Riddles in the Downs

[Bombadil]

One of my favorite parts in the hobbit is the Riddle-match between Gollum and Bilbo. So i thought, why not start a riddling game on anything in the hobbit and the lord of the rings, or even ME geography? I'll start out with one:


A hasty one to some, friend of hobbits
A young one, with an elvish name

[The Saucepan Man]

We did already have a couple of riddle games but, since they were dormant, I have closed them.

Please feel free free to continue the riddle game here. Usual rules apply. First person to answer the current riddle correctly gets to set the next one.

[Arestevana]

I will guess..

Bregalad: The elvish name of Quickbeam, a young and relatively hasty ent, companion to the hobbits Merry and Pippin.

[Bombadil]

correct, nice work

[Arestevana]

Thanks!

In this the stars are doomed to die,
With murmured voice I prophecy,
While cold and still the small ones lie,
What is 'this' and what am I?

If this your wonder cannot quell,
Remember ever: Here I dwell!
To wander in forsaken dell,
A ghosted shade with powers fell.

[The Perky Ent]

I have absolutly nooo clue, but...um...Earendil?

[Bombadil]

im not sure, but possibly morgoth in the halls of mandos?

[Firefoot]

"This" could be a Barrow and you could be a Barrow-wight.

[Fingolfin II]

I agree with Bombadil about the person being Morgoth; but would here happen to be in the Void, outside the Door of Night?

[Arestevana]

Excellent, Firefoot. Barrow-wight is correct. Barrow, however, is not. Guesses on 'this', anyone?

[Firefoot]

The black wind?

[The Perky Ent]

Random guess, Malbeth the Seer?

[Finwe]

In the Barrow-Downs?

[Arestevana]

Correct again, Firefoot. Your turn. ;)

[Firefoot]

Thanks! Now, to write one... that's a scary thought. ;)

A weapon used to call,
A token of war.
Long expected yet dreaded by all,
Black and red its colors are.

[The Perky Ent]

Um...well...no clue really....so....i'm guessing....Smaug?

[Bombadil]

the horn of helm hammerhand?

[Finwe]

The Red Arrow?

[Firefoot]

Finwe has it.

[Finwe]

All right... this one is a slightly wicked one, unless you have the right resources. ;)


Millions of black ants;
The army marches forward in thousands of platoons;
In six brigades;
In three divisions;
All toward the One.

[Fingolfin II]

The Last Alliance of Men and Elves?

[Finwe]

Nope. Think bigger.

[Fingolfin II]

Ok- how about the march of Eonwe and the War of Wrath?

[Finwe]

Ooh... too early....


Big doesn't necessarily have to do with numbers. Think "overall" big.

[Bombadil]

this is wrong, bu worh a shot.

battle of five armies?

[***Gandalf***]

pelenor fields?

[Finwe]

Nope... read your Chapter Index of Lord of the Rings again...

[Bombadil]

The Battle of Helm's deep?

[Thorongil]

It sounds like the book itself. Or are you after "the One"?

[nynnd1]

Could it be Sauron's attack on Minis Tirith

[Nuranar]

I agree with Thorongil; I think it's the book itself.

Millions of little black words (poetic license there, methinks ;));
Thousands of sentences;
Six books;
Three volumes;
One whole.

And if this is it, yep - it's pretty wicked. :)

[nynnd1]

I like the thinking, it's gotta be right or i'll eat my hat.

[Nuranar]

Finwe, where are you?

[Smeagol]

I would bet my life that it's the Lord of the Rings

[symestreem]

Ar-Pharazon's assault on Barad-dur?

[Iarwain]

I think that "The Lord of the Rings" could easily be right, but if not, I'll venture to guess that it is the War of Wrath, if only because there were three "divisions" of elves: Vanyar, Noldor, Teleri.

Iarwain

[Bombadil]

Hey dol! Where has Finwe been!? :confused: Anyway, here is a new riddle!


He had to choose, and he chose death,
but not by sword, 'stead loss of breath.
His father sailed, and all were saved,
his brother passed form the 3rd age.

