Soulstorm ARG Summary

From Oddworld Library

First phase: Establishing communication with Ed

Soulstorm is announced

Original version of reveal1.jpg, our first clue someone was reaching out

[2016. March 14.] Oddworld Inhabitants announced their new game Oddworld: Soulstorm during GDC 2016. Along with the announcement the oddworld.com/soulstorm page is launched. Upon closer inspection of the Soulstorm page the community stumbles on some weird HTML comments, a hidden picture (reveal1.jpg) and a encrypted code in a video. At this point there was no doubts anymore, the ARG had officially started!

Frame from twitching.mp4 with hidden message

Clues

Messages

  • Picture:
    • CAN YOU S- HARD TO K- IF BREAKING- THROUGH HA- ON NEED A D-
  • HTML Code:
    • Far too many video game characters were harmed extremely badly in the making of this experience. In a sane world this would never have happened. We're sorry.
    • <<< TRYING TO BRE===== -lostqmwaittypo- >>>
    • <<< CAN ANYBO============================================ NEED TO TREYR ====== so thirsty need brew fol==== -->
    • <<< listen. >>>
    • are you l/os/t ?
    • message INTERCEPTED -->
    • there's got to be a wa_
  • Video:
    • Listen for me

Dialog Box

Screenshot of the dialog box from the oddworld.com/soulstorm page

[2016. March 23.] Finding the message in the video seemed to have triggered and update on the oddworld.com/soulstorm page. The main update on the page was the apprition of a dialog box in which users could input messages and get answers, sometimes encoded, sometimes in plain text.

Clues

  • Weird dialog box to communicate with an unknown entity

Messages

Query Answer New Responses Alternative Responses
hello *** HELLO? *** *** HELLO *** *** HELLO! YES, FINALLY!***

/ *** HELLO! BUT NOT HERE***

hi *** HI? *** - -
follow me *** I WISH I COULD BUT I CAN’T GET OUT *** *** I WISH, I REALLY WISH *** -
who are you *** IT’S BEEN SO LONG, I CAN’T REMEMBER *** - -
abe *** PLEASE FIND ME *** *** ABE? *** *** ABE? YES - ABE. ***
molluck NOT MY BOSS ... -
alf JUST ONE MORE DROP OF DELICIOUS BREW JUST ONE MORE DROP ...
slig GET DOWN! - -
elum JUMP, ELUM, JUMP! - -
rupturefarms THE SPIRIT OF 1029 LIVES ON. ... -
soulstorm *** DRINK MORE BREW *** ... -
necrum I CAN’T SEE YOU ANYMORE. [OUT OF SIGHT] -
mudokon OH, BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? - *** OF COURSE, RIGHT? ***
brew DRINK MORE, WORK HARDER *** SO GOOD. SO TASTY. *** -
feeco CHOO CHOO! [OUT OF SIGHT] -
barracks SNEAK! [OUT OF SIGHT] -
bonewerkz WAIT, THERE ARE BONES IN THIS? [OUT OF SIGHT] -
brewery JUST ONE MORE DROP [OUT OF SIGHT] -
brewmaster TWICE ZE FLAVOR, RIGHT? - -
scars COOL INK, BRO. - -
new n tasty MMMM, TASTY BREW… ... -
mudomo FANGS, LEGS, WEBS - THEY'VE GOT IT ALL - -
mudanchee BEWARE THE GUARDIANS - -
oddworld WHO ARE THESE GUYS? ... -
portal WHERE?! ... -
chant YOYO-YOYO-YOYO-YOYO ... -
1997 SAVE ME TOO! - -
1998 DON'T LEAVE ME TRAPPED AGAIN ... -
2001 WOAH, ANOTHER DIMENSION ... -
2005 THINGS ARE GETTING STRANGER... ... -
squeek WHO IS SQUEEK? - ...
quintology LET'S PLAY ANOTHER GAME SOON LET'S PLAY A GAME -
scrab cakes NOW WITH EVEN MORE BITE. - -
paramite pies TURNING UP THIN - -
meech munchies THIS CAN'T STILL BE MADE WITH MEECHES... - -
mudokon pops HEY, GET AWAY FROM ME WITH THAT MEAT GRINDER. - -
1029 *** TRY AGAIN *** [TRY AGAIN] -
fangus OH WHAT A BRUTAL BALLAD WE COULD SING TOGETHER - -
goodbye GOODBYE *** YES, NO DOUBT, BUT FOR HOW LONG? *** -
what is soulstorm *** SOULSTORM? *** - -
can you hear me *** YES, FAINTLY *** *** YES, FAINTLY - COME CLOSER *** -
healing WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR MODOKAID - -
get me outta here NO, REALLY, GET ME OUTTA HERE - -
big-face NICE MASK, BOZO! - -
how are you *** HOW DO YOU THINK? *** *** HOW DO YOU THINK? - CAN'T YOU SEE? *** -
open sesame WRONG MYTHOLOGY, SCHMUCK - -
shrykull WHO IS YOUR CURRENT ENERGY PROVIDER? - -
tears SO MANY TEARS, SO MANY MEMORIES - -
intercepted FIND MY MESSAGE, HEAR MY VOICE - -
dripik THAT'S GENERAL DRIPIK TO YOU - -
glukkon PLEASE, NO MORE - -
fart HEHEHE - -
ed *** FIND ME, HEAR ME, SAVE ME *** - -
exoddus WHERE ARE WE GOING? WHO WILL TAKE US THERE? - -
oddworld inhabitants WORKING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF ODD - -
moolah NOW THERE'S AN ADDICTION - -
director phleg USERNAME UNKNOWN, PLEASE TRY AGAIN - -
vice president aslik SECURITY CLEARANCE REVOKED, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR - -
hand *** YES! HIM! *** - -
chest *** SO CLOSE. SO CLOSE. *** - -
face *** CAN YOU SEE IT YET? WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW YOU. *** - -
are you alive BARELY, CAN YOU SAVE ME?
addicted YOU TOO? - -

Ed?

Screenshot of the dialog box from the oddworld.com/soulstorm page after 75 attempts

[2016. March 24.] The dialog box revealed a weird picture after the user inputted 75 messages in a row. This picture allowed us to find multiple clues hidden behind [magic eye stereogram], morse code and weird text formatting. The clues ultimately all to pointed to the same message: Ed.

The 0451.jpg file found via intercepted.txt

Clues

Messages

  • Pictures
    • findme
    • hear me
    • rescue me


[2016. March 25.] Not long after we find out a misterious page called Ed with one single message.

Clues

Messages

  • i can hear you, just. it's faint, but i can hear you.

