The Grifters' Groove/Samantha Spade and the Maddening Melody

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Originally posted on May 16th, 2024
Decoded by TTRD members bnuys, jackyacky, notsketched, skip22, erfit, sirsunky, samuelt24, theja, boggtech, feliforme, superherocat, loopy542, nootless, among many others!
Original TTR blog post starting the ARG

After decoding the sentence written at the top of the first piece of sheet music, players found they had to go to certain shopkeepers, starting with Moe Zart, and say certain different SpeedChat phrases. This prompted new dialogue from them (in the form of whispers), which were used as clues in order to find the key to decoding the messages in the sheet music.

Shopkeeper	SpeedChat Phrase + Dialogue
Moe Zart More Scores, Alto Avenue, Minnie's Melodyland	SpeedChat phrase needed to trigger dialogue: "Don't use Sound on Lured Cogs." Dialogue: Aha, thanks for the reminder! What I can't remember is which shop I hid the right key in... Ugh, too many options! It'll take me 80 years to find the right one... Make sure you say 'Hi!' for me once you figure it out!
Abraham Armoire Four Scores Antiques, Alto Avenue, Minnie's Melodyland	SpeedChat phrase needed to trigger dialogue: "Hi!" Dialogue: Looking for a key? Not here, I'm afraid. I lost it in a bet playing Jungle Vines. You'll have to go seek it out yourself! And once you do, you can tell him why I lost in the first place...
Jungle Jim Haydn Go Seek Playground Supplies, Baritone Boulevard, Minnie's Melodyland	SpeedChat phrase needed to trigger dialogue: "I'm not very good at this game." Dialogue: Solving sheet music, are we? If you want to find the hidden message, you need to use a chromatic cipher. One made not by our founder, Haydn, but his lesser-known little brother. And don't forget to watch the key. Good luck!

Shopkeeper

SpeedChat Phrase + Dialogue

Moe Zart
More Scores, Alto Avenue, Minnie's Melodyland

SpeedChat phrase needed to trigger dialogue:

"Don't use Sound on Lured Cogs."

Dialogue:

Aha, thanks for the reminder!
What I can't remember is which shop I hid the right key in...
Ugh, too many options! It'll take me 80 years to find the right one...
Make sure you say 'Hi!' for me once you figure it out!

Abraham Armoire
Four Scores Antiques, Alto Avenue, Minnie's Melodyland

SpeedChat phrase needed to trigger dialogue:

"Hi!"

Dialogue:

Looking for a key? Not here, I'm afraid.
I lost it in a bet playing Jungle Vines.
You'll have to go seek it out yourself!
And once you do, you can tell him why I lost in the first place...

Jungle Jim
Haydn Go Seek Playground Supplies, Baritone Boulevard, Minnie's Melodyland

SpeedChat phrase needed to trigger dialogue:

"I'm not very good at this game."

Dialogue:

Solving sheet music, are we?
If you want to find the hidden message, you need to use a chromatic cipher.
One made not by our founder, Haydn, but his lesser-known little brother.
And don't forget to watch the key. Good luck!

Sheet Music
	Sheet music decrpytion method: A combination of Haydn cipher and Caesar cipher - Haydn cipher was first used to decrypt the sheet music, and then Caesar cipher was used to decrypt the transcribed sheets. This method applies to all pieces of sheet music. Caesar cipher was also used to decrypt the inquiry information at the top of the first sheet. Of note is that multiple parts of a single sentence contain different levels of letter shifting. Decryption: Top of sheet: For inquiries, please find Moe Zart and remind him what NOT to do in a Cog Battle. Rest of sheet: Mission Report: This is Groovy Garland, and I just got back from Lawbot Headquarters in the nick of time: had I taken any longer, I'd be sued for all that is mine! On this trip I have witnessed perils so great I admit that I fear for our dear Toontown’s fate: In only six months will that fateful day come.
	Decryption: The day when the Cogs took over and won. Any way my findings are as such: the Board of Directors are on the hunt. First that asinine Ambush Marketer now this stupefying Supervisor stunt! The toons aren't prepared for what lies ahead, here's how to do it instead.
	Decryption: More challenging ToonTasks for those high on laff to prepare them for the powerful Cog HQ staff. Upgraded Cog disguises would do us well. It's about time we launched our own v2.0 shells. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must visit some friends. I need a spot of encryption to tie this loose end...

Sheet Music

Sheet music decrpytion method:

A combination of Haydn cipher and Caesar cipher - Haydn cipher was first used to decrypt the sheet music, and then Caesar cipher was used to decrypt the transcribed sheets. This method applies to all pieces of sheet music. Caesar cipher was also used to decrypt the inquiry information at the top of the first sheet. Of note is that multiple parts of a single sentence contain different levels of letter shifting.

Decryption:

Top of sheet: For inquiries, please find Moe Zart and remind him what NOT to do in a Cog Battle.

Rest of sheet: Mission Report: This is Groovy Garland, and I just got back from Lawbot Headquarters in the nick of time: had I taken any longer, I'd be sued for all that is mine! On this trip I have witnessed perils so great I admit that I fear for our dear Toontown’s fate: In only six months will that fateful day come.

Decryption:

The day when the Cogs took over and won. Any way my findings are as such: the Board of Directors are on the hunt. First that asinine Ambush Marketer now this stupefying Supervisor stunt! The toons aren't prepared for what lies ahead, here's how to do it instead.

Decryption:

More challenging ToonTasks for those high on laff to prepare them for the powerful Cog HQ staff. Upgraded Cog disguises would do us well. It's about time we launched our own v2.0 shells. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must visit some friends. I need a spot of encryption to tie this loose end...