[The Perky Ent]

I'll say...Elros. He chose mortality (death), and he died of age (breath), his father Earendil sails in the sky with the simaril (sails), and Elrond (brother) was the start of the fourth age! That should do!

[Bombadil]

ah yes! Very good perky, you're up. :cool:

[Bombadil]

Perky??

[The Perky Ent]

Right! Sorry about that!

Killed in darkness, reborn in fire, near the power of most desire,
I tasted evil, and never feable, and always remained regal.
By royalty I am, and to many I'd ram, for my attack goes "wham!"


The wham part is a bit out of character, but it fits.

[Bombadil]

Grond?

[nynnd1]

Is it the Lord of Nazgul

[The Perky Ent]

Nope! (It's fun to say that :D)

[NightKnight]

Gandalf?

[The Perky Ent]

Nope!

[Evisse the Blue]

Sauron?

[The Perky Ent]

Nope, but abstracty getting closer!

[Son of Númenor]

The answer is Narsil, known as Andúril after it was reforged.

[The Perky Ent]

Yes it is clever son!

[Son of Númenor]

Premonition made her wary of
That which was nonetheless bequeathed
On faithful soul who sought in love,
The ill-fated, in sorrow wreathed

I am not only looking for who 'she' is, but what the riddle is about as a whole.

[Durelin]

Since you stated, 'this should be easy', I will go with this answer, as it does fit.

Arwen, and the giving up of her immortality. 'The ill-fated' must be Aragorn.

That seems far too simple, but...

-Durelin :D

[Son of Númenor]

Good guess, Durelin, but that's not what I'm looking for.

[The Perky Ent]

I have no clue, so I'll do another one of my random guessing. Luthien?

[paavo]

inspired by perky ents random quess, I'll have one of my own: Turin?

[The Perky Ent]

Idril?

[Son of Númenor]

Still not what I'm looking for.

Hint: The passage refers to three people, all of different race.

[The Perky Ent]

No clue, so Beren - man, Luthien - elf, and Dior -half elf?

[Son of Númenor]

I don't just want who it is, but what the riddle means as a whole. As it happens, the three people you named are all incorrect, but are closely related to the ones whom the riddle concerns.

[Mithalwen]

I think it is Niniel / Nienor.

[Son of Númenor]

Has anyone bothered to read what I said?

[Mithalwen]

Sorry..I mad ethe classic mistake of answering without fully reading the instructions..
'She' is Melian who is concerned by the malice she senses in Anglachel, the sword made by Eol, which Beleg (elf and faithful soul) chooses when he goes to seek Turin ( man, son of Umarth - ill fate) . Her fears are well grounded because when Beleg finds Turin bound and unconscious, the sword nicks Turin as he cuts the fetters and Turin roused and thinking himself attacked seizes the sword and slays Beleg........

[Son of Númenor]

Spot on, Mithalwen. Your go.

[Mithalwen]

Sorry for the delay... I find setting questions so hard it almost puts me off answering if I think I am right!!!!


Hidden helm defied destiny,
Sought love found pity,
Deserted and followed duty,
Fulfilled an ancient prophecy
Seeming lost to death
Kinsman detected breath
Despair and darkness averted
When heart was converted.


Reasonably full explanation please... :D

[Son of Númenor]

1. Hidden helm defied destiny,
2. Sought love found pity,
3. Deserted and followed duty,
4. Fulfilled an ancient prophecy
5. Seeming lost to death
6. Kinsman detected breath
7. Despair and darkness averted
8. When heart was converted.

1. She took the name "Dernhelm"
2. Sought Aragorn's love, but found only his pity
3. Deserted her post as leader of the women and children in Edoras to fight at the Pelennor Fields
4. Killed the Witch-king, fulfilling Glorfindel's prophecy that no man would ever kill the Lord of the Nazgûl.
5/6/7. Éomer and Théoden both thought she was dead after her encounter with the Witch-king, but she eventually recovered.
8. She fell in love with Faramir in the Houses of Healing.

