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[Schilcote]

>Continue, only stopping for shiny weapons if I see any.

Or enemy attack?

Enemies tend to have guns, so yes, I would stop if I saw them. Although, probably with the intent to take the guns...

What about weapons with a matte finish?

ALSO:
I have a awesome post#1 pic to use... but should I wait until its relevant? I'll probably forget if I do...

WAIIIT... I know what to do.

Spoiler: It is a mystery (click to show/hide)

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What could it mean

[qwertyuiopas]

Probability of success on each turn? (one in X, or 0% if X is 0)

[Schilcote]

Probability of success on each turn? (one in X, or 0% if X is 0)

Those are some damn poor odds, and I doubt it's even possible to calculate that. I don't know enough about the future to figure it out.

1. They aren't random.
2. They don't form an easily recognizable pattern.
3. They have meaning.

[dragnar]

I would guess that it's some sort of encoded url... but there are a few too many 0s for any method of encryption I know of... which isn't many.

[Schilcote]

I would guess that it's some sort of encoded url... but there are a few too many 0s for any method of encryption I know of... which isn't many.

Exactly right. It's an encryption method I invented myself when I was eight.

[Frelock]

Oh boy; I'm taking a cryptography class this semester, so I should be able to do some sort of analysis with this.

Alright, if you invented it when you were 8, my guess is it's something like a substitution cipher where one letter goes to one 'unit' in the cipher-text.  This is opposed to a block cipher, where the letters surrounding each letter change where the letter goes; if you used one of those we're pretty much screwed.  Going along with the 8-year-old idea, it's unlikely that you used modular arithmetic in this thing, which simplifies the problem somewhat.  Also, it's doubtful that there's a key which goes along with the encryption method; once we figure out the method, all future encryption can be discovered with ease. 

Since I'm assuming that you used a substitution cipher, all we need to figure out the 'unit' which corresponds to one character.  Once we've done that, we've got frequency analysis to help us out.  Of course, if it's a modified viginere, then we might not have enough length to actually do an effective analysis.   However, we are lucky in the fact that dragnar deduced that it was a url, which means we're going to have plenty of punctuation, capital vs lowercase will be irrelevant, and it will probably start with http:// or www.  Since you revealed that this is an image, it will also likely end with an image tag (ie, .png, .jpg, .gif, or .bmp).

Now, I note that there are five sections of the message, if we count the large clumps of more than 2 numbers.  I could easily see that as five sections of a url, separated by a /.  The large chunk in the middle is almost certainly a decent sized block of text, quite possibly the initial website name (www.bay12forums.com, for instance).  However, I also note the three blocks of three zeros separated by a single number; I really want to assign www to that for some reason.  Problem is there are two blocks of numbers before that.  I'm currently thinking that numbers are letters and groups of zeros are punctuation, but there's no reason that has to be true, and in fact the ending somewhat suggests the opposite.  I'm also guessing that the single numbers in between the zeros are unimportant, though that could be entirely incorrect.  After all, you said they aren't random.

Well, that'll have to be it for the initial analysis.  There's still far too many unknowns to really get anywhere; if we didn't know this was a url, I'd call this secure for at least a short transmission.

[Schilcote]

Actually, the encrypted data isn't the URL itself. It is, in fact, a ZIP file with a text file containing the url inside of it.
Also, at eight (or maybe it was ten? I have no idea...) years old I had an IQ of 150 and could participate in high school classes.

EDIT:

It is also definitely not a substitution cipher.

EDIT:

And there is a key.

EDIT:

Looking at the zip file in FileAlyzer's Hex editor, it appears that ZIP compression doesn't do anything to text files. Huh. So the full text of the URL IS actually in there, but it's also got a whole bunch of stuff surrounding it.

[qwertyuiopas]

I think that a .zip works by eliminating duplicated patterns or something similar, and I doubt the text would have had any long enough repetitions to make it worthwhile.

...

And then I go to wikipedia, as leaving something like this a vague "I think" isn't as interesting as find out the specific details...