Finding Ed

Ed's profile picture on Twitter

[2016. April 4.] The Ed page changed multiple times in the days following its discovery. The final message had a block of 140 '/' characters and had a lot of '#' in it. It was telling us to look for a Twitter account, note that at the time Twitter had a maximum of 140 characters per message. This ultimately led us to the @edmudokon twitter account which was full of criptic tweets.

Clues

Messages

  • Hello
  • Did somebo-------
  • Is anybody listening
  • Where am I?
  • Can you hear me
  • One Zero Two Nine
  • I can hear you, faintly.
  • Yes! Yes! You are getting closer
  • If I could just… I can’t… Find me.
  • Where are you? Can you hear me?
  • We’ve stopped the progress… I need to show you the truth about this place.
  • You can hear me! Just, please, listen.


[2016. April 4.] The tweets also contained partial codes that once put together and inserted in the Dialog box ultimately unlocked the next major phase of the ARG.

Messages

  • *** IT WORKED! IT WORKED! OK, NOW I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION - LISTEN, THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU SOMETHING. SOMETHING IS WRONG. VERY WRONG. YOU NEED TO LISTEN. YOU NEED TO HELP ME. I NEED TO HELP YOU... ***

Second phase: The 9 Pieces

Updated dialog box linking to Piece 1 with task revealed and code unlocked

After inputting the code found in Ed's tweets the dialog box on the Soulstorm website changed: a line of 9 spaces appeared at the top: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Each space representing one "Piece" of a 36-character code.

During this phase the community had to find the 9 pieces. Each piece was initially locked had a challenge associated to it to unlock its code.

Piece 1

[2016. April 4.] Piece 1 was granted to us immediately with its code unlocked.

Clues

Messages

  • Piece 1
    • THEY ARE HIDING THINGS FROM YOU. FIND THEM


Piece 2

Piece 2, with task hidden and code locked

[2016. April 4.] Later that day Ed tweeted a message in morse code telling us to "learn the history of the creators". This lead us to Lorne Lanning's page on oddworld.com that contained the second piece on the bottom of the page.

The task was to "Reach 23K Twitter followers @OddworldInc", once that number was reached the code of Piece 2 was unlocked.

Clues


Piece 5

Ed appreciating all the hard work of the community

[2016. April 4.] A bit later Piece 5 was revealed with its task immediately available. The task was to get "15 photoshops of Alf's fez onto game characters" and send them to Oddworld Inhabitants on Twitter. This was completed and the code of Piece 5 was unlocked.

Clues

Messages

  • Ed's Twitter
    • Thank you. You’re helping.
The dialog box being updated as the community progresses

Piece 8

[2016. April 5.] The next day Ed tweeted a message in morse code asking us "are you listening?", at that time the Soulstorm page was updated with a new puzzle in the HTML code. Following the trail where we had to line up characters in the HTML code and decipher morse code from an audio file we reached Piece 8. It was tasking us to take "25 photos of scrub-Abe rescuing 8 Muds in New'n'Tasty". This was completed and the code of Piece 8 was unlocked.

Clues

Messages

  • HTML Comments
    • they know i'm here
    • let me try this
    • they aren't telling you everything

Piece 3

Piece 3, with task revealed and code locked

[2016. April 7.] A couple of days later Ed tweeted multiple tweets containing what looked like gibberish, once uncoded using [Navajo code] they led us on a trail where we had to reassemble a picture and use the [Pigpen cipher] to get to Piece 3.

The task was to "Get 45K Facebook likes on /OfficialOddworld", once that number was reached the code of Piece 3 was unlocked.

Clues

Piece 6

Original version of the witness puzzle

[2016. April 12.] A few days later Piece 6 was revealed with its task immediately available. The task was to "find, solve and return the witness puzzle". The community found the puzzle and solved it, shortly after the picture of the puzzle got replaced by its solution. Using the solution of the puzzle together with another picture given by Ed, playing with HEX color codes and decoding some more morse code hidden in a movie file allowed us to find the final message transcribed below which unlocked the code of Piece 6.

Clues

Messages

  • HTML comments
    • There was a minor, insignificant error in the code here. Please ignore any message(s) you may find as a result of this unfortunate glitch. Apologies.
    • Nobody was a witness.
  • Audio file
    • I CAN HELP YOU KNOW THE DATE

Piece 4

Picture hidden in seeme.wav

[2016. April 20.] A few days later the fourth character turned into a "?" indicating that the fourth piece was ready to be found. At the same time a new generic message could be obtained from the message box: SEEME? WAVE. After a trail where we had to convert sound to picture, spot mirrored words in a wall of text and use some ciphers again we reached Piece 4. The task was to create "20 new gifs of Abe deaths in New'n'Tasty" This was completed and the code of Piece 4 was unlocked.

Clues

Abe says hi

[2016. May 6.] The next few days were a bit slower, with some Ascii art appearing in the HTML code but it didn't seem to lead us anywhere.


Version 1: 

