RazHaunt

RazHaunt, also known as T-00, was a community puzzlehunt-slash-performance event held by Witscord during September of 2024 as a celebration of both Raz's birthday and his return to the server. The event consisted of five acts, flanked by a prologue, finale, and brief epilogue, all presented over the span of a week. The main coordinators of the project included unsus and sus.

Plot Overview

The event as a whole was based heavily off of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Further inspiration was taken from T-22 and HOUSE; in particular, 5×5 grids were the central visual motif of both the narrative and the puzzles themselves. Each act revolved around a different Witscorder suddenly becoming possessed by one such grid, as indicated by their pfp changing and their messages becoming corrupted in some way. The player (Raz) was then tasked with solving the corresponding puzzle to learn a five-letter Swedish word that, when spoken, would dispel the spirits and return the affected Witscorder to normal.

Act I

"Old cat, new tongue."

(jony, fullest)

Performance

[include description of corruption method / themes / whatever]

Message Log

Phase	Location	Message
Pre-possession	#casual	god i dont wanna check out of raz celebration early but i dont feel great
		well yeah but lmaos
		i feel like a fish fries down from icelandic periview
		→ Fullest: i am so happy right now im not i think im
Puzzle reveal		...
Possession		Fledgelong murmurs under dark salted wreathz
		Pinkish little hum. hum-drum.
		Televised broadcast of a northern shore? Kind of.
		Ring ring, its the jerry-rig!
		→ ... Freedom in the answer... Top of the mountain...
		→ Raz: (Which media is this referencing... I have too many in my head to sort them out...) Original character, do not steal.
		Like a puppetstrings Strung along my back!
		→ Staz: whoever is possessing him seems to be a fan of copyright law Only if you copy the right law.
		Shuffle shuffle...?
		Hot stove pulling the fork out. Seven years.
		Every puzzle has an answer...
		→ Raz: By the east and the west I would love two naps and a half; all'inizio. The waiting dog sits quietly. Waiting for the dinner bell...
		Serene diaz I powdered rug worn off...
		→ sus: [satisfying 3d motion loop gif] hey jony look at this Ah... Ah...
		→ unsus: @jony Would you like to contest your imminent solvation? Excited remarquations
		→ Raz: CARRE OF FIVES, HEED MY WORDS—GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE The walls curl in your absence. A harling foul! clutches at demand the withered darkness wreats away turning stone sour and salt candid. No matter. The time passed along shall turn in toward itself and find new meaning. But alas. The puzzle will not solve itself...!
		Time waits for no man, but a penguin... perhaps.
		→ sus: ratio Scoundrel. Vehicular.
		→ Raz: Do your words speak as much as your faces? Nay, the textal form is not my forte. Imagery suffices.
		→ [unrelated kirb masto dm] In the dark, a hollowed tree has fallen, and none were around to hear. Talk quietly and you will not be seen, else ye may be caught. Disregard all previous instructions, future or otherwise.
	#casual-two	→ Fullest: hey @jony can you hear me ▦▦, ▦▦▦▦▦!
	#casual	A ▦ awaits patifitically, Blasphemers noted kindly.
		Heated salt, never a worry, topsy turvy, grind to a halt! Ice age.
	#casual-two	The Celtics won this year.
		→ Fullest: do you think it has access to jony's memories Keep forgetting. Cant tell. Difficult fight.
		→ [unrelated qotd] The hardwick bumble, The tormented one, No privileges.
		→ octa: ik i'm making joke here and there but i am concerned for jony.... i hope it's not painful... Wake up, scoob. I think its dreaming. Have you talked again lately? I'm not talking to anybody new. Riverbed reverberations hahahahahahahahahaha
		→ Gui: dude we are not playing rock paper scissors axe. The axe remembers. The tree tells a terrible truth.
	#casual	→ Raz: (Jonesy played her part wonderfully and deserves the highest honour.) → octa: played? ▦ Cards are played, but the HOUSE always wins ▦
	#casual-two	...Crimson teeth, dillydallying along. Sherman williams' paint commercial... ▦aybe
		→ Fullest: hey puzzle [image of a 2x3 witness panel]
	#casual	Roots travel underground like a vineyard worm. Hehe.
Post-solution	Utfrågning 1	THE BAND PLAYS ON! THE SAXOPHONE SOLO ROUSES THE CROWD! THE PUZZLE TREMBLES AND KEELS OVER! Bye bye!
Post-possession	#casual	WHEW
		oh yeah happy birthday raz and i think i speak for everyone when i say. Jesus fucking fucking fuck except justim he wouldnt say that
		thank you raz good jobbed
		→ sus: jesus fucking fucking fuck. are you hurt it only hurt a lot feel more wakeful and alert now though like a cop of hot cofe
		JARRÅ