A ZIP file is identified by the presence of a central directory located at the end of the file. The directory stores a list of the names of the entries (files or directories) stored in the ZIP file, along with other metadata about the entry, and an offset into the ZIP file, pointing to the actual entry data. This allows a file listing of the archive to be performed relatively quickly, as the entire archive does not have to be read to see the list of files. The entries in the ZIP file also include this information for redundancy

Each entry is introduced by a local header with information about the file such as the comment, file size and file name, followed by optional "Extra" data fields, and then the possibly compressed, possibly encrypted file data

So, what we will have is a file entry, neither compressed nor encrypted, followed by a central directory with one entry reference.

The ZIP format uses specific 4-byte "signatures" to denote the various structures in the file. Each file entry is marked by a specific signature. The beginning of the central directory is indicated with a different signature, and each entry in the central directory is marked with yet another particular 4-byte signature.

There is no BOF or EOF marker in the ZIP specification. Often the first thing in a ZIP file is a ZIP entry, which can be identified easily by its signature. But it is not necessarily the case that a ZIP file begins with a ZIP entry, and is not required by the ZIP specification.

Tools that correctly read ZIP archives must scan for the signatures of the various fields, the ZIP central directory. They must NOT scan for entries because only the directory specifies where a file chunk starts. Scanning could lead to false positives, as the format allows for other data to be between chunks.

There are three headers described by wikipedia. The final one is 22+comment bytes long, and starts with 0x06054b50. Just before it should be 46+filename+comment+extra bytes long, and starts with 0x02014b50. At or near the start of the file should be one that starts with 0x04034b50 and is 30+filename+extra bytes long. Between the first two of the three should be the actual data, and we know that it is uncompressed.

I'm going to estimate that the final file is at least 200 bytes long, 98 minimum in the three headers, an unknown ammount from the filename, repeated twice, the data, and then possibly extra data and comments. It could be as low as 150 bytes, possibly even lower, although that is unlikely.

[dragnar]

Actually, the encrypted data isn't the URL itself. It is, in fact, a ZIP file with a text file containing the url inside of it.

Ah, you took the raw machine code of a file and encrypted it. Meh, doesn't matter. It's practically impossible to decrypt anything like that without a lot of examples of encrypted files. And even then it would be a mess. Encryption is easy, decryption is hard.

Ex:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

235 206 248 239 142 244 221 173 159 217 254 251 239 190 251 217 238 182 235 94 253 223 93 246 235 174 159 239 110 249 233 222 247 217 238 183 233 254 157 217 254 247 233 222 186 217 254 189 233 238 184 235 158 252 217 238 244 235 206 244 221 254 248 233 254 244 235 222 183 221 221 249 223 93 251 223 221 249 217 238 157 239 126 187 223 93 250 223 141 253 223 189 248 223 125 219 239 142 159 239 78 189 235 126 247 235 158 185 233 237 183 233 238 185 239

Encoded in about 30 seconds. Decoding is a good deal harder.(though this might not be the best example... pretty simple to figure out through trial and error.)

[Schilcote]

I'm not sure, but it might actually be completely impossible......

[qwertyuiopas]

Does the pad loop? I have experience working with a short looping pad used on numerous files, where a few certain values were known, specifically the locations of a few zeros...

Here, we know what the first four bytes must be, and the data looks like ~130-140 entries long, so I will assume that each line is one byte and the filename and data are fairly short. If enough of it can be figured out, a pattern might become evident, and some or all of the data might be restored. By the number of zeroes and the size of the numbers, I will assume that it is simply multiplication, and I will assume that the key either loops or is procedurally generated.

Is any of that correct?

[Schilcote]

Does the pad loop? I have experience working with a short looping pad used on numerous files, where a few certain values were known, specifically the locations of a few zeros...

Here, we know what the first four bytes must be, and the data looks like ~130-140 entries long, so I will assume that each line is one byte and the filename and data are fairly short. If enough of it can be figured out, a pattern might become evident, and some or all of the data might be restored. By the number of zeroes and the size of the numbers, I will assume that it is simply multiplication, and I will assume that the key either loops or is procedurally generated.

Is any of that correct?