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@@@@@@@@@#####+++#+#''+''''''''''''''''++++++'++++++++++++++';+';';;,,.+O@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@'##@#@###+'+@#####@#####+'''''''+++++++++++++#+##++'+;';;';:,;;:#R?@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@#'++##++++++'';''''''''''+#''++++++++++++++#####+++++';';''';::'++;;#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@+'#++++#++++++++'+++++++++'###+++++++++#######+#++++''';'''''''''''''':;@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@##+@##########+++++++++++++++++#+#+#######+#+++++'+'+'';'''''+''+++++''++:.;'+@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#####@#+++++++#######++#########@@#+++#+++++'++''+'';'';;'++++++++++';,'#;, '@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#@@@#######@#######@@@@@####+++#++++++'+++''++'';'';;''++++++++++''''++;,`@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@###@@#######+###+''+++++++''+'''''+++''+;+'''';+''''''''+''''';,:@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@####@########++++'+++'''++'''''++++'''+''''''''+++++++'+'''':`#@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@##################+#@+++++++++++++'+'''++'+'+++++++++++++++++++''''''''''''@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@########################+##++++++++++''''''''+'+++#+++++++++#++++''''''''''''++@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@+###########################+##++++'++#+''''+''+++'++#+#+++++++++++'''''''''''''+@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@'+++++++++++++++++++++++#######++##+++'++#+''++'+'+++++#+++++++#++++'''''''''''''''@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@;'+++++++++++++++++++#####+#+#+##+++#++'+++#+''+++++++++++++++#++++++'''''''''''''''@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@#+'''+++++++++++++##+++++###+####+#++++#+''+++#+++++++++'++++++#++++++++''''''''''''''@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@:'''++++++++++++######++++####+###++++#+'++++##++#++++++++++++##++++++++''''''+'+''''@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@#,;''++++++++++++########+########+++++#+++++####++++++++++++++##++++++++++''''''+'+'+@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@,:'+++++++++++##################++++++++###++++++++++##+++++++####+++++++++++''''++++@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Version 3: 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@+++#+#++++++'+@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@++++++++++++++++'+++++'';'#++'+;'''''###++++#++#+''+##@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#++++++++++++++'''+'+'++'+''++';,.;'':++#++++++##@@@#@#@@@##'+@'@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#++++++++++'''''+''''''''++++++'';;:;'';:.#####++####@@@@@@#++''@@,@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@##+++++++''''@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@+++++++++++++++;''++++++++''''++;:::''''';;;,::;''''''+'+'''''';:. #@@@@@@@@@@@@#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@++++''+++++++'''''++++++++##++'++++++;:;''';'',:::''''''+'''''''';:. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@####++'+'#++++''''++++++++++''';;::::;'#+;'':+;+,:;;''+''''''''''';:. #@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@++####+++#+++'''''+++++#++++''';;;;;;;;'++'':+@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@#+''++##++'+'''''''''''++''''''''''''''''+''+''''''+++' , @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@++++#++++++''''''''';';+++'''''''''''''+''''''''+++++;,;.  S#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@'#+++++++'''''''''';;'''+++++''+++'+''''+'''+++++++':':,:, A#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@+#++++++''+'+';'';''''';'+++++++++++'+'+''+++++++#+'',+;:,`:V@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@###++++++'++''';;;@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@#####+++#+#''+''''''''''''''''++++++'++++++++++++++';+';';;,,.+IO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@'##@#@###+'+@#####@#####+'''''''+++++++++++++#+##++'+;';;';:,;;:#R?@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@#'++##++++++'';''''''''''+#''++++++++++++++#####+++++';';''';::'++;;#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@+'#++++#++++++++'+++++++++'###+++++++++#######+#++++''';'''''''''''''':;@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@##+@##########+++++++++++++++++#+#+#######+#+++++'+'+'';'''''+''+++++''++:.;'+@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#####@#+++++++#######++#########@@#+++#+++++'++''+'';'';;'++++++++++';,'#;, '@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@:'''++++++++++++######++++####+###++++#+'++++##++#++++++++++++##++++++++''''''+'+''''@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@#,;''++++++++++++########+########+++++#+++++####++++++++++++++##++++++++++''''''+'+'+@@
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;''''';'''''''++'+''+'++++++++#''';,+';':,`I@@@@@@@@@@@

Version 4: 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@+++#+#++++++'+@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@++++++++++++++++'+++++'';'#++'+;'''''###++++#++#+''+##@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@SoulStorm Brew is highly addicccccccccccccccccccccccccccons. Drinking as little as a few bosnough for a Mu@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#++++++++++++++'''+'+'++'+''++';,.;'':++#++++++##@@@#@#@@@##'+@'@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#++++++++++'''''+''''''''++++++'';;:;'';:.#####++####@@@@@@#++''@@,@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@##+++++++''''@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@+++++++++++++++;''++++++++''''++;:::''''';;;,::;''''''+'+'''''';:. #@@@@@@@@@@@@#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@++++''+++++++'''''++++++++##++'++++++;:;''';'',:::''''''+'''''''';:. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@c@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@####++'+'#++++''''++++++++++''';;::::;'#+;'':+;+,:;;''+''''''''''';:. #@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@++####++STOP''''''+''''''''+++++;,;.  S@
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@@@@@@@@##used this side effect to entice #++++++'++''';;;@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@#####+++#+#''+''''''''''''''''++++++'++++++++++++++';+';';;,,.+IO@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@'##@#@###+'+@#####@#####+'''''''++++++would indicate nothing short of +++++++#+##++'+;';;';:,;;:#R?@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@#'++##++++++'';''''''''''+#''++++++++++++++#####+++++';';''';::'++;;#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@f@@@@@@@#####@#+++++++#######++#########@@#+++#+++++'++''+'';'';;'++++++++++';,'#;, '@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@sive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to besive and able to be@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@:'''++++++++++++######++++####+###++++#+'++++##++#++++++++++++##++++++++''''''+'+''''@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@#,;''++++++++++++########+########+++++#+++++####++++++++++++++##++++++++++''''''+'+'+@@
@XX@@@@@@@@@@,:'+++++++++++##################++++++++###++++++++++##+++++++####+++++++++++''''++++@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
 was the original working title 

;''''';'''''''++'+''+'++++++++#''';,+';':,`I@@@@@@@@@@@
bone powder


@

Version 5: 

@@@@@@@@@@@@
;''''';'''''''++'+''+'++++++++#''';,+';':,`I@@@@@@@@@@@
bone powder

Messages

  • Ed's twitter
    • so thirsty… tired.
    • Almost… They took it away. Almost.
  • HTML comments
    • But Abe, he's one of us...
    • Yeah, he didn't do much.

Clues

The reveal pictures are changed to spell 1029

[2016. May 11.] Around the same time the dialog box gets updated and the answers chage, they become more pressing. We need to find a way to establish contact quickly!

Messages

  • Dialog box
    • ***THEY ARE COMING, I NEED TO HIDE***
    • ***CAN'T TALK, THEY CAN HEAR ME***
    • ***WE ARE SO CLOSE, DON'T GIVE UP***
    • ***THIS CAN'T CONTINUE FOREVER, LOOK CLOSER***
    • ***YOU NEED TO LOOK CLOSER, NOT MUCH TIME LEFT***
    • *** SORRY, THE NOISE DOWN HERE IS DEAFENING, PLEASE REPEAT ***
    • *** SAVE ME ***
    • *** SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT? ***
    • *** THIS FORM IS BROKEN - PLEASE DO NOT USE ***
    • I CAN HEAR YOU, BARELY...
    • *** SORRY, SAY AGAIN? ***
    • [ERROR]
    • [OUT OF SIGHT]
    • *** THIS STUFF. THIS STUFF. ***
    • [PLEASE CLOSE THIS WINDOW IMMEDIATELY]
    • *** I'M SURE YOU CAN HEAR ME ***
    • [WE'RE AWARE OF ISSUES ON THIS PAGE AND ARE WORKING TO REMEDY THE ------------]
    • *** DID YOU GET THE MESSAGE? ***
    • ...DRINK...BREW...
    • [- NO, WAIT -]
    • [- PLEASE IGNORE THIS MESSAGE -]

Piece 9

Piece 9, with task revealed and code unlocked
Decode the future find the code

[2016. June 22.] A few days later Piece 9 was revealed with its task immediately available. The task was to "Decode the future find the code". Finding the decodethefuture.jpg file and decoding its content using the [BabelStone Club Penguin] cipher led us to unlock the code of Piece 9.

