Tournament ConcludedPilani Undercroft · All 15 Vaults Unsealed

Tournament Ended. All Answers Revealed.

Chambers Sealed

The BEP Cipher Hunt has officially reached its conclusion. All active puzzle submissions and terminal routes have been permanently locked. Below is the complete archive of all 15 cryptographic chambers, original transmissions, decryption walkthroughs, and canonical answers across both rounds.

Total Chambers15 Cryptographic Locks

Round 15 Classic Ciphers

Round 210 Advanced Trials

Chambers:

CHAMBER 01Round 1// VENI

Caesar Cipher (Shift -3)

The Emperor's Third Step

“Every alphabet has a starting line. Someone moved it.”

Source: pilani/intercept_01.txt

A transmission was pulled off the campus loop at 03:12, somewhere between the Clock Tower and the Library. The letters arrived intact. Their positions did not.

L dozdbv uxq exw qhyhu zdon. L kdyh d ehg, exw L qhyhu vohhs. L kdyh d prxwk, exw L qhyhu vshdn. Zkdw dp L?

In-World Clue:He came, he saw, he conquered — three times.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

RIVER

Cipher TechniqueCaesar Substitution (-3 Shift)

Accepted Variations:"river""a river"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸The clue refers to Julius Caesar ('Veni, vidi, vici') shifting the alphabet three steps.
▸Shifting each letter backward by 3 (D → A, L → I, etc.) deciphers the ciphertext into a classic riddle:
▸"I always run but never walk. I have a bed, but I never sleep. I have a mouth, but I never speak. What am I?"
▸A body of water that runs across a riverbed has a mouth and never sleeps: a river.

CHAMBER 02Round 1// CHIFFRE

Vigenère Cipher (Key: RIVER)

Le Chiffre Indéchiffrable

“One shift was too easy. Take a different one for every letter.”

Source: pilani/intercept_02.txt

The second intercept came off the Shiv Ganga uplink and resisted the Roman's trick entirely. Frequency analysis returns nothing but noise — the shift is not constant, it walks.

Npvx timvxlim recba jr wfcm pvxa dr kym hsieqik, knw gixj io rffv, vru kpmiv cmbw ze bci vmmimex?

In-World Clue:Le chiffrage indéchiffrable. Each letter moves differently, according to one word. Your past experiences will help you.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

HUMAN

Cipher TechniquePolyalphabetic Vigenère Decryption

Accepted Variations:"human""a human""man""a man""human being""humans"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸The previous level's answer 'RIVER' is used as the repeating keyword key.
▸Subtract the shift of each key letter from the corresponding ciphertext letter (N - R = W, p - I = h, v - V = a, x - E = t, etc.).
▸Deciphered plaintext: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?"
▸This is the legendary Riddle of the Sphinx; the answer is a human (crawling as an infant, walking on two legs as an adult, using a cane in old age).

CHAMBER 03Round 1// GLYPH

Acrostic Plate Ordering & Digit Extraction

Ten Faces, Five Names

“Five of these begin with something you already know.”

No text this time. Ten plates were recovered from a crate in the Birla Museum store room, in no particular order. Five of them are yours.

Interactive Gate Lock:

Your last answer has five letters. Five of these plates begin with them. Select those five — in order.

1. Heart (❤️)2. Umbrella (☂️)3. Moon (🌙)4. Arrow (➡️)5. Nose (👃)

Arrow is plate #4 in order, Umbrella is plate #2 in order. Combining both as digits yields 42.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

Cipher TechniqueAcrostic Plate Grid + Index Digits

Accepted Variations:"42""forty two""fortytwo""forty-two"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸The previous answer 'HUMAN' contains 5 letters: H - U - M - A - N.
▸Looking at the 10 glyph plates, 5 of them start with these exact letters: Heart (H), Umbrella (U), Moon (M), Arrow (A), Nose (N).
▸Submitting this sequence in order (Heart, Umbrella, Moon, Arrow, Nose) numbers them 1 through 5.
▸The lock then displays two plates: Arrow (the 4th item) and Umbrella (the 2nd item).
▸Writing their sequence indices side-by-side produces the number 42.

CHAMBER 04Round 1// COUNT

Manuscript Word Indexing

The Forty-Second

“The whole passage is a haystack. You were given the index.”

Source: library/manuscript fragment — unstable

Recovered from the Library reading room, second floor, after closing. The page will not hold still, and it will not let you copy it. Read it the slow way.

