### 48

You scan the walls of this reading room and as your eye passes over the books and scrolls stored upon its shelves, you feel an almost uncontrollable urge to tear every one of them to pieces. The wickedness they contain, gleaned after thousands of years of perpetrating the vilest herbcraft known to Magnamund, is so potent that you feel your Kai strength waning in their presence (lose 2 ENDURANCE points).

Mindful of the insidious effect of these books you search as quickly as you can. On one of the lower shelves you notice an ornately carved wooden box, banded with gold and inlaid with precious gemstones. You carry it to the main table where the light is brightest and, as you place it there, you hear a riddle emanating from a design engraved on its lid. It speaks in the Cenerese tongue but you instantly recognize the words:

> 'My treasure is hidden from view
> But I'll open myself for you,
> If you ponder this puzzle then state
> The right answer to determine my fate.
> Divide 80 by one half,
> Then examine what you see.
> From this number take 14,
> What remains will open me.'

Your Kai senses tell you that by solving the riddle, then speaking the answer aloud, you will cause the lid of the box to open.

When you think you have solved this riddle, turn to the page number which is the same as your answer.5

If you cannot answer the riddle, or if your answer does not lead to the page number which opens the box, turn instead to 311.

[5] The section corresponding to the correct answer will have a footnote confirming that it is indeed correct.

Text copyright © 1990 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1990 Brian Williams.