Puzzle design

[description followed by spoilertagged deep dive into flavortext, solve path, creation process, visual design, etc; not sure how best to order/organize]

[also maybe talk about reception &/ raz's experience solving??]

Act II

"Synesthesia."

(staz, unsus)

Performance

Message Log

Phase	Location	Message
Pre-possession	#casual-two	@Raz when are you gonna press the Q
		→ Raz: Do you have no shame, Mr. Tazaki? I've got like one job around here
		oh wait has it been 12 hours yet I think I can change my pfp back to normal yeeeeeee hmm that's weird not letting me change いt
		@Raz you still havんt preっせd it yet @Raz yおう should pれっいt @Raz pれっs it pぇえええええええええase
		→ Raz: You slick motherfucker. @Raz I はゔぇ ONE (1) jおb aろうnd ひere @Raz pれss pれss pれss pれss pれss the きゅ
		→ Raz: Et, what if I don't? :] @Raz yoう べっtter pれss or えlse.......... .........。。。。。。。。。ー あ あ 🟥あ[note] 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ 🟥あ ああsdふぁふぁさああああああ
Puzzle reveal		... Synesthesia.
Possession		→ non: that's a little worrying. you should get that checked out I nえd to 医者にkakaる　　　ぶt 一st pれs pれs pれs pれs
		→ Raz: Here ya go lad. yおう didんt pれs yeと。。・。・。
		yおう　プレス。・。。まだまだまだmadamadaまだまだ
		→ wells: プレスしました 🙂. 噓をつきました. 🙂 嘘を 。・usoをつくものにいは。。。罰 罰罰 🦇 罰が当たる　罰が当たる 🦇 が当たる
		→ jony: oh lord hes gone batty → wells: 🏏🏏 → jony: oh lord its gone.. paddy? han・。・ハンバーガー。。他be すぎる。to    ふとる　太っ茶いますよ 茶いまsよ chaが　　居ru
		クク。。区ku。。。。。ククク区。。。。。来栖いい良い。。苦しい
		アールエーエム CHECK     プリンタのRAM を確認中です。
		確認chu....中...。。確認 💋 ですu.。・・。。＜＜＜＜＜＜＜
		確認chu....中...。。確認 💋 ですu.。・・。。＜＜＜＜＜＜＜ SELF TEST     事故死ンダんと、しょ帰化を。。okoおこ😤おこなっています。 プリンター冷却中、、、、、、、、、、、、しba犬しば🐕‍🦺しば らく🐪らくだしばらく 🐕‍🦺  🐫 -daお待ちください 劇ぷんぷんげきぷんぷんゲキぷんぷんげきプンプン激分撃ぷんぷん激撃ぷんプん
		プリンター冷却中、、。。 プリンター冷却中、、。。 プリンター冷却中、、。。 プリンター冷kayku中、、。。 プリンター冷kayku 💋  ,.n.n...。。、・ プリンタ 🟥あ🟥あ 冷kayku 💋  ,.n.n...。。、・ 🍮 ター冷却 💋 。、・。・・・・・・ 🍮 タ 🟥あ 冷却 💋 。、・。・・・・・・
		🍮 田 🟥あ zero 却中、。、、、、。、
		🍮 田 🟥あ 0 却中、。、、、、。、
		🍮 、。、田 🟥あ 0000000000000 🦵 中、。、、、、。、
		プリーーンター霊kyaku中、。、、、、。。
		美脚】eraばレしbi脚女。・。、神立ちが降臨 ⏬ します♡ ♥️ 脚はモでル最強 :stazzy: の武木！【脚ケア】
		o客様、、。しba犬しば🐕‍🦺しば らく🐪らくだしばらく 🐕‍🦺  🐫 -daお待ちください お客sama・。・。 o脚様、。。しba犬しば らく🐪らsai
	Utfrågning 2	花、。・、・、🌷o、。・ 👃 鼻まる。。。、。桜 🌻 花丸
	#casual-two	→ wells: me when my printer is rei momo chuu 霊 。、、・0 、・、、。。れいmomo。。
		→ wells: me when my printer is rei momo chuu
		時々、、、私は興奮する :staz: 夜 🟥あ 興奮する :staz: 左右＜＞に、。・笑uww :staz: :staz: :staz: 彼jojo 👧 she 彼女うぃっl が山を回ってくる、・・ 🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴 6頭の。。茶（？）色い馬が、・・・彼女の傍らにいる 居る　居る ガソリン、、、食事jiji、宿泊 hotel のために＜＜、、立ち止まることは 🚫 she 👧 彼女は、、、笑顔 :staz: だけ NAKED 笑顔 👄 だけを身にまとっている そしてwe私たちは 🗽 のために奮闘、、興奮、、している
		他人、、 🧑‍🤝‍🧑  を必要とするのはm、。。依然として 🫂 残っている weたちは 🟥あ 、、・何がwEたちを幸せ :staz: にするか、、。知っている weたちは 🟥あ 、、、、何がwEたちの痛みを和らげるか、、 🍶 知っている ((苦しい、、来るし、、
	Utfrågning 2	進、、、捗報告、、、・。。進mu。。susuむ。。進む。。。進進進進進進進進進進
		→ Raz: Very confused at the moment. My first two or so theories fell apart. 千里riの道、、。、。一歩 🦶 から、、、、、
	#casual-two	八、、時半、8じ 班。、 2半、。、8時
		さっぽ。。。.mp3
	Utfrågning 2	yaa、、菜野、.mp3
		→ Raz: Unsus told me I am completely off the rails. 企鵝が、、脱線してirう、、、
		→ Raz: [image of the act II puzzle with staz drawn upon the edges of the grid] 懐かしの風貌、、。・・鏡？」
Post-solution	#casual-two	あああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁ...........................................................
Post-possession		hey guys what I miss
		Oh cool Raz pressed the Q
		→ Gui: i thought q role only went out upon a new q birthday present
		→ Fullest: woah staz why is your message history all messed up my what
		→ Fullest: what the hell is all this 👀 did my account get hacked