[Gil-Galad]

wasn't it Malbeth the Seer that said "no man can kill the witch-king"?

walking scarecrow?

http://www.battle.net/images/harvestgolemsm.gif

[Son of Númenor]

wasn't it Malbeth the Seer that said "no man can kill the witch-king"?

No, it was Glorfindel, who said, "not by the hand of man will he fall."

[Mithalwen]

Oooh that lasted a full 10 minutes before an almost perfect answer....Yes....it is Eowyn who although she deserted her post fulfilled her chosen duty to defend the king. L7 belongs to 8 but the 2 do refer to her falling in love with Faramir.

5 and 6 you have interpreted wrongly - Theoden did not know she was dead and Eomer is not the kinsman I am thinking of - the incident is quite specific.... :rolleyes:

Anyway do go ahead and set another question :D

[Gil-Galad]

i'm positive Malbeth said that, Glorfindel probaly reminded the king of Gondor that tried too chase the witch king down after he was purged from Arnor

[Son of Númenor]

No, he didn't. Glorfindel predicted it. Malbeth predicted Aragorn's passing through the Paths of the Dead.

Anyway, on with the riddle.

Dark as night
Home to hermit

[Bombadil]

Nan Elmoth?

[Mithalwen]

in Appendix A of LOTR it gives a description of teh encounter between Earnur and the witch king and Glorfindel's words. It gives no sign that he is quoting rather than making the prophecy himself. So I say - for what it is worth- Glorfindel...

The kinsman of Eowyn I was referring to in my riddle was imrahil btw.

[Son of Númenor]

Thanks for the clarification, Mithalwen.

Bombadil, you've got it.

[Bombadil]

Cool, hmm let's see...



Made by dark hands
my curse felt by the 1st
felt by the 2nd
and by the worm.

Doesn't rhyme sorry! But see if you can explain each line in your answer, just to make it more fun. :D

[Mithalwen]

Anglachel / Gurthang made by Eol the dark elf (dark hands) from ore taken from a meteor. Melian sensed its malice when it was given to Beleg Cuthalion and warned him it was ill omened (the curse)... The sword took the life of it's first bearer (Beleg) at the hands of it's second (Turin Turambar) who used it to commit suicide. turin used the sword to kill the dragon Glaurung (the worm). glaurung broke under Turin and it's shards were interred with him.

[Bombadil]

Very good! I was thinking 1st as in felt by a first born (elves) and second as in second born (Men) but it's the same as what you said. You're up! :)

[Mithalwen]

Give me day's grace plese to think up something?

[Mithalwen]

Born of gold and silver
Linked morning and evening
Freed from darkness but not shadow
Left love for light
Reunion was eternal separation


PS ... it was definitely Glorfindel's prophecy ..says so in the bit about Eomer in the appendices

[Bombadil]

Eärendil?

[Mithalwen]

No... but you are moving vaguely in the right direction.....

[Evisse the Blue]

Is it Celebrian?
Born of gold and silver - her mother was Galadriel and her father Celeborn
Linked morning and evening - linked Galadriel to Arwen
Freed from darkness but not shadow - She was healed after her ordeal, but the joy of living left her
Left love for light - left for Valinor instead of staying with Elrond
Reunion was eternal separation - she was eternally separated from Arwen

[Mithalwen]

Absolutely spot on...... Poor Elrond really was torn in all directions wasn't he? Always felt I would have liked to have known more about Celebrian .....

[Evisse the Blue]

Me too! So much could have been said between the two of them...


Born of love between the fairest,
I destroyed my father's dearest.
I created a desire,
I am a tormenting fire,
Still my heart is black.
I put the story on its track.

[Bombadil]

Fëanor?

[Evisse the Blue]

Correct! :)

[Bombadil]

We're 2 of the 5
Came across in the 3rd
Are we even alive?
Of us there are few words.

[Mithalwen]

Alatar and Pallando the 2 Blue Wizards (with Saruman, Gandalf and Radagast forming the 5 Istari) who came to ME in the Third age and disappeared into the far East never to be heard of again..?

