Prophecy 16

Key

The key is as follows:

#	=	a	$	=	d	@	=	e	!	=	h
^	=	i	%	=	l	&	=	n	*	=	s

Using this key allows the main message to be deciphered. The remaining bits, consisting of Roman numerals and numbers, can be deciphered using a technique similar to that used to decode Prophecy 12 and Prophecy 13. Continue reading...

Translation and Hidden Message

When the key is used to decode the prophecy, this message is revealed:

There's every good reason for letting you go.

I:3:iii, iv.

I could tell from the minute I woke up.

II: 3:i, iii. IV: 8:ii, iii, iv.

They wanted me here just to show you my face.

II:5:i. II:6:iii, iv, v.

Life is one big stage, and it's all the rage.

IV:3:i, ii. IV:4:ii, iii.

She sits beside her, stares out across the waves.

III:3: i, ii. IV:3:iv. IV:6:iv.

All of these sentences are song lyrics, and they can be found in the following episodes: "Hothead," "Stray," "Lineage," "Fever," and "Obsession. Arrange the symbols of the key in the order in which they appear on a standard keyboard (!@#$%^&*) and "HEADLINS" is revealed. This is the key to deciphering the confusing Roman numeral and number combinations between the coded lines.

Examine the headlines of the Ledger articles appearing after the five aforementioned episodes. The first number (uppercase Roman numeral) indicates which headline to use, the second (standard number) indicates which word to use, and the third (lowercase Roman numeral) indicates which letter to use. By doing this,

I:3:iii, iv	becomes	NO
II:3:i, iii	becomes	FN
IV:8:ii, iii, iv	becomes	OUS
II:5:i	becomes	H
II:6:iii, iv, v	becomes	ALL
IV:3:i, ii	becomes	BE
IV:4:ii, iii	becomes	RE
III:3:i, ii	becomes	BO
IV:3:iv	becomes	R
IV:6:iv	becomes	N

The complete message reads NOFNOUSHALLBEREBORN. There was a mistake in the code, though. I emailed the WB and asked if they meant to have the second part read II:5:i, iii instead of II:3:i, iii. They did, and they rewarded me generously for my proofreading in my very own shout-out! When this substitution is made, the complete message reads NOWYOUSHALLBEREBORN... Now you shall be reborn. Those of us who saw "Covenant," Season 3's finale, saw the season end with a naked Clark (hubba hubba) curled into a fetal position somewhere inside the mysterious fissure of the caves...

Interpretation

There's every good reason for letting you go.

These are lyrics from Third Eye Blind's "Never Let You Go," which was played in "Hothead."

I could tell from the minute I woke up.

These are lyrics from Phantom Planet's "Lonely Day," which was played in "Stray."

They wanted me here just to show you my face.

These are lyrics from Morcheeba's "Otherwise," which was played in "Lineage."

Life is one big stage, and it's all the rage.

These are lyrics from Steadman's "Wave Goodbye," which was played in "Fever."

She sits beside her, stares out across the waves.

These are lyrics from Ben Jelen's "Setting of the Sun," which was played in "Obsession."