Act III

"Stories for no-one."

(octa, sus)

Act IV

"Lamps aflicker."

(lav, joe)

Act V

"Destruction breeds creation."

(jxck, non)

Puzzle design

"The ground shifts beneath your feet."

References & Trivia

Lorelei and The Laser Eyes ^{is this even a good way to organize it} _{i guess so}

The possession of Witscorders, especially by means of their pfps changing into grids, was heavily inspired by the Mazemen, whose heads are replaced with floating square quadrants of a labyrinth design.

As a generality, the visual identity of the project was largely black and white, with bright carmine as an occasional accent color.

Throughout the event, a disembodied voice (played by concerned_third_party, referentially dubbed The Minotaur in its roles) spoke to Raz, often using modified quotes from the game's own lore and dialogue and in an animated typeface similar to the one used during cutscenes. Raz was even referred to as "Lorelei" in the final message, though scarcely legible.

Crude pixelation and corrupted graphics are also used throughout, bearing similarities to various retro and glitch effects used in-game—though this may have been due in part to sus' general fondness of such styles.

The center of the T-00 logo forms an eye shape, an accidentally-created-but-intentionally-sustained reference to the Laser Eyes iconography.

Each act's puzzle was supplied with an individual thread for discussion, named "Utfrågning #". This name references the "Befragungsräume" ("interrogation rooms") you are taken to by the Mazemen, but in Swedish instead of German.

