Getting Started with The Secret Device ARG

Welcome to the The Secret Device ARG Beginner's Guide! By following along with this walkthrough, you'll be able to get up to speed with what's transpired thus far in the game.

Be sure to check out the Secret Device Youtube Channel for all the latest videos related to this ARG.

Throughout this walkthrough, we make use of hidden spoilers. What is a spoiler ? A spoiler typically consists of critical story or plot information - often in the form of a puzzle solution. Many players don't want to know what's going to happen before they find it for themselves, so we've hidden all the spoilers in this guide. To reveal the spoilers, click your mouse and "highlight" the blank area just to the RIGHT of "(scroll over to read)", as seen throughout this guide. The spoiler is then revealed. Here's an example (scroll over to read): You found the spoiler!

Without further ado, read on to get up to speed with The Secret Device ARG!

How do you play the game?
It's easy! Start off by visiting HETFET.org. HETFET is an acronym for Humans for Ethical Treatment of Fairies Elves and Trolls. HETFET strives to protect the rights of what they dub "mystical creatures."

How did people find this HETFET.org in the first place?
Users were directed to HETFET by a logo that was included at the end of a Hellboy II trailer. The site "went live" on April 19th, 2008. Some players also found HETFET by deciphering a clue that appeared within The Secret Device... more on that below!

Ok, I'm at HETFET.org. Now what?
A great place to start is to register at the HETFET forum . The forums contain a wealth of information about the game. If you ever get lost or stuck, this is a great place to post questions and find answers.

I registered at the HETFET forum, now what should I do?
Explore! There's a lot to see and do at HETFET. The first thing you may notice is the link to The Secret Device . It is a puzzle box of sorts that allows players to input three codes. Input the right combination of numbers, and you'll unlock the device. Currently, there are three codes that have been discovered.

The Secret Device. Got it. Now what?
The Secret Device is basically a fancy combination lock. There are three dials, corresponding to three "codes" or numbers. By rotating the dials, you can change the numbers. The first lock is self-cracking, meaning you don't need any outside information to unlock it. If you turn the dials, you'll notice that the red lights on the perimeter of the Secret Device will light up when a certain number is dialed in. Continue this process until all three red lights are lit up. If you're having trouble, the first code is (scroll over to read): 07 11 08 (The release date of Hellboy II)

You've just unlocked Code #1! The message contains some glowing letters. If you string these letters together, you get these two addresses (scroll over to read): lexilloyd.com and hetfet.org.

Ok, I'm at lexilloyd.com. Seems to be some girl's blog. What is the significance of this?
Be sure to watch all of Lexi's video blogs, or "vlogs." There is some useful information to be found within. Be sure to also check out her youtube channel .

Watched them. I don't know what to do next!
Look for a clue! Did you notice any numbers in her video blogs? Take a closer look at this one . That's right, the code is (scroll over to reveal): 12-23-44, a mashup of the numbers on Mr. Omatta's collar. These numbers also represent Hellboy's birthday (December 23rd, 1944). Now that you have the second code, go back to The Secret Device and plug in those numbers!

I plugged in the new numbers into The Secret Device, and I got a new message. Do the glowing letters in the message have significance?
Of course! The letters spell out (scroll over to reveal): Panatrog.org This is another website of another organization. Not much is known about it at this time.

I'm at the new site, but I don't know the passwords!
Savvy players have determined that the password consists of three fields. The first field requires 4 digits, the second field 9 digits, and the third field 7 digits.

Ok, so what's the password?
Once you get caught up on the latest Lexi vlogs, you might find some useful information for cracking Panatrog..

What's next?
There have been some videos released that contain the third code. These videos were released by a mysterious youtube poster named asmarmyyeti. Asmarmyyeti posted the first video as a video response to one of Lexi's vlogs. Be sure to look at asmarmyyeti's videos. A third clue is hidden inside one of them.

I watched the videos, but I still can't find the code.
Did you pay special attention to the overlay on the surveillance video? Remember, you're looking for a string of three numbers to input into The Secret Device. If you're still having trouble (scroll over to reveal): the code is 1-89-7, a mashup of the numbers 7-1-89, the date stamp on the surveillance video.

Ok, I entered the code and saw a strange creature with lots of text and sound effects. What's the significance of this?
The significance of the cave berserker is not known at this time, but you can see the Panatrog logo behind the creature. Maybe Panatrog has something to do with this?

I can't figure out the code for the fourth lock!
Did you watch Lexi's vlog about tattoos? Watch it again and look for something that could be a code. Did you catch it?

No! I must have missed it!

