Riddle, The

The Riddle was a logic based puzzle where ArchGM tasked the rest of the group with solving a riddle he posed, in order to save the Third Universe from the GM Thunder. Mainly posted on the group Discord server (which will remain private) the following is transcriptions of the text found in various channels. Audio logs were not kept, and as such the Riddle Dedicated Session on May 18, 2018 -- among other discussions of the riddle, either through voice chat or in-person -- are trains of thought that appear as leaps in logic on this page.

## The Riddle

### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

The messenger,

the one who is three,

on the scribe's tombstone,

it is writ:

### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

Every line is a clue to the whole. Figure out what each means, and there's only one thing all could apply to.(edited)

Here's your first freebie clue - we were *just* in a place related to this.(edited)

Hope everyone finds this entertaining!

### ArchGamemaster-04/02/2018

Here's another clue for you - look into the current name of the city sacred to Thoth for a connection that will help you on the right path.

### ArchGamemaster-04/03/2018

Or the not current one, because apparently for once people weren't lazy enough to keep the Greek name. Commendable of them, but annoying in this case.

### ArchGamemaster-04/08/2018

Here's another clue.

Think gods, and think of confused Greeks.

### ArchGamemaster-04/20/2018

Here's a bit of help - the previous clue illustrates the *meaning* of scribe, not who the scribe mentioned is.

### ArchGamemaster-04/27/2018

Here's a clue. Two of the names you have come up with in your search thus far are associated with one person. They are the right road.

### JEBtheGamer1-05/18/2018

The answer is "As within, so without; as above, so below."

## Solving the Riddle

### March 31, 2018

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

lets start with some brainstorming

who is the messenger?

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

It's **the** messenger, so maybe Hermes? The messenger to the gods?

Also it could be this though it's very unlikely. [link]

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

Maby it relates more to a charecter or entity in our game world

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

"It's not related to the gaming group" That was my first thought as well, so I asked to make sure.

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

Just putting this out there,the one whos 3 sounds like it was the hunchchefvader at first glance

Also yha one min

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

Kk.

the one who is three,= holy trinity?

Is "it is writ:" part of the riddle?

Or is it a continuation of "on the scribe's tombstone,"

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

It's just as it says - on the scribe's tombstone, it is writ:

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

Just don't go too overboard - I can't be answering a hundred guesses a day, after all!

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

yha i doubt maby 5 a day

my guess for you "OMNIA AB UNO"

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

it was from nic cages grave

[link]

IMO it was worth the guess

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

Hah! I don't think he fits the criteria, but it was funny!

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

It translates to
'all from one'

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

"Here's your first freebie clue - we were just in a place related to this."
Was originally "we were *just* there"

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

Yeah - I figured I needed to be more specific, else it might seem as if a place was the answer itself.

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

I might revise clues if they need it, but I won't touch the original writing of the riddle.

T'would be cheatsies.

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

Fair enough, just tell us if you edit the clues alright?

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

Cheers.

Can we spend tickets on clues?

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

Yup, though normal tickets will still get slightly cryptic clues.

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

Of course.

"on the scribe's tombstone,"
metatron was the scribe of god, possibly a connection?

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

Let's see, it's an obscure mystic reference - who would totally make it something like that? Oh, yes, ME.

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

I won't say whether it's correct or no, but you're getting the right kind of ideas.

Remember, the answer to the riddle is directly related to EVERY line.

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

Every Line, including the "it is writ:" portion got it.

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

Thoth is the messenger of the gods in egypt where we just were and was consitered the scribe as well.

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

i think we got this down

its all connected to Egyptian mythology

i believe that the answer is hidden somewhere in the book of the dead

some leads that we have

the messenger being thoth

the one who is three being Ammut

and thoth being the scribe as well(?)

we now just need what is writen on the tomb

the best gusse we have is on The Funerary Scene of the BotD

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

23 °C?

or higher?

#### ArchGamemaster-03/31/2018

Basically, a bit warm but a ways to go yet. There's a correct thing or two in there, but I chose something a lot more obscure than the book of the dead - quite frankly, you guys are clever enough that any common knowledge would be guessed very quickly.

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

But we're definitley on the right track then.(edited)

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

So not something hidden in the Book of the Dead then, got it.

#### Zerxrez-03/31/2018

"The Osiris [the scribe Ani], whose word is true, is holy and righteous. He has not committed any sin, and he has done no evil against us. The devourer Ammut shall not be permitted to prevail over him."

Writ: one's power to enforce compliance or submission; one's authority.
noun: one's writ; plural noun: one's writs

The Pyramid Texts describe early conceptions of an afterlife in terms of eternal travelling with the sun god amongst the stars. Amongst these mortuary texts, at the beginning of the 4th dynasty, is found: "An offering the king gives and Anubis". By the end of the 5th dynasty, the formula in all tombs becomes "An offering the king gives and Osiris".[25](edited)

[link]

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

obscure guess from out of left field: nemes

i doubt its right though

#### Arcane-03/31/2018

[link]

maybe something from here?

### April 1, 2018

#### JEBtheGamer1-04/01/2018

Technically Thoth had three names, was a messenger and scribe. They're a god though, so they wouldn't have a tombstone, but if they did it is common to have one's name on it.

Alternatively, Thoth's three names could be the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman interpretations.(edited)

#### ArchGamemaster-04/01/2018

No guesses are right yet, but Jeb's getting warmer.

