Gavin Hesterdale Journal Entries (Year 1)

This is a listing of the Journal entries found in the Gavin Hesterdale Journal from June 1, 2008 - December 25, 2008 with the oldest entry listed first. The dates come directly from the journal. See Gavin Hesterdale Journal Entries (Year 2) - for journal entries from January 1, 2009 - March 19, 2009

Please note - the summaries will contain spoilers for Gavin' Journal as well as other WoD stories.

Journal Dates: According to Gavin, there's a glitch in his computer that started his journal in 2008 (although Gavin references events occurring in 2010 and later). We have no idea when Gavin is writing, other than it is sometime in our future. Communications that he has with various fans seem to be completely out of sync with time, so some fans believe that a time distortion is muddling things. Others believe it's all part of the specific mystery of Gavin.

Entry Date - Use this Format for Journal Entry
Title: - from post

Summary: summary of what is posted

Connections: discussion of how information/concepts in entry link to other known WoD information. Include ARG links and links to other Canon media.

June 1, 2008
Title: The End is Near

Summary: The first entry in Gavin's journal. It is a statement directed to a person reading the entry and mentions a lawless apocalypse and a reference to visions.

Connections: Gavin mentions he was once a "prestigious investigative journalist". He tried emailing his "prize pupil" Jenna but he surmises she is ignoring him. This is the first mention of Jenna Whitmore.

June 2, 2008
Title: - Things to Survive

Summary: Gavin mentions a coming 'Cataclysm' and his hopes this journal will survive and be found. Mentions his house is close to the coast, he has small turbines, solar panels and an alcohol generator. He has set up his journal to be preserved, "I've set up a combinant passalong so that these entries may be seeded to other computers in other secure locations in the world". He discusses what handguns might be the best, settling for the 9mm. Mentions "my wages as a war correspondent", giving a glimpse to the type of journalist Gavin was.

Connections: At this point Gavin does not know or mention "The Fall", he calls it a 'Cataclysm'. There is another reference to his journalism career.

June 10, 2008
Title: - The Leadings to Disaster -

Summary: Discusses the United States discussion of enacting an Internet Kill Switch bill. Has been practicing with his Glock.

Connections: the opening line from the entry starts, "I remember in 2010, when I heard..." this implies Gavin's current time may be in 2010 or later, which seems to conflict with the journal date of 2008. It could also be interpreted that Gavin has lost track of time and is referencing time incorrectly.

June 18, 2008
Title: - The Wild Boars...

Summary: A short entry about wild boars (razorbacks) that have been encroaching on his land since 2009. He was able to kill one of the boar and takes it back to his house, intending to research how to prepare boar.

Connections: At this point, there is no link to other entries, yet the increase in population after The Fall of certain wild animal may link back to this.

June 19, 2008
Title: - Cleaning the Beast

Summary: Gavin describes cleaning the boar as well as providing two hand drawn images. One is a black and white sketch of the boar's head. The second is a chalk drawing of the two tusks (with some color). Gavin wanted to find someone to teach him hunting and survival skills. He drives to a nearby town and stops at a breakfast place, called Morty's, because truckers and hunters frequent the eatery. The waitress, Agnes, mentions this is not hunting season, but there is a local, Pine Pete, who has a cabin nearby.

Gavin drives to Pete's place and finds the older (maybe 60?) man practicing archery. He receives advice about buying slugs for his 12 gauge shotgun and Pete agrees to come to Gavin's house. Using a special set of knives, Pete helps Gavin prepare the boar. Gavin finds out Pete is a lifelong bachelor (although he has a daughter).

Connections: This is the first entry with images and we learn Gavin has some artistic skill. We also meet Pine Pete, a hunter who becomes a mentor and friend to Gavin. We learn that Pete has a daughter, a connection he can share with Gavin (as Gavin had a daughter as well, although that we do not find until later).

June 26, 2008
Title: - The Gold Standard

Summary: Gives and overview of the boar stew Gavin cooked (used a few secret spices he picked up from an Indonesian friend a few years ago). Invites Pete over for dinner. He reveals some of his visions to Pete, who seems to believe Gavin, recommending they move their money from banks and convert it to gold.

