Games:Puzzles in Lone Wolf (books 1 to 12)

Reading the supplementary information that is found on the page with the map of Vassagonia gives the data required for the puzzle:

• There are three oases along the route. This is clear on the map and is also stated in the text accompanying the map.
• There are seven cities in Vassagonia. Again this is stated in the text accompanying the map, although exactly which of the conurbations are considered cities in unclear. The map shows six cities marked with a flag: Teph, Ferufezan, Kara Kala, Barrakesh, Bir Rabalou, and Bisutan. All other centres of population marked on the map appear to be only towns.
• There are three islands off the Coast of Kabar. This is clear on the map and is also stated in the text accompanying the map.

The solution to the problem is therefore 373 (concatenating the numbers):

If you use Divination or do not have Pathsmanship, the possible answers are reduced down to 3, 9, 13, or 33.

If you use Pathsmanship, the method of solving the puzzle is revealed:

Defining the triangle size as the number of cells along each edge of the triangle, the count of triangles is as follows:

• 3 triangles of size 1 pointing upwards (single-cell triangles)
• 6 triangles of size 1 pointing downwards (single-cell triangles)
• 3 triangles of size 2 pointing downwards (each one centred around one of the upwards triangles)
• 1 triangle of size 3 pointing downwards (the size of the entire plaque)

The total number of triangles is therefore 13:

Define S as the number of sons, and D as the number of daughters. The riddle breaks down into two statements with the following equations:

D-1 = S
D = 2×(S-1)

Substituting D from the second equation into the first gives:

2×(S-1) - 1 = S
2S - 2 - 1 = S
2S - 3 = S
S - 3 = 0
S = 3
D = 4

Checking these results, each daughter will have three sisters and three brothers and each son will have four sisters and two brothers, as required.

The correct answer is therefore 34 (concatenating the numbers):

Define B as the weight of a brick:

B = 0.75 + 0.75×B
0.25×B = 0.75
B = 3

Checking this result, three quarters of 3lb gives 2.25lb, plus the additional 0.75lb gives 3lb as required.

The correct answer is therefore 3:

Define E as the number of eggs laid by one goose in one day:

1.5 × 1.5 × E = 1.5
1.5 × E = 1
E = 1 / 1.5
E = 2/3

So in eight days, three geese will lay 8*3*E eggs, or 16 eggs.

The correct answer is therefore 16:

Working backwards, if the lake is first completely covered after 60 days, twenty-four hours earlier the lake will have been half covered.

The correct answer is therefore 59:

Define E as the initial number of eggs that the trader had:

((E/2 - 0.5)/2 - 0.5)/2 - 0.5 = 0
((E/2 - 0.5)/2 - 0.5)/2 = 0.5
(E/2 - 0.5)/2 - 0.5 = 1
(E/2 - 0.5)/2 = 1.5
E/2 - 0.5 = 3
E/2 = 3.5
E = 7

Checking this result:

• The first customer buys (3.5 + 0.5) 4 eggs, leaving 3.
• The second customer buys (1.5 + 0.5) 2 eggs, leaving 1.
• The third customer buys (0.5 + 0.5) 1 egg, leaving none as required.

The correct answer is therefore 7:

Define D as the current age of the dagger, and L as the current age of Loen. The riddle breaks down into two statements with the following equations:

D = (L - D)/2
L = 15

Substituting L from the second equation into the first gives:

D = (15 - D)/2
2×D = 15 - D
3×D = 15
D = 5

Checking this result, the dagger was new five years ago at which point Loen would have been 10. This is twice the current age of the dagger as required.

The correct answer is therefore 5:

Define J as the current age of Juno, and K as the current age of Khmar. The riddle breaks down into two statements with the following equations:

K = 4 × J
K+20 = 2 × (J+20)

Substituting K from the first equation into the second gives:

(4×J) + 20 = 2 × (J+20)
4×J + 20 = 2×J + 40
2×J = 20
J = 10
K = 40

Checking these results:

• At a current age of 40, Khmar is four times as old as the 10 year old Juno as required.
• In 20 years' time, Khmar will be 60 and Juno will be 30, so Khmar will be twice Juno's age as required.
• Note also that Juno is younger than Loen (who is currently 15) which is as expected since Juno is Khmar's youngest son.

The correct answer is therefore 50 (adding the two ages together):