Gollum's cave: one night in an inn

Today we propose a logical textual riddle, I'm sure you will have fun figuring out a solution.

You will find later the solution to the enigma of last week.
Many readers already knew it, so we can't spot a real winner.

Go now and discover this week's riddle and then comment, write o contact me to give your solution!

Riddles in literature

Last week we told you about Labyrinth, the 1986 film with David Bowie. In particular, we have described the scene in which the protagonist Sarah, which wanders into a haunted labyrinth, is located in front of two doors whose guardians ask her a riddle.
We advise you to run and read Article in question before moving forward, because we are going to give the solution of that riddle.

To locate the door leading to the salvation, Sarah will have to "break the system" by asking a question that creates a kind of paradox which forces both guardians to give an unequivocal answer, in order to identify who is lying and who is telling the truth without any doubt.
Il work it is similar to the one used to solve the proposed riddle time ago, That of the paprika.

La question to do - regardless of which of the two guards - is the following:

What would the other guardian answer me if I asked him which is the right door?

Both guards will respond by pointing the same door, which will be that wrong.
We call the two doors leads to that which leads to salvation e door B the wrong one.
We ask our question and we have two possible outcomes:

• The guardian we ask is the one who lies.

If the guard is the one who mind, then it will take you off road telling you (falsely) that the other guard - the guard sincere relationship - will point you towards the door B. This makes the leads to the bet safe.

• The guardian we ask is the one who tells the truth.

If the guard is the one who says the truth, will tell you (honestly) that the other guard - the guard liar - will point you towards the door B. This makes the leads to the bet safe.

Either way, the result is the same. To survive, Sarah has to go through that door NO is indicated to you, regardless to whom you have addressed your question.

The riddle of the two doors of the film Labyrinth is not entirely original. In fact, it refers to a type of puzzle known as Knights and Knaves. It is a category of logic puzzle which involves characters who can only answer questions truthfully or only falsely. The name was coined by Raymond Smullyan in 1978 in his book What Is the Name of This Book?

We will talk more about the puzzles Knights and Knaves next article.

Puzzle categories

For convenience I have divided the riddles into three categories and every week I will indicate to you which of these categories belongs the riddle that I propose to you:

Textual riddles

In this category you will find more riddles classical, those that can be proposed by an enemy orally or that the characters can find writings on a door, on an ancient table, on a tombstone and so on. Normally the solution one is represented password or from one phrase.

Mathematical puzzles

The puzzles based on numerical calculations e mathematical operations. To fix them, most of the time, you will need to set up and fix an equation or a system of equations. Some of them can be solved by doing calculations in mind, but the difficulty increases if you don't have pen and paper.

Encrypted and encrypted codes

It is testi e passwords hidden in other texts by means of encrypted keys or gimmicks that require a intuitive approach to find a complete meaning to a seemingly meaningless set of letters and numbers and to succeed in read between the lines".

Mechanical tests and pitfalls

Puzzles of this particular type can be inserted into an adventure by tying them tightly to objects that the master can have the PCs or situations they can run into. During the game, it will not be necessary to read the riddle text but simply describe the situation, far find objects and provide the characters with a strong motivation to solve the problem.

The solution to last week's riddle

The text of the riddle can be found here.

To enter the weapons depot NO it must divide by two the number pronounced by the sentry but it must reply indicating the number of letters of which the word corresponding to the number is composed.
The solution is undici, the number of letters of which it is composed the word fourteen.

This week's riddle

ONE NIGHT IN THE INN

Category: textual riddle

difficulty: media

Text:

A woman is in her room in an inn. Suddenly she hears a knock on the door, goes to open it and sees a man she has never seen in her life. The man says, "oh, I'm sorry, I thought it was my room" and he walks away. The woman immediately leaves the inn and goes for help. Because?

Your puzzles

Our reader Stefano Montalto he tries again and proposes a new puzzle, this time slightly more difficult.

Down in the valley deep inside
there is an old woman who speaks all the languages ​​of the world.
Who is it?

Submit your puzzle (including solution, possibly) a [email protected], you will see it published in these columns!

See you next puzzle!