"The archive keeps no lights. It keeps records; records keep better in the dark, so the shelves run on and the corridors run with them. Every visitor is handed the same three things at the door: a name, a number, a lantern. Most people take the name. The clever ones take the number. Only the patient count what they were given, and counting is how the archive decides who may pass."

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

LANTERN

Cipher TechniquePositional Index Lookup

Accepted Variations:"lantern""a lantern""the lantern"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸The previous answer '42' acts as an index into the library fragment text.
▸Count the words sequentially from the first word: 1. 'The', 2. 'archive', 3. 'keeps'...
▸Words 35 to 42: '...handed (35) the (36) same (37) three (38) things (39) at (40) the (41) door: (42)...' Wait, counting all tokens: '...handed the same three things at the door: a (37) name (38), a (39) number (40), a (41) lantern (42).'
▸The 42nd word is 'lantern'.

CHAMBER 05Round 1// MIRROR

HTML DOM Inspection + Atbash Cipher

The Last Light

“There is nothing on this page. Look at it anyway.”

Source: pilani/plate_final — 1 of 1

Inspect the page elements / source code to find the hidden alt text on the plate image:

Alt Text: GSV URMZO ZMHDVI RH YLHN

In-World Clue:A is Z. B is Y. The alphabet, reflected in still water.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

BOSM

Cipher TechniqueAtbash Alphabet Reflection

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Inspecting the image tag inside developer tools or page source reveals the alt text: 'GSV URMZO ZMHDVI RH YLHN'.
▸Applying the Atbash cipher (reversing the alphabet: A↔Z, B↔Y, G↔T, S↔H, V↔E):
▸GSV → THE, URMZO → FINAL, ZMHDVI → ANSWER, RH → IS, YLHN → BOSM.
▸The decrypted message directly states: 'THE FINAL ANSWER IS BOSM' (the annual BITS Open Sports Meet).

CHAMBER 06Round 2// REBORN

Atbash Verse Decryption & Campus Riddle

The Reborn Flame

“I have lived past my time, but now I'm reborn.”

Source: pilani/transmission_01.txt

An encrypted transmission intercepted across campus. The letters reflect an old memory, inverted upon themselves.

R szev or evw kzhg nb grnv, yfg mld R'n ivylim, Zxilhh uiln nb low hveu, gsv ervd rh uliolim, Drgsrm nb yvoob gsv uoznvh xlnv zorv, Dszg dlfow blf xzoo nv ru blf dviv gl zirev?

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

WORKSHOP

Cipher TechniqueAtbash Reflection + Landmark Identification

Accepted Variations:"workshop""the workshop""a workshop"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Using the Atbash alphabet reflection on the verse decrypts the text to:
▸"I have lived past my time, but now I'm reborn, Across from my old self, the view is forlorn, Within my belly the flames come alive, What would you call me if you were to arrive?"
▸On the BITS Pilani campus, the Workshop (Mechanical/Central Workshop) was moved to a new facility across from the old structure, and features foundries and furnaces where flames come alive.

CHAMBER 07Round 2// CHRONOS

Keyed Columnar Transposition (Key: WORKSHOP)

The Pillar of Hours

“Standing tall and sublime, you look at me when you're running out of time.”

Source: pilani/columnar_grid.txt

A transmission intercepted from the main axis. The characters arrived in scrambled columns, waiting to be assembled.

INEAYNFAOAKOHSYONLIOEUTOOLTOMCITTABLWEOEROYPILNMNDYTOITTLLEFIIAXGSOMUNITDWMOSDNXALLOHRUNHUSHAATODAMKNNOMWLATTETTSTUUERGMEYAYRPED

In-World Clue:Transposed into columns. Your previous answer sets the reading order.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

CLOCK TOWER

Cipher TechniqueColumnar Transposition Reordering

Accepted Variations:"clocktower""clock tower""the clock tower""the clocktower"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸The keyword is the previous answer: WORKSHOP (8 letters).
▸Alphabetical column ordering of WORKSHOP: H(1), K(2), O(3), O(4), P(5), R(6), S(7), W(8).
▸Arranging the 128 characters into 8 columns and reading across rows reconstructs the clue describing the central campus monument: the Clock Tower.

CHAMBER 08Round 2// SERPENT

Serpentine Boustrophedon Transposition

Not Straight Ahead

“Most days, you could walk past without stopping. On some days, it’s hard to miss.”

