Starting Status
Sign: Snake
Buffs: Serpent’s Kiss (Romance twice as easy)
Debuffs: Curse of the Unspecified (???)
Cards of Destiny: 3 of ?? Discovered
EXP: 2
Skills:
Alchemy
-Coagula (LVL 0, 2 SKP)
???
Homesteading
-Tidying (LVL 0, 2 SKP)
???
Speech
-Logic (LVL 0, 8 SKP)
???
Total SKP: 12
I couldn’t believe I had somehow missed them! Sitting on the counter was a large and very fluffy white cat. He had a splotch of black around his whiskers. It looked rather like a gentleman's mustache. He swished his tail in a relaxed manner, and followed my movements with his green eyes.
Higher up, on a protruding shelf, sat a dark bird. Looking closer I thought it might be a raven or a crow, judging by its long beak, slightly hooked on the end.
I immediately went to the white fluff-ball, and attempted to pet him. Bad idea!
The thing hissed, batted me with its sharp claws, and ran to the other end of the wooden counter. Nice. Now I was locked in a dusty house, and there was a pissed off feline locked in here with me. I held my scratched hand to my chest.
I looked down on the counter. The cat had been sitting on something before he bolted, and now I could see what it was: a yellowed page, torn out of a book, and a small pencil, lying on top of the page. I excitedly grabbed it, thinking I knew what I would find.
As I read the paper, I saw that my empty To Do list was no longer empty.
To Do:
1. Solve the Cat’s Riddle.
It was another riddle! I dove right in, excited that it was officially my objective. It’s always nice when life lines us up so that the thing we wanted to do anyway turns into a requirement.
Here is the riddle:
Mrs. Kelly has eight cats, and too much tuna. She wants to give the tuna to her eight darlings, but needs them to line up in a specific order. If the cats don’t eat their food in Mrs. Kelly’s very specific order, she is afraid they might get indigestion. And Mrs. Kelly does NOT want eight cats full of tuna with indigestion running around her house. No, sir.
Her cats are named:
Rigatto
Salamander
Tummy-Rub-Tigger
Elephant
Igloo
Archibald
Lemming
Eduardo-Montez
Below are the rules by which Mrs. Kelly must order her cats.
1. Only one cat can have tuna, at one time.
2. Lemming eats tuna second.
3. Archibald and Rigatto must have 6 cats eat tuna between them.
4. Eduardo-Montez must have exactly one cat eating tuna between him and Archibald.
5. Tummy-Rub-Tigger must have at least two cats eat tuna after him.
6. Igloo has to be one of the first four cats to eat tuna.
7. Salamander has to eat before Tummy-Rub-Tigger.
8. Igloo and Eduardo-Montez want to eat together. They can’t, according to rule one. So they must eat tuna one right after the other, but they don’t care who goes first.
9. Rigatto must go after Elephant.
In what order should Mrs. Kelly feed her cats?
The riddle was typed out on the same type of torn out paper as the Princess riddle I solved earlier. I wondered if these riddles were all coming from the same book.
Underneath the riddle, hastily scrawled and barely legible, I saw this:
“Mreowrrr, what’s my name?”
Below that inscription, there was an inky paw print that looked like it belonged to a cat. I looked over at the white fluffer. It would be too much to assume the cat had added a postscript to this page, but that was exactly the feeling I got.
I decided to go forth with solving the riddle. Of course, if I had someone reading this riddle over my shoulder, I would recommend they attempt to solve it for themselves, before looking at my solution below.
----------------------------------------
On first glance, this riddle was a tad more difficult than the Princess riddle. I began systematically investigating each rule. I would bet that there are easier ways of solving this riddle than my solution, if one were to look at the clues out of order. But I did not do this. Instead I followed the riddle through each rule as they appeared.
Rule 1: Only one cat can have tuna, at one time.
There were eight cats, and they had to eat their tuna in succession. I numbered eight spaces, and started working through the rest of the rules, fitting the cats in those spaces.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Rule 2: Lemming eats tuna second.
Second rule was easy enough; I put Lemming in the number 2 spot. (I used shorthand because I did not want to write the name of each cat).
1.
2. L
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Rule 3: Archibald and Rigatto must have 6 cats eat tuna between them.
For Rule 3, having six cats between Archibald and Rigatto means they have to occupy the first and last spots in the sequence, since that’s the only way one could fit six cats between those two. I worked out that spots 1 and 8 could only have Archibald and Rigatto, and no other cat (two spots, two cats).
1. A/R
2. L
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. A/R
Rule 4: Eduardo-Montez must have exactly one cat eating tuna between him and Archibald.
I knew that Archibald was in spot 1 or 8, so to follow Rule 4, Eduardo-Montez could only be in spots 3 or 6. I put a slash and question mark after Eduardo’s initial, since another cat could occupy spots 3 or 6.
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed/?
4.
5.
6. Ed/?
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
7.
