ARG Quest “Rose and Cross” Walkthrough
Date: July 28, 2021
Hello, ladies and gentlemen, Pavluu here. Ahead is my breakdown of another ARG quest. I’ll admit, I’m still a bit of a beginner at this craft and made some mistakes, but I fixed most of them as the quest progressed. Let’s dive into the analysis.
Quest Overview
- Title: Rose and Cross
- Plot: Secret societies, Freemasons
- Difficulty: Medium/Above average
- Number of hints: 18
- Completion time: 5 to 72 hours
- Themes: Cryptography, logic, history, philosophy, mathematics
- Prize fund: 100 USDT
Entry Task
The channel posted a file, as usual, with altered metadata containing a cipher—a link to Layer 1. Another part of the entry task was a cipher at the bottom, written in the secret script of the sovereign princes of the Rosy Cross. The image above hinted at this.
Deciphering the code gives the word masterkey, suggesting it’s a key for something. Next, we check the image’s metadata and find:
U2FsdGVkX1/LZt4nZKPcoCnrpIQgMNC/bSipHauF7/inmwJAUJ4BzKjSrfrhM3sY U6O3FPRsrSWP+/brkDcAUA==
This time, I put a space in the cipher as a trap for the inattentive. Many players stumbled on the first task because of this, but I later posted a hint in the channel.
Given the structure and the presence of a key, you might guess it’s AES-256, RC4, Vigenère, or similar. Try these first on any online decoder with the input data. That’s it—welcome to Layer 1 (the link is no longer active).
Layer 1
- Guess the bot’s name at the top. Once you do, you can report issues, clarify things, and eventually send your answer. I always recommend doing this first.
Send your answer to: @pcex_rf_rndl_jgxxxq_kic – Vigenère cipher (ROT1)
Key: ysaesiti (just written in reverse, not encrypted)
The bot’s name is @give_me_your_answer_bot.
- Figure out what to do with the image. This time, the task was harder since there was nothing in the metadata. Check the hints.
Those familiar with my projects quickly realized it referred to my channel, Pavluu’s Storeroom. Go there and find post #559 by copying the link to the latest post, then change the number at the end to 559.
This reveals that the image contains hidden text. However, there were software issues, so I shared a link to another program: Image Steg.
I also uploaded a math task to an “anonymous” darknet file host called MegaTor, but they deleted my file with three equations, leaving players stuck. I had to give the task directly via the bot, but only after players sent the link from the image.
Math task link: http://crqkllx7afomrokwx6f2sjcnl2do2i3i77hjjb4eqetlgq3cths3o6ad.onion/Teckfq4G
The math task was a bit more serious this time. I won’t go into detail—just open any advanced math textbook and solve. The first task (a limit) is easy: answer is 1. The system can be solved by substitution or matrix: x1 = 1, x2 = 2. The integral: answer is 1.99. Add 1+1+2 and multiply by 1.99 (or 2). Final answer: 8 or 7.99. Send this to the bot to get the next layer’s link.
Layer 2
Again, start by decoding the bot’s name. No key is visible, so try base64 first. Easy! Now, read the task in French, which is already a hint.
Upload the image to any reverse image search and you’ll see it’s a Chamber of Reflection. The character from a classic novel who was in the Chamber of Reflection (part of the Masonic initiation ritual) is Pierre Bezukhov from Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” He wanted to kill Napoleon, was friends with Andrei Bolkonsky, and was in the Chamber of Reflection. Most people probably haven’t read it, but you could find the answer in the Wikipedia page for “Chamber of Reflection.”
Send “Pierre Bezukhov” or just “Pierre” to the bot to access the next layer.
Layer 3
Again, start with the bot’s name—this time it’s AES-256, and the key is a simple riddle. The image above shows an alchemist. The riddle: only they can perform this miracle. Obviously, it’s about gold, since alchemists are said to synthesize it.
With the bot’s name found, move on. The image above is about the alchemist, and below is a cipher similar to the entry task—another Masonic cipher.
Deciphered, it reads tota vita quaeras—Latin for “search of a lifetime.” What does an alchemist search for all their life? The Philosopher’s Stone. Robert Galbraith is J.K. Rowling’s pseudonym, another reference to the answer: “philosopher’s stone.” Send the answer in Russian, English, or Latin to the bot to proceed.
Layer 4
A painting fragment plus the caption “when the master died.” Here, context is key: the Order of the Rose and Cross was founded by Christian Rosenkreuz, whose name appears in several manifestos. He’s depicted in the image, but image search didn’t help. The first hint makes it clear: it’s Christian Rosenkreuz. The PIN code hint means you need the year of his death: 1484.
Next is a cipher with no key—try base64. Yes, it’s base64 again! The link leads to a note on Tor:
http://strongerw2ise74v3duebgsvug4mehyhlpa7f6kfwnas7zofs3kov7yd.onion/p9zvc9xhl/ffbj1s
Enter password 1484 to access the note. Now, solve the rebus. First, decode the bot’s name (Vigenère cipher):
Send the answer to this bot: @uxny_us_ngoz_hwgoovik_vwh
Key: not south (i.e., north)
With the bot’s name, solve the rebus:
- PiHKAL – a famous work by Alexander Shulgin, a modern-day alchemist who synthesized many phenylethylamines. Focus on “Chemistry” or “Chemist.”
- unionem aeternam – Latin for “eternal union,” i.e., marriage.
- …
Given the quest’s context, Chemistry + Eternal Union = The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreuz, one of the famous “Rose and Cross” manifestos. Send this to the bot to proceed.
Layer 5
The image is mostly for context. Below is a French phrase, mirrored. Flip and translate it: “Yesterday they were…, today king and queen.” For now, leave this and decode the bot’s name. This time it’s RC4:
Send answer to: Qg/ChcOWw6nChzI5wotZS8Olwpk6wp/DnE1Kw4rDuQfCm8KX
Key: … & cross
It seems you just need to find one word and send it to the bot, but this stumped many players. The answer is in the manifesto. The answer: homunculus. Yes, that weird thing that was popular online about 7 years ago, first mentioned by Goethe in “Faust.” Send this to the bot to move to the final level.
Layer 6
At the end, I decided not to torture players and gave a simple cipher for the note. Before diving in, you can guess the password is on the note and the rebus in the channel contains the answer.
The first image shows Paul I in an imperial bicorne hat. The caption reads Membre de l’Ordre de Malte (“Member of the Order of Malta”). The second image shows an unknown person. The caption reads Membre de l’Ordre de la Rose et de la Croix (“Member of the Order of the Rose and Cross”). Paul I is there because he’s Russian, so the unknown person is also Russian. One participant found him by image fragment.
It’s poet Alexander Blok. Here’s why:
- “Sorcerer who knows spells” = “Poetry of Spells and Incantations,” A. Blok. The only work of its kind.
- Asteroid #2540 is named after this great poet.
- Drama from 1912 = “Rose and Cross,” A. Blok. Surprised?
Go to the note: zerobinftagjpeeebbvyzjcqyjpmjvynj5qlexwyxe7l3vqejxnqv5qd.onion
You’ll get an encrypted piece of the final chat link:
NVg2SC1yWDMxbVE1WldReQ==
Insert this into https://t.me/joinchat/5X6H-rX31mQ5ZWQy to join the ARG chat for prizes and to connect with like-minded people. (The link is no longer active, of course.)
See you at the next ARG! I’ll keep creating and improving this format since there are people who appreciate it. Thanks to everyone for participating. You’re smart, resourceful, and awesome. I enjoy making puzzles for you, as I learn alongside you.
Yours,
Pavluu