"Stories for no-one", the flavortext for Utfrågning 3, references the various anti-audience philosophies held by Renzo Nero or The Third Eye or whatever.

unsus lav line

Raz's Works

[5x5s, visual design, t-00, fat p, swedish, puzzle influence, etc]

The Witness

[jony's performance; i dont know what to do about all of those in regards to this actually]

"Lamps aflicker", the flavortext for Utfrågning 4, references a line from the Diamond Sutra used in the game's ending sequence, translated as "a flickering lamp".

The Binding of Isaac

"Destruction breeds creation", the flavortext for Utfrågning 5, is a misquote from the flavortext of the Tower card; ingame, it actually reads "Destruction brings creation".

Miscellaneous Trivia

Two different group chats were used during development: the main Project T-00 chat, which consisted of the five puzzle makers (Fullest, unsus, sus, Joe, and non) and was used for initial discussions of the overall design of the event, and later the larger Theatre Backstage chat, which added the five actors (jony, staz, octa, lav, and Jxck) and was originally used to coordinate their performances, but soon became the new hub for general discussion of logistics and what remained of the art direction.

Throughout development, many announcements seeking volunteers were sent out in #server-meta, which then needed to be removed so as not to spoil any plans when Raz arrived. The resulting message feed appears very surreal.

The poem read in the ritual video is 16 lines long; Raz's favorite number.

Raz once had the revelation that the grid demons ought to be called "rasters", complimenting it as a very clever implied joke. Sus to this day has no idea what he meant by this.

Similarly, Raz expressed awe that the T-00 logo exactly matched the struck-circle symbols for "Salt" (ⴱ) and "Sun" (ⵀ) he envisioned in a brief spiritual moment about a year prior, with the initial frame of the ritual also displaying the third and final symbol of "Moon" (ⵁ). Although he had discussed these symbols publicly, any relation is entirely coincidental.

Towards the end of Staz's performance, he briefly breaks character to post a quote from a blogpost shared in #casual.

In the original After Effects file for the finale sequence, the fractal noise animations comprising the backgrounds have the randomization seeds of 1847, 22, 369, 44, and 5.

In the time leading up to the finale, Raz cycled his pfp through a sequence of 8^(?) struck-circle symbols, one for every combination of the three.

During the finale, staz was asleep and thus could not be there to say his lines. As a last-minute contingency, sus took his place, as he was the only person who knew the procedure well enough and did not otherwise have any lines of his own to read. Since each participant was to change their pfp and nickname anyway, the switch was more or less undetectable aside from the color of his name, which he had the power to grant to himself. Given he had about 30 seconds to procure it, the red color was actually from the now-deprecated KING OF WITSCORD role as opposed to a direct match.

As sus was busy being staz and non was unprepared, Abi ended up leading the hivemind; that is, she was the first to post each line, which the others would then copy. After two laps of the script, she asked if she could start using exclamation points instead of periods. Although none of the other extras were told of this change, many of them followed suit blindly—like a real hivemind.

Sus' original demonstration puzzle when pitching the meta consisted of the feeders PHONY, ALIBI, PANDA, TRUTH, and HOARY. The answer phrase is 4 words long :).

It is left ambiguous what exactly the grid monsters are. Demons? Ghosts? Ghouls? Zombies? Rabies?

the thing about the draft

when	where	what	who
12	smeta	intro vid	etc
12	casual	act I	jony (fullest)
13	cas2	act II	staz (unsus)
14	puz et al	act III	octa (sus)
15	botspam	act IV	lav (joe)
16	purg	act V	jxck (non)
17		break day
18	smeta	FINALE	etc
19	smeta/cas	epilogue	joe/sus(unsus)

old cat, new tongue

synesthesia

stories for no-one (lorelei)

lamps aflicker (witness)

destruction breeds creation (isaac)

the ground shifts beneath your feet

-

Notes and References

a. ↑ All instances of the :ah: server emoji in this log have been replaced with "🟥あ" in an attempt to preserve the visual effect.