League of 221Believers

WE BELIEVE IN SHERLOCK HOLMES! Join us at www.believeinsherlock.com #221believers #believeinsherlock

[leagueof221believers]

To the unflagging faithful. The keepers of the flame. The 221Believers. 

The time has come. The time is now. #SherlockLives. 

[leagueof221believers]

maybe one day we'll stop counting the days -- but not today

[cmastergeek]

On July the third I sent an email regarding a fictional kidnapped cat via a form on a strange website; a website I only learned about from a mysterious box of business cards which appeared on my doorstep. Then suddenly everything went Twilight Zone. I got an odd call from my credit card...

[leagueof221believers]

The 221Believers weren't dead; only sleeping. Find out why... 

[houseofdarkly]

Okay, after a battle with customer service about unacceptable QC, I now have non-defective 221Believers/Believe in Sherlock wristbands. I’m VERY sorry for the delay and feel quite bad that after offering to do this for Chris things went wrong D: But it’s all fixed now! They are 3/4” wide black silicone with gold metallic ink fill in the debossed lettering, 8” circumference, and read “I BELIEVE IN SHERLOCK” and “221Believers”, with “believeinsherlock.com” on the inside. They ship worldwide and are discounted if you buy multiples. More pics: front 1 / back / back 2 / inside

Because of the snafu with the bands, I also have 100 221Believers lanyards available. They are 3/4” wide polyester with white screenprinting and a plastic clip to attach to your con badge/keyring/whatever (detail pic here). Like the bands, if you buy multiples, they ship together (including if you buy bands and lanyards together).

Both bands and lanyards can be ordered HERE. I am doing them for 221Believers and shipping them out so if you have questions about it, ask me (Chris won’t know lol). If you pre-ordered bands your order is going out today.

If you happen to WANT some defective bands with your order (y’know, to give to friends you don’t like that well), put a note with your payment. Do be aware they’re pretty jacked up.

[leagueof221believers]

Even cacti believe in Sherlock, apparently...?

[leagueof221believers]

Since we can't be at SDCC for the rally, thought we could at least make a new flyer to help those going promote the Believe in Sherlock movement. Something must've been making us think of terrifying criminal masterminds... Also posting the original for your convenience. house_of_darkly says there's a "freebie" table where anyone can leave flyers, so that's one good spot to put them if you can print out a few. :¬) 

And of course, even if you're not going this is most of us we can be in the sadness club together, you can still print out a few and post them around wherever you are! 

[cmastergeek]

A mysterious box turned up on my doorstep. No mailing labels or markings, just a little white box. It didn’t occur to me until AFTER I opened it that it might be a bomb; but fortunately it’s nothing but a whole lot of business cards. Luke and I tried to dust the box for prints, but all we had was powdered cocoa… let’s just say my DIY CSI:MacGyver impression wasn’t so great. :¬P Not sure what we’d have done with prints had we gotten any… anyhow, these are the cards inside, about 100 of them I’d say. I’ve already sent some to house_of_darkly’s hotel in San Diego, hopefully she can give some out at the rally. 

The phone number is apparently disconnected, but there’s a site at the URL: http://www.consultdoctormagic.com Not sure what to make of it. Wasn’t sure at first if I should even post the URL to everyone. Thought it was a mistake or weird advert, but… am I jumping to conclusions about the fox on these cards? Could it be the one we’re supposed to “follow” as per our last coded message? (You can’t see but there’s a fox under the lettering too - it’s only visible if you tilt it just so.) 

What do you think? Who on earth is “Doctor Magic”? Does this have something to do with the reply I sent to the text message “FOL(L)OW THE FOX”? Should we email Doctor Magic? 

[cmastergeek]

Here’s the solution (as far as we can figure out) to the second mystery coded text. Also, the code and solution to the first text:

Both only solved with assistance from several members including all-four-cheekbones. This second message seems even more inscrutable than the first… I don’t know what it means. What fox? And is there some reason why both messages have missing letters (“R” and “L”), or is it just a mistake? Is this someone trying to aid us, mislead us, or just an elaborate prank…?

I finally concluded that the only thing to do now is the one thing I’m quite uneasy about the thought of - sending a reply to the text. So, I sent one last week, and while I didn’t receive a reply, something odd did happen that may be connected… 

[leagueof221believers]

[leagueof221believers]

houseofdarkly:

Since I have our fearless leader’s blessing to do this… I’ll be attending San Diego Comic-Con July 11-15 and am organizing a meet for all Sherlockians, in the form of a “Believe in Sherlock” awareness rally.

When: Saturday...

[houseofdarkly]

221Believers/Believe in Sherlock wristband update

The wristbands have come, and there’s a problem. More like a lot of problems. Details on that, and what I’m doing to solve it (tl;dr there WILL be wristbands, but it will take a little longer)

Read More

[leagueof221believers]

You have our support in assuring that this isn't just done, but done right. 

[cmastergeek]

Nice work again all-four-cheekbones! There WAS a fox in The Story-teller, but only in one episode and I’ve forgotten its name. It was something with an “F”, but not “Folof”…The “F” in “FOX” hasn’t got the little box, and the letter at the end of “FOLO” does. So I think we can assume it’s a “W” (Occam’s razor). 