8. A/R
Rule 5: Tummy-Rub-Tigger must have at least two cats eat tuna after him.
I know that Tummy-Rub-Tigger can’t be in spots 1, 2 or 8 because those spots are taken by other cats (A, R and L). He also can’t be in spots 7 or 8 because he must have at least two cats eat tuna after him. So Tummy-Rub-Tigger could be in spots 3, 4, 5 or 6. I put his initial there, with a slash and a question mark, indicating that other cats can occupy those spots.
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed/T/?
4. T/?
5. T/?
6. Ed/T/?
7.
8. A/R
Rule 6: Igloo has to be one of the first four cats to eat tuna.
According to this Rule, Igloo has to be in spots 1, 2, 3 or 4. I know that Igloo can’t be in spots 1 or 2, because those spots are taken. So Igloo has to be in spots 3 or 4. I added Igloo’s initial there.
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed/T/I/?
4. T/I/?
5. T/?
6. Ed/T/?
7.
8. A/R
Rule 7: Salamander has to eat before Tummy-Rub-Tigger.
If another cat must eat before Tummy-Rub-Tigger, that means Tummy-Rub-Tigger can’t be in spot 3 (that would force Salamander into spot 1 or 2, and I already know Archibald/Rigatto are in spot 1, and Lemming is in spot 2). I took Tummy-Rub-Tigger out of spot 3 and added Salamander. To eat before Tummy-Rub-Tigger, Salamander can be in any spot, as long as it's at least one before any of Tummy-Rub-Tigger’s spots. Spots 4 and 5 follow this Rule, so I added Salamander to those spots as well.
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed/I/S/?
4. T/I/S/?
5. T/S/?
6. Ed/T/?
7.
8. A/R
Rule 8: Igloo and Eduardo-Montez want to eat together. They can’t, according to rule one. So they must eat tuna one right after each other, but they don’t care who goes first.
This is the clue where everything started coming together! We previously worked out that Eduardo-Montez can only be in spots 3 or 6. In order to eat in the next spot to Igloo, Eduardo-Montez must be in spot 3 (since Igloo is only in spots 3 or 4). I took Eduardo-Montez out of spot 6.
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed/I/S/?
4. T/I/S/?
5. T/S/?
6. T/?
7.
8. A/R
Eduardo-Montez must occupy spot 3, so no other cat can occupy that spot. I took the remaining cats out of spot 3.
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed
4. T/I/S/?
5. T/S/?
6. T/?
7.
8. A/R
That leaves Igloo with only one possible spot, so that must be where Igloo goes (spot 4). I took all the other cats out of spot 4. This follows Rule 8, because Igloo and Eduardo-Montez end up next to each other.
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed
4. I
5. T/S/?
6. T/?
7.
8. A/R
It looks like the last step narrowed Salamander to only one possible spot as well; spot 5. And that leaves Tummy-Rub-Tigger in spot 6, since he must go after Salamander (Rule 7), but must also have at least two cats eat tuna after him (Rule 5) .
1. A/R
2. L
3. Ed
4. I
5. S
6. T
7.
8. A/R
Rule 9: Rigatto must go after Elephant.
If Rigatto is to go after any cat, he cannot be in spot 1. That leaves Archibald in spot 1. So, Rigatto must be in spot 8. And of course, that only leaves spot 7 for Elephant, which follows Rule 9.
1. A
2. L
3. Ed
4. I
5. S
6. T
7. El
8. R
I double checked the rules, and made sure that my order did not break any of them. The order of the cats: Archibald, Lemming, Eduardo-Montez, Igloo, Salamander, Tummy-Rub-Tigger, Elephant, and Rigatto.
I confidently said the answer out loud. The now familiar jingle played, and I saw the text box proving my success.
Riddle: Mrs. Kelly’s (Too) Many Cats (Aspirant Difficulty)
Complete!
* 20 EXP
* 12 Skill Points to Logic (Speech)
* 5 Skill Points to Coagula (Alchemy)
1 Skill Unlocked:
* 3 Skill Points to Solvé (Alchemy)
Nice!
That was a whole heap of EXP, and a new skill in Alchemy! I still wasn’t sure what to do with any of the Alchemy skills, but it still made me feel accomplished just to unlock new skill trees.
My EXP and To Do List changed as well:
EXP: 22
To Do:
1. Solve the Cat’s riddle.
2. Solve the Cat’s second riddle.
3. Unlock the Tutorial
The second riddle? I looked down at the page. Right, I forgot all about the postscript. Underneath the riddle, it said: “Mreowrrr, what my name?”
I looked over the riddle again. I was definitely not lacking cat names. There were eight mentioned in the riddle. Could one of these be the name I was looking for?
“Archibald?” I said aloud, picking one of the names. I looked at the white cat on the counter for reassurance I was right.
I’m not sure that a cat can sound disapproving, but that is how his meow came out.
Ok, maybe not. I looked over my riddle.