Connections: brings Pete fully into Gavin's preparations

June 30, 2008
Title: - Golden Rules

Summary: Mentions how hard it was to find kilo gold bullion bars; finally settles for an Internet transaction. Mentions he will dissolve his IRA from his CNN and Tribune days to buy more.

Connections: More peeks at Gavin's job/career resume. He worked for some of the big names it seems.

July 1, 2008
Title: - The City Burns

Summary: There is another black and white sketch. It is one of Gavin's visions, a burning city. Gavin's dreams are back. He is on a building, hearing screams and shouts from below. The cops are trying to calm the crowd, but it is not working. Someone throws a firebomb and a car goes up in flames. He sees people carrying signs, some painted in red saying, "Knights of Xeno". Others "remind one another to tear down the oppression of technology and destroy power and internet relays". Those with the signs have grenades and pipe bombs and begin to bomb cops, military and civilians. .

Connections: This is the first mention of the Knights of Xeno, men and women with a banner painted in Red. This may be very soon before or after The Fall as there is a mention of cops/military and this still organized government structure. Also - speculation side note - in the trailer for the film "Forsaken", there is a glimpse of a burning building, a link?

July 3, 2008
Title: - Troubling Thoughts

Summary: Begins to research his dreams. Gavin believes because technology and other parts of his dark dreams are similar to today's world, the time of his dreams must be very close to current time. He has begun researching details associated with the Knights of Xeno. he believes the reference could be related to the philosopher Zeno who created paradoxes by which reality was seen as impossible. Gavin specifically mentions Zeno's paradox regarding movement as well as making a reference to an "old" movie by Chris Nolan called "Inception ".

He also discusses the anti-technology stance, mentioned in, "Chuck Palahniuk’s book, "Fight Club", which glamorizes the idea of destroying technology and the debt record associated with it."

His gold arrived, 9 1 kilo bars and 32 1 oz bars. And he has already called his accountant to liquidate his IRA, which means it should be about a month before his gold arrives. He ends the entry with a quote.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Connections: The Knights of Xeno are part of the ARG and the larger storyworld. This is the first attempt to collect research associated with this group. The inclusion of movies and books ties our world (the Reality part of an ARG) to Gavin's world. It also again sets the timing as "Inception" came out in 2010. Check the Knights of Xeno page for more about the research involving this group.

July 4, 2008
Title: - 4th of July Nightmares

Summary: Another black and white image, a shadowy fleeing crowd. Gavin is having more nightmares. He is in another city, in another rioting crowd. Police in riot gear try to control the crowd as molotov cocktails are thrown, catching the surrounding area on fire. Gavin is pushed down, trampled and troubled by what people may do and become.

Connections: A vision of another riot - again mention of police in riot gear, so this is mot likely before or right after The Fall.

July 8, 2008
Title: - The Search Continues

Summary: Gavin is still searching for the Knights of Xeno (KoX), but has found nothing. Programmed spider-bots to crawl social media sites to look for references. Gavin offers another possible derivation for the KoX name (from the journal entry) "Xenophobia” which literally translates into the fear of foreigners or strangers. However, more fundamentally, it can refer to a fear of that which is different than oneself. If that’s the case, then this group is making a stance that man is a natural creature, while technology is an unnatural one."

Connections: Gavin makes a possible connection between the KoX name and it's theme of fearing/hating technology. Knights were those that crusaded for a cause or defended a kingdom against infiltration. This may be part of the meaning behind the group's name.

July 22, 2008
Title: - New Skills

Summary: The gold Gavin had bought with his IRA funds, 10 bars worth, arrives. Pine Pete also stops by. he brings handmade hatchets (called tomahawks by Pete) and begins teaching Gavin how to throw them.

Connections: Gavin has more gold to add to the other and begins learning how to use throwing hatchets/tomahawks.

