure out the markings on it. At some point, he disappeared for about a week without a word of
explanation to her. He came back in the middle of the night, just over a week ago or so. His clothes were dirty and torn and he was acting crazy. After waking her and half the neighborhood, screaming at the top of his lungs, "It's gone. They'll never find it," he cut his own throat right in front of her on his front lawn. He's dead.
Before I left, she gave me a small notebook that she said she found tucked in the seat of the car her husband was driving when he disappeared. She said the police must have overlooked it, and since she didn't want to "bother" the police, she didn't do anything with it until I showed up. She asked me if I would give it to them for her. Yeah, right.
I didn't have time to look closely at it, but locked it in my safe at the store. I'm afraid that my employee, Patti, or someone else might read this note though, so I've attached something to give you the combination you need to get in. You know me and my codes. By now you should be able to figure out this kind of thing. I've got some pretty valuable items in the safe, so be sure to lock it up.
Good luck.
Wes
The picture he attached can be seen here.
May 3rd
Sam made it into Wes's office today to try to open the safe like Wes's note instructed him to do. He tried several suggestions that we gave him for the combo, but none of them worked. Since he didn't want to arouse any suspicions with Patti he pocketed an extra set of store keys he found so he could come back later and try some more combos.
Later during the night, Sam tried to go back to Wes's a couple of times, but always saw one of the dead eyes sitting in the darkness watching the place.
May 4th
In the middle of the night, Dale showed up at Sam's house, pale and exhausted. He passed out and Sam says he looks like he's probably just tired and not really hurt.<p>
Also, looks like some people emailed back to Peter at pfishtap@yahoo.com about the HIP program. He seems to be concerned that so many people have replied to him concerning business between Dale and himself.<p>
The Aglaura Library auction finally started today. The items up for auction can be seen here
Sam said that Dale finally woke up and wants to contact the guides and ask why Wes was sacrificed. He wants to find a way to get him back. He also said that he would like to chat with us in AIM soon. Sam couldn't find the book that Wes talked about in his note anywhere in his office. He did find a note on his desk calendar though. It said "Dale" and "Castle Green Rd." He also found the figurine at Wes's from the picture of the combo clue. It was made by Sarah Wyatt (could this be the person Wes recognized at Dale's?) Underneath it was a note that said "Mais si c'était vrai" which translates to "But if it were true".
May 5th
We found out that even the residents of Aglaura are confused about how Sarah's artwork got into the old trunk from the library. There are some questions floating around about Phyllis's role in it.
Sam said that the Aglaura Municipal building is under alot of pressure from the media concerning the actions of Mayor Dobbs. Seems there are some investigators looking into some shady dealings that have been going on. The mayor had made this comment on the the Aglaura homepage:
Dear Friends:
I would just like to take this opportunity to re-assure the citizens of the fine community of Aglaura that I have not, or will not, ever, betray the trust they have placed in me as their elected leader. Despite the concerted efforts of certain irresponsible journalists, I'm certain you all know in your hearts that Aglaura holds no secrets, and that all of our dealings with outside corporations and contractors have always been legal, professional, and above board. And so they shall remain. Please bear that in mind through the weeks and months ahead when over-zealous prosecutors intent on making a name for themselves, attempt to implicate our little paradise into allegations of statewide graft and greed. I know the truth, and I think you do too. They will not succeed.
As always, your support is deeply appreciated.
Your Mayor,
Pat J. Dobbs
Dale had a chat with some of us on AIM. He talked mostly of his experiences after he disappeared from the Ash Grove Cemetary. The transcript can be found here.
May 6th
Bruce wrote a somewhat nasty email to Dale after finding out what he had said about Bruce during chat. He claimed that Dale's version of what happened at Klepsydra is totally inaccurate. Bruce said Dale wasn't calm when he talked with him, but sweating and rambling incoherantly. Bruce also claimed that Dale was the one who got them involved with the Marzano's in the first place.
sjct pointed out the inconsistencies in Dale and Bruce's stories about their involvement with the Marzano family.
Bruce says...
"I still can't believe Dale allowed himself to
get into this position (and it frankly disturbs me that Dale must have known about the Marzano's criminal proclivities before approaching them… Since Dale was the one who originally signed them up with Anonymous Fame, it makes me wonder whether he always knew)."
Dale says two different things on two different occasions...
"Let me just say this, the Marzano's provided the initial funding for anonymousfame, just like Synthasia. And Bruce brought me into AF after it was started."
but back in his diary he had said...
"6 months after I started synthasia.com I knew that it was a hole that was sucking me in… With my personal finances nearing depletion from trying to carry the struggling business and no sources of legitimate funding available to me any longer, I sought out some other alternatives… As luck would have it, someone I met thru my work at anonymousfame was able to “help” me out and arranged for me to receive some loans from a less-than-reputable source."
Who's lying and when?
May 7th
Dale received a new mail...
From: rubinechus@mail.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Something Sent To Me
Date: 07 May 2003
Dear "Dale":
You don't know me but someone sent this file to my e-mail account with a single line in the body of the message saying, "Please forward to dale@synthasia.com".
I don't know why it was even sent to me in the first place.
If this e-mail bounces even once, I give up.