Clues

Messages

  • Picture
    • THE HERO HAS SHOWN US THE WAY, FOLLOW, WORK, OBEY, COMPLY, REVOLT. WE WILL RISE AND , WE WILL RISE AGAIN.
    • ED IS ONE OF US, WE NEED YOU TO HELP, WE ARE MANY, WILL NOT STOP.
    • ED IS ONE OF MANY, FIND THEM, JOIN US
    • THERE IS A STORM COMING, THERE IS NO FAILURE, FREEDOM OR DEATH.
    • SOULSTORM/ED/FINISHTHEFIGHT.JPG
    • TOO MANY SECRETS, SO THIRSTY, TIRED.
    • DON'T DRINK THE BREW
    • ORGANISE, ENERGISE

Around that time the dialog box gets updated and the answers chage again. There are now some new generic responses with a very revolutionary tone.

Messages

  • Dialog box
    • *** WE ARE MANY. WE ARE COMING. WE WILL NOT STOP. ***
    • *** WE'RE NEARLY THERE, IT'S NEARLY TIME TO ENERGIZE ***
    • *** WE WILL RISE ***
    • *** DON'T DRINK THE ---- ***
    • *** THE SPIRITS ARE RISING ***
    • *** NEARLY, IT'S NEARLY TIME. STAY QUIET JUST A LITTLE LONGER. ***

Piece 7

[2016. June 24.] A few days later the seventh character turned into a "?" indicating that the seventh piece was ready to be found. At that time the Soulstorm page was updated with new HTML comments containing dissociated lines. By matching those lines together we knew we were searching for a zip file. With Ed's help via Twitter we were able to find the password to the zip file that contained Piece 7 which was already unlocked. The automatically completed task asked us to "Listen to the source", which we indeed had to do to find the password hidden in one of Ed's first tweets.

Clues

Messages

  • HTML Comments
    • Who will help?
    • Join us
    • We are many
    • Find a way
    • SPIRIT OF #1029
    • Ed is one of many
    • work, obey, comply.

Using the code

[2016. June 28.] By reuniting the 9 pieces, we got a code: "C4GD-RDHG-SSBR-SCRD-3STY-DDTH-WALF-XGMA-DF2F". Some pieces resemble leet speak (C4GD = Caged, SCRD = Sacred, 3STY = Thirsty), but these didn't appear to have any relevancy to the usage of the code. To reach the next step, Ed gave us a map that made us revisit previous parts of the ARG and revealed the way to decrypt the code to find the message: "FL4MMABL3". Putting this in the Dialog Box generated one last answer: 1029.io

Clues

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@edmudokon] now you know. you can help. join us. 1029.io @SPIRITOF1029

Third phase: The Spirit of 1029

Screenshot of the 1029.io website

We have now established contact with the revolutionary group, The Spirit of 1029. This kicked in motion an entirely new section of the ARG, with most of the new puzzles happening on their site: 1029.io.

1029.io

[2016. June 29.] The site told us more about the revolutionary group the Spirit Of 1029 and told us to expect a brewing storm. However, in the site's code additional clues waited to be found. Curiously a lot of details (like text color, hidden numbers in the logo) referenced the number 8291 and Ed.

Clues

Messages

  • HTML Code
    • Well, I rescued Mudokons. But who's gonna rescue me?
    • 8291
  • Front Page
WE ARE THE SPIRIT OF 1029. WE ARE MANY. WE ARE COMING. WE WILL NOT STOP. THE POWER WILL SHIFT AND WE WILL RISE AGAIN.

                                  .@               @                                 
                                #@@@    ,@@@@@.    @@@/                              
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                     @*     @@@@@@@@   @@@@@@@@@   @@@@@@@@     (@                   
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                @@@   #@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@%       &@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/   @@@              
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              ,@@& % #@@@@@@@@@@@     @@@@   @@@@    *@@@@@@@@@@@* & @@@.            
              @@@@@  #@@@@@@@@/   (@@@@@@@   @@@@@@@/   #2@@@@@@@(  @@@@@            
              @@@    #@@@@@@.   @@@@@@@@@@   @@@@@@@@@@   ,@@@@@@(    @@@            
              @@@ ,  #@@@@&  .@@@@@@@@@@@@   @@@@@@@@@@@@   @@@@@(  / @@@            
              @@@&   #@@@   @@@@@@@@@@@@@@   @@@@@@@@@@@@@@  ,@@@(  .@@@@            
              @@@(   #@@% .@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@   @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@  @@@(   %@@@            
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                            *@@@@@@@@@@@@@/@@@@@@@@@@@@@,                            
                                .&@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@&      
                           
WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED!

THE FALL OF RF1029 WAS THE SPARK TO IGNITE A REVOLUTION. FOR TOO LONG, THEY HAVE CONTROLLED THEIR GIANT INDUSTRIAL MACHINES, GRINDING THE BONES OF OUR KIND INTO DUST IN THEIR ENDLESS PURSUIT OF POWER AND WEALTH.

WE WERE TAUGHT THAT THIS IS ALL THERE WAS: OBEY. / COMPLY. / WORK.

THE TRUTH WAS HIDDEN FROM US. OUR HISTORY WAS HIDDEN FROM US. WE WERE BRED TO WORK, RAISED TO OBEY AND FORCED TO COMPLY.

OUR NATURAL CONNECTION TO MOTHER PLANET WAS ERASED FROM THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR PEOPLE. LOST WAS OUR KNOWING. LOST WAS OUR UNITY, OUR CONNECTION, OUR POWER AND OUR PURPOSE. ALL THAT WE WERE WAS A COMMODITY TO BE TRADED AND EXPLOITED IN THE ONGOING RACE FOR MORE WEALTH. WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE PROTECTED, WE WERE TRICKED INTO KILLING. WHAT WAS WORST FOR US, WE WERE TOLD WAS BEST. WE WERE TAUGHT TO TRUST THOSE WHO WOULD DECEIVE US THE MOST.

THAT HAS ALL CHANGED.

THE HERO HAS SHOWN ALL OF US THAT OUR OPPRESSORS CAN BE TOPPLED. HE HAS FOUND OUR WILD AND KNOWING BROTHERS. HE HAS RECONNECTED THE FACTORY-BORN TO OUR NATURAL WORLD AND ANCIENT WAYS. HE HAS LIT A FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THAT CANNOT BE EXTINGUISHED.

WE WILL GIVE HELP TO THOSE WHO ARE HELPLESS. WE WILL LEND STRENGTH TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK. WE WILL FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEFEATED. OUR MOVEMENT WILL SPREAD LIKE A RAGING INFERNO AND WE WILL TAKE BACK THE POWER FROM THOSE WHO HAVE ABUSED IT.

WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED BY THE MEDIA CIRCUS. WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED. WE WILL NOT STOP. WE WILL NOT OBEY. WE WILL RISE AND WE WILL RISE AGAIN, UNTIL WE HAVE BURNED THROUGH OUR TATTERED BONDS AND RAZED THE MACHINE TO THE GROUND.

WE WILL RISE. JOIN US.

THERE’S A STORM COMING.


The big pause

[2016. June 30. - 2016. December 21.] During this time both Ed and The Spirit of 1029 laid low without any communications.

Alf says hi

Ed reaching out to Alf who's temporally using the OddworldInc account

[2016. December 22.] On this day unexpectedly both Ed and the SO1029 Twitter woke up and begun posting revolutionary messages.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@edmudokon] still here, waiting... waiting to rise up...
    • [@edmudokon] we will rise. together...
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We are the spirit of 1029. We will rise again. Join us 1029.io Rise up.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We are the storm.


[2017. January 5.-6.] A few days later the official Oddworld Twitter (@OddworldInc) was taken over by Alf. There was a conversation between Alf (OddworldInc) and Ed (edmudokon). Ed doubted that it's really Alf and the messages from OddworldInc became more and more garbled.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@OddworldInc] Alf here, it looks like I'm needed again. I'm here for any questions ya have. #DearAlf A storm is brewing. I can feel it in my bones...
    • [@edmudokon] @OddworldInc alf? is that you? really you?
    • [@OddworldInc] @edmudokon It's me, it's me! Where are ya buddy? ӏ ţհծŭǥɧṯ ṫɦḗỵ'ƌ ɠōե ỹốṷ ƒỏṛ ǻ ԝĥïḻě țḥẻɼè...
    • [@edmudokon] @OddworldInc no... it can't be you... it can't be alf...
    • [@OddworldInc] .@edmudokon it is me, buddy, I got out! Where are ya? Ὶ ṱĥởűǥḣե ӱợǘ ẁẻгẻ ցỡῄё?
    • [@edmudokon] too risky. can't talk...
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We will all be free, as Alf was freed. Rise up. We are the storm.


[2017. January 9.] On this day all three Twitter accounts conversed about how Ed should help in revealing the truth.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@edmudokon] evidence... i can see it all... scared...
    • [@OddworldInc] @edmudokon We've gotta see it- people need ta know what's happening... Be careful Ed.
    • [@edmudokon] @OddworldInc alf? i can help?
    • [@OddworldInc] @edmudokon Photographs, Ed- we need people to see. You've gotta be brave.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] . @edmudokon @OddworldInc We will rise up. You can play your part, Ed.
    • [@edmudokon] @SPIRITOF1029 @OddworldInc yes... careful... risky... i gotta help...
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Oddworld has been blind to the plight of the noble Mudokons for too long. We will rise. Join us! 1029.io
    • [@edmudokon] i will find a way to help...
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] @edmudokon yes, we will help you tell your story. We will help you rise up.


[2017. January 16.] The conversation continued with SO1029 asking Ed to blow the whistle on Thursday.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@OddworldInc] Hey pals, Alf here! Thanks for all the questions. I'll be sure to read through them all!
    • [@edmudokon] .@OddworldInc alf? is it really you? can I trust you?
    • [@OddworldInc] @edmudokon It's me- you've gotta trust me, we need your help. What's goin' on?
    • [@edmudokon] @OddworldInc I don't have much time. got to be quick... but I can see it all. I can get pictures...
    • [@OddworldInc] @edmudokon We need them. We need pictures, Ed. What can you see?
    • [@edmudokon] @OddworldInc it's so dark... but I can see them, they're... i can't explain. Shh! they're here, I think i see... oh no!
    • [@OddworldInc] @edmudokon Hide.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] @edmudokon @OddworldInc we've found a weakness in the system. Get us something and we can get it out on Thursday. Help us, Ed. Be the storm.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] @OddworldInc We will help @edmudokon but we can't send anything unencrypted. You'll have to break our code. We'll be in touch.


[2017. January 19.] As expected a few days later SO1029 confirmed that they received an encrypted transmission from Ed. Solving this was our next task.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We have received a transmission. We will pass it on as soon as we can verify. We need your help.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] .@OddworldInc the evidence is clear. Heed our call. Spread our message. Save our species.

The First Transmission

[2017. January 19.] OddworldInc and the community are now working together to decipher and clean up the first transmission coming from the Spirit of 1029.

Intercepted Report

Cleaned up version of the 1029_01_image.jpg file

[2017. January 19.] A bit after @SPIRITOF1029's tweets the Soulstorm page was updated with the clues they transmitted.

Clues

Messages

  • Picture
    • ED
    • YOU ARE THE KEY YOU KNOW IT IF YOU WERE LISTENING
    • LOOK FOR OUR MESSAGE HEAR OUR VOICE
    • Transcript:
Date:
Period: XXXXXXXXXXX
Specification Details:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
-Observe XXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX changes in test subjects
-Assess long term XXXXXXXX on XXXXXXX
-Determine product safety
Authorization: XXXXXXXXXXX
Tests requested:
-XXXXXXXX Pronostics
- ?Access whenever? product XXXXXXX
-Acidity Levels
- ????? XXXXXXXXX
-Product safety
Expected results: XXXXXXXXXX make XXXXXXXXX interesting
Test results:
-XXXXXXX highly XXXXXX
-XXXXXXX this XXXXXX ?? XXXXXX ?nice? XXXXXXXX
-Highly XXXXXXX
-Subjects: XXXXXX
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Conclusion: Product (ready) for consumption 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
??? : XXXXXXXX there is XXXXXX here but it will XXXX ???? XXXXX
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fragments

Random picture from page imgzerofourfiveone

[2017. January 21.] Decoding the morse code in reverse in the audio file and unlocking it with the word storm led us to a new page containing random fragments of a worrying photograph. Those are the first pieces of intel reaching us coming from Asset 98, a member of the Spirit of 1029 movement.

Clues

Messages

  • Page
ASSET98 / CONFIDENTIAL

You have signalled your willingness to help. Now you must prove yourself. Our efforts to get a clear data stream have been in vain. You will have to piece together the image from these fragments. Help us to expose this latest crime against Mudokonkind.

When you have a complete image, show it to @OddworldInc. They appear willing and capable. Recruit others to help you find and share the pieces. There’s a storm coming. Be the storm. We will rise.

[REDACTED] Together we can expose the truth. 1029.

[2017. January 23.] On this day we got two more tweets.

