Puzzle Shortcuts 2: Vigenere Cipher Mystery Cache

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joshandmarce: Unable to maintain this puzzle series at this point.

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Hidden : 2/9/2011
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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This puzzle series was inspired by ePeterso2’s series
“Puzzle Solving 101”. Even though the traditional
method of learning is the best, there is always something to be
said about taking shortcuts. This series should be a sort of
“Cliff Notes” for those that would like to get some of
the pesky “?”s on their solved list. Follow along and
make sure you keep the final coordinates for each one of these
puzzles because they will help you to solve the final puzzle.



The Vigenere Cipher can easily be mistaken for a Caesar or Rot shift. To solve a Vigenere Cipher, you must first find the code. A commonly used code is LEMON. This code word should be repeated to encode the entire message. Once the code is decided upon, you must use the “tabula recta” (this is the photo below with a bunch of letters on it)

Photobucket

The plain text letter is found on the Y-Axis and the code letter is found on the X-axis. Below is a 5 step process to decipher the cipher text. Step 1: Find the code Step 2: Repeat the code for the same amount of letters as the cipher text (in the case below the cipher text is 12 letters long, so the puzzle solver must repeat the code so that it is 12 letters long “LEMONLEMONLE”) Step 3: Start on the X-axis and find the first letter in the code (in this case it is L) Step 4: From there, find the first letter of the cipher text within the body of the “tabula recta” (in this case it is also L) Step 5: From the cipher text letter, go directly to the Y-axis. That is the plain text letter you are searching for. Now, continue on through the cipher text until you decode the entire message:

Cipher text = LXFOPVEFRNHR

Code = lemonlemonle

Plain text = attack at dawn

(The first and second letters are decoded on the tabula recta above as an example)

Get it? Now solve the puzzle below!

ysdhueaagvixtfrpxtfrpszsftbqwtsxisfedqfbpmsvgzrqtvgirchcwulfpzqbstzq

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

oevat gjrrmref

Decryption Key

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

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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