cryptogram puzzle post | artwork, games & storytelling by jack fallows

Page (i)

Examine the bark closely and heed what Maya says.
There are words on the bark. Note what Maya describes the thunder cloud doing; pay attention to negatives.
Maya states what must be removed, only two words will remain.
There are eight words on the bark. Maya mentions “that which needs no sun or air” (ROCK, AXE), then “that which cannot fly” and “that which cannot raise its voice to sing a stormy line” (SNAKE, TOAD, FUNGUS, MOTH)—after removing all these, what’s left are BAT and BIRD.

Page (ii)

The clue in the text refers to things in harmony.
From the previous solution, one part provides the first and third words, the other provides second and fourth.
The solution helps describe the number sequences on the next page.
Selecting BAT and BIRD creates the instruction ALTERNATELY DOUBLE AND ADD.

The shapes don’t matter, just the number sequences. The solution is a choice of three.
The previous solution describes the sequences. The three examples appear in a particular order; starting numbers don’t matter.
The correct choice fits after the three examples. Make sure the whole sequence follows the rules.
The three-number sequence “webs” at the top of the page, following the sequence: double, add 1, double, add 2, double, add 3, and so on. At the end of the third sequence, this has reached “add 9”. At the bottom of the page, only the right-hand web continues this sequence satisfactorily all the way through.

The previous solution includes a symbol.
The symbol appears on this page.
The tamarin’s message is a cryptic description of what to pick on the next page.
The central tamarin is the correct choice.

There’s a clue in the text to help with interpreting the previous solution.
Numbers are involved; only one icon must be selected to get to the solution.
Numbers that might appear on a clockface are referred to phonetically—the correct choice and the numbers prior to and after it.
“In time”: clock face, “I sound like I am free”: three, “soon before and after too”: soon be four and after two (i.e. reinforcing three). The symbol at 3 o’clock is the serpent.

The previous solution refers to an element and two times of day.
The lanternflies provide two numbers, but the text provides a clue as to what else you need to do with them.
The text clue is referring to other pages within this chapter; two will be relevant.
The operative words on the prior page are “river” and “moonlight to daybreak.” The first (sunrise) and third (moon) spaces in the second (water) row have SEVEN and THREE lanternflies respectively, referring to pages (vii) and (iii).

The previous solution (including the other information it refers to elsewhere in this chapter) provides a starting position.
Each symbol is made up of one part from the horizontal axis and one part from the vertical, so each symbol points towards another space.
Note the starting letter (in the position indicated by the symbols from the bottoms of the appropriate pages), then go to the next space indicated by that symbol; note that letter; continue until the sequence stops.
Pages (vii) and (iii) have stones at the bottom with a downward-pointing arrow and a horizontal line. On the Fathomstone, this directs you to the second space on the fourth row—the letter O. The symbol there directs you to the fourth space of the third row (F), and so on until the final symbol points to itself. The complete final answer is OF THE BLACK SCHOOL.