#### ArchGamemaster-04/01/2018

Well, I didn't say that outright, now did I? But Thoth is warmer.

Also, if I miss any guesses, just pin them.

### April 2, 2018

#### JEBtheGamer1-04/02/2018

Well, Al Ashmunin seems to be the current name of what used to be "Hermopolis" AKA "Khemenu"

### April 3, 2018

#### ArchGamemaster-04/03/2018

They changed it again? Hermopolis is the one that will give you something useful.

Goofy Greek naming will help thee in thy riddling.

### April 8, 2018

#### Arcane-04/08/2018

Well, new riddle piece, anyone have anything that pops to mind?

#### Zerxrez-04/08/2018

Welp, it's a bird. So call me crazy, but we need to figure out which type of bird it is to figure out the clue

#### JEBtheGamer1-04/08/2018

Ibis?

FUCK

Do not google Hermes Bird.(edited)

Well, Hermes did have wings on his sandals.

### April 20, 2018

#### Looweeja-04/20/2018

Does the type of bird actually have anything to do with the riddle?

#### JEBtheGamer1-04/20/2018

I may have found our bird.

Here's Imhotep's name

####

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####

####

####

####

#### JEBtheGamer1-04/20/2018

Plus, a connection to Thoth? The scribe's tombstone?

#### Zerxrez-04/20/2018

Now we just need to know what's written on it.

#### JEBtheGamer1-04/20/2018

*Inscriptions at the temple [of Thoth in Hermopolis] call the god "The Lord of Eshmun".*(edited)

#### ArchGamemaster-04/20/2018

Yep.

Good chain of logic, wrong subjects.

#### ArchGamemaster-04/20/2018

Thoth is involved, but indirectly. All the rest...

### April 27, 2018

#### Looweeja-04/27/2018

This is not the right track as arch informs me.

But apparently this is back on the right track.

#### ArchGamemaster-04/27/2018

The baboon train. A raucous place, and not a wildly useful one. I'd try the other part of the statement, but not the birds - only the wings are required.

And rum. Rum is good.

#### JEBtheGamer1-04/27/2018

@Looweeja What would that image relate to?

#### ArchGamemaster-04/27/2018

The mighty Larry. Hidden behind all things. And cryptic statements make a smokescreen for those inclined to read too much into them - and probably have something useful within.

Visit a florist.

#### Looweeja-04/27/2018

Arch said this picture of a statue of Thoth in hermopolis is on the right track apparently.

#### ArchGamemaster-04/27/2018

What you just said contains very useful things when related to the riddle channel.

Or it's infested with rabbits.

#### Zerxrez-04/27/2018

They came second in the tourney, so don't dis them *too* loudly.(edited)

### May 14, 2018

#### Tacocat-05/14/2018

the bird in the image is a finch

the scribe is the high priest

the scribe is the chancellor

the scribe is the architect

#### Tacocat-05/14/2018

Flowers were used in religious ceremonies and the ibis is the bird of thoth

Thoths high priest is the scribe?

#### Zerxrez-05/14/2018

Just throwing out an answer here @ArchGamemaster *The Autobiography of Ahmose Pen Nekhbet?*

#### Tacocat-05/14/2018

Possible answer: Found on amulet of high priest of thoth "happy new year" @ArchGamemaster

#### JEBtheGamer1-05/14/2018

scribe: an ancient Jewish record-keeper or, later, a professional theologian and jurist.

theologian: a person who engages or is an expert in theology.

More proof the scribe is the high priest(edited)

[link]

And possibly the writings of the tomb

[link]

"The tomb in fact belongs to Petosiris and his family which consists of five generations of writers."

### May 15, 2018

#### Looweeja-05/15/2018

The type of bird doesn't matter, only that it's a bird surrounded by flowers.

#### JEBtheGamer1-05/15/2018

Has that been confirmed by @ArchGamaster ?

### May 18, 2018

#### JEBtheGamer1-05/18/2018

FFS he wants us to read the Kane Chronicles?

Is Set related to any of this? Or Rick Riordan?

Thoth is in that series...

#### Arcane-05/18/2018

So what are we going to do now, book club?(edited)

#### JEBtheGamer1-05/18/2018

It is confirmed, from the Kane Chronicles, is that scribe=magician

#### JEBtheGamer1-05/18/2018

Kane Chronicles p196: "I took a wild guess: it must be Elvis's. A magician's tomb. Of course. "

#### JEBtheGamer1-05/18/2018

[link]

Unofficial clue: tzatziki

"Think gods, and think confused greeks"

Zabadi?

Unofficial clue: "When in Rome"

Unofficial clue: Roman Florists

Rome, Georgia Cairo, Geora, Athens, Georgia. All places in the USA

Unofficial Clue" Holy Roman Florist

Unofficial hint: It's a special florist, not a real florist.

#### JEBtheGamer1-05/18/2018

[link]

Hermes is confirmed somewhat the right path.

"Hermes the thrice greatest" is on the right track(edited)

Some more info on Hermes: Psychopomps

Imhotep the thrice great

Thrice great Hermes is a different person. [link]

Unofficial hint: Is it dead?

Hermes Thrice-great is definetly the guy we're looking for, confirmed by GM

This guy has a tomb

This be closer [link]

"As above, so below." is part of the answer, I think. Something to do with the Emeral Tablet definetly.

It's half the answer

*The power of the Subconscious Mind* by Joseph Murphy has the other half of the answer.

[link]

p38

## Solution

"As within, so without; as above, so below."