DD-SON04 (Mar 27, 2020)
Puzzle
“First, Last, and at an End.”
Knowledge | 1 Word
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: No, this isn't Bird. There's a reason why this puzzle is tagged SON.
Clue 2: Now we just have to find how exactly the Sunkenman links to this puzzle. Is there anything linked to him 'at an end'?
Clue 3: Look at his Blood Sample (later in the month). What is First, what was the Last, and what was The End?
Answer and Explanation
Answer: Pale
Explanation: In STNO07, the Pale was described as 'the first, her precious daughter', while its promise to see Ys destroyed was the last. As for the End...well, have you read Folie a Deux?
Summary of Receipt
Summary
Transcript
DARN DEFIANCE
8
DATE: 3-27-2020
FILE REFERENCE: DD-SON04
Well, that was an interesting week, wouldn’t you all agree? Unfortunately, it has drawn Mammon closer to our operations. I am hoping that now that the chaos has passed, he’ll grow bored of our day-to-day life and return to Infernus. It should go without saying I intend to give him none of the Antekeys. We all saw what one-third of an Antekey could do. So giving him a full Antekey, or worse, the full set of four, is undoubtedly a horrible idea. Though, I fear Mammon isn’t looking to open any doors. A key, after all, can both seal and unseal things.
Furthermore, I’d like to add Jericho to our little club. Though, he can be a bit of a wild card. I want to trust him. I do. He is our strongest player, and if we are to best Mammon, we’ll need him on our side. So, I’ve devised a test of loyalty for him, and if he passes, we’ll let him join our ranks. Also up for consideration is Seth. I’ve also been considering Victoria and Julia, but I worry that if they knew the truth, it might impede their progress in uncovering the other truth. If we are to add any of Jackie’s employees… it may be best to start with Jackie herself.
In any case, I had a little chat with the extended family, which I felt you should all see as well.
Definitely & Deviously yours,
8
S.O.T.
Belphegor: What a mess.
8: Well, how bad is the damage?
Levi: The cut runs deep against the current, yet… the Tide seems intact. As if it was never open to begin with.
8: Ah. Good. Curious thing, though, isn’t it?
[8 rolled the Pearl in his hand]
8: A key—or a piece of one, anyway. How do you suppose it opened the Black Tide?
Belphegor: It didn’t.
Levi: You don’t mean?
Belphegor: Mm.
8: Realms… Otherworldly… So—the Eighth Plane—?
Belphegor: Remains where it should be. Though its waves have been stirred.
8: I see… Leviathan—to keep this Pearl safe I may require your aid—
Shaka: This is most troubling, isn’t it.
8: Shaka—what a pleasant surprise. What brings you to Mayda?
Shaka: Oh, unrelated business. Well—somewhat related. Is it true you’ve slain the Sunkenman of Algiers, Lord Leviathan?
Levi: Transgressors to the Tide must pay the price.
Shaka: As they should. Well—that frees up my schedule a bit.
8: The Grunches won’t return then?
Shaka: Not as they have before. A debt paid to the Queen. Excellent.
8: What do you make of this “Otherworld,” Shaka?
Shaka: …
8: Oh, come on, you didn’t just show up out of nowhere to confirm something you already knew. You have to know something—
Shaka: It’s an error. A miscalculation. A weak and idle theme.
8: I figured as such.
Belphegor: Can it be undone?
Shaka: Anything that is can come to an end. I suspect that is why your brother is so keen to gather up the keys to the penultimate page. Though—now that it is, would it be fair to see it unmade only because it wasn’t supposed to be in the first place? Something to consider once you reach the end, 8.
E.O.T.