Post the Thirteenth: The Callous Codes

[mysilenceknot]

[Filtered to Icabod Crane]

I was wondering if I could speak to you about something.

[For the rest of the town you can find him sitting outside for once.....reading a book. Annoy him?]

Comments

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Yes, the codes. Of course.

[This was just the distraction he needed to get his mind off of the tragedy and on to more important matters that were much more practical.]

You managed to write an entire set of them within a *fortnight?

(*Fortnight- Two weeks time. I used to think it meant just before dark. That was also before I started looking up period words and phrases.)

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

[He pulls out some papers]

No. I've learned many types of codes since I was little. However I think it would be best if we stick with the Sebald code for things we intend to disguise as personal letters.

Anagrams are always good for names. Most people do not look past them if you can make normal names out of them.

[He's flipping through a book with some notes here and there]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Ah! Clever. How does it work?

[He's really interested in anything that could be useful for the betterment and secrecy that could be involved in delivering sensitive information. Now that he was getting closer to finding more out about the town and about the people in it, anything that would help him and Lemony document and safe keep records was a start.

He takes his own notebook from his briefcase to take notes.]

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

It's not that complicted. We usually used it to communicate messages in movies. However it was used in personal communications as well.

You see when the key word, in our cases, the word ring or some form of this word, is mentioned, the code is activated. The first word after the ring is in code, as is every eleventh word thereafter. When the ring is said again, the code ends.

[He'll pass over a page that has an example of this. The words that are coded are underlined. It reads, this is an example of the Sebald Code, and it is inside a letter about an book]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Ah, sounds like it would make things a grand touch easier than simply trying to use physically convert methods.

[He takes a look at the letter and writes in his notebook the basis of the code. He has his own methods of taking notes that he would understand which made things easier for him to hide in plain sight.]

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

[He nods, flipping through to a new page. He's more absorbed in his work so there might be some slight slips that he would have caught before]

Yes. Another one utilizes grammer and spelling errors. J was quite skilled with it. I recall the mesesage she left for the Baudelaire's was coded with this.

You see what you do is write a normal message and fit your secret message into the words as spelling errors. This works best for hiding key words as you spell them out letter by letter.

The secret message is formed by the letters or punctuation that is missing from the message.

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Huh.

[He writes that one down too and looks at the example.]

A very interesting and clever tactic should one be known to have such errors in their writing. I do not think that such a code would be best used with me, however it could be an interesting and obvious tactic should one know me well.

[He chuckled softly.]

And this form of coding, how hard is it to translate?

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

It depends of course on how well someone is able to detect spelling errors. One of the many reasons we were taught to have proper spelling and grammer at all time.

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

True. If those that are careless in their grammar cannot spot the errors, then the code would either be lost or it would be overlooked. A difficult one to use for one that is illiterate.

[He's not going to be able to use any of these codes for The Captain.]

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

Yes. In many cases that is why it was used.

There is of course, always the option of creating an intirely new code from scratch.

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

There is a code that I may have to devise for one individual so he would understand what I am saying without having things too complicated.

[He closes up his pen and looks at Lemony with a stoic yet thoughtful expression.]

I have a serious question for you. What do you think our chances are for survival under my care as a leader? I need an honest answer.

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

[He nods] I could create one for you if you gave me some details as to what type of code you want.

[Lemony looks thoughtful for a moment]

You seem a competent, organized and trustworthy person. I would say we have as good of a chance as any to survive this with you as leader.

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[He seemed very relieved to hear this little bit of reassurance. There was no way that he was going to take a general consensus when others had counted on him to make decisions. Everything had to be carried out in secrecy and it wasn't something that he wasn't afraid of in the least. It also helped that he had a trustworthy adviser to help him along and to keep his mind in tact. Everyone under him had an important task.]

The code I am looking to construct for this particular individual should be one that is symbolic. Something that he would catch. Of course I would have to teach him how to use it, but I think it would be beneficial to him to understand the pictures within the pictures.

He is not as learned as we are and I dare not compromise his safety simply because he cannot read well.

You know you're desperate when you're looking to Lemony Snicket for reassurance

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

I see.

What will the code be used for? Gaining his attention, passing information, reciveing information, hiding information?

[He's gotten his commonplace book out now and is making some notes]

It's mostly out of respect and trust. XD

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Mostly for gaining his attention and receiving information. It does not have to be elaborate. However it does have to get the point across to him efficiently.

Good, because Lemony isn't very good at the whole positive thinking stuff XD

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

[He nods as he marks this down]

I'll see what I can do.

LOL It's a good thing that Ichabod bounces back pretty quick once he gets his head back on. *bad pun

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I greatly appreciate the help and I am sure The Captain will as well. I am not sure if you have met him. He is a bit on the simple side though he is very loyal once he finds his niche.

Zing!

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I have. I tend to spend most of my time at the library here so it's likley that I have not.

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Ah. To give you an idea of what I will need for a code is more along the lines of simplistic design that can easily be overlooked by anyone else that is not looking for it. Perhaps word substitution in a phone conversation.

[mysilenceknot.livejournal.com]

So key words that are not of interest to anyone unless they are aware of what they are looking for?

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Exactly. That is the type of code that I would like to use for him. There are others that could use the more advanced ones which I think would be the greater design for the plan to be enacted in an orderly fashion. The two codes that you have given to me previously should work well with the two other composers of plot, you and myself excluded.