[Bombadil]

Very correct! :D

[Gil-Galad]

*bump*

[Mithalwen]

Star-browed, the lonely bride
wept bitterly, admidst the sheep
Tree-lord would not home abide;
He roamed too long across the deep.



An easy one....but rhyming after a fashion......

[Evisse the Blue]

Erendis pining for Aldarion.

[Mithalwen]

Yep .... my limited knowledge of Elvish translates Erendis as lonely bride, known as Elestirne because of the jewel she wore, living in the sheep lands of Emerie... Aldarion = lord of trees... :) All yours...... And it was a seriously dysfunctional relationship - but I always think people who think that Tolkien is a boy's own adventure writer should read this one..... he really knew people :rolleyes:

[Evisse the Blue]

Uprooted and lonely,
Yet a joy to behold,
A home for latecomers
From the days of old.

[Mithalwen]

Well since noone else has had a shot... Tol Eressea - the lonely Isle that was transport and home to the elves...

[The Perky Ent]

That's probably right, but I'll guess the other one. Numenor

[Evisse the Blue]

Mithalwen has it.

[Mithalwen]

Balrog's bane,
Came back again-
Twice aided a flight
From the forces of night
Person of might
Clad in white light.

[Morsul the Dark]

Gandalf?

killed a balrog
came back after death
Gwaihir(i think) flew him from orthanc and he was saved by the eagles in the hobbit
he was strong
and he was gandalf the white

boy if this is wrong i will cry

[paavo]

this seems so obvious that i'm certain there is some trick here. :)
but I'll take the bait: Gandalf

Balrog's bane, ---- obvious
Came back again- ---- obvious too :)
Twice aided a flight
From the forces of night ---- aided the fellowship to escape from the wolves and from the Balrog
Person of might ---- obvious
Clad in white light. ---- obvious.

[Morsul the Dark]

ew we cross-posted that stinks
you're right though it almost seemed too obvious to me as well

[Fingolfin II]

Right, I'll go for the less obvious one- was it Glorfindel?

Balrog's bane- killed the Balrog he fought with on the mountain peak.
Came back again- was reborn and a part of Elrond's household (though this isn't certain, that's true).
Twice aided a flight, from the forces of night- he helped Frodo escape the Nazgul, and aided the escapees of Gondolin.
Person of might- described as an Elf-lord of the Firstborn, who has dwelt in the Blessed Realm.
Clad in white light- was shown to be 'an Elf-lord revealed in his wrath', when the Nazgul tried to cross the Bruinen, as he was a shining white figure.

I doubt this is the right answer, but I must cover all contingencies!

[Gil-Galad]

another reason could be Echthelion

Balrog's bane- killed Gothmog, lord of the Balrogs
Came back again- the stewards of Gondor took his name, so he was kind of reborn
Twice aided a flight, from the forces of night- well, back in beleriand he helped get Gondolins troops back to Gondolin and stalled aganest evil forces in the courtyard
Person of might- described as an Elf-lord of the Firstborn, who has dwelt in the Blessed Realm.
Clad in white light- Elf-Lord! pretty strong!

[Mithalwen]

2 people fell into the "Trap for Heffalumps" :p ...... Gandalf... far too obvious and the flight clue would be a little weak... not what you associate him with- Fingolfin is right on all counts.... Glorfindel was the one I meant - Ecthelion well I think the clues would have been too tenuous.... although I am a bit sneaky and like to be subtle, once you know the clues fit quite tidily. Incidentally, and because it bears on this... JRRT decided that Glorfindel of Gondolin and Glorfindel of Rivendell were the same and Glorfindel had been exceptionally returned to ME for a purpose... to aid Gandalf in the fight against Sauron (HoME) :D

[Fingolfin II]

Thanks, Mithalwen.

With foilage as dark as the night,
Refused to listen to the Darker One in his plight.
He fought and retreated,
Bruised, but not yet beated.
Created a haven, yet lost my wife,
Had a daughter yet death took her life.
Sundered from father and mother,
He is forever separated from his brother.