July 28, 2008
Title: - Unkempt Nightmares

Summary: Another black and white drawing, this of a mass grave of bodies. The nightmares are becoming more violent and realistic. He is in a plowed field, a mass grave that stretched across the field filled with uncovered bodies, victims of a plague. He can hear music, faintly as if far away and played on an electronic device. The area reminds him of possibly a place in the Appalachians. He ends with a quote from Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Connections: This is the first reference to plague and mass death in the future.

August 18, 2008
Title: - Doubling My House

Summary: Gavin has been busy searching for information on the Knight of Xeno and also stockpiling supplies. Gavin decided to make his house look derelict and looted to throw off any who may come after the cataclysm by creating a false front. He also mentions making a sign so anyone who comes knows there is more hidden in the house.

Connections:

August 26, 2008
Title: - The Burning of the Card

Summary: There are two images, the flag of Burkina Faso and a color image of a burning house. Gavin went almost a month without dreams before having the dream that he writes about. He is in a rural town in the jungle in Africa. Their are rioters burning a house, screaming in many languages, including French, which Gavin recognizes, including the phrase “détruire l’internet,” or “destroy the internet". A man runs from one of the houses with a silver card in a plastic bag. The rioters begin chanting “brûler la carte“–burn the card!". They burn the card and beat the man to death. he notices the flag of Burkina Faso hanging nearby.

Connections: The vision and card and Burkina Faso are all references to a real time event that occurred, the creation of seven cards that can be used to restart the Internet via rebooting the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC). A discussion about the event and other possible links can be found on the WoD Facebook Discussion page as well as a mention in this blog. Future Gavin entries also discuss this topic further.

There are many events Gavin discusses in his journal that link to actual events, places and people in our world.

August 31, 2008
Title: - Keepers of the Internet

Summary: Gavin finds more on the Internet cards (from his journal) "2010, a joint venture between the DoD (Department of Defense) and ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) created a way to reboot the internet in the face of a terrorist or hacking attack. A master DNS (domain name system) phone book could be activated with one of two master cards in one of three main facilities in the United States. In case those two cards were destroyed, however, they would hide part of the master code to unlock this master phone book in 7 special key cards. Working somewhat like Raided hard drives, each card contained one fifth of the total code, so that only five of the seven would be required to reboot the internet."

He then references a graphic Novel, "Y: The Last Man" and how "Mankinds’ tendency to find new ways to destroy or damage itself knows no limits." He then mentions how someone who can copy these cards might be able to find a way to restore the Internet or portions of it and the holder of those card could be a ruler of the world or the savior to help rebuild the world.

Connections: This entry makes a solid connection between Gavin's dreams, The Fall and events that have happened in the world. The entries were also posted about the time the actual venture was being announced which gave it a very timely connection.

In the next journal entry, Gavin mentions a nickname - Internet Illuminati (as one group calls the Keepers of the Keys)

September 9, 2008
Title: - Norman.

Summary: Gavin has continued his search into the keys and his visions. He references the Internet card holders as the Internet Illuminati (as one group calls the Keepers of the Keys He contacts Ernest (Ernie) Cromwell, a contact from Gavin's days with S.I.S. who is retired but still keeps ear to ground in intelligence community and lives on the edge of Sheffield(Gavin introduced Jenna to Ernest). Ernest owes Gavin favors (Gavin helped track down a British heiress in the U.S. before she could spark a scandal some years ago for Ernest).

Ernest knows nothing of the Knights of Xeno or the Internet Illuminati, but he does put Gavin in contact with, "combination hacker/money launderer who stayed completely below the radar", Norman.

Gavin emails a message, but the email is returned as undeliverable. An hour later he receives a video conference request from an unknown sender. The caller is shadowed and voice is distorted. He questions Gavin, who discloses his visions. Norman seems interested and mutters about aking Gaberial before ending the call.

Connections: This entry introduces another major character in the Journal - Norman. As the journal continues, Norman becomes a central figure in Gavin's search.

There is a mention of the "Internet Illuminati", which may be somehow linked to a theme that underlies many mysterious threads in WoD (Illuminati, Neo-Palidins, Knights of Xeno)

More pieces in Gavin's bio is provided. Gavin mentions Ernest Cromwell as a contact from S.I.S.. S.I.S. could stand for Secret Intelligence Service which means Gavin has quite an interesting background.