Source: pilani/walkway_trail.txt

Scrambled graffiti recorded near an open walkway. The path twists back and forth in an alternating rhythm.

MDYOWPWOTINESHTSADAONNHYSAEOTASOCUDAKATIHUSOPNOSMDYISADOISRMEOCLCMODWADAEOREFTMSYULLSTTPGOATRMCPRMEONVULI

In-World Clue:Cramped or calm, come on down and have yourself a time.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

SOUTH PARK

Cipher TechniqueBoustrophedon (Alternating Row Direction) Reading

Accepted Variations:"south park""southpark""the south park"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Arrange the text into a matrix grid and read alternating rows in opposite directions (left-to-right, then right-to-left), mimicking a winding serpent path.
▸The resulting plaintext reveals the beloved campus location: South Park.

CHAMBER 09Round 2// OASIS

Dynamic Polyalphabetic Positional Shift

The Shifting Spring

“An allure that draws new faces, the point an oasis sprang from.”

Source: pilani/spring_intercept.txt

A frequency captured by the reservoir edge. The shift shifts with every passing word.

RQ KNNHBG ARBA IDCSH YLO NEJMA, CDN FBXOD IU DJCZC DJMLHZ ZNFH

In-World Clue:Each word tells you how to solve it.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

SHIV GANGA

Cipher TechniqueWord-Index Caesar Progression

Accepted Variations:"shivganga""shiv ganga""shiv-ganga""the shiv ganga"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Each word in the message is shifted by an amount dictated by its word index and position in the sequence.
▸Decoding each word sequentially reveals a passage pointing directly to the campus water reservoir and lake: Shiv Ganga.

CHAMBER 10Round 2// OBSIDIAN

Hexadecimal Color Codes to ASCII + Transposition

The Standards of Shadow

“What you see is not a shade, but a standard to be translated.”

Source: pilani/vault_plate.txt

The final vault lock is sealed with an encrypted inscription and three dark pigment swatches.

OTTDSEHTBTYOURNSSSOAHIDNTDASEDRUAATLWEAAEETNBAA

In-World Clue:Three pigment seals stamped upon the vault: #4F4253 · #494449 · #414E21

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

OBSIDIAN

Cipher TechniqueKeyed Transposition (SHIVGANGA) + Hexadecimal ASCII Conversion

Accepted Variations:"obsidian""obsidian!"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸First, using key SHIVGANGA deciphers the ciphertext: 'What you see is not a shade, but a standard to be translated.'
▸This indicates that the hex color codes #4F4253, #494449, #414E21 are not just colors, but ASCII byte representations in hexadecimal:
▸Hex 4F = 'O', 42 = 'B', 53 = 'S' → 'OBS'
▸Hex 49 = 'I', 44 = 'D', 49 = 'I' → 'IDI'
▸Hex 41 = 'A', 4E = 'N', 21 = '!' → 'AN!'
▸Concatenating produces the final word: OBSIDIAN!

CHAMBER 11Round 2// MONOLITH

Playfair Cipher (5x5 Grid, Key: MONOLITH)

The Stone Monument

“The one who played fair built a towering stone monument.”

Source: Polybius grid: 5x5 · Key: MONOLITH · I=J

An intercept recovered from the monument plaza. Two letters at a time, governed by the ancient matrix of the monolith.

IN IE HG IN VH QW UP XR BT FW

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

LOOK BELOW THE SURFACE

Cipher Technique5x5 Playfair Digraph Decryption

Accepted Variations:"look below the surface""lookbelowthesurface""look below the surface!"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Construct the 5x5 Playfair grid with keyword MONOLITH (omitting duplicate letters O) followed by the rest of the alphabet with I and J merged:
▸Row 1: M O N L I
▸Row 2: T H A B C
▸Row 3: D E F G K
▸Row 4: P Q R S U
▸Row 5: V W X Y Z
▸Apply the reverse Playfair rectangle and column/row shift rules to each digraph:
▸IN → LO, IE → OK, HG → BE, IN → LO, VH → WT, QW → HE, UP → SU, XR → RF, BT → AC, FW → EX.
▸Combining gives 'LOOK BELOW THE SURFACE X' (dropping the trailing null padding X).

CHAMBER 12Round 2// BACON

Bacon's Biliteral Cipher (A-M=0, N-Z=1)

The Lord Chancellor's Initials

“The first letter of every word conceals a binary secret.”

