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197:. Gold and silver Merlin symbols then tell you to turn to a different page. On that second page, gold alchemy symbols tell you which direction to draw the line, crossing the page to a new border square. Gold and silver cadency symbols tell you to turn to yet another page of the book. On that third page, crescent moons tell you to move around the border to find the correct object. The 75 objects are ordered based on
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struck by a bolt from the wand, imprisoning him magically. In his final act, Merlin transforms Nimue into the water of a nearby lake, close to the cave where he remains trapped. They are fated to be confined, yet in proximity, until 'the seeker' (the reader) solves 'the spell' (the puzzle's solution), thereby summoning the wand as the ultimate reward.
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in order to give it to the evil sorcerers to free them. Initially believing she could save the magical world with their help, is eventually deceived. When she realizes her mistake, she attempts to use the wand against the sorcerers. However, Merlin, misunderstanding her intentions, steps in and is
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Along with a prize of either £75,000 or $ 125,000 (which were then equal under the exchange rate), the winner would have been awarded a thirty-six inch long wand, the head of which was made from ancient gold-threaded
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of life that says that giving nets greater rewards, both monetary and emotional, than taking. The book tells of Merlin protecting an unnamed princess from a cadre of evil sorcerers (and in the process creating a
136:, the plot bears no relevance to the solution. The answer is instead found in the illustrations and in the squares that border every page. Every page is littered with symbols pointing to the solution including
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51:, the details of which were to be drawn and sent to an official address. None of the 30,000 entries received contained the correct solution, so the £75,000 prize was donated to the
264:. It was published by EarthTone Records under the group name Alkaemy, and released on September 15, 1998. The CD was meant to be a companion to the worldwide release of the book.
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The solution to the puzzle is found in a list of 75 objects placed around the page borders. These objects are found by drawing 75 lines through the book "in 3 dimensions".
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It is revealed that the black cat is Nimue and the owl is Merlin. The couple return to their natural forms and resume their love affair. Nimue steals Merlin's
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chest to contain all the prizes, possessing three locks and three different keys. The lid of the box bears the words "Merlinius Est Mihi
Dominus"
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is placed in the centre. The method of casting the spell is to speak the names of the 13 runes, extinguish the candles, and then say "
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who takes her through the house and explains Merlin's life, magical abilities, and what the book describes as 'The
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The lines all start at different border squares on each page of the book, indicated by silver Nimue symbols (the
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are placed around the circle and a 13th rune is placed inside the north point of the pentagram. Silver and gold
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book, challenging its readers to solve the titular mystery by deciphering the pictures to learn how to cast a
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with the implied intent of trying to find something worth stealing. While there she meets a
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Correctly interpreting the list of objects tells you how to perform the spell. During a
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symbols. The borders contain objects that make up the solution including
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set into silver with a gilded staff representing a branch from the
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A larger golden symbol, Sulphur
Sublimate, attached to a shard of
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made of five different pieces of wood is placed inside a salt
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In keeping with earlier armchair treasure hunt books, such as
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investigating the run-down former living quarters of the
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Merlin's Magic: Raise the sword and pass the royalties
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are lit and placed either side of the pentagram and a
445:, The Dreams Of Gerontius, retrieved 23 December 2016
525:, by Murray Waldren, 1998, originally published in
331:, also representing three sorcerers from the story.
309:gold pellets which the book claims comes from the
490:"The SF Site Featured Review: The Merlin Mystery"
24:is a 1998 puzzle/children's book, written by
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292:containing twelve golden alchemical symbols
579:Children's books based on Arthurian legend
201:encoded into etched tiles on each page.
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16:1998 children's book by Jonathan Gunson
395:Busby, Keith; Roger Dalrymple (2005).
362:Jonathan Gunson & Marten Coombe,
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260:, Shelagh and Sheryle Gwynfar, and
430:, Official Solution, archived copy
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443:Merlin Mystery Solution: Part 13
63:The book starts with an unnamed
455:The Armchair Treasure Hunt Club
248:CD was especially produced by
28:and illustrated by Gunson and
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110:, described as being a water
515:Children's literature portal
102:), and falling in love with
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401:. DS Brewer. p. 130.
398:Arthurian Literature XXII
319:chained together, of the
252:composer and producer
42:armchair treasure hunt
574:Works based on Merlin
569:Fiction about alchemy
554:British picture books
549:1998 children's books
366:, Warner Books, 1998
457:, The Merlin Mystery
254:Julia Taylor-Stanley
80:northern spotted owl
357:Select bibliography
126:Puzzle and solution
53:World Wildlife Fund
584:Warner Books books
428:The Merlin Mystery
364:The Merlin Mystery
208:, facing north, a
142:astrological signs
138:alchemical symbols
40:, it served as an
21:The Merlin Mystery
468:"Products Detail"
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157:chemical elements
36:and certified by
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474:. Archived from
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412:. Retrieved
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297:lapis lazuli
282:tree of life
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262:Joss Ackland
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187:astrological
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155:for plants,
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34:Warner Books
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189:symbol for
173:Town criers
153:Latin names
543:Categories
414:2008-07-11
382:References
311:River Nile
246:soundtrack
240:Soundtrack
195:witch hats
169:Beefeaters
133:Masquerade
114:princess.
91:philosophy
275:Brazilian
210:pentagram
206:full moon
177:Toby Jugs
163:, and of
161:landmarks
84:Pendragon
65:black cat
334:A solid
307:24-carat
305:of pure
301:A small
290:bracelet
230:rosemary
228:burning
146:heraldic
350:SF Site
343:Reviews
278:crystal
250:British
222:candles
191:Mercury
165:English
149:cadency
100:Avebury
87:Alchemy
405:
372:
329:Saturn
327:, and
323:, the
317:charms
315:Three
226:censer
214:circle
193:) and
112:sprite
106:, the
72:Merlin
69:wizard
268:Prize
234:Peace
218:runes
216:. 12
104:Nimue
89:', a
49:spell
46:magic
38:Mensa
403:ISBN
370:ISBN
325:Moon
303:vial
175:and
144:and
119:Wand
59:Plot
531:. (
336:oak
321:Sun
236:".
98:in
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288:A
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