Yes, you read correctly. The total value for the solutions to all the cryptograms on this page is valued at 22,200,000 + 150 Credits. Think you have what it takes?

Here is the concept. Below, I have 5 puzzles. The first four were all made by me and are encrypted quotations. Each has the difficulty posted along with the reward for breaking it. The reward is broken into two parts, Solution and method. Now, some may ask, why not do both for the whole prize? Here is my answer: It is possibly someone may break the cipher and present a method that is the incorrect method. I want to be able to give partial points for that at least since there is more than one method possible in some cases.

But Beowulf, you only talked about the first four, what is up with Puzzle 5? I'll tell you -- Puzzle 5 is an actual unsolved code. Information can be found on this particular cipher by searching around on the internet. It has stood for 20 years without being broken, despite efforts by the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency. Anyone breaking Puzzle 5 will receive 15 million + 150 credits (Special verification terms included with the puzzle).

Winners for the prize money for each puzzle are first come, first served. Once I have a validated solution, I will post it on here so no one else bothers with that particular puzzle (unless they just want to).

I also know there are a few skeptics who will say, "But Beowulf, you are a wolf...how do you plan to pay 15 million to the winner?" Good question...since that is an obscenely crazy amount, there was only one logical place to go... Godmother Marietta has volunteered to secure my promise of 15 million to anyone who can break Puzzle 5. Thank you, Godmother!

That's it! See the puzzles below with their individual notes, and good luck on the ciphers!

============= Puzzle 1: Easy puzzle, $100k for solution, $100k for method:

agatha christie quote: teemt fodrs iioie wmrmn fhssu faoit cutnf ahrae jnmtl eudeh tdsmr eonte crioi rycnt ccorn heyfi oahst mcvae eeeed cnsnb borwt eeneh veeds iinnx uccvp xlhti uxtwi ctx

Notes: I left the author of the quote in plain text to make this a bit easier. I fully expect this to be solved in the first 24 hours.

==============

Puzzle 2: Medium Puzzle, $250k for solution, $250k for Method:

rcfqg czqnb r:pmr anrip ropyn hfroc jgjpi nhore njfiu igpje errdh gaejn jpmrn ozqpe njfig jtrn- orgoh zhdhp wejnj qnord troig cigjt rn-hg cqdar gyrpj jqnju gcroh nroxx

Notes: This one gets a little harder, but I still expect this could be solved in the first 24 hours, 48 outside max. What does this mean to you? Get your submission in early!

===============

Puzzle 3: Hard Puzzle, $750k for solution, $750k for Method

asipk krelq cstdf rnrcf jmzbc yqizd akazd pmcxs zjepm jnvbq xnrql lmlam kkdji mfrpf idaos emsfr otiqd zorjz asaii cruzd qoelm zilmv ednjk cbohr aceoq rgaqs edmxz afskd jcssd pllfs riewn pkzff bcruk ommep wzpuj scyyt nkcyx imdn

Notes: This is a bit harder, hence why it is worth 1.5 million. This CAN be solved by pen and paper, don't let the complexity fool you.

=====================

Puzzle 4: Really really hard, $2,000,000 Prize for Solution, $2,000,000 for method

XBNZNLFCFGTILZYRPTJGAUQSIQSPVFMWIOJBJVSJ PPVOLFWDQKMUQDKFLUDAICSCJEBEITEKDLXZKOXQ ZXWBCPIVNWCPVDALVUKQRPGCBIHFUPNLCBFSKNLP MVIGPGIYWLUWNSYXHWPJNOJNTYWPVBBVLZSNGUDO GRYUQSJMBLEOBKSZO

Notes: Big money starts rolling in here. This can theoretically be solved by pen and paper; however, unless you are a mathamatician, I'd guess you'll need at least some computer assistance on this one.

===================== Puzzle 5: SUPER EXTREMELY HARD, $15,000,000 and 150 credits for Method (Nothing for solution without method)

?OBKR UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR

Notes: Puzzle 5 is the big money, because it has stood for 20 years! If anyone breaks this and sends me the method, I will work with my cryptanalysis team (IRL) to verify the findings. If your solution is mathamatically valid you will receive 15 million from Marietta and 150 credits from me. I'll also insure you get credit in the Cryptanalysis world (if that means anything to you). Note of caution -- there are hundreds of "Solutions" to this puzzle posted on the web. All I've ever seen were checked by the team and proven to be invalid. In other words, don't think you struck gold by finding a web solution and try to pass it off.

I love codes!

but i think im gunna have to focus all my attention on puzzle 5 ;) is there know expiration date?

...ill begin my work immeditaley

As I'm sad, I'll be attempting these.

I assume you want the method and solution mailed to you?

Feel free to make me look like an idiot if that is posted in this thread somewhere, but I didn't see it.

~T~

Bloody hell this is impossible im stuck on the first one, anyone got any hints for me?

Visali,

I have no intention of expiring the offer on 5. That said, don't get your hopes up too much. Many of us who do this stuff all the time have wasted years on it.

Tallien,

It is as you say. Please mail me when you have the solution.

If no one has made a breakthrough in the first day or two, I'll consider posting hints. As of now, no *correct* solutions have been sent to me. All money is still up for grabs.

If no one has solved quote 5 then how can you verify that it is correct?

its alot easier to watch someone do a neat trick than to do it your self...same principle

to hard for me.. i quit trying

I tried the last puzzle for about 40 minutes but it was way too hard so I went to the internet.

I has never been broking yet.haha. If someone gets it I think they should get 100mill.

Isnt there professional analysts working on this.? I watched one video on the last puzzle and it is the last puzzle from a 4 part piece. Which is imprinted on a statue outside some CIA place.

I would only think that someone who is a genius would solve this.

What you say is true Ice_Pick, CIA's most genius employees have failed so far. There's a lot of documentation to be found on the internet about the 5th puzzle, the reason it's part of the contest is simply because it would be uber awesome if someone would be able to solve it. You never know unless you try right?

If I had more experience with decrypting/encrypting even with the simplest cryptograms just maybe I would have had a chance. Sad for me I havent been paying much attention to cryptext solving

So really whoever figures this out wouldnt really care about the money because they'll probably be on the news and get recruited by the CIA. :D

Maybe this is Beowulfs plan, Let someone else do the hardwork, Pay them with some sexy mafia dolla then claim the fame,

Sneaky Sneaky

Baldy, that was my first thought..."If I solve the last one, do you really think I'm gonna tell you just so I can get some in-game cash? Nuh uh."

That said, I won't even be trying, so there is no chance. Admittedly, I could if I wanted...

Fans herself with allllllll that cash.

TOO BAD NO ONE WANTS THE MONEY HOW SAD I GUESS I WILL JUST HAVE TO BUY MYSELF A PONY.

Yes, the caps were intentional.

Ponies are real....?

Cracking that cryptext would get you so much more then a CIA recruitment :). But anyways happy crackin' and good luck!

Banzai,

I have a Cryptanalyst team that would analyze and verify the solution should you post one.

And yes, if you crack it I'm quite sure you'd be getting job offers from most of the Intelligence Community.

Congratulations to Merces who solved puzzle 2!

Original form and method was not provided and is still up for grabs.

Puzzle 2 Solution: "Edmund Burke: The greatest crimes do not arise from a want of feeling for others but from an over-sensibility for ourselves and an over-indulgence to our own desires"

Merces, 250K heading your way!