[Gil-Galad]

Turgon me thinks?

[Gil-Galad]

maybe even Hurin?

[The Perky Ent]

Could it be Elrond?

[Morsul the Dark]

ill say fangorn it used to be so vast and prt of it fought the hobbits

seperated from its brother lost his wife

the daughter is the only clue throwing me off

[Mithalwen]

I would have said Elrond but I can't explain the first 2 lines.... :confused:

[Gil-Galad]

Sauron tried to convince Gil-Galad adn Elrond to help him with his rings, but they would not lend an ear

[Fingolfin II]

Perky Ent has it! It is indeed Elrond- foilage as dark as night (Elrond had midnight hair); refused to listen to the Darker One in his plight (he and Gil-galad refused to listen to Sauron when he disguised himself as Annatar).

[The Perky Ent]

Yay! My dead giveaway was the last bit Had a daughter yet death took her life.
He is forever separated from his brother.

The choice of Arwen and Elros' choice of mortality stuck in my mind. I don't know why it does that :) Anyways, here's the next one:


Faced the noble, killed the rescuer.
Killed the vain, and retreated into darkness
guarded by stone, and weilded a dwarfs favor.
My kin saved the light, and retreated from it.
Killed by the one born twice more,
I ruled with a firm grip


It's probably easier than I think. Have fun!

[Bombadil]

Turin Turambar?

[The Perky Ent]

Turin? No.

[Gil-Galad]

Maeglin maybe? or one of the sons of Feanor?

[The Perky Ent]

Maeglin? Nope. And it isn't a son of Feanor either. Definitly not.

[Iarwain]

Are you Carcharoth?

[The Perky Ent]

Nope

[Morsul the Dark]

Sauron?

[The Perky Ent]

No, but you're getting close ;)

[Morsul the Dark]

alright lets take the next step Morgoth?

[The Perky Ent]

Nope. Morgoth it is not.

[Morsul the Dark]

saruman? http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/games/zelda/link/linkcrystalz3.gif

[The Perky Ent]

No, it's not Saruman! And by the way, what's with the legend of zelda guy? http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/games/zelda/link/linktriforce.gif

[Morsul the Dark]

Well i just learned of the site with tons of smileys I was seeing if they actually work

is it the Witch King?

[The Perky Ent]

No, It's not http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/games/zelda/link/linkan.gif

[Morsul the Dark]

wow I'm so silly I think I found the answer

Balrog http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/ruinkai/FIREdevil.gif

[The Perky Ent]

You're close, but you still don't got it! http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/games/zelda/mon/ganon.gif

[Morsul the Dark]

Mouth of Sauron?
http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/ruinkai/GRIM2A.gif

[The Perky Ent]

No, I'm afraid not http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/games/zelda/mon/stalfos2.gif

[Morsul the Dark]

troll?

[Gil-Galad]

Gothmog, Lt of Minas Morgul...maybe even Gothmog lord of Balrogs

[The Perky Ent]

Gil-Galad got it. But, can you explain it?

[Gil-Galad]

umm which one is it? Gothmog Lt or Gothmog Lord?

[The Perky Ent]

You tell me! You got it right, so now tell me why!

[Gil-Galad]

this one here is for Gothmog LT


Faced the noble-Faced Gondorians
killed the rescuer-killed some of the Rohirrim
Killed the vain-killed his own kind
and retreated into darkness-was thought to be a dark Numernorean
guarded by stone
and weilded a dwarfs favor
My kin saved the light-Numenoreans were allies of the Elves and enemies of evil people
and retreated from it-Served Sauron
Killed by the one born twice more
I ruled with a firm grip-he was second in charge of hte attack on Minas Tirith

[The Perky Ent]

I've got two problems with that: 1, There's some gaps, and 2, the correct answer was Gothmog the Balrog. So, please explain the Gothmog the balrog!

[Gil-Galad]

rightio!

