Bashcrawl Chamber: Bash Arithmetic and the Statue Boss
By IT-Journey Team
Defeat Bashcrawl's Statue Boss by solving arithmetic with let, expr, and $(( )). Mastering Bash math is the only weapon that can defeat this stone guardian.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Table of Contents
A massive stone statue dominates the Chamber, its eyes glowing with arithmetic runes. It will not yield to a sword. Only correct calculations can break the enchantment — and wrong answers deal damage.
🎯 Quest Objectives
- Compute values using
let,expr, and$(( )) - Assign arithmetic results to shell variables
- Solve the statue’s puzzle correctly on the first attempt
- Run
./statueto trigger and win the boss encounter - Collect the Chamber’s treasure and unlock the Rift path
�️ Quest Prerequisites
- Armoury side-quest complete
- Sword in inventory (from armoury
./sword)
⚡ Command Cheatsheet
| Syntax | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|
let "var=expr" |
let "x=3*4" |
x=12 |
expr a op b |
expr 10 - 3 |
7 (printed) |
$((expr)) |
echo $((2**8)) |
256 |
$((var++)) |
echo $((n++)) |
value then increment |
Arithmetic Operators
| Operator | Meaning |
|---|---|
+ |
Addition |
- |
Subtraction |
* |
Multiplication |
/ |
Integer division |
% |
Modulo (remainder) |
** |
Exponentiation |
🗺️ Walkthrough
Step 1 — Enter the Chamber and read the runes
ls -F
# runes statue* chest
cat runes
The runes pose a riddle: “To defeat me, compute the Vault Code: multiply the number of doors in the Cellar by the number of exits in the Entrance, then add 7.”
The numbers vary per game session. Example: 4 doors × 1 exit + 7 = 11.
Step 2 — Practice arithmetic first
# Method 1: let
let "vault_code = 4 * 1 + 7"
echo $vault_code # 11
# Method 2: expr (each token must be a separate arg)
expr 4 \* 1 + 7 # 11 (escape * to avoid glob expansion)
# Method 3: arithmetic expansion (preferred modern style)
vault_code=$(( 4 * 1 + 7 ))
echo $vault_code # 11
Recommendation: Use
$(( ))— it is cleaner, handles operator precedence correctly, and does not requireexprto be installed.
Step 3 — Compute your specific answer
Replace the example numbers with the values from YOUR runes:
# Template:
answer=$(( doors_in_cellar * exits_in_entrance + 7 ))
echo "My answer is: $answer"
Step 4 — Face the statue
./statue
# The statue asks: "What is the Vault Code?"
# Enter your answer: 11
# CRACK! The statue crumbles. Victory!
Wrong answers reduce your HP. Make sure your math is right before running ./statue.
Step 5 — Loot the chest
cat chest
# Stone Key fragment obtained.
inventory
The stone key fragment is part of the multi-piece key that opens the Rift.
💡 Arithmetic Gotchas
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
expr 4 * 1 → error |
* glob-expanded |
Escape: expr 4 \* 1 |
let "x=5/2" → 2 |
Integer division | Use bc for floats: echo "5/2" \| bc -l |
| Variable not set | Missing $ |
Use echo $var, not echo var |
| Wrong answer, took damage | Calculation error | Recalculate carefully before ./statue |
✅ Validation
- You computed the vault code using all three methods (let, expr,
$(( ))) - You solved the statue puzzle without taking damage
- The stone key fragment is in your inventory
- The Rift path is now unlocked (visible in
map)
➡️ Next Steps
The stone key fragment is needed for the Rift — but you still need pieces from the other branches first.
Continue exploring:
- Hidden Chapel — for the tome fragment
- Vault — for the goblet solution
- Scrap Heap — for the portal link
- When all four branches complete → The Rift
📚 External Resources
Continue your terminal adventure with these resources:
- Bashcrawl Web Demo — Play in your browser, no installation required
- Bashcrawl on GitHub — Source code, setup, and open contributions
- GNU Bash Manual — Arithmetic — Shell arithmetic for the brave adventurer
- IT-Journey Bashcrawl Hub — Full quest series and walkthroughs
- Bash Arithmetic Guide — Master the realm of numbers
Stone dust settles. The Chamber is yours. Arithmetic — the ultimate weapon. 🐉