September 11, 2008
Title: - Are the Japanese behind the Cataclysm??

Summary: Contacts Michael Li, a reporter he knew (use to work for the Seattle Times). Gavin mentions his dismissal from the Tribune and had done some work for CNN. Michael suggests another possible reason for the destruction Gavin sees: " 2010, the extremely anti-Hawk administration of the United States decided to train Japanese soldiers to fight in the Middle East so they could pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan"

The entry then mentions that during the Obama presidency, Japan was granted the right to assemble troops. Japanese oliders were sent to the Yakima Training Center in Yakima, WA (the same U.S. Army training grounds that trained the U.S. troops for all of their Iraqi missions) and were deployed to the Middle East.

Connections: We find more information about Gavin's career including being dismissed from the Tribune and having done work for CNN. The training of soldiers Gavin mentions might link to the story discussed in this article

One of many possible catalysts to the global destruction and The Fall is discussed here.

September 13, 2008
Title: - Beer bread

Summary: Gavin shares how to make Soda Cake and how to properly prepare a dutch oven. . includes recipie for Beer Bread.

Connections: Many of Gavin's entries have very practical survival tips such as this one

September 14, 2008
Title: - Soda Cake and Dutch Ovens tests

Summary: Gavin explores how to make Beer Bread, a bread that can be eay to make and very sustaining. Includes recipie for Beer Bread.

Connections: One of many survivial dishes Gavin creates.

September 18, 2008
Title: - Rome is Burning

Summary: There are two images in this entry connected to Gavin's vision. One is of a plane burning and the other is half of a QR code.

Gavin believes the vision may be linked to the attacks that begin the cataclysm. He is front a massive Roman cathedral, a Turkish plane has crashed and is burning. He sees saw the mangled body of a black man in a pilot’s uniform (he assumes that the man had been flung from the plane as it crashed into the building). For the first time in a vision, he interacts with elements of the vision. He searches the dead pilot's body and finds hidden in an inner pocket a piece of paper, half of a QR code. Gavin mentions having used these codes with Jenna. He describes how he had bouts of somnambulance (moving or walking in one’s sleep) when in grad school, (almost forty years ago). He found that he had engaged in somniscription, the act of writing or drawing during sleep and recreated the half of the QR code seen in the vision.

Connections: Gavin went to grad school (quite awhile ago it seems) and had bouts of walking in his sleep. He and Jenna used QR codes to communicate and Gavin uses QR codes to communicate in the ARG. This entry also introduces one of the many puzzles in the ARG, the second half of this QR code is found another way (see the ARG Mysteries page for more info).

September 20, 2008
Title: - A Chink in the Armor of the Knights of Xeno

Summary: Norman contacts Gavin with information and helps Gavin make his journal accessible via the Internet. The KoX seem to be an anti-technology group, that at this point is not actively recruiting or using many normal social networking avenues. Much of their communication is passed in old school text cyphers, which need a common book to translate. The KoX are based in Dallas Texas and led by William T. McKnight ( A former military officer with a chip on his shoulder for the Russians, he’s currently a Security Contractor for Viking Strategic Solutions, a paramilitary contracting group).

Connections: Solid information on the Knights of Xeno. There is a mention of codes and Gavin has links to some codebreaking sites on his journal. There is also mention of needing a "book", no idea at this time what that might be. Searching for Knights of Xeno does produce a website, but no obvious link to anything more than a basic front page. Gavin introduces codebreaking resources in his journal.

September 26, 2008
Title: - The Return of 'The Jews and Their Lies???'

Summary: Gavin continues to try and find information on the Knights of Xeno and their current leader. His “anti-technology movements” searches lead him to an anarchist website run by an MIT Grad Student named Zig Matheson. Exploring a number of links on this site, Gavin stumbles across"an article that purported to explore the Martin Luther piece, The Jews & Their Lies, from a historical perspective by an adjunct history professor at Yale. However, the author (a Spaniard with the name Juan Pablo) seemed to be subtly arguing for the fact that Martin Luther’s latter-life anti-Semitism was founded in actual historical trends around the Jews and should be heeded." Gavin mentions the link of Luther's writing to Adolf Hitler and is offended by the article "but to read a modern scholar writing about this introductory work as though it should be heeded intellectually and logically makes me ill."

