Briefing
Greetings, Special Agent.
You haven’t been on any treasure hunts recently, have you? Let’s change that. We recently came into possession of an ancient document, written in what appears Latin. Our sources tell us that it holds the location of the “Cor Aquilae”, also known as The Eagles Heart. This ancient artifact holds the blood of Decimus Claudius Lucidus, one of the early founders of the Ambulatores Umbrarum, these days known as The Shadow Walkers.
This shady organization, pardon the pun, is responsible for decimating our recent efforts of restoring the Tiberian Order to her full strength. Their personal vendetta against us, has seen many of our operatives and agents slain across the globe. The Shadow Walkers are an organization of mostly family members. They operate in much the same way the Italian mafia did in the 60s. To this day, all of their members are closely related.
Anyway, to dispatch this inbreeding cult of ancient gangsters, we’ve devised quite the plan.
It’s imperative that we find this artifact and its location. We will use the blood of Decimus to create a genetic profile of the entire family. Once complete, we’ll have our lab create a virus that only kills members of this family. We will find their whereabouts and unleash the virus, killing all of their family members. Since they meet frequently, but never all together, the virus will have a long delay, ensuring they infect all the other rats as well. Don’t worry, it won’t be entirely painless. After all the suffering these people have caused over the centuries, a little payback is the least we can do.
Your assignment is clear: find the location of the Cor Aquilae, or Eagles Heart, that holds the blood of Decimus Claudius Lucidus.
The information we have so far, tells us that Decimus frequently traveled the roads to Rome, sticking mostly to what is now Italy. His life lasted from 152 to 87 BC. Trading secrets, stolen goods and slaves whenever he had the opportunity. This should give you an idea in what locations to look. Even though the Roman empire wasn’t small, knowing it’s roads and Decimus mostly staying in Italy, might narrow the scope. Our source close to the family also provided us a photo copy of the ancient document, as well as an aerial photograph. Believed to be taken during the early 1940s, it’s supposedly of the building that holds the artifact.
As always, Special Agent, the contract is yours, if you choose to accept.
Materials
Answer Instruction
Use the answer to unlock the flagfile, this will reward you with your Contract Card.
The answer is as listed with its official name on Google Maps.
Example answer and format: puerto-de-cádiz
Flagfile
Be advised, the flagfile is an encrypted ZIP. Make sure your OS supports the ZIP format. Ensure the password contains no hidden characters or formatting, paste in Notepad first if the password doesn’t seem to work.
PS: Don’t forget to claim your Coins and XP, by posting your card in the #card-brag channel in Discord.
Official Write-up
Provided here is the official write-up, it does contain the answer. Use this if you’re stuck, or want to verify if you got the answer correct.
⚠️ SPOILER: Official Write-up
The Road to Rome
This CTF challenge revolves around locating an ancient artifact called the “Cor Aquilae” (The Eagle’s Heart) containing the blood of Decimus Claudius Lucidus, a founder of the Ambulatores Umbrarum (Shadow Walkers). The challenge provides two main paths to the solution, making it accessible to different solving approaches.
Available Materials
- An aerial photograph (appears to be from the 1940s)
- A Latin riddle with its English translation
- Historical context about Decimus Claudius Lucidus (152-87 BC)
- Information about his travels on Roman roads in Italy
Solution Paths
Path 1: Geolocation
The primary solving path involves analyzing the provided aerial photograph of Castello di Brescia. Key features to note:
- The distinctive fortress layout
- The geographical positioning on elevated ground
- The architectural style typical of Italian fortifications
For geolocation, investigators should:
- Focus on major Italian cities along ancient Roman roads
- Look for elevated fortifications
- Compare modern satellite imagery with the provided historical photo
- Pay special attention to fortresses in northern Italy, as this was a crucial region for Roman trade routes
Path 2: Riddle Analysis
The provided riddle contains several key clues pointing to Castello di Brescia:
High atop the earth's embrace,
A watchful eye holds steadfast grace.
Once a haven for those who'd defy,
Where ten fleeting suns lit freedom's cry.- References the fortress’s elevated position
- Alludes to its role as a defensive structure
- “Ten fleeting suns” likely refers to the Ten Days of Brescia uprising
Beneath the stone, a shadowed trail,
Where secrets whispered, plans set sail.
A keeper of arms both sharp and grand,
Its steel echoes a soldier's stand.- References the underground passages beneath the castle
- Mentions its historical use as an armory
Its crest bore pride of a lion's might,
A silent roar, a guardian's sight.- Direct reference to the Venetian Lion, a key symbol associated with the fortress
- Brescia was under Venetian rule, and the lion was their symbol
Historical Context
The challenge leverages several historical elements:
- Roman trade routes through Italy
- The strategic importance of Brescia in Roman times
- The fortress’s role in various historical events
- The Ten Days of Brescia uprising
- Venetian influence in the region
Submitting the Answer
The answer must be submitted in the exact format as shown on Google Maps:
- Correct format: castello-di-brescia
- All lowercase
- Hyphens between words
- No special characters or spaces
Tips for Solvers
- Start with the geolocation approach as it’s the most straightforward
- Cross-reference historical events mentioned in the riddle
- Pay attention to architectural features in the aerial photo
- Consider the historical time period (152-87 BC) when analyzing potential locations
- Focus on locations that would have been strategically important during Roman times
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Be careful with the answer format – it must exactly match the Google Maps listing
Don’t focus exclusively on Rome itself; the challenge mentions “roads to Rome”
Don’t overlook the importance of the fortress’s elevation
Creator(s): Frank Diepmaat