Yes! You got just about everything right.
The "passkey" is used as a seed for a random number generator. The program then takes each byte of the file and multiplies it by a value from the random number generator and writes the result to a separate file. That's all it is really. The multiplication factor is different each time so you can't just pattern analyze it. The only real downside is that it greatly multiplies the size of the file, which I could remedy by making the value "overflow" and stay under 255.

I don't know too much about the random number generator that B+ uses, but it's pseudo-random so you could theoretically break the code by comparing the bits of a .zip file that you know are constant to the results of the generator.

[Frelock]

Pretty impressive for an 8-year old.  Yay for being wrong on most counts!  You're right, if we knew how that random number generator works in great detail, and had a decent amount of data to work with (preferably multiple messages with the same form) there might be an exploit somewhere down the line, but definitely not enough information for this problem.

Oh, and I did say like a substitution cipher, by which I meant "cipher where each letter is encoded individually" like the viginere cipher or a one-time pad (which is just a viginere with a really long keyword).  Block ciphers are things like Playfair or Hill's or RSA where you do math on multiple letters at once.  The problem is, I don't think there's a word for a non-block cipher, so I just use "substitution" even though it technically means something else.  Maybe "simple" would be better.

[Schilcote]

Qwerty: >Continue, only stopping for shiny weapons if I see any.
Dragnar: Name the AI Slick(just because) and tell it to look for any records of what is happening in that world we just left.
Frelock: Use the same database were I got the map to find a vehicle and hack into its controls.

Qwerty: 6

You moonjump twoards Gravelpit HEYLOOKGUNS

You fall into the zombies with guns.

Roll to dodge: 6

You efforlessly outrun the zombie's attempts to attack due to your reduced weight.

Roll to attack: 1

You run into the zombies and try to take their guns with your bare hands. It doesn't work terribly well.

Dragnar: 6

You order your AI to devote full processing power to determining what's happening there.

Frelock: 3

That's a pretty tall order. There is no such database.

Text:

There seems to be an extremely stiff breeze...

Suddenly, a floating humanoid figure appears before the party. Its eyes glow a bright red. It smiles evilly.

Spoiler: Statuses (click to show/hide)

Frelock: Wristwatch, computer terminal, glasses, civilian clothes, pamphlet, a jewel-encrusted egg, a bag which contains a lunch and a clove of garlic, and a bottle of water. On the ship.

Proficient in modifying, and synthesizing with hacking tools. (+2 to modification and +1 to synthesis at short range)
Advanced in healing (+2, can use on two targets in one turn)
Implants:
REMOTE VIEWING 3
SENSOR 3
HIDDEN ENTITY DETECTOR 2
TACTICAL SCANNER 2
ADV. DATA INT. 2


Inteuniso: Tau armor, elfin sword, quantum storage full of scrap, engineering computer (will give bonus to engineering tasks once you work with it a little bit), Lance, carrots and apples, longsword. On the ship.
Dabbling swordsmanship.
Dabbling dancing.
Dabbling horsemanship.
Novice Hauler (+1 to carrying stuff around)
Novice Mechanic (+2 to working with vehicles)
Cheif Engineer of the Starship Jefferson (+1 to working with the Ultravan)
+1 to using engineering computer.
Implants:
AIM 5
REMOTE VIEWING 3
TI STD MIL. IMPLANT 5
TI TACTICAL+ 5


Tehstefan: .44 Magnum, Fedora, bullwhip, touchstone, tinning kit. Location: On the ship.
Agile (+1 to running and jumping).
Novice driver(+1 to operating vehicles)
Novice telekeinesis-user (+2 to using telekinesis implant)
Novice Mechanic (+1 to working with vehicles)
Captain of the Starship Jefferson (+1 to doing anything with the Jefferson, additional +1 to navigating in particular)
Implants:
TI AIM 5
TI TACTICAL+ 5
TI SENSOR 3
TI FLIGHT 4
TI TELEKINESIS 5
TI REFLEX 3
Intrinsics:
Warning

Qwertyuiopas: Computer-goggles, scriptgun(loaded with gravity modifier), gloves, 6 fortune cookies. On ship.

Implants:
REMOTE VIEWING 3
HIDDEN ENTITY DETECTOR 2
Chief Science Officer (+2 to using the Ultravan's sensors and computer systems, as well as generally scienceing)

Understanding(?)