Connections: Gavin believes in God. There is a bit of confusion in the entry, but this might be a link to a secondary group (perhaps the N.I.R.?)

October 3, 2008
Title: - Who are the Neo-Palidins

Summary: Gavin has another dream, one that timewise seems much later than his other visions. He is in a football arena in the broadcast announcer’s booth, with a glass view of the entire night-shrouded field below. Tents and small shacks had been constructed across the entirety of the green and torches and campfires were burning. The people in the room with Gavin are packing away all equipment. He follows two of the people and overhears a conversation that implies the Neo-Palidins have found them. As Gavin researches, he finds many pieces of information


 * paladins were the elite warriors of Charlemagne’s court and have a basis on the concept of religious clerics, as their name also relates to high ranking scholarly officials from Roman times. They were accorded special privilege because of their religious association.


 * Because of this religious warrior association, the group palidins are most often associated with in modern times are the Knights Templar, an elite cabal of holy warriors that were commissioned by the Catholic Church after the first Crusades to protect the pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem from bandits.


 * when the Knights of Templar were disbanded in 1312 by Pope Clement, a great number of them took to the seas to exact revenge on anyone who happened to get in their way. At first, they flew the flag of the Templars (a great red cross on white) as they would attack and pillage ships. The flag had, at one time, been known as the “jolie rouge”, which literally meant the “beautiful red” in French. However, as the barbarous tendencies of these men increased, they replaced the red cross on white with a much more sinister skull and crossbones on black and the grisly flag came to be known as the Jolly Roger!


 * The only geographical inference I can get from this vision comes from the fact that they were aware of something happening in Memphis


 * In the chaotic vacuum of a world without law, what will men like these Neo-Palidins see fit to do? If what I overheard is to be trusted, they seem to be following the Templar pirates more closely than Charlemagnes’ Twelve Peers!

Connections: A major entry on the Neo-Palidins. Gavin places this vision much later after The Fall. A mention of a man in Memphis flayed for having tech gives a location. In this entry Gavin uses both Neo-Palidins and Neo-Paladins. It is unclear which spelling is accurate. The Knights of Templar's flag was white with a red cross. One of the symbols mentioned throughout the WoD is very similar.

October 4, 2008
Title: - What' in a Name

Summary: Gavin begins with short discussion of spelling regarding paladin versus palidin. He concludes that the group is the Neo-Palidins, although paladin has many links to historical references. He is not finding references to this group other than vague links through role-playing games. There is a mention of the incomplete QR code "I keep going back to that half QR code from my vision. Somehow I know that if I can find the other half I will be able to decode some of the mystery of when this will occur!" He ends with a mention of Black Bean Brownies Connections: The concept of paladin is very prominent in history (a better review of this term and possible links to the WoD can be found on the Neo-Palidins page. The spelling of a major group in the WoD mythology is very important. Is the possible error due to Gavin or something else?

Regarding the QR code and timeline - the other half of the code can be found by following elements of the ARG. The resulting information may lead to a date of March 17 (see the ARG Mysteries page for more information)

October 30, 2008
Title: - The War of the Ark

Images: http://worldofdepleted.wikia.com/wiki/File:Kxl.jpg

Summary: Gavin still has not found much on the Neo-Palidins. He has another vision, this time apparently while "awake". While looking at a wall, he sees a street, and then finds himself on the street, the air chilly. The city is not too damaged. He notes some well maintained cars with Kentucky license plates. He hears a recorded message, "Ark Citizens, this is Arch-Chancellor Newbill. We are currently experiencing a Level 2 intrusion. Please take shelter now, while we deal with the intruders. We will alert you when you may leave your residence."

Two men are then seen, they are part of a coup. They are preparing for an attack by the Neo-Palidins and took over the twon they are in from a group referred to as the Society. They mention three other names: Rednesfeld, Smythe and Mackelby.