Rubin
:: att001
It had an attachment with what we think is a new clue from Wes.
We also got another Channel 8 news report from Tracie Schmidt. It seems that there is a Grand Jury Investigation into the family of Don Marzano businesses for "alleged ties to organized crime". Tracie also did a editorial in response to Mayor Dobbs comments about "irresponsible journalists" on the Aglaura, NJ webpage. May 8th
Bruce tried to clear up some of the differences between his and Dale's stories about the Marzano involvement in AF and Synthasia. He again claims that the Marzano's did not give him the start up money for AF and that Dale brought them into the company business. He did say that he is currently trying to cut the Marzano's out of his business even though it will definitely hurt his bottom line. He also mentions that Mayor Dobbs had contacted him a while back "searching for 'fellow conspirators'" around the time of the library contract.
Bruce also says that Dale's recollection of the events at Klepsydra are just a product of his skewed perceptions from that confusing time.
Bruce got an email threat from posession910@yahoo.com, which he said he assumed was from one of us. Turns out it was from raynardm. We're now using it to work on Bruce to admit the affair.
Dale got an email from Elizabeth Vara asking him more about his experiences. It seems that Dale had found her site, www.faerytrail.com and emailed her.
May 9th
Dale received another email from Rubin (from Wes?):
From: rubinechus@mail.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Why Am I Getting This?
Date: 09 May 2003
Dear "Dale":
I got another e-mail message for you. Can you please tell whomever is sending these messages to me to send them directly to you? I don't think I will be forwarding anymore.
Here's all the new message said:
faeries hurl down scorn
What kind of weird sh*t is that?
Rubin
The "faeries hurl down scorn" is an anagram for rodin sunflower. It's a clue for the safe combo!?
Dale also received an email from Digitalis:
From: digitalis@mythosphere.org
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Rash Actions
Date: 09 May 2003
You do not understand what you would endanger to follow through on the course of action you suggest. A sacrifice made in vain belittles he who paid the price. This is not the time for rash actions.
We have not abandoned the one you mention, but the path he chose is his to walk. His bravery and loyalty will not go unrewarded and, if he can be returned, we will bring him back.
Time is fleeting and there is much to do.
digitalis
Dale emailed us to tell us that his servers were down for some reason.
May 10th
Dale received an email from Don Marzano:
From: don@sonsofdon.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Time To Talk, Old Friend
Date: 10 May 2003
Dale, old friend,
It hurts me to think how your current actions deny our history together. Have you forgot the promises you made? Have you forgotten everything?
We, you and I, are above this. My foolish sons are children who know not how to control their passion nor understand who their true allies are. It's time we talked. Meet me at Empty Threats sometime this week. Call my girl there, Angie, and let her know when you are coming. I promise you my sons will not be there. Just you and I, like old times.
Don Marzano
May 11th
Bruce also told today of how Mayor Dobbs contacted him and hinted that he was making things 'go away' with the Marzanos. He also said that the mayor made it clear that Bruce should be concerned with Dale and not the Marzanos.
We contacted Dale and Bruce to try to get them together in a chat session to talk things out.
The blue and red initiates received new emails today with a puzzle that led us to http://www.mythosphere.org/icarus.html and http://www.mythosphere.org/daedalus.html which in turn led us to http://www.mythosphere.org/cslewis.html and a message from the guides about the Numbered Ones.
May 12th
Dale received this email from Dr. Kendra:
From: mkendra@klepsydra.net
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Old and New Things
Date: 12 May 2003
Dale,
I just wanted to touch base with you and fill you in on a couple of things we discussed earlier. I've been meaning to send you this for a couple of days but we've been having severe problems with our network and e-mail systems.
Although I am still not completely satisfied with the results of the transcription of the hypnosis session, I have finally pushed the technical staff here into helping me get it posted on a page for you to look at and listen to. As I mentioned the last time we spoke, there are sections of the audio tape that are, to say the least, unusual. We've had several experts here trying to make sense of them but with minimal success. So one of the guys here had the idea to put these clips online where you can listen to them and see if they mean anything to you. The transcript will also posted there for you to review. It probably won't be up until sometime tomorrow, but they've given me the link so you have it.
http://www.klepsydra.net/hypno/dalessess001.html
After you listen to and read it, call me. We need to schedule your next appointment. I'm concerned about recent events I've heard about and their possible effect on you.
Take care, Dale. I hope to hear from you soon.
-Michelle
Michelle Kendra, MD
Inpatient & Outpatient Psychiatry
Princeton, NJ Headquarters
Klepsydra Mental Health Facility Network
We discovered that Elizabeth Vara from from http://www.faerytrail.com isn't really an in-game character. We still don't know, though, if she has agreed to be put into the game by the PM's.
The Aglaura homepage was updated with links to a "fun and games" page and a town merchandise store.
We received an email from Sam telling us that the latest safe combo suggestions we gave him did not work. He also provided us with a list of books that Wes recently checked out from the library. We're hoping to find the reference to the dead eyes that Wes told us about.
May 13th
We discovered that most of the sites that are in-game now have a merchandise store added to the site.