There was no clue to indicate any of the eight cat names were the one I was looking for. I supposed I could just say them all, and see which one the cat would answer? Somehow, that felt a little like cheating, so I decided not to do that (for now).
If the second riddle follows the first, it only makes sense that I had to solve Cat Riddle 1 before Cat Riddle 2 . So my solution to Cat Riddle 1, the order of the cats, must have something to do with the solution of the second riddle.
I looked it over again. I had made a list with the cat’s initials, just before I solved it.
1. A
2. L
3. E
4. I
5. S
6. T
7. E
8. R
That’s when I saw it! The initials formed a name!
I looked the haughty cat right in his green eyes and said it.
“Aleister!”
“Took you long enough.”
I just about jumped out of my skin when I heard someone reply. I thought I was alone in here? I spun around frantically, searching for the man who had just spoken.
“W-who’s there?” I heard my voice tremble.
“Down here, clever one.” The voice seemed to be coming from the cat. He strolled casually towards me, flicking his long tail, and sat right in front of me on the counter. He had a distinctive aristocratic drawl, which made me think of white gloves, duels, and curled mustaches.
“Are you a talking cat?” I asked, looking right at the thing’s mouth. I still couldn't quite believe that a cat was talking to me.
“Such poor manners. I believe you have just learned my name. Perhaps I could impose on you to use it?” The cat replied. Yes, I really just saw his mouth move. His whiskers vibrated with each syllable.
“Oh, sorry, Aleister, right?” I said.
“Correct.”
“Well, nice to meet you Aleister, I’m…” I trailed off. I had to screw my eyes shut in concentration, and still nothing.
“I’m actually not sure who I am.” I said, when I couldn’t come up with anything. I couldn’t remember my name, what I looked like, or anything that happened before I woke up in that field of stars and picked the Snake as my star sign. I wasn’t even sure if I was a boy or a girl!
I had been so busy, opening locked doors and solving riddles, that I never stopped to think about what I was doing. I felt like I was being pushed and prodded forwards, so that I could not stop to look behind me.
“How unfortunate.” Aleister drawled. He didn’t seem very concerned with my misfortune at all. “The hardships of life, under which we toil, can be strenuous and painful.” He finished his little monologue. Speaking of pain, I remembered my injured hand.
“Hey, why did you scratch me?” I asked.
“I don’t allow complete strangers to just touch me. Do you?” The white hair around Aliester’s neck stood on end.
“I suppose I’d shake hands with strangers?” I replied.
“Fine, then I’ll shake your hand.” The cat drew up his little shoulders, and puffed out his chest. He extruded one paw, where I could see the un-retracted claws gleaming amid the perfect white fur.
Nervously, I wrapped my fingers around the paw, and moved my hand up and down. Thankfully, Aleister didn’t scratch me again.
I had been neglecting to look at my overlay, frightened as I was by the unfamiliar voice. Now that I knew it was the cat, and I was feeling a little safer, I looked over my stats. I had completed the Cat’s Second Riddle, and I crossed another item on my To Do list.
The little text box that had been hovering in my vision, though thankful not obstructing it, appeared now. I read it:
Riddle: Name of the Cat (Novice Difficulty)
Complete!
* 5 EXP
* 5 Skill Points to Logic (Speech)
My To do List had also changed.
EXP: 27
To Do:
1. Solve the Cat’s riddle.
2. Solve the Cat’s second riddle.
3. Unlock the Tutorial
What had been that last item I needed crossed off again? “Unlock the Tutorial.”
I looked uncertainly at Aleister.
“Er, excuse me, are you the Tutorial?” I addressed the cat.
His neck hairs stood up again.
“I am a being of wisdom and intellect! Yes, I may deign to advise you on occasion as you blunder through this house, and counsel you as you trip through your menial life, but do not dare to presume you may lower my status in such a crude manner!” He spat.
I didn’t contradict the mad kitty, but it sounded a lot like Aleister was my tutorial NPC, despite his indignation.
So why hadn’t my third To Do item get crossed off?
I remembered the other animal, the crow that had been perched up near the top of the bookshelf. Was he another Tutorial NPC? I guessed that I had to meet him as well, in order to cross off my last To Do item.
I was scared to offend this crow, like I did Aleister. His talons and beak might do a lot more damage than a cat scratch.
I nervously called up to the bird.
“Erm, excuse me? Would you mind coming down?” I asked, as politely as I could muster.
----------------------------------------
Ending Status
Sign: Snake
Buffs: Serpent’s Kiss (Romance twice as easy)
Debuffs: Curse of the Unspecified (???)
Cards of Destiny: 3 of ?? Discovered
EXP: 27
Skills:
Alchemy
-Coagula (LVL 0, 7 SKP)
-Solvé (LVL 0, 3 SKP)
???
Homesteading
-Tidying (LVL 0, 2 SKP)
???
Speech
-Logic (LVL 0, 20 SKP) Ready to level up!
???
Total SKP: 32