Cipher Letters
Last updated 2026-07-18
The Cipher Letters are a set of six interactable notes found in the Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering Region, Fontaine. They can only be read while operating an Energy Transfer Terminal.
Interacting with all of them gives the Wonders of the World achievement The Calendar of the Future Is Longer Than the Diary of the Past.
According to Cipher Letter (II), this system was invented by Monsieur Butor, a former associate of the Fontaine Research Institute.
Locations
- Cipher Letter (I)
Cipher Letter (I) location
Cipher Letter (I) location context
- Cipher Letter (II)
Cipher Letter (II) location
Cipher Letter (II) location context
- Cipher Letter (III)
Cipher Letter (III) location
Cipher Letter (III) location context
- Cipher Letter (IV)
Cipher Letter (IV) location
Cipher Letter (IV) location context
- Cipher Letter (V)
Cipher Letter (V) location
Cipher Letter (V) location context
- Cipher Letter (VI)
Cipher Letter (VI) location
Cipher Letter (VI) location context
Dialogue
Cipher Letter (I)
- This is a test text for cipher letters.
- I haven't thought of any suitable scenarios where this tech can be applied.
- Considering that the energy transfer terminals and their receiving terminals aren't widespread in Fontaine, the use of encrypted images will be limited to within the Fontaine Research Institute.
- Teilhard just loves coming up with such useless inventions. I've already warned him not to vandalize the place.
- The encrypted images use a special paint that requires an equally special solvent to remove. The formula for the solvent needed to remove the encrypted messages is recorded below.
- (The text below has been removed.)
Cipher Letter (II)
- This is a test text for cipher letters.
- This is not a test text for cipher letters.
- Huh, looks like I can add and remove text.
- Butor's invention is interesting indeed, and not a useless one. Unfortunately, there are too many blockheads in the Institute now. Apart from a few intriguing individuals, the rest of them only know how to follow what's tried and tested.
- These few exceptions are buried in their own fascinating experiments, and care little for others' projects.
- But I believe that one day, cipher letters will be applicable in our lives. Just like my system-wide prototype, which has tons of development potential!
Cipher Letter (III)
- None of those pompous geezers will ever find this place, but I'm sure Maillardet will!
- Strange things happened in succession at my previous presentation: my system-wide prototype somehow got destroyed, along with a batch of valuable Plaustrite Shards...
- Most frustrating of all, was that this happened when the artificed dancers were giving their curtain call! My prototype exploded in a shower of fireworks, but the audience thought it was all part of the performance, and broke out in rapturous applause...
- Maillardet's smile was brighter than usual too... Ugh, I can't stand it. Although he was present the whole time, but I'm sure that my prototype breaking down had something to do with him. I just haven't found the evidence to prove it.
- But I'm no longer concerned about the evidence now. I've decided to start from scratch, and create a clockwork meka that is ten times— no, a hundred times better than his artificed dancer. A clockwork meka that would impress even him.
- And when the time comes, everyone will have to admit that traditional clockwork meka still have a place in the Institute...
Cipher Letter (IV)
- Teilhard scribbled cipher letters all over the place... Why am I not surprised? He even erased the formula for the purifying solvent Butor left behind.
- Thanks to him, all of our project funding requests have been rejected. Guess it's time to kiss my bright future goodbye.
- Not only is there no place for traditional clockwork meka research in the Fontaine Research Institute, there's no place for me as well.
- I probably should try to secure a job at the Fortress of Meropide — I'm sure they need engineers there.
- ...I'm just kidding, there's no way I'm going there. I heard there aren't even windows there.
- I've decided to do something out of the goodness of my heart.
- Although Butor is no longer here, I've recreated the formula for the purifying solvent based on the information he left behind.
- I'll record the formula here, so anyone who sees this is able to use it to create the solvent, and erase the nonsense that Teilhard wrote.
- The formula is as follows:
- (The text below has been removed.)
Cipher Letter (V)
- All that once stood fast has been destroyed. The stone walls are as weak as flesh and blood.
- The time has come for me to leave, and I shall not return.
- But I won't give up. I see the path leading towards my future. I will endeavor towards it, even if it's a path of solitude.
Cipher Letter (VI)
- Life is like a dark comedy, and the wise always take orders from fools...
- I am but an amateur actor who is no longer able to play a part on the stage anymore.
- Cipher letters are a useless invention, just like Initial Skill Sample No. 2.
Trivia
- The Cipher Letters were written by different characters:
- Cipher Letter (I) was likely written by Butor; he was Teilhard's superior and the inventor of Cipher Letters.
- Cipher Letters (II) and (III) were likely written by Teilhard, based on the remarks about his character in Cipher Letters (I) and (IV). In the World Quest Scenes from Life in Meropide: Every Debt has a Creditor in Series Scenes from Life in Meropide, Clynes also states that he "once had a friend who was as frank as [the Traveler]," and that friend "got into quite a bit of trouble because of it."
- Cipher Letters (IV) and (VI) were likely written by Clynes: Clynes ultimately ended up going to the Fortress of Meropide to work as an engineer like the author of Cipher Letter (IV) jokingly contemplated, and his NPC idle quote is "Life is like a dark comedy," which are the starting words in Cipher Letter (VI).
- Cipher Letter (V) may have been written by Clynes, or it may have been written by the third member of their group who was fired from the Fontaine Research Institute at some point. The letter was likely written in the aftermath of the Arkhium explosion which killed Teilhard,[1] making it impossible for him to be the author.
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Cipher Letter | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 密图函 | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 密圖函 | |
| Japanese | 暗号図 Angouzu[!] | |
| Korean | 그림 암호 편지 Geurim Amho Pyeonji | Picture Cipher Letter |
| Spanish | Mensaje codificado | Coded Message |
| French | Image cryptée | Encrypted Image |
| Russian | Шифрограмма Shifrogramma | Cryptogram |
| Thai | ภาพเข้ารหัส | |
| Vietnamese | Mật Thư | |
| German | Geheimes Diagrammzeichen | Secret Diagram Sign |
| Indonesian | Gambar Tebakan Terenkripsi | Encrypted Guessing Picture |
| Portuguese | Imagem de Enigma Criptografado | |
| Turkish | Şifreli Mektup | |
| Italian | Lettera in codice | Code Letter |
Change History
Released in Version 4.1
References
- ↑ World Quest, Scenes from Life in Meropide: Scenes from Life in Meropide: Memories