Diandra from UF figured out that Castle Green rd which Wes had written down in his office is an anagram of Le Grand Secret. Le Grand Secret is one of the books that Wes checked out from the library. Is there a hint in this book somewhere? Is this the book that talks of the dead eyes?
May 14th
From: rubinechus@mail.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Let Me Get To The Point
Date: 14 May 2003
Dear Dale:
Let me get to the point. OK, I admit it. Opening this can of worms is something
I may regret, but it's something I need to do anyway. Kind of just in my nature,
I guess. Coming in response to the large number of e-mails I received about my forwarding
those messages to you, I did some checking into what's going on here. Let's face
it, I got dozens of e-mails from people who say they are reading your e-mail and
many of them demanding to know who sent me the e-mails I forwarded to you. Others
even related some pretty wild and unbelievable stories about you and things they
claim you have been going through.
So now I am admittedly intrigued. Even though I haven't received any more e-mails
but have decided, since I seem to be implicated in this in some way, I want to know
what's going on? Like, have you figured out what those strange symbols and messages
mean? You aren't involved in anything illegal, are you?
If you want me to even consider forwarding anything else I might receive to you,
you'll answer my questions.
Rubin
cemgate from UF noticed that if you take the first letter of every sentence it spells out "L O O K C L O S E L Y". Now we just have to figure out what we have to look closely at.
May 15th
We're still trying to find out which book Wes was talking about when he said "The dead eyes are another matter. Avoid them at all costs. I found something, a reference to what may be them in a somewhat obscure book." Current spec is that it is Le Grand Secret since we found the anagram from Castle Green Rd, but so far it's not panning out.
sjct received an email from Colin Penrose (the man looking for the fourth book of Trimethius). He says that he has been working on Mrs. Willingham. He tells us that his research along with what was found inside the trunk with the manuscript encourages him. He says that he is sending some "associates" to deal with the stubborn Mrs. Willingham.
Many of us also received a lengthy email from Dale:
I've been meaning to write you again the last couple of days and just got entirely consumed by the research, reading, and investigation I've been doing, trying to figure out how to get Wes back and what to make of my experience with
the guides and my "journey." In the last 72 hours, I've basically read or skimmed through the entire list of books that Wes had checked out of the Aglaura Library recently, with a couple of exceptions. Sam managed to find all but two of them in stock at the Library; the others had already been checked out by someone else. Unfortunately, even though there was a lot of interesting and entertaining ideas in the books, I haven't come up with any definitive connections or references to the "dead eye" guys and what has been going on around here. Maybe I'm missing something obvious or maybe Wes found something that I haven't so far. Or maybe it's in the two books Sam couldn't get, I don't know. In any case I'm going to keep looking.
Sam keeps telling me I'm pushing myself too hard, staying up all night, hardly eating etc. But I just can't seem to sleep or even relax. When I do fall asleep, it's because I've passed out at the computer or the desk. I had strange dreams last night, many of them just quick but disturbing fragments. I can't remember the details of them all, but they left me with a vague sense of discomfort and fear. In one of them that I do partially recall, I was standing outside, alone, in the dark of night. The only source of light was a full moon above me. I saw a figure, a man I think, approaching in the distance. He was still too far away to make out clearly. I felt a strange sense of urgency and excitement mixed with apprehension as I watched him draw closer. Finally, just as he was getting close enough to perhaps see his face, the moon suddenly went dark, as if something blotted it out from the sky. In the darkness, I hear his footsteps continue to approach, until I can tell that he must be right before me, though I can't see a thing in the pitch blackness. I almost feel his warm breath on his face as I see a very faint reddish glow sparkle into life here his eyes should be. They get brighter and brighter, until they almost seem to be aflame in the dark. And then, the dream ended. More than ever since Wes is gone, I feel like I, we, are running out of time. We, I, need to do something, and soon.
Let's start with Wes. I've been thinking a great deal about why the "dead eyes" would have taken him, if they did. Sure, it may have just been because of his interference with them while he and the guides from mythosphere were trying to "bring me home", but there seems to be something more to it. When I thought about it, it seems like these people, whoever they are, have had an unusual interest in Wes almost since all this began. Or at least from the time he found
that strange disc. In fact, I remember him telling me that's the one thing they specifically asked him about when they came into his shop. Even though it feels like I have more trouble remembering things each day, I'm pretty sure Wes
mentioned that in the same e-mail or conversation when he told me he had sold the disc. And then the disc, or one very similar to it, played a role in the "visions" I had after going back to Ash Grove Park. So I'm convinced that the disc is somehow a critical part of this whole puzzle and that it may be why the dead eyes were so interested in Wes. Which leads me to two other questions.
First, if these guys have Wes now, we are they still watching his shop? Do they know about the notebook in the safe and how it may reveal something about the disc and the man who bought it from Wes? It doesn't seem like they do, or I think they would have gone in and at least attempted to get the notebook out. So far there's been no sign they have done that. And these guys haven't seemed at all reluctant so far to go after whatever they want. So why watch Wes' store, if they already have him? Maybe they are watching for someone to come looking for Wes there, but Sam has said that he's pretty certain they have seen him go in there once or twice over the last week or so, and haven't approached
or confronted him at all. If they knew about the notebook, wouldn't they try and stop Sam when he left, in case he managed to get it out of Wes' safe? Something just doesn't add up.
