TheMazeExplanation: August 2014

The Start of the Path: Room 1

One thing I noticed is that the wording is odd. I saw the word 'like' and the Greek lettering. I saw the tripod and the pictures of the Apple, Bottle, Cup, and Drum.

Here is a clear sample of following the 'clue' to the next room. Example given is room # 40.
http://mazebymanson.blogspot.com/2014/07/which-clue-is-witch-or-red-herring-soup.html

(Another example is room 44 which has 6 doubles and two doors 21 and 18. Only 18 can be divided by 6, so it is the correct door. You have to make it "fit" as the picture on 8 stipulates.)

There are a lot of similar words in The Raven by Poe.
I see 13 of these 'double' words: Hall, Looked, Carefully, Doors, Choose, Helpfully, Doors, Door, Too, Seen, Peering, Gloom Choose.
Also, note the words that sound like numbers: 'To', 'One', 'To', 'One', 'To', 'Too' 'To', 'One' inTo'
Hmmm 13 and six times Two is heard. 13 X 2 = 26.
This solution to the past is most prevalent in the second half from 45 to 1.

F-A-B-L-E = 6 + 1 + 2 + 12 + 5 = 26!
M-A-Z-E = 13 + 1 + 26 + 5 = 45!

I have ten reasons for picking my first door on Maze #1.

1. The word 'cup' in the text matches the picture of a cup on the door.
2. The capital letters of the text include P, U, and C.
3. Cerberus is from mythology, which is a fable.
4. The words 'story', 'tale', and 'yarn' are on the second page of text.
5. The 'center' made me think if 'Centaur', specifically as the guardian Chiron, and Chiron is an asteroid/comet also known as 2060. (A very vague 26, but that's how my mind thinks, very obscurely.)
6. Yarn, Tale, and Fable contain the letter A (like the doorway's shadow), except Story (X this door)
7 Drum, Cup, and Bottle can all be empty, except Apple (X this door)
8. 20, 21, and 26 are close, except 41 (X this door)
9. FABLE = 26 when encoded numerically.

But, I did think of Robert E. Howard. He is the inventor of swords and sorcery tales, such as The Bloody Crown of Conan. Quote:
"Gleaming shell of an outward lie; fable of right divine-,
You gained your crowns by heritage, but blood was the price of mine.
The throne that I won by blood and sweat, I will not sell,
For promise of valleys filled with gold, or threats of the halls of hell!"

― Robert E. Howard

10. Fable sounds like Fay Bell.

Step 1 Room 26

Room 26 has 5 double letter words in the text.
It also contains the words: 'four', 'not enough' or 'T EN', 'to', inTENtions', 'inTENtions', 'to', 'one', 'to'.
(I plan it = I planet)
Hmm, ten, ten, ten. That makes thirty for me.
Also, there are 3 'to's which makes 6. so 6 X 5(doubles) = 30.
Some also will visually see a 3 on the trident and a 0 of the bell's rim. 30.
I take room 30. Let's go!

Step 2 Room 30

This room has 9 doubles. Also, the words: 'one', 'to', 'one', 'to' and 'for.'
The picture sign of "if no eve" spells one five.
I only saw 8 doubles and added 8 to 34 to get 42.
'to' times 'for' is 8. Give me a better clou! (french, explained in Poe part 2)
Let's try room 42.

Step 3 Room 42

First, some immediate visuals.
The room features four pairs, scissors, shakers, pear, and pair of dice.
There are five boots.
The text has 9 double letter words, starting with room.
Also the words 'three', 'one', three', 'to', 'to', 'one'.
Hmm, two pairs is 2 X 2 = 4, since neither 8 nor 12 exist as choices.
Wait, also 9 (doubles) - 5 (boots) = 4
Too impatient to wait, Let's see room 4.

Step 4 Room 4

Room 4 has 15 doubles. Hmmm and the words 'before' and 'to' .
I noticed regarding room 15 that 44-15=29.or just 15. tough choice.

Onto room 29.

Step 5 Room 29

Room 29 has 12 doubles and the word to or two 5 times.
12 X 2 = 24, no. 12 + 5 = 17. Also, 29-12 = 17.
I saw this upside down right away.
If he hid it, it must be the correct room.
It feels like a coffin in here, this math riddle!
(For those unfamiliar with a math riddle, they are called coffins. They will kill you.)
Then, onward to room 17.

Step 6 Room 17

This room has 5 doubles.
Oh," ignore my advice". Does this mean he will now mislead us?
There is a four in Amphorei. 4 and 5 makes 45.
The glory of room 45 awaits.
What secrets will it hold?

Step 7 Room 45

Room 45 is an excellent starting point. It was given to us as a goal from the start and the goal from here to return. Well, that's another discussion. What do we find here?

There are 12 doubles: "room, really, riddle, wall, all, see, hidden, room, room, looked, looked, look."
We find number words: 'to' 'one' 'for'.
Hmm, I took it as 12 times 2 = 24. 23 is the closest to 24.
If you go to room 23, the code will lead you to 28.

Oh, 2, 1, 4 is 2 X 14 = 28. Too tricky for me.

The riddle of this room (not really a riddle, just a quote)
"Without God, the world would be a maze without a clue."

Step 8 Room 23

Room 23 has 17 doubles and the words 'three', 'to', two'. 'to'.
Hmm, 3 'two's. Therefore, 17 times 2 = 34. No. 3+2+2+2=9
(Thus, 28 was redundant, maybe a mistake?)
Oh, 17 - 9 = 8.
Let's try room 8.

Step 9 Room 8

Room 8 has some twos: 2 'E', 2 bowls, 2 umbrellas, and a tutu.
The text has 'to' and 'to'. But also preceded by a 'one'.
Since there is no 4 (future room?) Let's try one and two or 12.
Onto room 12.
Also 'pin' plus 'Du' from the last room is 'Dupin', Poe's favorite detective. Hmm.

Step 10 Room 12

Room 12 has 13 doubles. The words 'to', 'to', and 'to'. or 3 'to's.
13 times 3 = 39.
The pictures point to 2 (2 fingers), The right has 2 and 1 finger (21) and the left has 'ate' (8).
Thus, we eliminate those three rooms.
Let's go to room 39.

Step 11 Room 39

Room 39 has a huge 15 doubles. The appearing words are 'one', 'one', 'to', and 'to',
I liked the term "cellar" as in Green's "cellar door." Reminds me of the sound on "nevermore."
I noticed 2 X 2 = 4 and 4 X 12 - 11 = 39. So, this is the room.
But, 'to' X 'to' = 4. Room 4 is our answer.
Onto room 4, again.
Note there are 15 wine bottles. (Hmm, a future room?)