Riddle Minute

[Doc Sigma]

Correct! I love that one even though it's more of a joke than a riddle.

[nickspoon]

It's a good'un. Here's a clever one:

A dragon and knight live on an island. This island has seven poisoned wells, numbered 1 to 7. If you drink from a well, you can only save yourself by drinking from a higher numbered well. Well 7 is located at the top of a high mountain, so only the dragon can reach it.

One day they decide that the island isn't big enough for the two of them, and they have a duel. Each of them brings a glass of water to the duel, they exchange glasses, and drink. After the duel, the knight lives and the dragon dies.

Why did the knight live? Why did the dragon die?

[Hyperion]

The water they'd brought was to be the antidote for themselves?

[nickspoon]

Sort of.

[Doc Sigma]

I know the answer to this one, so here's a clue in anti-spoiler tiny text.

The fact that the dragon can reach well 7 and the knight can't is normally a good thing for the dragon, but in the case of this duel it is actually a bad thing for him. Why?

[Dr. Sticks]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

[nickspoon]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

[Dr. Sticks]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

[nickspoon]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

He's a very lazy knight. He doesn't want to do any slaying directly, nor does he need to.

[Dr. Sticks]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

He's a very lazy knight. He doesn't want to do any slaying directly, nor does he need to.

does he drink all of his water, then fill the glass back half way with the poison #7?

[nickspoon]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

He's a very lazy knight. He doesn't want to do any slaying directly, nor does he need to.

does he drink all of his water, then fill the glass back half way with the poison #7?

Not quite. The dragon drinks poison #7 by his own will. Why?

[Dr. Sticks]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

He's a very lazy knight. He doesn't want to do any slaying directly, nor does he need to.

does he drink all of his water, then fill the glass back half way with the poison #7?

Not quite. The dragon drinks poison #7 by his own will. Why?

perhaps I bypassed the answer already; did the knight suggest that they prove to each other their glass wasn't poisoned by taking a sip first, and then handing it with the other?

[nickspoon]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

He's a very lazy knight. He doesn't want to do any slaying directly, nor does he need to.

does he drink all of his water, then fill the glass back half way with the poison #7?

Not quite. The dragon drinks poison #7 by his own will. Why?

perhaps I bypassed the answer already; did the knight suggest that they prove to each other their glass wasn't poisoned by taking a sip first, and then handing it with the other?

That's an interesting solution. However, the duel itself is exactly as described - the key is that they both assume the other one is going to try to poison them.

[Dr. Sticks]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

He's a very lazy knight. He doesn't want to do any slaying directly, nor does he need to.

does he drink all of his water, then fill the glass back half way with the poison #7?

Not quite. The dragon drinks poison #7 by his own will. Why?

perhaps I bypassed the answer already; did the knight suggest that they prove to each other their glass wasn't poisoned by taking a sip first, and then handing it with the other?

That's an interesting solution. However, the duel itself is exactly as described - the key is that they both assume the other one is going to try to poison them.

oh of course, the knight didn't actually bring poison!

[nickspoon]

the knight drank his poison before giving it to the dragon

Partially correct, but in that case the dragon wouldn't die because he can cure any poisoned water the knight is capable of obtaining.

but can he survive if the knight then slays him? that is in his job description, after all.

He's a very lazy knight. He doesn't want to do any slaying directly, nor does he need to.

does he drink all of his water, then fill the glass back half way with the poison #7?

Not quite. The dragon drinks poison #7 by his own will. Why?

perhaps I bypassed the answer already; did the knight suggest that they prove to each other their glass wasn't poisoned by taking a sip first, and then handing it with the other?

That's an interesting solution. However, the duel itself is exactly as described - the key is that they both assume the other one is going to try to poison them.

oh of course, the knight didn't actually bring poison!

Precisely. Well done. :)