Having witnessed the aftermath of multiple online posts involving the same subject, it’s easy to vividly conjure mental impressions of strong aversion to the notion that image 3 does not lead to a casque in Dare County, NC, possibly manifesting as explicit language. In one such comment it is declared that anyone who assigns an alternative identity to image three is “delusional”. The resistance to considering alternative possibilities in an unsolved puzzle encompassing more than four agonizing decades, when the conventional application offers more uncertainty than answers, remains a perplexing dynamic.
Conventional wisdom dictates that under no circumstance could Byron construct his own puzzle in a way we don’t anticipate or appreciate. A set of numbers can be applied for no other purpose beyond coordinates. A representation of Roanoke Island can only indicate the general casque location, especially in light of the verse and image “wedding” with the line “to the land near the window”. Only a casque proves an answer…but image 3 “belongs” to Roanoke even without one? That seems rather inconsistent. For background on the conventional interpretations for image 3 and Dare County, visit this page from PB Works.
Dare to Dispute
The first reason I suspected that image 3 does not lead to a casque in Dare County is the incredible amount of cryptically incorporated information, most of which remains unapplied. Not only does this seem suspicious for a relatively remote, non-urban location, but highly unnecessary given how effortlessly the lengthy verse clearly defines our path. Beyond the coordinates and the depiction of Roanoke Island, all other “matches” are extremely circumstantial.
Pointed arch windows comparable to the image 3 depiction, said to emulate a door at the Elizabethan Gardens, are found everywhere, while there is no explanation for the celestial phenomenon seen through it. The appearance of bells is connected to Albert Bell while there is no explanation for the presence of three bells, why one bell is separated from the others, why strands of the skirt are pointing to the two right bells, and why each bell has unique characteristics. The scythe-like accessory protruding from the right arm vaguely matches Albemarle Sound while no other elements convincingly confirm its identity.
Then, there is everything else. Numerous elements etched into the stone wall remain unaccounted for. Any definitive attribution to the fairy-like creature and bubble encapsulated flower remains unspecified. There is a plentiful supply of details on the suit of armor unlikely to all be artistic filler. Why does the string held in the left hand form a loop? What purpose do the clock and key serve? Why is there a lobster hidden in the red skirt near the armor’s waistline? Why is there a jailer’s keyring with only a large and small key on it? Why does this suit of armor have no legs, and why are its arms fixed perfectly parallel to the floor? So much information, so few meaningful explanations.
The next alarming observation is an apparent lack of visual connections to verse interpretations. Aside from Roanoke Island acting as the “land near the window”, we observe no interconnectivity between landmarks alluded to in the verse and image 3 devices. No apparent reference to a John White painting. No apparent reference to the Washington Baum bridge. No apparent reference to Virginia Dare other than a loose association to the window at the Elizabethan Gardens ticket office. No apparent reference to a “wing”. No strong reference to the Wright Brothers. Nothing more than circumstantial connections to the Fort Raleigh site. When comparing this condition to confirmed solves in both Chicago and Cleveland, we find a stark contrast of compelling visual confirmations along our path and greater interconnectivity between verse and image interpretations.
Then we have three bubbles. As it relates to the Boston case, artist John Jude Palencar has confirmed that the bubbles appearing in image 11 represent a “pops” orchestra. Do we have any reason to believe these same bubbles could represent anything other than a pops orchestra in image 3? As the only local performance venue of note is The Waterside Theater, how in the world do we apply this clue, and what purpose does it serve? If we think that a Roanoke association with image 3 is valid, despite the apparent inability to apply the bubbles in the same manner they were applied in Boston, would that not “prove” that all cases are not the same, and that devises can be used to serve entirely different purposes in different cases?
So if bubbles can be used for a different purpose in image three compared to image 11, does that not open the door for numbers matching coordinates to be used for alternative purposes in different cases? If clues can only be applied in exactly the same manner across all applicable solves, then where is the Pops Orchestra in Dare County North Carolina? And why three bubbles whereas image 11 has two? Could more bubbles imply a greater Pop Orchestra presence? Applying either standard evenly presents an inherent flaw in conventional interpretive strategies. Does this mean that image 3 does not lead to a casque in Dare County, NC?
Do “Clear” Answers Produce Dead Ends?
This case perfectly encapsulates a collective investigation mired in stagnation. We say we want “answers”, then antagonize any effort that deviates from conventional application, commonly without any consideration for objective evidence. Not only does “The Secret” have a collection of dead horses beaten incessantly, but they have long since been pulverized into a fine powder. Interpretations that sharply deviate from collective wisdom are aggressively suppressed before any evidence has been collected or considered. The puzzle is diminished while vague comments from outside sources and subjective perceptions of what is possible or impossible are elevated.