Gavin sees a larger, better armed army approaching, the soliders using 20th century weapons and also carrying a flag with the symbol of a circle and skewed cross.

There is also a reference to a possible family member by Gavin, "At times like these, I wish Mark had encouraged me to exercise more, not just muck about with fake papers! Of course, what would I expect? Brothers who are pursuing a life of crime are rarely the most well-balanced parental figures!"

The image is what the Neo-Palidins used as their symbol.

Connections: The vision takes place in Kentucky or somewhere close (the license plates on the cars). The town may be called Ark. There are some forms of government (Arch-Chancellor) still operating. The town the men are in had once been controlled by a group referred to as the Society, a group that works to preserve technology. The men in the vision are preparing for an attack by the Neo-Palidins (referred to as Neos and as Palidins). Gavin may have a brother and there is a reference to possible criminal activity (forging?)

The Neo-Palidin symbol may have links to other groups (see the Neo-Palidins page)

November 2, 2008
Title: - Contact Gavin

Summary: Gavin addresses those reading his journal. He asks other Dark Dreamers to share any visions they have had as well as contacting him. He mentions he uses QR codes and lists in his resource section how to work with QR codes. There is a Nov. 8 addition to the entry

Dark Dreamers,

''While my precautions for safety have been in-depth, Norman has warned me that my earlier email chain was nearly compromised by foreign hackers. My most recent vision must have been too close to the mark for their comfort. As such, the email information has been temporarily taken down. Norman is currently working to get me a totally encrypted way for you to contact me that channels this through another site! Once it’s live, I’ll link it up here!''

I appreciate your patience!

-Gavin

Connections: NOTE - if you click on the monthly archives, when you click November, 2008 - you need to click the "older Entries" link at bottom to see the November 2 entries

Gavin is reaching out beyond is story, providing a link to other ARG Mysteries elements. He also provides means to read QR codes. In future entries, he will write about interaction he has with Dark Dreamers.

November 6, 2008
Title: - A Darker Horror Still to Come

Summary: Gavin has another dream. This is of a road lined with crosses, people hanging from them. He hears prayers muttered in French. There are "soldiers" wearing black and gray armor with the initials N.I.R. They are speaking Spanish. The following is their conversation:

“…Think that makes them understand our resolve.” The elder commented wryly.

''“Why do the French even think to stand against us?” The younger scoffed, shaking his head. “They’ve never stood up to anyone before and no one has been as strong as we are.”''

''“It’s just one town. The rest will think differently when they see what we do to rebels.” The elder man concluded. “What we offer is the future. Those who do not understand this, will not have a future.”''

Connections: Gavin believes the cataclysm is coming soon. Gavin can speak Spanish, which he learned at a young age. He has brothers who he references as having had "non-connected clients". The French are leading some rebellion against the N.I.R. Gavin mentions "Titus crucified thousands and thousands of Jews in his conquest of Jerusalem in 70 AD". He then mentions that some form of military government may have formed after the uprisings and riots.

November 7, 2008
Title: - The Madness

Summary: Gavin realizes his previous dream of the victims of the French Crucifixion were from Southern Edge of France. He begins to question his sanity

Connections: There is possible allusion to past treatment for mental issues as Gavin says, "My God, am I really even here in this house…or am I still under observation?" We also have another mention of the N.I.R. soldiers

November 8, 2008
Title: - Doubt

Summary:

Connections:

November 15, 2008
Title: - Old Wounds

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November 16, 2008
Title: - A Gift Wrapped in Shards

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November 17, 2008
Title: - Mad Men Know No Shame

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November 19, 2008
Title: - Facing the Past

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November 22, 2008
Title: - Thanksgiving Pall

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November 30, 2008
Title: - Another Violent Dream

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December 4, 2008
Title: - New Information

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December 10, 2008
Title: - The Secrets to Finding the Attackers

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December 17, 2008
Title: - The Watchers

Summary:

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December 25, 2008
Title: - Christmas

Summary:

Connections:

REFERENCES