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The
LIZARDZ Decypher Coin (Version I, II and
III) can be used in many different ways to set up a mystery
cache. Some of the ways are easy and others can be a bit difficult.
One of the main things to remember with the coin is that if
you are encrypting a message you find the letter on the inner
ring and use the matching letter on the outer ring. If you
are decrypting then you find the letter on the outer ring
and use the matching letter on the inner ring.
The coin can be used to decrypt geocaching hints
by aligning the pointer on the LizardZ tail to the N
on the outer ring. Then find the first letter in the encrypted
hint on the outer ring of the coin and find the matching letter
on the inner ring of the coin and write it down. Then follow
the same procedure for each letter in the encrypted hint until
you have decrypted the entire message.
You can encrypt messages by using a simple Caesar
Cypher which shifts the alphabet any number
of letters to create a cypher. Geocaching hints are encrypted
using a Caesar where the alphabet has been shifted 13 positions
(ROT 13). By pointing the lizard's tail at any of the 25 letters
not including A you can create a variety of cyphers.
The easiest way to explain the method is by using an example.
Encrypt the message below:
GO
SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE FEET AT TEN DEGREES TRUE
Say
you wanted to shift the alphabet seven places. Align the LizardZ
tail with the letter H. To encrypt you need to find each letter
in the inner ring and find the matching letters on the outer
ring. The first letter of our message is a G, so
find G on the inner ring and see that it aligns with
the letter N on the outer ring. Next, the letter
O on the inner ring lines up with V on the
outer ring. Follow this procedure to the end and you get this
encrypted message:
NV ZPE OBUKYLK HUK ADLUAF UPUL MLLA HA ALU KLNYLLZ AYBL
The encrypted message above is not very secure and it can
easily be broken with no equipment and little effort. These
codes can be fun for times when you don't want people to be
frustrated or to give up on your cache before they have even
tried it.
For a more secure encryption:
For times when you do want people to be challenged and maybe
a bit frustrated you can use the LizardZ Decypher Coin to
make a Vigenere
Cypher. For this kind of code you move the Lizard's
tail after each letter. A key word is used to determine how
the tail is moved. Suppose you wanted to encrypt the same
message using the more secure method of the Vigenere Cypher.
GO SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE FEET AT TEN DEGREES TRUE
The first step is to think of a key word. For this example
let's use FROG. Write the key word FROG repeatedly
above the message like so:
| F |
R |
|
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
R |
O |
G |
|
F |
R |
O |
|
G |
F |
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
|
G |
F |
R |
|
O |
G |
F |
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
G |
O |
|
S |
I |
X |
|
H |
U |
N |
D |
R |
E |
D |
|
A |
N |
D |
|
T |
W |
E |
N |
T |
Y |
|
N |
I |
N |
E |
|
F |
E |
E |
T |
|
A |
T |
|
T |
E |
N |
|
D |
E |
G |
R |
E |
E |
S |
|
T |
R |
U |
E |
L |
F |
|
G |
O |
The key word determines how to align the LizardZ tail to make
the encryption. For the first letter which is G we
will align the LizardZ tail with the letter F which
is the letter of the key word above the G. Then the
letter G on the inner ring lines up with the letter
L on the outer ring. Next, align the LizardZ tail with the letter
R which is the key word letter above the second letter
in the message. The letter O on the inner ring lines
up with the letter F on the outer ring. Now align the
LizardZ tail with the letter O. S on the inner ring
lines up with G on the outer ring. Now line up the
LizardZ tail with the letter G. I on the inner ring
lines up with O on the outer ring. Repeat the process
and end up with this message:
LF GOC YITIISJ FER ZBVBZD EWTJ WSKY RH ZJE RKLISKX KFAJ
To decrypt a message:
You first need to somehow get the key word. For example, the
key word could be in a cache container or could be the answer to
a riddle. Then the same
method would be followed with the exception that you would
find each letter in the outer ring and then use the matching
letter on the inner ring.
| F |
R |
|
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
R |
O |
G |
|
F |
R |
O |
|
G |
F |
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
|
G |
F |
R |
|
O |
G |
F |
R |
O |
G |
F |
|
R |
O |
G |
F |
L |
F |
|
G |
O |
C |
|
Y |
I |
T |
I |
I |
S |
J |
|
F |
E |
R |
|
Z |
B |
V |
B |
Z |
D |
|
E |
W |
T |
J |
|
W |
S |
K |
Y |
|
R |
H |
|
Z |
J |
E |
|
R |
K |
L |
I |
S |
K |
X |
|
K |
F |
A |
J |
G |
O |
|
S |
I |
Just like in the encryption process, align the LizardZ
tail with the letter F which is the letter in the key
word above the first letter in the message. Remember, this time
you need to find the letter in the outer ring and use the matching
letter on the inner ring. The letter L in the outer
ring lines up with the letter G in the inner ring.
Align the LizardZ tail with the letter R. The letter
F on the outer ring lines up with the letter O
on the inner ring. Align the LizardZ tail with the letter O.
The letter G on the outer ring lines up with the letter
S on the inner ring. Move the Lizard's tail to the
letter G. The letter O on the outer ring lines
up with the letter I on the inner ring.
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