Intro

RETURN REFUSED
BRIEFING

FIND THE 13

Thirteen badges. Many paths. The trail runs through three territories — the scraplines of the Few, the filing halls of the Accord, and the roots of Crownroot. Some clues are obvious. Others were never meant to be found.

How it works

  • Find and enter 13 codes in the format WORD-1234 in the vault.
  • Codes are hidden across this site, YouTube, and Instagram — sometimes in images, audio, or a single frame.
  • Your progress is saved in your browser (local storage). If you switch devices, your progress won’t come with you.
ACT I — THE FEW
Machines built from grief and stolen parts. Doors 1–4.
ACT II — THE ACCORD
Everything recorded. Everything retained. Doors 5–8.
ACT III — CROWNROOT
The roots remember what you bring them. Doors 9–13.

Ground rules

  • Bring a desktop if you can. A phone will get you through most doors — one of them will refuse you.
  • Write things down. You never know what will matter later.
  • Team up if you want — share the journey, not the answers.
  • No time limits. Start anytime. Take breaks. Come back fresh.
Prize: There will be a reward for the first person to crack the full hunt. When you finish, you’ll unlock a private thank-you page with instructions.
Helpful tips (no spoilers)
  • Right-click > “Open image in new tab” to inspect filenames and alt text.
  • Chapters on YouTube can hide acrostics. Instagram captions can hide ciphers.
  • Sometimes the browser tab, headers, or “UI-looking” bits are part of the game.
Keyboard tip (optional)
Some pages listen for a classic pattern. If your fingers remember an old cheat, try this on the Hunt page:
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A ↵
(If nothing happens, you’re probably not far enough yet — or you didn’t nail the timing.)

Be curious. Be kind. Have fun.