Invitation to the Ravenwood Holiday Soiree Letter to the detectives

Send an email to RSVP to the event.

Angela has hinted in her correspondence about the variety of ciphers that will challenge you in the days ahead. Look closely: the invitation in your hands holds one such cipher, a puzzle waiting to be solved. Decipher its secrets and advance closer to uncovering the mystery.

The cipher on the invitation is a NUL cipher.

"DON’T TELL ANYONE"

Hello! I never expected to receive an email regarding Victoria, especially from someone like you! She would have been thrilled to know you're determined to help solve her murder. Let me introduce myself. I'm Angela, a close friend of Victoria's for as long as I can remember. Her murder has left me devastated, and I know my life will never be the same again. Victoria entrusted me with her passwords, granting access to her email accounts, shortly before her death. Since then, I've been on a quest for answers, determined to find out who could have taken my best friend from us. I'm driven by the need for justice, and that's why I'm here. You should know that Victoria, her father, and even Patricia had a knack for coding. Their favorite was the Nul cipher, and they often used book and keyword ciphers. Trust me; it can be quite frustrating when you stumble upon their cryptic messages unexpectedly. Regarding the suspects in Victoria's case, it's an unusual mix. Yes, I'm a suspect, but you can quickly rule me out. I have nothing to gain from her death, and you'll see that as you delve into the investigation. The rest of them... Well, I barely knew most of them. However, I've grown particularly close to Beth Everly lately. We've bonded over shared experiences, even celebrating my birthday together on November 1st. We had a fantastic time at at Jillian's Bakery for breakfast, Harvest Haven Indoor Autumn Bazaar for afternoon shopping , and dinner at Marco's Bar and Grill. Typically, Victoria and I would celebrate my birthday together, but her father's recent passing has kept her occupied. That's all I have for now, but I have your email address, and I promise to keep you updated if anything new arises. Take care, Angela

Letter to detective Six suspect statements

Delve into the backgrounds of the suspects and the victim to uncover potential motives.

The original print of photos included the suspect's information on the back. Maxwell's photo states he has grown children; however, his children are young and still living in the home.

4 photos of the crime scene Puzzle of the crime scene

Here is the crime scene puzzle

Newspaper article Memorial card Lotion Tag

The memorial card contains a cipher; the cipher type is referenced in Angela's email.

The cipher is a book cipher. To learn how to decode a book cipher, see akagameplay.com/cipher

Today's decoded message reveals a chilling warning: "You must stop; she knows." This cryptic statement adds a new layer of intrigue to the mystery unfolding at Ravenwood Manor. Handwriting Analysis: To gain further insight into who might be behind these secretive messages, closely examine the handwriting styles in the suspect statements you've collected over the past days. Comparing these writing samples could be key in identifying the sender. Pay attention to nuances in the script - these subtle differences might just lead you to the truth hidden within the walls of the manor.

Compact mirror Business card

We've discovered that some of our calendars were dispatched with an error on the business card. After you decode the message, please refer to the provided solution to verify the accuracy of the message. This step ensures that you have the correct information to continue your sleuthing journey.

The compact is the key to decoding the business card.

The message on the business card is a mirror image of text, cleverly reversed to conceal its true meaning. To reveal the hidden message, hold the card up to a mirror. The reflection will unveil the words meant to guide you further in your investigation.

Before the correction, the message incorrectly instructed: "The password is my first initial and last initial of my name, followed by the numerical day of the month I was born." The accurate instruction should read: "The password is composed of your father's initials coupled with the numerical day he was born." We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your understanding.

Work through decoding the business card. Victoria’s father’s name is Charles Ravenwood, and his birthday is found on the memorial card.

cr8

Ornament Tag Newspaper article

Angela has left a note indicating her knowledge of Victoria's fondness for enigmas, hinting that this ornament is more than a mere decorative piece. It is safe to infer that the ornament conceals a puzzle waiting to be solved by an astute mind like Victoria’s.

Remove the back of the ornament to find a letter from Angela.

Five pages of journal entries Two jingle Bells

The jingle bells are the key to decoding Victoria’s final entry.

The type of cipher Victoria uses is referenced in Angela's email.

The cipher is a keyword cipher. For help, check out the agakameplay.com/cipher website.

A sibling, why would my father not want me to know? Why did my father keep this secret from me? Could this revelation tarnish our family name? And a far more distressing question emerges—was my father entangled in an affair during my mother's lifetime?

House for sale Christmas card Magnet of family

The Christmas card from Maxwell Carter's wife reveals her knowledge of an affair. This revelation raises a crucial question: Could this be a motive for Maxwell wanting her silenced?

Pill bottle Key chain Grow Fertility Ad

Today's evidence may not present an immediate puzzle to solve, but it offers a significant insight into Colonel Dawson's background. His esteemed position in the Signal Corps suggests specialized skills and abilities that were honed during his time as a soldier. Grasping the nature of these talents is vital, as they could provide key insights into his capabilities and how they might tie into the unfolding mystery.

Having served in the Signal Corps, Colonel Dawson would have acquired a unique set of skills such as various forms of communication, including Morse code, radio operation, and perhaps even cryptographic techniques for encoding and decoding messages. This information may be helpful during your investigation.

Candle Letter

Light the candle and as the wax melts away, be prepared to uncover the secrets it has been keeping. This revelation could be the key to connecting the dots in your investigation.

Upon lighting the candle, a clandestine message slowly emerges from the melting wax: "Don't trust Maxwell, he is embezzling from the company. I have proof. Once you agree to my request, I will share it with you." This piece of evidence ties directly to Patricia, as the handwriting unmistakably matches that of her letter and the statements made by the suspects. This revelation not only casts a shadow of suspicion over Maxwell but also positions Patricia as a key figure holding significant information.

Tin (candy) Three of hearts playing card

Your search takes you to a seemingly ordinary tin. But look closer—beyond its apparent simplicity lies a concealed surprise. While the tin may tempt you with a piece of candy, it's the lid that holds the real secret. Inspect it carefully; this overlooked part might just be harboring the clue you need to advance in your quest at Ravenwood Manor.

Direct your focus towards the tin's lid once more. Delve beneath the white foam nestled within—it's here that a crucial item is discreetly hidden.

With the discovery of the red coin hidden under the white foam in the tin's lid, a new aspect of the mystery comes into play. Now, turn your attention to the 3 of Hearts card. This card, when interacted with the red coin, reveals a secret message.

Using the red coin you can reveal the following message

The card itself holds the key to decode the message.

The type of cipher is a Caeser cipher. To learn how to decode this type of cipher check out the akagameplay.com/cipher.

Using the 3 to shift the text: www.myprivatecomputer.com/vr

Look to day three to learn the password hint.

Lavender

Three pages of diary entries Photo of cassette (QR code on the back) Photo of envelope

Use the QR code on the back of the photo to listen to an important message from Charles Ravenwood. Here is the direct link in case you need it. https://www.undercoverwithaka.com/advent-calendar-audio-tape

To decode the envelope consider where the envelope was taken from.

Consider the origin of the envelope – it was retrieved from Robert Dawson's office. Given Colonel Dawson's military background in the Signal Corps, it's plausible that someone would choose to communicate with him using a method familiar to his expertise: Morse code. Keep this in mind as you examine the envelope; the key to deciphering its secrets may lie in translating a coded message.

The first letter on the envelope is an M.

My Daughter is Everly

Three pages of diary entries Letter from Patricia Solution For the 2023 calendar, the solution was found in the right-side attic.