Available Scripts:
Colorer
Gravity Modifier
Computer Stopper
Projectile Shield
Macguffin Detector
Status Monitor
EIB Remote Access
Advanced Modification
Corruption Detector


Dragnar: Built-in laser pistol, mining tools(+1 enhancement for mining, negates 1 armor when used as weapon), quantum storage full of scrap, portable bunker(hold it for a +2 to avoid damage, or plant it in the ground and create an impenetrable barrier to all projectiles coming from that direction.), coasters, cattle prod, unidentified floppies, cooked beef. Location: On ship.
Implants:
TI FLIGHT 4
TI HIDDEN ENTITY DETECTOR 2
TI CLOAK 4
TI ADV. DATA INT. 2
TI ITEM MAGNET 3
TI STASIS 3
Novice flier: +1 to flight with flight implant
Enhanced Speed (+1 to reflexes and high-speed actions)
Encumbering Repair Devices (Heals 50% of incurred damage every turn, -1 to dexterous actions)
Can Fly, rockets in feet.
Pylon-link (+1 to item magnet usage when in range of pylon)


Typoman: hammer pants and polo, with a funky pen in the breast pocket. a shield made of pure, solid rage, a robe, an small shield, a mace, and a clove of garlic, and an SDW-120.
The Enclosed Instruction Book
TI FLIGHT 4
TI SENSOR 3
TI AUTOMEDICAL 2
TI TACTICAL SCANNER
TI CLOAK 4
TI REMOTE VIEWING
Involuntarily absorbs organic matter and reprocesses it.
Abilities:
Exploding Van: ?
Kill It With Fire: Expel flames from the mouth.
Stains Stare: Dispel all thoughts from the target, replacing them with an intense desire for cupcakes. Effectively paralyzes the target.
Lv. 1 Summon Memetic: Call one low-level memetic being to your aid.
Permanent energy conduit leading out right hand.
Summoned entities:
None.

Wolfchild: Railgun, wrench, PDA, mollecular recombinator (makes metal into ammo/machinery).
Holding 200 units of metal.
Schematics:
Additional Pylon
Construct additional pylons. Requires 200 metal.
Sentry Turret
Costs 200 metal. Create a stationary automatic turret that can be rotated.
Dispenser
Costs 100 metal. Heals anyone nearby, dispenses ammo. Automatically replentishes, or can be refilled manually.
+1 Engineering

Starship Jefferson:
A TOAST Industries Ultravan with:
Flight package (+VTOL enhancement),4 "KICKASS" kinetic weapons, 2 "nano-EAGLEs" on turrets, one pulse rifle on a turret, two "Phasers", two "laser machine guns", one tractor beam, two "Ageis V3s", an "energy deflector shield", three VSP-grade hyperdrives (only one can function at a time), a "TI Standard Rangercam+scanner" with a "VSP Rangercam Upgrade", a "TI Advanced Navigation/targeting system", an inertial compensator, an "all in one life-support system", a "super communicator module", a remote environmental probe (with two nano-EAGLE turrets), a void entry device, an implant installation upgrade, a TOAST construction computer, a healing turret, a TOAST weapons dispenser, a transporter, an Advanced Auto-Repair Unit, 2 Large Wall-Mount Quantum Storage Devices, a special 360 degree super-voidscanner designed by Qwertyuiopas, more comfortable seats, advanced robotic storage system, drone controller, standard automatic turret controller, fire suppression system, EVA pod, advanced maneuvering system.
Transforming mecha fighter attached to bottom of ship. Can now detach in the void, but has no voidscanner.
Contains:
12 Portable Temporary Auto-Repair Devices
95% Duality AI called Slick. Dead? (not likely.)
Maintenance+Medical droid.
NUKM drone.
Much miscellaneous scrap.
Heavily modified "NDY Machine". Prevents death.

Lost in a nuclear blast?

[Frelock]

Give me a tactical scan (with my Tactical Scanner), normal scan, hidden entity scan (to find out if there's anything similar around), and a code hack into this thing's insides, just to see what's there.  I want to know what this is.