A03: Crypto Treasure Hunt

MEDIUM LEVEL

Your Mission

This puzzle has two layers of encryption:

Layer 1: ROT13 cipher (rotate 13 positions in alphabet)
Layer 2: Number pattern substitution

Decrypt both layers to reveal the location of your hidden clue.

Encrypted Message (Layer 1: ROT13)

GUR PYHRF VF UVQQRA VA N OBBX
BA GUR FURYS JVGU GVGYR
[FRPBAQ YNLRE ORYBJ]

What is ROT13?

ROT13 is a simple letter substitution cipher that replaces each letter with the letter 13 positions after it in the alphabet. It's symmetric: applying ROT13 twice returns the original text.

Normal: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ROT13: N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M

💡 Hint: Find where each letter appears in the normal alphabet, then count 13 positions forward (wrapping around if needed). For example: A → N, B → O, C → P, etc.

Decryption Workspace: Layer 1

ROT13 Decryption

Decrypt the ROT13 message letter by letter:

Encrypted: GUR PYHRF VF UVQQRA...

G → ___
H → ___
U → ___
R → ___
(continue...)

Partially Decrypted Message:

Encrypted Pattern (Layer 2: Number Substitution)

After decrypting Layer 1, you should have a message that tells you to look for a book. But which book? Decrypt this number pattern to find the title:

3 18 25 16 20 15 5 3 15 14 15 13 9 3 19

Layer 2 Instructions

Each number represents a letter's position in the alphabet:

1=A, 2=B, 3=C, 4=D, 5=E, 6=F, 7=G, 8=H, 9=I, 10=J, 11=K, 12=L, 13=M,
14=N, 15=O, 16=P, 17=Q, 18=R, 19=S, 20=T, 21=U, 22=V, 23=W, 24=X, 25=Y, 26=Z

Decryption Workspace: Layer 2

Number Pattern Decryption

Convert each number to its corresponding letter:

3 → C
18 → ___
25 → ___
16 → ___
20 → ___
15 → ___
(continue...)

Book Title:

Final Location

Complete Decrypted Message

Combine both layers to write the full location:

Next Steps

Decrypt the ROT13 message (Layer 1)
Convert the number pattern to letters (Layer 2)
Find the book with the title you decrypted
Retrieve the clue hidden inside the book
Return to your desk with the clue and proceed to verification

⏱️ Time Management: Spend 8 minutes on Layer 1 and 7 minutes on Layer 2. If you're stuck, ask for a hint after 5 minutes.

Team Members: ________________________________ | Medium Puzzle | Page 1 of 1