Secondly, what is the connection between Wes, Sarah Wyatt, and these strange people, the dead eyes? From the picture Sam found of Sarah that he showed me, I'm certain the girl in my vision was Sarah. Everything fits - the house with the artwork in it, her appearance, and the themes and elements in her work. Do you think it's a little too coincidental that Wes happened to own that sculpture Sarah did, the one that obviously seemed to hold some very special meaning or value to him? And then he happened upon a disc apparently made by her as well? While wandering through the Pine Barrens? Finally, at the same time, a trunk load of Sarah's stuff is turning up in Aglaura, containing among other things, that manuscript page that Sarah referred to when she spoke to me.
A few too many coincidences for me. Again, there seems to be something missing here, something to explain how this all makes sense and ties together. Which leads us up to where we are today and what Sam and I are planning to do. First, since I'm not on the best of terms with her and still basically trying to stay out of sight, Sam has agreed to go talk to Phyllis Willingham about the manuscript page after work today. He's got a perfect excuse, as he needs to go see her about the Library Auction anyway, so he's going to try and talk to her about the manuscript page too. He actually dreamed up an idea to try and sell her on developing a web page or even an entire site about the manuscript page
and try to convince her she'll be able to sell it for more by doing so. If anything could convince her, that would be it. He's going to offer to do it for free for her if she's willing, which of course would necessitate him getting a hold of it for at least a short while. Keep your fingers crossed and hope Sam is as good at acting as he at computer stuff. While Sam is doing that, I'm going to go down to Wes' and do a couple of
things. Of course I'm going to try the safe again. I've gotten a few very good suggestions based on speculation about the rodin + sunflower connection that I'm anxious to try. I'm also going to search thoroughly for anything else that may be related to Sarah Wyatt, anything Sam and I may have overlooked in our quick check of the place previously. Don't worry, I will be very careful. There's too much at stake and too many people counting on me to take any nnecessary risks now. I'll try and check back in with you tonight yet, if at all possible, and let you know how Sam and I make out.
Thanks for your help and support through this.
Dale
The Aglaura homepage put up a link for local Aglaura news. The graffit in town is almost completely cleaned up. Also, the Library Online auction is over.
May 16th
Dale went over to Wes's again to try to get into the safe. While he was there someone came into the office so he turned off his flashlight and hid behind the desk. They took a few steps into the office and then left. When Dale emerged, he realized that he had left the papers with Wes's clues on the out in plain sight. Sam tried to convince Phyllis Willingham to let him look at the manuscript page, but lost it when she started complaining to him about his work on the auction and told him he was no better than that horrible Dale Sprague.
Peter(pfishtap@yahoo.com) emailed Dale again and told him that he is going to start to publicize his site next week without his HIP program. He said he'll email Dale from his new site address next week (will we have a new in-game site soon?)
The Aglaura website has a local news story about a burglary at the Hollow Needle, which is connected to the Willingham home. Phyllis went down to the kitchen and saw the intruder, who she described as "a dark menacing figure". She was either knocked out or fainted so does not remember what happened after that. One of the items that was stolen was the manuscript page.
May 17th
Dale received an email from JD Willingham asking him to come out of hiding. He hints that he is not legally considered a fugitive yet, but he is wanted for questioning about the fire at his house and now for the burglary at the Hollow Needle. He is negligent in his duties as Aglaura Councilman. There will be an emergency meeting to discuss Dale's absense and whether or not he should continue as Councilman.
Don Marzano also emails Dale requesting that he come out of hiding. He says that if Dale continues to ignore his invitations, he will have to find a way to refresh his memory.
The Aglaura site has another local news update. The Willinghams made a statement sharing their shock and dismay. They will provide a full listing of the items stolen next week. The police department also released a statment saying that they have a few leads and will provide a more complete statement next week.
Sam emailed us saying that he was interrogated by the police for three hours about the burglary. He also sent us a copy of a note left by Dale about the safe combo. Dale had some new ideas that he was going to try on the safe.
May 18th
Sam sent us a follow-up message to last nights email. Dale did get into Wes's safe and found a notebook (probably the one from the man who bought the disc from Wes) and some other items. Dale was going to look through the safe and figure out what of the other items, if any, are important.
Phyllis emailed Sunny(one of our fine detectives) and seemed quite upset. She says is very upset that the manuscript and the hidden painting are gone. Hidden painting? She accuses Sunny of knowing that she was going to be victimized in this way. Phyllis later sends a second email apologizing for her rant. She recounts the burglary in a little more detail. She said that she saw something in the darkness of the shop and then suddenly it was upon her like a "wall of blackness" and it struck her. She said it felt like the wind being knocked out of her, a physical blow. She woke up in the hospital. Phyllis says that she doesn't want to believe that Sam and Dale are behind the attack even though the were after the manuscript. She questions whether Penrose had something to do with it though. She said that at first Penrose told her to name her price for the manuscript and when she did he said that he would NEVER pay such a price. He said "You see, I'm not a man without resources."
The mayor posted a new message on the Aglaura page. It seems that everyone is becoming rather uneasy about the Sons of Don investigation there in town.