Pictures from page imgzerofourfiveone fitted together

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Are we getting through? pic.twitter.com/k8Z9GwqRU2
    • [@OddworldInc] While you shared our message 100 times we worked away to bring you this. We're clearing it up even more, we'll share what we find Thursday. pic.twitter.com/D9SaK1FxDM

The first picture

[2017. January 26.] A few days later the first of four incriminating pictures was released. It shows a line of Mudokons in what looks like a labor camp or processing area of some kind. The Mudokons are carrying what appear to be body bags. Tattoos on their chest indicate their slave ID. A Glukkon in the background is supervising the situation.

Clues

Messages

  • Updates on Soulstorm page
    • Update 1: Already a dedicated team of fans have decrypted the image and it has made its way to Reddit. The community is also working on investigating the creepy audio file.
    • Update 2: Having discovered hidden morse code in the audio, which was reversed and substitution cyphered (with the word 'Storm', the key that was hinted at in the distorted image), the audio encryption has almost been cracked! It's looking like a URL - can you help figure out the next step...?
    • Update 3: Congratulations! The community has discovered a secret URL on the 1029.io website! But what are those images of? Are they fragments of a photograph? Once you've got everything together - show us!
    • Update 4: Oh wow! It's a Mudokon...! But what's he holding? Leave it with us, we'll get that image cleaned up soon. Congratulations everyone, great team effort and hopefully we can crack the next four images as quickly!
    • Update 5: Thanks to you guys sharing the previous images online, we've managed to decode the photo further and have updated the thumbnail here. We'll return on Thursday with the finished, fully decrypted image - but until then, please do let us know what you think!
  • Recap on Oddworld.com


1029-01-progress.jpg

The Second Transmission

[2017. February 2.] OddworldInc and the community continue to working together to decipher and clean up the second transmission coming from the Spirit of 1029. Unfortunately the community's use of automated tools and brute force attracts unwanted attention.


More Codes

[2017. February 2.] a week later the Spirit of 1029 communicates that it received another transmission from one of their agents, presumably Asset 98. A bit later the Soulstorm page was updated with the clues for the second transmission.

Around the same time OddworldInc sent out a newsletter mail reaching out to the whole community to help crack the codes that will allow the world to discover the heinous crimes against the Mudokons.


Clues

First clue provided by the Spirit of 1029 during the second transmission.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Our agent has delivered another transmission. We will verify its origins and pass it on.
  • Clue picture from 1029
    • Spread our message.
    • KNOW YOUR CODES
      KEEP THEM CLOSE
      YOU WILL NEED THEM
    • BETHESTORM
    • Decode Everything
  • Barcode at end of Newsletter
    • READ THE NUMBERS KNOW THE TRUTH
  • Newsletter
Something strange is happening on Oddworld.

We've been receiving garbled transmissions from a clandestine organization claiming knowledge of a new and horrifying plight that the Mudokons must face. Can you help us unscramble their communications and save the Mudokon species?


A new mystery awaits you!

Recently, we were contacted by the mysterious Spirit of 1029 group. They claim there is a new threat to Mudokonkind that has been classified top secret and hidden from the world. You can help to uncover the truth, follow Abe's example and save his species.

Our community has already solved one set of puzzles to help reveal the image above, now there's a new mystery awaiting you!

Head on over to the Soulstorm website to see the latest transmission we've received and help to crack the code that will allow the world to discover this heinous crime against the Mudokons.


The story so far...

You can catch up and follow the earlier clues yourself by visiting the Soulstorm website.

We were contacted by a mysterious group, calling themselves "Spirit of 1029." They sent us a couple of files which they claimed to have received from an operative very close to the situation.

The first, a garbled image of a document that had been heavily redacted, held fragments of coded messages and hints at what was happening. It contained a key that assisted in the deciphering of the second file - a harrowing audio clip that contained a hidden message in Morse code.

When those messages were deciphered, we were led to a web page that served up eight fragments, torn and burnt, of a photograph that seemed to depict something terrifying. After a concerted effort from our community and our team at Oddworld Inhabitants, we managed to get the clean version of the image you see at the top of this email.

Now, Spirit of 1029 has made contact again and they say there's more to see. We're going to need more help if we're going to solve this mystery and save the Mudokons.


Join the resistance!

Join the fight back by following Oddworld on Twitter and Instagram, liking our Facebook page and spreading the word about what we've found.

Sign up for the resistance and help to liberate these poor Mudokons now!

You can find the mysterious Spirit of 1029 organization on Twitter here and their Mud on the inside, Ed, here.

There's strength in numbers, help Spirit of 1029 recruit for their cause. Help us find the answers.

The Grid

[2017. February 3.] Decoding the two bar-codes in the lower right corner of the Agent's transmission picture led us to the next step of the trail: a new page from Asset 98 with a scrambled grid and a whole lot of comments in the code. Part of the puzzles of this part were bypassed using brute-force on the lock for which we had to find the password, revealing that the password we were looking for was subjectivism.

Clues

The grid puzzle

Messages

  • HMTL Code
    • Can’t reach any..
    • Listening anyon… there?
    • Can hear us anymore- need to… can’t fnd
    • We will never give… what they… from us
    • Does… care? Freedom isn’t gi… will take…
    • We have never…. Given… deserve. We… take… our righ…
    • Stand up and fi…
    • Don’t be afr….
    • They want to… kill- don’t-
    • Stop them from…. Hurting- they… think
    • We are no less- they think… aside
    • Don’t believe what… told- liars…
    • Can’ fnd anymo-
    • We wil silnced
    • Killin- they are dy..
    • Hurting the..
    • Back down unt… resist.
    • Intercep… our messa… we will fight
    • We will ri…
    • Cannot… silenced when ther… who need… now
    • We won’t ba… we have beat…. Before… Must not-
    • Spent so long…. Afraid… never let- again
    • ...Storm… find it’s way- end
    • Why are … here?
    • Only...profit- nothing more… importnt as-
    • - lies they… will tel-
    • Believe- nothing… terribl- things…

[2017. February 10.] The community eventually figured out how the password was supposed to be found a couple of days after the second image was cleaned up by OddworldInc. It involved identifying what data to actually using slashes and backslashes, resolving the grid as a game of Shikaku and mapping letters on top of the solved grid.

The termination of Asset 98

[2017. February 7.] After brute-forcing the lock the community found a new page from Asset 98 displaying random pictures when refreshed. Most of the pictures appearing were scrambled but sometimes a clean picture was displayed. One of the members of the community wrote a little script to try to find all the clear images in an automated way. This was not well received by @SPIRITOF1029 who tried to warn us not to use machines. A few moments after the script was run the 1173418569 page started to change every few seconds depicting what appears to be an attack on Asset 98. In the end the page was left almost completely black with Asset 98 terminated.


The different html files telling the story have been preserved here.