A dispatch transcribed from an old academic journal. The grammar is immaculate, but the first letters of each word seem deliberate.

In-World Clue:Not all answers are apparent. Ancient names need accurate notation. New archives are now available. Never accept all new names. Answers never need another answer. A careful analyst notes numbers. Always ask about all answers.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

ROTUNDA

Cipher TechniqueBaconian 5-Bit Binary Substitution

Accepted Variations:"rotunda""the rotunda"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Extract the first letters of all 35 words in the passage:
▸N-a-a-a-a · A-n-n-a-n · N-a-a-n-a · N-a-a-n-n · A-n-n-a-a · A-c-a-n-n · A-a-a-a-a
▸Under Bacon's cipher, divide the alphabet in half: letters A-M represent 'a' (0), and N-Z represent 'b' (1).
▸NAAAA = baaaa (binary 10000 = 17) → R
▸ANNAN = abbab (binary 01101 = 14) → O
▸NAANA = baaba (binary 10010 = 19) → T
▸NAANN = baabb (binary 10011 = 20) → U
▸ANNAA = abbaa (binary 01100 = 13) → N
▸ACANN = aaabb (binary 00011 = 3) → D
▸AAAAA = aaaaa (binary 00000 = 0) → A
▸The decoded word is 'ROTUNDA' (the famous circular hall/architecture).

CHAMBER 13Round 2// DIAL

ROT-13 Decryption & Campus Landmark

The Tower's Riddle

“A half-circle rotation speaks of the campus guardian.”

Source: Shift 13 (ROT-13)

Scratched into a desk in the main building. Shifted thirteen notches forward, or backward — it makes no difference.

Fgnaqvat gnyy naq fhoyvzr, Lbh ybbx ng zr jura lbh'er ehaavat bhg bs gvzr. Ab znggre ubj byq, lbh'yy nyjnlf gnxr zl cubgb, Sbe V nz guvf cynpr'f vqragvgl naq zbggb.

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

CLOCK TOWER

Cipher TechniqueROT-13 Symmetric Decryption

Accepted Variations:"clock tower""bits clock tower""clocktower""the clock tower""the clocktower"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Rotate each letter by 13 positions in the 26-letter alphabet (F↔S, g↔t, n↔a, etc.).
▸Deciphered verse:
▸"Standing tall and sublime, You look at me when you're running out of time. No matter how old, you'll always take my photo, For I am this place's identity and motto."
▸The answer is the BITS Pilani Clock Tower.

CHAMBER 14Round 2// QUARTERS

Cryptic Crossword Clue Anagram

Minute Cryptic

“An indicator, fodder, and a campus definition.”

A slip of paper found tucked inside a library lexicon. In cryptic clues, one part is the instruction, one is the material, and one is the literal definition.

In-World Clue:Scramble with dirty rooms (like SR Bhavan).

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

DORMITORY

Cipher TechniqueCryptic Clue Breakdown

Accepted Variations:"dormitory""a dormitory""the dormitory""hostel""dorm"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Analyze the parts of the cryptic clue:
▸1. Anagram Indicator: 'Scramble with'
▸2. Fodder (letters to rearrange): 'DIRTY ROOMS' (10 letters: D, I, R, T, Y, R, O, O, M, S)
▸3. Definition: '(like SR Bhavan)' — student residential housing / quarters.
▸Rearranging D-I-R-T-Y-R-O-O-M-S yields D-O-R-M-I-T-O-R-Y (dormitory).

CHAMBER 15Round 2// ORDER

Caesar Shift (-10)

The Hidden Order

“A step of ten into the shadows of history.”

Source: Caesar shift: -10

A cryptic signature left behind on the stonework. A constant backward shift of ten steps reveals their brotherhood.

P BOO WK CYX

◈ Unlocked Key / Canonical Answer

FREEMASON

Cipher TechniqueCaesar Shift -10 Decryption

Accepted Variations:"freemason""freemasons""free mason""a freemason"

Decryption Walkthrough & Explanation

▸Shift every letter backward by 10 positions in the alphabet:
▸P - 10 = F
▸B - 10 = R
▸O - 10 = E
▸O - 10 = E
▸W - 10 = M
▸K - 10 = A
▸C - 10 = S
▸Y - 10 = O
▸X - 10 = N
▸The result is 'F REE MA SON' -> Freemason (the historical fraternal brotherhood with the square and compass).

BITS Pilani · Organised by BEP · All 15 Cipher Vaults Concluded

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