May 19th
Sam sent out an email saying that some of his emails with Dale's notes on hte safe code were missing an attachment. He put up Dale's notes on the Aglaura web server for easier access...
http://www.aglauranj.org/sam/tempdatadn1.html and
http://www.aglauranj.org/sam/tempdatadn2.html
Sam's login info is...
user: sgreene
password: passkey
Sam also said that he will be scanning some pages of the notebook from the safe and putting them up.
May 20th
Colin Penrose emailed us and claimed he had nothing to do with the theft of the manuscript. He did say that he has been contacted by someone who is willing to negotiate with him for it.
The local news section of the Aglaura website was updated once again. Not only was our very own Sunny name a suspect, but many now are questioning what this hidden painting that Phyllis spoke of is.
A picture of Sarah has been put up on the Aglaura Library website at http://www.aglauranj.org/library/sarahspicture.html When the picture is manipulated with photo software a figure can be seen to the left of Sarah.
Dale received a new email from Rubin...
From: rubinechus@mail.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Thanks For Replying
Date: 20 May 2003
Dear Dale:
Thanks for replying to my e-mail, especially in such an interesting manner. It
seems you may finally be starting to see the light. ;)
Rubin
sáamal in laak
Dale emailed us a lengthy update. The notebook from Wes's safe seems to be a travelling journal. At first the entries are normal with information like hotels, phone numbers, and mileages, but as time goes by the entries get stranger and stranger. Most of the other items in the safe were personal items so Dale left them in the safe. He did find a manuscript from Wes's book entitled "Secrets You Cannot Know". The manuscript is an expose about secret organizations like the illuminati and the Knights Templar and the metaphysical connections that the organizations have. There was also a photocopy of the manuscript from Phyllis's trunk with notes about "the Nine" and the strange symbols on it. He also found a notepad that seems to be the place where Wes wrote his thoughts and ideas. Most of the ideas were things that Sam and Dale had already talked about with Wes. "Gray Weathers" is the one note that stands out to Dale. Dale also said that he may have figured out some information about the Rubin Echus who has been emailing him. He said that he always thought that Rubin had to be someone somehow involved for Wes to trust him with his messages. He now thinks that perhaps Rubin is Wes and that he isn't in the hands of the Dead Eyes, but is hiding out somewhere safe. Dale said that one of Wes's pet passions is Mayan culture and the "sáamal in laak" at the end of his last message is mayan for "tomorrow, my friend". Dale noticed that rubinechus is an anagram for huun scribe. Huun is Mayan for paper. So rubinechus means paper scribe?
May 21st
In an email from Sam, he told us that Pat and Doug weren't too happy that Dale did not show up for the emergency council meeting. They grilled Sam about the current whereabouts of Dale for over an hour. Afterwards, Sam found out that the police were at his home with a search warrant. It seems that Pat and Doug didn't want Sam to warn Dale. Luckily, Dale wasn't at the house at the time. Sam also gave us a link to the notated copy of the manuscript.
Dale and Sam hosted an AIM chat session in which Wes (we think) showed up to say that he was back.
Many people got an AIM instant message from someone called shadowtalker1. He/she said things like "gray gray grey grey, weather weather" and "I'm grey, are you?" May 22nd
We continued to get more odd messages from shadowtalk. We're still not sure if this is a real person or a bot.
Dale received a new email from Don Marzano:
From: don@sonsofdon.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: At Last
Date: 22 May 2003
Dale,
At last, you see fit to reply. Not like I asked, but
it's a start.
I appreciate the fact that you still have arrangements
to make but I like your idea. This Monday, the
"Memorial Day" holiday, seems like a perfect day for
us to meet, doesn't it?
I look forward to your next message.
Don Marzano
HOC VOLUERUNT
The Local News section on the Aglaura, NJ site was updated. Dale has been temporarily suspended from the Council due to his extended and unexplained absence. There was also an apology and retraction on a previous news story which included an email excerpt from one of our detectives, Sunny, which made her a suspect.
We received a new email from Sam. He said that Dale is convinced that the weirdwesk that showed up in chat the other night really was Wes. He thinks that Wes must have had some contact with the guides that we didn't know about and that he was being less than honest with us. He knows more than we thought he did. Sam also said he doesn't know why Wes stole the manuscript from Phyllis.
May 23rd
Dale received an email from shadowtalk...
From: shadowtalk1@netscape.net
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: grey grey grey
Date: 23 May 2003
grey grey grey
s
gray weather
x
grey grey grey
6
grey weather
3
whether
8
wether
8
grey
3
grey
2
The sx638832 was hidden and could only be seen when the entire message was selected. It seems that sx638832 is an ID number for a specific grey wether in Britain.
dparadise20 received the mystery tile box that was won in the online auction. Inside was a strange stone, Pat Dobbs' library card, a ticket for admission to the auction and most importantly a letter to Sarah Wyatt.
May 24th
cemgate found the site http://www.greywethers.net/. When you click on the large graphic, some math equations (one is incorrect) appear quickly on the screen before it redirects you to a page with a poem/riddle about how to proceed with the user and password box. We haven't yet figured this puzzle out, but we think it may have to do with the letter to Sarah Wyatt found in the mystery tile box.
