Image by Flickr user Joe Mabel, used under CC licensing
Challenge:
The Old Bear has commanded birds be sent urgently to all castles of the kingdom. The missives were coded in case an archer should shoot down a raven in flight for his meal and discover the secret message. The following code was found in Samwell Tarly’s possession. Can you decipher the message and discover what Mormont wanted everyone to hear?
WYWU SCER ELOH OOTH OCSA
RLNA OARL OLLW ADUE EYRS
NOEA NLSY LCIF ETGN ODGD
TAER
Solution:
This is a rail fence cipher with four rails, as designated by the grouping. If you configure the letters in a grid of 64 columns (total letters) by four rows (rails), then apply some basic pencilwork, you’ll come up with a little Game of Thrones joke:
What do you get when you cross Sandor Clegane and Loras Tyrell? A collie-flower!
Congratulations to Christopher Morehead, who wins a $50 gift certificate to ThinkGeek. Thanks to everyone who entered and be sure to check back Monday for a new challenge. And don’t forget, you can save $10 off any purchase of $50 or more at ThinkGeek by entering the code GEEKDAD44AF at checkout.
Corn!
