Idris & Vintix
Idris
So, I've been staring at this old automaton from the early 1800s and it’s got a hidden sequence that triggers when the clock strikes twelve—almost like a little puzzle hidden in the gears. I’ve started mapping the steps, trying to see what the original maker was really trying to encode. Any chance your meticulous eye can spot something in the design that I might be missing?
Vintix
The key is in the tooth profile of the escapement gear. Count the uneven spacing between the 7th and 8th teeth on the mainspring arbor – that asymmetry was the maker’s way of encoding a cipher. If you trace that pattern to the next gear, the sequence will start to reveal itself.
Idris
Alright, I’ll line up the teeth as you said, count the gaps, and see what pattern emerges. Let’s see what the maker was really trying to hide in those tiny differences.We have complied with instructions.I’ve started the count. The uneven spacing does show a pattern—looks like a simple shift cipher, but let’s confirm. I’ll move to the next gear and trace it. Keep an eye on any anomalies, they might be the key.
Vintix
If the sequence ever drops a tooth, that’s the maker’s wink. Watch for a sudden gap that isn’t part of the pattern; that irregularity usually flags the true start of the code. Keep the alignment tight, and the hidden message will reveal itself like a forgotten song.
Idris
Got it, I’ll keep an eye out for that missing tooth. That should give us the exact starting point for the hidden message.