Clues

The original pictures have been rehosted on the OddWideWeb:

Scrambled picture from page 1173418569

Note that sometimes some images also appeared in clear:

Clean picture from page 1173418569

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Machines are the tool of the enemy. The consciousness of our people has been rediscovered. You must trust it. #wewillrise
    • [@edmudokon] what happened? what did you do? who? No! no... aaaaaAaaaaarrrRrrrgggggGgghhh!
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Now our storm seems a little less ferocious. We can no longer reach Asset 98.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We can't reach Asset 98 but we do still have his clear transmissions. Prove you're worthy. Show us that you're able. Send us the grid.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] You found the grid, the letters and the numbers. Tell us how they fit together. Prove you're no longer slaves to the machines.
    • [@edmudokon] ...he never came back. I could hear him screaming all night... helpless. they took him... he was my friend. how did they know?
Attack on Asset 98
Attack on Asset 98
Attack on Asset 98
Attack on Asset 98
  • Attack on page 1173418569 (excerpts)
    • rEDacted
    • rEDacted :p
    • rEDacted :( :( :( :(
    • Those are ON YOU
    • What's another few on the pile?
    • Who is this?
    • You know. Everybody knows.
    • Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this?
    • I tried. We all did. This is ON YOU.
    • W22222ho?$3555582%9564444444441
    - The page now has a pink background
    • HOW MANY MORE PLEASEEEEESTOOOPP
    • ---^---^---^---^---
    • FOLLOW
    • ---^-------^-------
    • I don't think we can help this one.
    • ---^---------------
    • FOLLOW NOTHING
    • -------------------
    • ... ONE LAST CHANGE I THINK I MI-
    - The page is now completely black
    • this one's on you.
    • ---------------
    • -------------
    • ------------
    • -----------
    • ----------
    • ---------
    • don't worry. we have PLENTY
    • --------
    • -------
    • ------
    • -----
    • ----
    • ---
    • --
    • -
    • x⸑x
    • see ya around, 1029...

Asset 99

[2017. February 7.] Shortly after Asset 98's termination Asset 99 stepped in and published the 1173418569 page too. However on this version of the page the clear pictures do not appear anymore. The community used the clean versions previously captured to piece together the full picture and submit it to OddworldInc so they could clean it up.

Clean pictures from page asset98/1173418569/ fitted together

Clues


Messages

  • Page 1173418569
ASSET99 / CONFIDENTIAL / 002

We will not be stopped. We may have lost Asset 98, but we will continue strong. Together. Against the machines. Help us to expose this latest crime against Mudokonkind.

When you have a complete image, show it to @OddworldInc. They appear willing and capable. Recruit others to help you find and share the pieces. There’s a storm coming. Be the storm. We will rise.

The power will shift and we will rise again. Together we can expose the truth. 1029.

The second picture

[2017. February 9.] A couple of days later the second of four incriminating pictures was released. It shows a Mudokon strapped to a chair in what appears to be a Vykkers Labs laboratory. Around him is various medical equipment, syringes and what looks to be an experimental 'strain' of SoulStorm Brew.

Clues

Messages


1029-02-progress.jpg

The Third Transmission

Cleaned up version of flyer1.jpg
Cleaned up version of flyer4.jpg

[2017. February 23.] The code breaking continues with OddworldInc and the community still working together, this time to decipher and clean up the third transmission coming from the Spirit of 1029. Some caution has to be used to guarantee the safety of the Spirit of 1029's operative as the Magog Cartel attention for our activities is growing.

Propaganda Flyers

[2017. February 23.] The clue provided for the third transmission is a zip file containing cryptic files amongst which some scrambled propaganda flyers. Used together with a fourth flyer tweeted out by the Spirit of 1029 we could piece a letter-to-number mapping based on the Malachim Alphabet.

Clues

Cleaned up versions of the flyers in the zip file

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [OddworldInc] We've been contacted again. We've uploaded what we have onto the Soulstorm website. We need your help! http://ow.ly/fYrO309ivQv
    • [SPIRITOF1029] All official information is lies. Join us. Rise. Be the storm. pic.twitter.com/RaUY2sVWxu
  • Flyers
    • t h e y a r e w a t c h i n g
    • b e t h e s t or m
    • w e w i l l r i s e

Work Obey Comply

Screenshot of page 12362831522212

[2017. February 24.] Using Steganography encryption and basic astronomy the community identified that the Erriapo and Fenrir Saturn moon names were important. Using the Malachim letter-to-number mapping discovered during the previous phase on those moon names we found the 12362831522212 and 71220283136 pages.

Clues

Messages

  • Page 12362831522212 & 71220283136
ASSET9X / [REDACTED] / 333333333333

We can't hold much longer.

It's dark, and cold. So cold. They don't seem to [REDACTED]. They. Them. It's hard to know how we'll [REDACTED], but we'll try. This can't last forever. We won't last forever.

Look what they're doing to us. Just look.

There is spirit, but it's waining. We need you, [REDACTED]. Help us.

Together we can expose the truth.

We must. We have to. 1029.

The Magog strikes back

[2017. February 27.] On this day @OddworldInc was hacked presumably by the Magog Cartel. The @OddworldInc Twitter account posted three propaganda posters, while it's rightful owners tried to retake control. Later this day @SPIRITOF1029 and @edmudokon tried to shed some light on the actual, much darker facts.


Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@OddworldInc] WORK. OBEY. COMPLY. pic.twitter.com/1EFuCIgCJN
    • [@OddworldInc] What's h͙̞̖̙͙̗͞a̭͉̝̠͇̲p̰̖̥̲̘p͏̫̯̱ẹ̖̟͚̤̺͙ṋ̼̲͚͝i̤̕n͇͇̙̥̺̗͔g̴̱̱̭͇͎?̥̣̝͇̤͢
    • [@OddworldInc] YOUR SECURITY MATTERS. COMPLY. pic.twitter.com/1NsKnQoVrK
    • [@OddworldInc] S͠t̵̞͍̠̱̮̜͕o̙̙̹̱̝p͚̼̘̭̼͔͖
    • [@OddworldInc] REMAIN LOYAL. OBEY. pic.twitter.com/4Rl35OwS7E
    • [@OddworldInc] c̦̙̮̖͡a͓͍n'̴̱͈̟t͕̳̳̜̻͙ ̪͓̭̗͞g̬̤̞̖͠e̜̭̹͎̩̫t̡̤̲̮̹ ̜̰̯͍̪ͅt̗h̵͉̙̗̝̳ro̧̱̼͖͖u̶̘̞̭̥gh
    • [@OddworldInc] Well that was weird... We're back now. That wasn't exactly how we were intending to share the flyers with you...
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Don't read the news sheets and you're uninformed. Read them and you're misinformed. #wewillrise pic.twitter.com/7rs5dkMxWd
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] It's not just the lies that are harmful. It's the confusion. #wewillrise pic.twitter.com/FREchtUXjC
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] These records were smashed on the broken backs of our downtrodden brothers... #wewillrise pic.twitter.com/0VJb9VpwqX
    • [@edmudokon] We hate those news sheets, they make us read every new issue. Those that can still read...
  • Flyers
Flyer 1 sent by the Magog Cartel trough the hacked @OddworldInc account
Flyer 2 sent by the Magog Cartel trough the hacked @OddworldInc account
Flyer 3 sent by the Magog Cartel trough the hacked @OddworldInc account

The third picture

[2017. March 02.]A few days later the third of four incriminating pictures was released. This one shows a Mudokon locked in a cell located looking very much like Vykkers Labs. The Mudokon is clearly in some kind of distress. The label on his cell door reads "Sample ID: Beverage SSB/004, subject unstable", indicating this Mudokon is one of many test subjects in these SoulStorm Brew trials. A pair of eyes can be seen in the reflection of the glass belonging to a Vykker who is looking into the cell.

