CD-TAM06 (Nov 20, 2017)
Puzzle
“3-by-tri: A Mistress, deep underground, gives me a very mysterious deal.”
Cipher | Animal Trivia | 1 Word
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: Big Guy is up to his old tricks again. Try fiddling with the letters.
Clue 2: No key, but you still need a period, which is already provided first and foremost.
Clue 3: Big Guy loves animals.
Answer and Explanation
Answer: Acherontia
Explanation: Taking the first letters of the phrase "A Mistress, deep underground, gives me a very mysterious deal", then decrypting it using Trifid with period 3 gives "Death's Head". This is the Death's Head Hawkmoth's scientific name.
Summary of Receipt
Big Guy and Gehrels have a conversation, interrupted by Asmodeus. Asmodeus wants Hoffmann and the Nutcracker to be returned to her instead of killed, but Big Guy says that they might destroy the Nutcracker instead if it’s too threatening. Apparently Asmodeus needs it as a ‘deterrent’. Also, Gehrels seems to be working on some sort of ‘Folly’ which will break the boundary lines between the Flipside and Otherside. Given the existence of a sub-archive called ‘The Icarian Folly’ in Twice Third Temple, that doesn’t sound good.
Transcript
NUMBER: TAM06
PRIORITY: AND
DATE: 20-11-17
CUSTOMER & ORDER: GEHRELS, MOCHA
SERVER: BIG GUY
I went to have a sit down with Daedalus. While I appreciate the New Guy’s efforts, his information felt incomplete. Getting to the Necropolis was tricky. Thankfully I had a favor to cash in. My chat with Daedalus was interrupted by the Prince of Lust, Asmodeus. She wants us to bring back Drosselmeyer and this Nutcracker weapon in one piece, and she’s offering a favor in return. I don’t know if giving Asmodeus a weapon is worth a favor. We can probably give her back Drosselmeyer as I assume she would not let him escape again.
That’s all.
Big Guy
S.O.T.
Big Guy: Daedalus?
Gehrels: Yes?
Big Guy: My name is [Big Guy]. I’m with the Cafe and Diner.
Gehrels: Cafe and Diner?
Big Guy: Ah. I see. Do you remember helping a four-foot-tall frogman out of your labyrinth?
Gehrels: How could I forget?
Big Guy: He works for the Cafe and Diner. We maintain the balance between the Flipside and Otherside and are currently trying to deal with a group known as the Dark.
Gehrels: Ah, I see. A noble pursuit. How can I be of assistance?
Big Guy: Your apprentice, Drosselmeyer. We believe he has joined the Dark and is trying to recreate your Mechanism.
Gehrels: It wouldn’t surprise me. I never could trust Drosselmeyer. Though, as I told your stout companion, there is not much I can do without my blueprints.
Big Guy: I understand. I came here to learn more about Drosselmeyer and the work he stole from you.
Gehrels: Mm… I see. Well, Drosselmeyer was a Gentleman of the Court of Night. Mistress Asmodeus saw something in him and wanted him to study under me. Drosselmeyer had the unique talent of bringing toys to life, as I assume you’ve already discovered. Though his enchantments are crude at best. Our partnership was rocky at first, but we were starting to get along. We had even started working on a joint project—The Nutcracker Suite. A terrible weapon for our Mistress. Then, for whatever reason, Drosselmeyer grew distant. Until one day, he stole most of my work and fled from the Necropolis. This greatly upset Mistress Asmodeus-
Mistress: Greatly.
Gehrels: Ah, my Mistress.
Mistress: What is a human doing here, Daedalus? Has your silly little Folly actually worked?
Gehrels: Oh, no. It is still months, maybe years, from properly breaking the boundary lines. This is [Big Guy], he works for an organization called the Cafe and Di-
Mistress: DIE-ner. Oh yes. I know them. And here I thought Jennifer had given up this childish game of hers. How is Jennifer, [Big Guy]?
Big Guy: I wouldn’t know. She hasn’t spoken to me since her Cafe shut down. Or, perhaps, I haven’t spoken to her.
Mistress: So, you’ve started a new Cafe?
Big Guy: In a sense.
Mistress: I see… And you are accosting my Castellan because…
Big Guy: Do you know Umbra the Hatman?
Mistress: I can’t say that I do.
Big Guy: He’s a living shadow, though he isn’t from the Everdark. He is gathering various demons together to search for the Enochian Bible. One of his newest members is Drosselmeyer.
Mistress: I see. So, this “Umbra” wants the Nutcracker.
Big Guy: Possibly, though we haven’t heard much about that. We do know he is after the Mechanism of Daedalus to find the Enochian Bible wherever it might be.
Mistress: Bring back Drosselmeyer and the Nutcracker to me.
Big Guy: Why should we?
Mistress: The Cafe sends demons home, does it not?
Big Guy: New Cafe, new goals.
Mistress: I will make it worth your while, [Big Guy]. What is it you lust for? I will see it yours.
Big Guy: I doubt you could help me.
Mistress: Is that a challenge?
Big Guy: No. Just thinking out loud. We will try to bring Drosselmeyer back. I assume you have various tortures in mind for him. Though the Nutcracker might stay with us. Or... be destroyed depending on how dangerous it is.
Mistress: Fine. I will have Daedalus build me a new Nutcracker.
Big Guy: Why do you need a weapon, Asmodeus?
Mistress: …As... a deterrent.
Big Guy: Against?
Mistress: None of the Cafe’s business.
E.O.T.