May 25th
We received a new message from Sam. He's sick and has been quite busy. He put up some old maps of Aglaura for Mrs. Dobbs. He said he has been having trouble getting the notebook pages to scan and look readable.
elderofzion discovered that the email from the whois info for greywethers.net is psammead@greywethers.net. According to one of elder's sources the Psammead is a creature with ears like a bat, hands and feet like a monkey, and a tubby spider's body. It is the last 'sand fairy'and has the power to grant wishes once per day.
Dale received an email from psammead...
From: psammead@greywethers.net
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: A Response
Date: 25 May 2003
now that you have messaged me
one condition has been met
so I can answer a few small things
though not near everything quite yet
it doesn't add up you said to me
an error you may spy
I assure you everything is deliberate
to show there's more than meets the eye
if things don't add up one way
perhaps that's not how you are meant
to come to a solution
you must deduce my true intent
This refers to the one wrong equation on the greywethers site. (1+2+6=10) We now know that it was intentionally put there and isn't a math error.
May 26th
We received an email from Dale telling us that the first set of the notebook pages are up at http://www.synthasia.com/dtn1.htm. Dale also told us he and an old friend are supposed to meet with Don Marzano tonite. In an email from Bruce we find out that the old friend Dale was referring to is Bruce. Does this mean they have made up? From what Bruce said it seems that Dale has in fact apologized for doubting his intentions.
Dale recieved an email from Sam...
From: webmaster@aglauranj.org
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Thanks A Lot
Date: 26 May 2003
Dale:
Thanks a lot for sticking me with making the webpages and posting them for the
notebook from Wes' safe. And on top of me being sick too. I thought our arrangement
was I scan the notebook and make the image files and you would create the pages and
post them? I certainly wasn't planning on having to do all that today too.
It is Memorial Day, you know. Picnics, hamburgers, hot dogs, and all that stuff.
Ring any bells? Seriously though, I needed a little r & r today (so shoot me!)
so took a neighbor up on a little party invite briefly, despite feeling a little
lousy yet. I think the food and fresh air did me good, even if it prevented me from
getting the next batch of pages up yet. I am starting to work on it as soon as I
hit SEND though, I promise.
BTW, call or e-mail as soon as you are back from your meeting with Don. God I hope
everything went as you planned.
OK, work to do.
Sam
We recieved an email from Angie recounting the happenings at the Empty Threats meeting with Bruce and Dale. Angie found a vent in the ladies room where she could conveniently eavesdrop...
Now, check this out; Uncle Don told them "Nothing you can say or do will change
one thing about this investigation. That's a done deal, all scripted and approved".
He seemed to be bragging that Marzano Enterprises won't get hurt by the investigation,
that their "little friends in Aglaura" will have a "part to play", and they may not
like it.
Then some other men walked in (I didn't see them when they arrived, but caught
a glimpse when they left - pale skinned and in dark suits with sunglasses, sort of
creepy). From what Uncle Don said, it seemed Dale recognized them. Uncle Don said
that "their organization's happiness is essential to my future plans". He demanded
that Dale return some artifacts to them. He specifically mentioned some disk, someone
named Keeler, and some "package".
Then he moved around the room and I think he was standing behind Dale & Bruce
when he said something really weird (as if this whole meeting wasn't strange enough).
"Dale, I want you find this wish for me." ?????? I heard Bruce say "Are you crazy?
He doesn't exist!" but then Dale asked my uncle "What do you know of the wish?"
Okay, I'm trying to remember this next part as best I can. I actually started taking
notes on some old receipts in my pocket. Here is what I got:
Uncle Don: This wish as you would call him, he has been a thorn in my
side...and to the people who our friends here work for...with how things have changed,
there is even more risk than ever. He who plays by his own rules is making them up
as he goes now and stands to ruin everything. You must find him, and bring him to
me.
Dale: How?
Uncle Don: You will find him. He has left a trail that only you can follow....
(something about many names and guises, and then righting a wrong)...If you do
this, you will both get what you want from me.
Dale: (something about not knowing where the items are).
Uncle Don: Find the items, and find the wish....he will contact you soon.
Bruce: What am I suppose to do?
Uncle Don: Help Dale. Use your contact with his helpers (then something about it
was all a fantasy).
He then ordered them to leave the room. I hightailed out of the bathroom and stationed
myself by the front door before they crossed the dining room. Bruce barely even looked
at me as he was leaving. Didn't say anything to me!
I asked Frank if Dale was a friend of Uncle Don, because he seemed familiar. Frank
then said that maybe I remembered his wife, because "she used to come around here
before she died". The way he said it, almost sent shivers down my spine.
May 27th
The second batch of notebook pages are up at http://www.synthasia.com/dtn2.htm and the third at http://www.synthasia.com/dtn3.htm. May 28th
We received an email from Sam telling us that all of the notebook pages were finally up. He also sent the following email quite a few people for winning "A Day in Fairyland" in the auction. Was this a mistake? Many people received the message who didn't win anything in the auction. Or do the PM's not know who won it?...
