Puzzletober 2026: Dumb
In the close distance, a pair of trolls are guarding the castle gate. Felix tells Renn, "Stow your axe and follow my lead." The men approach the gate at a friendly pace. Troll 1 says, "Halt! Where do you two think you're going?" Felix says, "To the gate." The trolls share a short-lived chuckle, then Troll 1 says, "Very well, then. But we can't let you pass any farther." Felix inquires, "What if we answer your riddles three?" The trolls smile widely. Troll 2 says to the other, "We've had no one to riddle but ourselves. Come on, it'll be just like old times!" Troll 1 gives in. Renn steadies himself.
Troll 2, who noticed Renn's ax, writes an equation into the dirt.
2*3*5=60 <4>
He says, "Here is riddle one. Just some simple practice, eh?" Renn asks, "Isn't this nonunique," then, "Isn't this impossible?" The troll says, "Your weapons may be more powerful than you realize. Broaden your scope."
After the equation is solved, Troll 1 reveals a lost pendant. He says, "Here is riddle two. Which castle does this pendant belong to, and what are the initials of its original owner?" When Felix suggests this is really two riddles, the troll adamantly insists that it's only one.
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Renn says, "I don't believe we've seen enough to know the initials. Are those really findable?" Felix says, "Yes: it's tied to the numbers. By chance, do either of you two have the pendant of the woman who was taken here recently?" Troll 1 says, "We do. And I suppose it couldn't hurt to give you another example. Oh, but what was her name?" He turns to Troll 2 and asks, "The sculpture girl. What's her name?" Troll 2 responds, "Wish I knew. Neward's been telling us lately that a name is everything. According to the pendant her initials are C. V."
One of the trolls scratches his head trying to think of a third riddle. Partially out of frustration for being denied the two-for-one earlier, Felix wields his boomerang. Troll 1 asks, "What does that do?" Felix says, "If I throw it hard enough, it can turn things around one-eighty degrees. We've used it on valves, wheels, and guards, but so far we've only been able to use it on things symbolized by arrows." Troll 2 says, "So specific. Have you tried it on other things? Like numbers?" Felix says, "We had no reason to, but I don't see why it would work." At this, Troll 1 says, "This is why logicians leave a bad taste in my mouth. You always assume the most restrictive case because it leads to one simple solution." He turns to Troll 2 and goes, "Oh ho, look at me! I can only move in four directions! And I can't retrace my steps!" He slaps his knee as he cackles, and Troll 2 tries to reciprocate the energy. Furiously, Felix remarks, "Well then, let's try to prove it." Troll 2 enters the gate and returns a few moments later with a plate of bark, on which the number 68 is inked. Felix aims and hits the bark. To his astonishment, the number changes to 86. He gapes before he looks at Renn and says, "That's so dumb. We could've been doing this the whole time? But the uniqueness!" Renn kneels down beside him and rests a hand gently on his back. After Felix and Troll 1 both calm down, Troll 2 offers the third riddle.
Troll 2 says, "Starting from the number 10, reach the number 27 using your tools. I don't care if you use fractions or decimals or rewrite the number with leading zeroes." Felix thinks for a bit and smiles. He claims, "I'm sure you don't know if this is possible. I don't think it is. Would a proof of this satisfy you?" Under the spiteful glare of Troll 1, Troll 2 says, "No... let me add something. For this riddle, you can represent both 10 and 27 as the sum of two numbers... but you can only act on one addend." While Renn tries to balance all the possibilities, Troll 2 notes, "Seeing you two are logicians, I'll restrict it. I got a solution in six actions with strong assumptions. Only whole numbers allowed at all times, but as many leading zeroes as you want."