[leagueof221believers]

We're sending a reply to the unknown number with the solution to the code, so they know we "get it". Hopefully then they'll send us something that makes sense further guidance? 

[leagueof221believers]

Good news, everyone! /Farnsworth Since we were admittedly lax about following up on those wristbands, an enterprising Member has gone and ordered them for us! We’re quite chuffed to have such helpful members. We know we’re not the first to make a #believeinsherlock band, but we hope you’ll like our special design. They are still in production at the moment, but here is the manufacturer’s preview of the design. The bands will be 3/4” wide for extra visibility, with metallic gold lettering on black silicone (inspired by a certain door I’ve no doubt you’re familiar with). 

We should have an ordering system set up by tomorrow evening for anyone who’d like a guarantee to get one (or several) of the 200 that will be available. They should be in-hand around July 9th. 

[leagueof221believers]

Even better news, everyone! Preorder is now available! 

[leagueof221believers]

The League of 221Believers now has 221 members! In fact, we now have 228! I do think for member #221 we'll put #221B on their card. It's only fitting. We must thank you all not only for signing up to join the League, but for following here and on Twitter, for your reblogs and retweets, and just in general for your continued support of Sherlock Holmes. Every contribution helps, and it means the world. (May we take a moment to thank the Baker Street Babes for their special efforts in the cause of Sherlock Holmes.)

We can't just bask in the warm glow of success. We may have reached a milestone but we've a long battle left to fight. We've got to continue to get the word out to new members to join up. We've got our first rally in the works at San Diego Comic-Con, support wristbands on the way, and another (unsettling) mystery message... there's much more to do to prove - finally - that Jim Moriarty has NOT won and Sherlock Holmes was not just a hero, but OUR hero. 

[leagueof221believers]

SDCC Believe in Sherlock / 221Believers Rally

houseofdarkly: 

Since I have our fearless leader’s blessing to do this… I’ll be attending San Diego Comic-Con July 11-15 and am organizing a meet for all Sherlockians, in the form of a “Believe in Sherlock” awareness rally.

When: TBD (waiting for panels to be announced, will try to schedule as conveniently as possible. Probably Thursday at a reasonable time in the afternoon/early evening. Additional Wednesday meet for anyone getting in early if desired.)

Where: back staircase behind the convention center facing the water (access from doors outside Sails Pavillion)

What: A Believe in Sherlock Holmes support rally, along the lines of those already done in other places. Open to any Sherlock Holmes fan! Believe in Sherlock / Moriarty was Real / etc shirts, deerstalkers, pins, signs strongly encouraged! It’s not a cosplay meet but cosplay is fine (we may “abuse” you a bit in pics if you’re dressed as Moriarty or Kitty Riley ;) ). We’re going to take photos, but you don’t have to be in them if you’re camera-shy. If you know photographers to bring along, that would be great too (I will have my DSLR.) 

Who(m): organized by houseofdarkly / sponsored by the League of 221Believers. Direct questions to houseofdarkly. If you have suggestions, open to those as well! 

[leagueof221believers]

We have two possible times for this meet now - Thursday July 12th at 5:15PM, or Saturday July 14th at 7:30PM. If you have a preference, you may contact us or houseofdarkly directly.

[cmastergeek]

Another mystery message?

Another text came in, another attachment. 4AM this time (my battery was dead and I hadn’t noticed). Wonder where the sender is…? Honestly it gave me the chills to see this, I’m really weirded out that someone has my number. I could decode it but I’m not sure I want to know… 

Someone else should decode it, and tell me if it says I have 3 days to live or something… if not, maybe I’ll text them back this time…?

[leagueof221believers]

If you want to try decoding, answer at the post, on Twitter, or send us an ask. 

[leagueof221believers]

Good news, everyone! /Farnsworth Since we were admittedly lax about following up on those wristbands, an enterprising Member has gone and ordered them for us! We're quite chuffed to have such helpful members. We know we're not the first to make a #believeinsherlock band, but we hope you'll like our special design. They are still in production at the moment, but here is the manufacturer's preview of the design. The bands will be 3/4" wide for extra visibility, with metallic gold lettering on black silicone (inspired by a certain door I've no doubt you're familiar with). 

We should have an ordering system set up by tomorrow evening for anyone who'd like a guarantee to get one (or several) of the 200 that will be available. They should be in-hand around July 9th. 

[leagueof221believers]

Perhaps our shadowy supporter is John, or even Mr. Holmes himself?

Well, it seems William Shatner feels otherwise ;) I can't rule out Dr. Watson; I haven't been able to reach him. One of our members implied to me that they were in contact with him, but I can't vouch for that. I know a lot of people would like to believe that Mr. Holmes is alive but... I suppose that's your choice. Your pet bunny probably got sent to live on a farm as well :| 

[leagueof221believers]

Comparing the cipher to the popular version of the Dancing Men alphabet, looks like it says "CARY ON." A (misspelled) message of encouragement? Why would someone encrypt something like that? Is the missing R significant, or is it something else entirely?

We have a "winner", I think! Well, winner of a glorious no-prize (and a lovely pat on the back). Maybe the encryption was some kind of test, to see if we could break it? Maybe there is a significance to the missing "R"... or maybe there's more to the message somehow. At least we're a bit less in the dark. And it doesn't SEEM like a threat... have we got a shadowy supporter...?