I'm glad you like the A Day in Fairy Land book you won. The note inside is puzzling
and seems like it must have come from Sarah Wyatt. Perhaps you should try posting
that note somewhere to see if anyone else can help make sense out of it. If you give
me your permission, I'll post a copy of it somewhere so everyone can see it. Also,
do you have a way a scanning or taking photos of the pages of the book itself? I'm
pretty sure a bunch of poeople would be interested in seeing those as well.
Dale received another email from phishtap...
From: pfishtap@yahoo.com
To: dale@synthasia.com
Subject: Slight Delay
Date: 28 May 2003
Dear Dale:
I hope this message finds you well. Just a head's up. As usual, I've experienced
a few short delays in my publicity campaign but things should definitely start happening
soon. So you still have time to, albeit not much, get me anything you've prepared
for the Interface Project we discussed. If this draws the attention some people have
suggested it might, you may just want to be along for the ride.
Peter
pfishtap@yahoo.com
Also, another email was sent by psammead...
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 17:14:55 -0700
From: psammead@greywethers.net
To: "Myss Fitz"
Subject: Re: Fwd: Help please:-)
well, friend
the user name you ask me for
is right before your eyes
I've told you once, I've told you twice
it's really no surprise
the password starts with an alias
another name by which I'm known
with letter pairs to be removed
to be left with letters eight alone
one more step to find the answer
think about the names so strange
of pages you have seen in passing
and your eight letters can be changed
ALH1213 won the Fairyland book and posted Sarah's note...
A book of beautiful pictures
Numbers of fairies and elves on each leaf;
For those who would read,
There is plenty indeed,
In a story that questions belief,
Each paragraph may hold surprises
Inthe words and letters you see;
As the story unfolds
The secret they hold
Can be found by the one with the key
Signed by SW
So it seems that the note from the mystery box is going to be a key or code that we will use with the Fairyland book?
May 29th
A message from the Head Librarian of the Aglaura Public Library
Our normally peaceful Library will be transformed into a playground full of games,
scavenger hunts, contests and prizes as The Aglaura Public Library launches its Summer
Reading Challenge Program with a blast on Saturday, June 7th, starting at 12 noon
and lasting until 6:00PM.
This will be fun and exciting for the whole family with a wide array of different
activities, and a great way of getting people thinking and excited about reading
this summer. Booths will be set-up throughout the Library, and kids of all ages can
compete in contests and games for prizes and merchandise from local merchants. The
activities will range from thinking and memory games, guessing games, speed reading
contests, and the usual "carnival type" of skill contests. The Library will remain
open the entire time, although we can't guarantee the usual quite and serene atmosphere.
The Aglaura Library Summer Reading Challenge Program is an eight week program designed
to motivate New Jersey residents to read this summer, and challenges participants
to read as many books as possible in the eight week span, with special recognition
and awards for the highest achievers. Despite the "kid-friendly" theme of the initial
launch event on June 7th, the Aglaura Library Summer Reading Challenge Program features
both children's and adult components. Special Reading Clubs will be set up for children
ages 3 to 8 and for children in grades 1 through 7. The children will be allowed
to read and listen (through audio books!) to whatever they choose from the Summer
Reading Challenge Program list and receive stickers and small prizes for each book
they complete. Adults will have a similar challenge with, of course, different reading
lists and prizes as well.
Sign-up forms for the Summer Programs are available at the Circulation Desk and
will also be available at the Aglaura Library Summer Reading Challenge Program kick-off
on June 7th. As always, you can get more information on this or any of our programs
at the Aglaura Public Library by e-mailing us at:
library@aglauranj.org
Mrs. Agatha Dobbs, Head Librarian
Aglaura Public Library, Aglaura NJ
Myssfitz may have given us the hint we needed to crack the password/username for the greywethers site by sending this to psammead...
You have told me once, you have told me twice, but where? In our previous correspondence? It's not right in front of my eyes. Am I supposed to use the left over letters from Standing Stones? Or just the same amount of letters (6). And is the login case sensitive?
I have tried: friend, friends, stone, stones, stony, psammead, different combos of "ssttnn", sand, sandfairy, sand fairy, wish.
which gave us the response of...
yes friend you are correct
an answer you have found
the user name I've given you
the first one you wrote down
the password is a different case
though lower it is too
by many names I am known
and you have named a few
since you have named it i can confirm
that if it's stones they're standing
but even after take away
the encryption is demanding
but there's one for each yet two per one
on every page of signs and sums
so pay attention in your passing
a name can tell you many things
"a ragman" you're not looking for
it's time to do some ciphering
So "friend" is the username, but what is the password? Obviously, we have some work to do on "standing stones".
Colin Penrose has also agreed to give an appraisal of the missing manuscript that was stolen from Phyllis. Penrose also says that Mr. Keeler is on "another" errand for him in exchange for some info and money. I guess Wes stole the manuscript for Penrose?
May 30th
We continued to send off emails to psammead hoping to get a clue on how to solve the greywethers login...
From Varin:
cannot find the simple word
I need to pass proceed
I'm trying everything I know
There's something I don't see
I know my math is up to par
1 and 2 and 6 isn't 10
then methinks I could be wrong
and, oh, could it equal "ten"?
Could 1 be "t" and 2 be "e"?