One such reason for consistent knee-jerk aversion to alternative possibilities in a subjective puzzle where Byron is under no obligation to conform to collective perception, is the claim that all three confirmed cases are identical, and all nine unconfirmed cases must conform perfectly to their resolved counterparts. This commonly held belief is however soundly refuted by the incredible collection of differences between all three confirmed solves, the consistent trend of inconsistency regarding the inclusion of identical elements or strategies across all puzzles, and the clear confirmation by JJP that not all puzzles are the same. Ironically, not even the most common Roanoke proposal complies with a standard of uniformity.
“The resistance to considering alternative possibilities in an unsolved puzzle encompassing more than four agonizing decades, when the conventional application offers more uncertainty than answers, remains a perplexing dynamic.”
-The Analyst
One commonly sighted element is the set of coordinates. It is assumed that all cases apply them in exactly the same manner…even though we already know that is not true. Image 12 offers one “coordinate” number. Image 10 offers no coordinates. Five images have a full set of four numbers. Three images have half sets of two numbers. Image 7 has three out of four numbers with one of them backwards. Image 4 has an apparent error. Image 8 has three numbers hidden in tree branches while one is etched at the base of a pillar.
With all of this variation, why is uniform application assumed? But we know one thing for certain, at least two cases lead to a casque city without coordinates. Does this set a precedent that the inclusion of coordinates does not automatically allude to the casque’s municipal resting place? Can a case of “The Secret” allude to more than one geographic location for a single case? Who decides whether or not that is possible in a subjectively crafted puzzle?
So, we have an image with an unnecessary amount of information for the location, most of which we can do nothing satisfying with, an image that only corresponds to our verse via two points of reference, and a thorough verse that further invalidates the need for so many visual clues, yet three conclusive visual clues make it “clear” and “obvious” we have applied the right location despite a lack of meaningful results. That doesn’t smell right.
A New ___ State of Mind
If image 3 does not lead to a casque in Dare County, then where is it taking us? Let’s make some simple observations. The window in the background can be connected to an incredibly famous landmark not found on or near Roanoke Island. The presence of a “stonewall” could allude to a figurative application, possibly to a historic event. The suit of armor appears to be for a man, has what looks like a hat integrated into the helmet, and is arguably a shade of light tan. Although simplified, the contours of another east coast state appear partially obstructed in the image. The arms of our tin man are stretched out perfectly parallel to the floor, positioned in the broadest way possible. For a deeper, less cryptic dive into this alternative, likely “controversial” interpretation, click here.
If image three does in fact lead to a casque in an alternative municipality, it subsequently requires that we find an alternative image for Roanoke, given the level of evidence applied to Roanoke and verse 11. So which image is the most compelling candidate? For a more in depth analysis…click here.
One interesting general topic of discussion is the possibility that images share interconnected elements, and what role those relationships may play in determining answers. Arguably the most obvious example of this dynamic is image 7 and image 9 which both contain a checkerboard background. Other connections fly well under the radar. I’m not sure I have ever seen a connection suggested between image 3 and image 12.
At first glance they couldn’t be any more different…but maybe that is part of the point. Image 3 represents the one o’clock position while image 12 represents the eleven o’clock position, which are inverse positions. Image three is likely representative of a man, while image 12 includes a woman. Image 3 takes place at night, while image 12 takes place during the day. Image 3 is inside, while image 12 is outside. There are many inverse conditions we could interpret.
Then, there are all of the low-ki similarities. Both images feature windows. Both figures have roughly the same hand configurations with one hand holding an object and one hand empty. Both images have white flowers. Both images include characters completely in frame but without visible legs. Both figures are wearing belts. Both images have time pieces. Both images include elements that are the same color as the respective jewels. Both images have islands represented. Interesting. This list may or may not be comprehensive. Could the association be something more than circumstantial?
Let me propose a possibility. Image 3 is commonly assigned to Roanoke and image 12 is commonly assigned to New York. What if those assignments are the product of red herrings rather than true city assignments? What if the inverse clock positions of eleven o’clock and one o’clock respectively are intended to convey inverting the assigned cities? What if references to Roanoke Island and NYC respectively are not only red herrings, but serve an alternative purpose? Is there any limit to what is “possible” in someone else’s subjectively crafted puzzle, given the appearance of clear communication and meaningful evidence?
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