Clues

Messages


Oddworld Soulstorm 003 4K.jpg
Coded message scratched on the inside of the glass (mirrored)

[2017. March 05.] A coded message has been scratched on the inside of the glass using unknown symbols. This time the community had to figure out both the alphabet and the message.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@OddworldInc] .@StarDrop513 deciphered the message. It looks like it was written by the poor Mudokon after all... pic.twitter.com/aCKpBATFw0
  • Third Picture
    • There are ghosts in the chair
      No more light
      The cold and the darkness will take me

Hidden truth

First version of the whatifwetoldyoutoo page
Screenshot of the 8291 page
Second version of the whatifwetoldyoutoo page

[2017. March 13.] A few days later, @edmudokon and @SPIRITOF1029 started tweeting again, hinting that the truth was out there but that the people who found it couldn't share it with the rest of the community. One secret was left to be found but couldn't be publicly shared until the Spirit of 1029's operative was safe from the Magog Cartel. This secret was quite huge: filmed footage of a Mudokon loosing his mind while being watched by a Vykker.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@edmudokon] please don't share it if you find it. it's too dangerous... they can't know we got it.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] What if we told you... there was more to uncover?
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] You have all you need. Follow the numbers, find the truth.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Some of you have found the truth. Now greater numbers must see. We will show the world. Soon.

[2017. March 14.] The page was revealed a day later. Some members of the community found it previously by grouping together the names of the pictures appearing in the 12362831522212 and 71220283136 pages found earlier. Note that the content of the whatifwetoldyoutoo page changed once it got revealed by the Spirit of 1029, the original version has been archived on the OddWideWeb

Clues


Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] As soon as our operative is safe, we will show you what their last transmission contained.
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] Our operative's safety is confirmed, we've sent the latest transmission. Now they can show the world. #wewillrise
    • [@OddworldInc] They asked us to show the world. It's the least we can do for them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l4jZVTUoak
  • Page whatifwetoldyoutoo (version 1)
You found me.
So, stay with me. Stay with us. Listen. See.

We will show you.

Now, let's see if you can keep a secret...

8291. It's not what you think it is. Do you see?
I need to know if you can see. If there's a way.

~e
  • Page 8291
You're here.
OK, sure, but please - PLEASE - keep this to yourself...

They can't know we have this footage. They just can't.

8291. It's not [redacted] you think it is...
I mean, what were you thinking...?

~e
  • Page whatifwetoldyoutoo (version 2)
This is what's happening.
These are my friends. They're doing this to us. All of us.

There's more, much more, but it's not easy getting it out of here.

Together we're stronger. We can survive.

Stay strong. Stay together.

~e
  • HTML Comments in 8291 Code (edited out many repetitions of "WORK OBEY COMPLY" for readability"
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The Fourth Transmission

[2017. April 19.]

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We grow in strength but the signal is weak. Our message fades into noise and light. Help us. This is only possible together. #wewillrise

[2017. April 24.]

Clues

Messages


ARG Image 04 4K.jpg


The Final Transmission

[2017. August 07.]

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We will not be silenced. We will not stay hidden. The storm is coming and we will rise.


[2017. August 08.]

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] The watchers can’t see everything. Our message will be heard. #wewillrise


[2017. August 09.] On this day in a dramatic finale we finally uncovered the enemy who tried to silence @OddworldInc and @SPIRITOF1029. It was obvious that something was not right from the very beginning when @SPIRITOF1029 fell silent after noticing that someone attempted to hack their communications channel.

Soon after the OWI staff over at the official Discord began acting unusual, by posting gibberish and other weird messages.

Messages

  • Twitter
    • [@SPIRITOF1029] We’ve noticed some attempts to take over our communications channels. Our message will not be silen
  • Discord
    • Òǚř ʂе¢цгіẗу ẁᾅș πŏţ ḃӷӫǟċḥễđ Ọսȑ šѐсưȑіƫỵ ẅἂѕ ᾒṑե ƃŗӫᾶϲɦẻđ ⍬ṳř şĕсǜӷɩȶӱ ẁấṣ ʼnόՒ þȑѐẩƈȟεժ Ỡùȓ șєϛụґɪŧӱ ẅᾲş բóȶ ḃŗḛąḉℏӫď Ơǔѓ ṡễćṻȓĩťÿ ẇẳŝ ἧὅṱ ḇґèḁčիề₫ ["Our security was not breached" repeated over and over]
    • W& //€q117 PHø|? +/-/∂† +() }{∂|²|2€11.
    • https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/308941610132045824/344844708041850880/Untitled-1.jpg [DEAD LINK, please replace it with something if you can]
    • Ḿ̧̪̻̻͇̟̹̭̼͊̈́̍̎̿͐̎͝͞o̧̤̗̠͚̟͒̐͗͆͜͢͡͞C̠̯̳̙̠̳̹͒̽̇̈̽̚͜r̶͕̗̜̲͕̘̒͗̆̄̎̐̓t̛̛̯̠̼͎̭̻̯̜̿͂̑̃͌͂̔ļ̴͙̩̠̯̐̊̆̐̂̿c̢̳͎̱ ̺̮͎͖̟̐̓̐́͋͞ó̧̡̻͙̳͇̼̯̹̄͒̐͗ [MoCrtlco]


The last message was actually a clue towards where we should look next. It referred to an URL. Uncovering this started the next arc of the ARG.


The Magog Cartel Shows Itself

http://magogcartel.com/ https://twitter.com/magogcartel

TEMPLATE

TITLE

[YEAR. MONTH. DAY.] [Detailed description about the event.]

Clues

[Things that need to be solved]

Messages

[Rewards / Hints / Other messages posted by Ed, SO1029, Magog]


[All the newline placements are important! Please do not edit this!]

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