Did you notice the photograph Lexi holds up of her dad? Take a close look at the letter / number combination on the bottom of the photograph. Of course, the Secret Device doesn't allow you to enter letters, so maybe there's a way to convert the letters into numbers? If you are still having trouble figuring out the answer, scroll over to reveal the answer: the photograph has "SE-514" written on it. By using a substitution cipher where A=1, B=2, C=3, etc., we realize that S=19 and E=5. So the code is 19-55-14. Go plug in the number to The Secret Device!

Ok, I entered code #4 and saw another one of those strange creatures with the text and the sound effects. I still don't know what these are!

Again, the significance of these creatures is not known at this time.

But how do I access the Panatrog site?

Be sure to look at Lexi's vlogs, especially this one.  Be sure to follow along with Lexi's "riddle."

I couldn't follow along with the riddle.

The answer to the riddle is (scroll over to reveal): grey elephants Denmark

Ok, but what do I do with this answer?

Do you remember where there was a password that required three words?  That's right, go to (scroll over to reveal): Panatrog and enter "grey" "elephants" and "Denmark" in the password fields.  You've just unlocked Panatrog!

What can I do inside this site?

Look around!  Be sure to look at all the documents and videos.  There is a clue lurking around somewhere.

I can't find the clue!

Did you look at the documents?  The clue is inside one of them (scroll over to reveal): The 5th code is 23-2-6, the numbers visible in the "Creature" document.  Now go input this code into the Secret Device!

Ok, now what?
Be sure to read all the articles at HETFET.org, there is some interesting info that broadens the universe of this ARG. To access all the articles to date, click on the "News" button at the top of the page.

I'm up to speed on the HETFET articles. What now?
Recently, players who signed up at the HETFET forums were emailed clues. Two limericks were sent, one pointing to the word "Dutch" and the other pointing to the word "Felines." Savvy players figured out that "DutchFelines" was the user name of a youtube poster. DutchFelines posted a strange video with a brief glimpse of a creature, and what appears to be some sort of paramilitary outfit. Not much is known about either the video or DutchFelines at this time.

I'm having trouble figuring out the 6th code.
Be sure to read the HETFET EXPOSES AUGUSTINE TROLL ABUSE article.  The sixth code is hidden within.

I read the article, but I didn't find the code. 

Now that you know Augustine is under investigation, maybe you should check out the Uthyntrol page again.  Be sure to pay attention to the active ingredient . . . Did you figure it out?  If not, here's the 6th code (scroll over to reveal):  Silver Nitrate = AgNO3.  By turning the elements in the molecule into numbers (using the Periodic Table of the Elements), you find that Ag (silver) = 47, N (nitrogen) = 7, and O (oxygen) = 8 x 3 (for the three atoms of Oxygen in the molecule) = 24.  So the code is 47, 7, 24.

Ok, now what about that 7th code?
Have you taken a look at the HETFET gallery lately?  Because now would be a good time to do so.  See any pictures that look different than the others?  The code for lock #7 is hidden inside two pictures in the HETFET gallery.  If you're lost, here's how you find the code (scroll over to reveal):  There are numbers hidden in each of two photographs submitted by Elizabeth Moora.  Each photo has a picture of a stenciled gearway on a wall.  The two numbers are 101 and 037.  By arranging these two numbers vertically and placing them next to each other, you end up with:
1  0
0  3
1  7
The code for lock #7 is 10, 3, 17.

On to code #8!  Where is it?
Have you been keeping tabs on Dutchfelines' youtube channel?  The 8th code is hidden within one of the videos.  If you can't find it, here's the answer (scroll over to reveal):  Watch the SPOT video, and pay attention around the 1:11 mark.  A quick flash reveals "H21525."  By turning the "H" into a number following the A=1, B=2, C=3 formula, you end up with 82-15-25.  This is the 8th code. 

What's the deal with the Lovecraftian monster thing I see when I enter the 8th code?
It appears to be another one of those creature files.  Did you notice anything else?  How about those flashing runes in the bottom right corner of the screen?  Maybe if you string those runes together, they have some significance . . .

I can't figure out what those runes mean!
Once deciphered, the runes spell out (scroll over to reveal answer):  QUESTSHAUN.  If you look up this name on youtube, you'll find an old black and white video of the troll market.

Where do I go from here?
Congratulations, you are caught up! The fun part now is seeing what comes next. Keep an eye on HETFET, Lexi, Panatrog, as well as the anonymous youtube posters DutchFelines and Asmarmyyeti. Additionally, if you think you've found a clue, share it with the community! The forums are the lifeblood of an ARG, as thousands of players can solve a mystery much faster than any one player.  And if you're ever stuck or confused about what to do next, the forum can be a great place to get a clue or share any ideas you might have.

Brainstorm, think, and explore!