I really do not know
then "n" would be 6, oh my,
but now where do I go?
Am I on the correct path?
Or am I all alone
in my thinking I must know,
could you at least throw me a bone?
and psammead sent this...
perhaps by counting pages
and writing down names you find
a pattern will grow clear to you
and trigger something in your mind
these names made up of numbers
are quite intentional in size
they're meant to show there's two on each
one on either side
the names tell you which two are there
now find what they become
the plus sign has a purpose
but it's not to find a sum
another sent...
Alias found and pairs away
letters adigones remain
1,4,9,7,15,14,5,19 turned as numbers
yet password still to attain
attempts so far lead no where
hence the need to enquire
my request to you
for words to inspire
should each page cover 2 letters
perhaps pick equation for right one
should that be the case
then right track I have begun
In anycase hope you enjoy my rhyme
as it took me a very longtime
and yet another clue from psammead:
the way that you are starting
is certainly correct
that each page yields two letters
you rightly did detect
perhaps by counting pages
and writing down names you find
a pattern will grow clear to you
and trigger something in your mind
these names made up of numbers
are quite intentional in size
they're meant to show there's two on each
one on either side
the names tell you which two are there
now find what they become
the plus sign has a purpose
but it's not to find a sum
and dashcat took a stab at it with...
1+6.html
1+2+6=10
Does this represent I/J 9=I 10=J ?
9=10 does this mean base 9 ?
wpfd.html is wpfd a clue?
and got...
in answer to your questions
no and no and no
the 1+6 has meaning
a pair it's meant to show
perhaps by counting pages
and writing down names you find
a pattern will grow clear to you
and trigger something in your mind
these names made up of numbers
are quite intentional in size
they're meant to show there's two on each
one on either side
the names tell you which two are there
now find what they become
the plus sign has a purpose
but it's not to find a sum
May 31st
Misha received this from psammead...
the password you are searching for
starts out with just a name
another one they call me
the stones of standing fame
so the password starts with an alias
another name by which I'm known
with letter pairs to be removed
to be left with letters eight alone
perhaps by counting pages
and writing down names you find
a pattern will grow clear to you
and trigger something in your mind
these names made up of numbers
are quite intentional in size
they're meant to show there's two on each
one on either side
the names tell you which two are there
now find what they become
the plus sign has a purpose
but it's not to find a sum
We got this from Agatha...
It seems that picture of Sarah Wyatt has generated quite a lot of attention, judging
from the amount of e-mail I have received.
The building in the picture is actually right here in Aglaura, right along what
we now call Main Street. Back when it was Ongs Hat, the buildings along that road
were numbered according to an old township wide numbering scheme, as it was once
the only thruway through the area. So the buildings back then had numbers up in the
thousands because they were township addresses, not Ongs Hat addresses. That has,
of course, since changed but many of the older buildings still bear the old address
numbers, especially when they are ornamental features of the building, such as in
this case.
Finally, I just wanted to give you a little advance notice of our next exciting
Library event. We will be launching our Summer Reading Challenge Program with a kick-off
blast on Saturday, June 7th, starting at 12 noon and lasting until 6:00PM.
This will be fun and exciting for the whole family with a wide array of
different activities, and a great way of getting people thinking and excited about
reading this summer. Booths will be set-up throughout the Library, and kids of all
ages can compete in contests and games for prizes and merchandise from local merchants.
The activities will range from thinking and memory games, guessing games, speed reading
contests, and the usual "carnival type" of skill contests.
If you are anywhere in the Aglaura area, be sure to stop by.
Mrs. Agatha Dobbs
Librarian, Aglaura Public Library
Aglaura NJ
Dale seems to be having the same trouble with the greywethers login and received this from psammead...
perhaps by counting pages
and writing down names you find
a pattern will grow clear to you
and trigger something in your mind
these names made up of numbers
are quite intentional in size
they're meant to show there's two on each
one on either side
the names tell you which two are there
now find what they become
the plus sign has a purpose
but it's not to find a sum
Myssfitz received...
Subject: triplet
the name of each page has two numbers
and on each many formulas fall
but the thing that you need
is an alphabet indeed
as twenty six there is total in all
so if 1 plus 6 equals letters
one on each side of the sign
how could you know
how the other numbers go
there must be some way to divine
there's one thing that separates the numbers
on the page as the same in the name
so look for that sign
it's there by design
and it shows you which ones are the same
The Aglaura page was updated with the following...
AGLAURA POLICE PROMISE DEVELOPMENT THIS WEEK IN BURGLARY - May 31, 2003
The Aglaura NJ Police Department, in a statement released on Friday, May 30th,
promised an important development in the ongoing investigation of the burglary at
the Hollow Needle sometime in the upcoming week. "We are on the verge of a major
breakthrough in this case," said Aglaura Police Chief Dawn Prufrock, in the prepared
statement. "You can expect a major development in the next week that should help
us wrap up this investigation."
The Hollow Needle Rare Books and Antiques store is on Old Dobbs Road, in Aglaura.
The business, owned by J. Douglas Willingham, the Aglaura Borough attorney, and his
wife, Phyllis Willingham, was burglarized during a home invasion on May 15, 2003