Faced the noble-Faced Feanor and others...
killed the rescuer-Killed Fingon who rescued Maedrhos? and probaly some others...
Killed the vain-Killed the Men of Dor-Lomin...
and retreated into darkness-Hid in Angband when Melkor was captured
guarded by stone-7o troll Guards that turn to stone at light
and weilded a dwarfs favor- being of fire...dwarfs good with fire?
My kin saved the light- he was a fallen Avari
and retreated from it- ran away when Valar came?
Killed by the one born twice more-killed by Echthelion
I ruled with a firm grip-He was Lord of the Balrogs...very powerful

[The Perky Ent]

You got it. But before I give it to you, just a few corrections. 1, when I said killed the vain, I was refering to Feanor. Then, he weilded an ax, which is a dwarf's favorite weapon. Finally, when I said my kin saved the light, I am refering to Balrogs saving Morgoth and the Simarils from Ungoliant. Sorry for the corrections, but I just wanted to get it all out. Anyways, its your turn!

[Gil-Galad]

meh close enough...


i'll get back to you on the next question

[The Perky Ent]

No rush. Take your time. The more thought out, the better!

[Evisse the Blue]

Gil-galad, I'd say your time is up :D Give us the next one!

[Gil-Galad]

ha forgot about it...


two people that served the "god" not much is spoken about us though, just our names and our heritage

[paavo]

hmm... this seems again a bit too easy... :)
the blue wizards, Alatar and Pallando

[Gil-Galad]

well its not seeing how you got it wrong

[Fingolfin II]

This is probably a long shot, but.....Uldor and Ulfast?

[The Perky Ent]

Another long shot: Elladan and Elrohir?

[Gil-Galad]

close but no...i also wouldn't mind some explanations

[Gil-Galad]

Fingolfins guess was closer

[The Perky Ent]

Azog and Bolg?

[RadomRadagast]

hum how about Merry and Pippin *falls over laughing at her stupidity* :D

[Gil-Galad]

nope, hint they were mono-evil

[The Perky Ent]

Uh...gollum and Smeagol?

[Gil-Galad]

before them...

[The Perky Ent]

Isildur and Sauron?

[Gil-Galad]

Around there time...

[nobody]

Herumor and Fuinur?

[Gil-Galad]

well you got it right, it was Herumor and Furinur, good job

[nobody]

This is....a mediocre riddle
Victims of the potent wrath of the one who served
he who was once dear to the heart of Amân,
only one out of the same number as the elf-banes survived,
to bring hope to the lost quest of a man.
(BTW the circumflex thing above the a is meant to be there ).

[Gil-Galad]

second one is Elrond... i think

[nobody]

No its a group of people that I'm looking for (only one of them is named and the whole group doesn't really have a name either.)

[Soronumë]

Okay, I have no idea.. but I'm stupid and haven't read LotR on English... Anyway I just wanted to pop out and say how cool quiz this seems to be. ^^

[Marky Lazer]

I made a new thread not realising there was a similar one around. So, The Saucepan Man told me to post it here...

What character, item or race of Arda do I mean?

He is so fat
Not big of height
Man but not quite
In holes like rats

[Soronumë]

I think there was another riddle going on, but time has passed and none has answered... :S
But I think I know that! a Hobbit!

[Marky Lazer]

Not quite... Close, but not correct yet.

[Nuranar]

Bombur?


I think there was another riddle going on, but time has passed and none has answered.

This is from the Rules for the Quiz Room (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=6003):

3. A thread may be considered stagnant if after at least 10 days:

no new question has been asked following confirmation of a correct answer, or
no response has been given by the question setter to the last answer.
In addition, a thread may be considered stagnant if there has been no new post for 10 days or more. In any of these circumstances, anyone may ask a new question on the topic.

So we're good to go. I'm glad this thread has been brought back up; it's one of my favorites. :cool:

~ Nuranar

[Marky Lazer]

No, Bombur isn't correct either.

It is a race (but not the dwarfs), Soronumë was on the right track...

[Soronumë]

awh... *thinks* this would be a LOT easier if I only had read LotR on English.... :S

[Nuranar]

The Woses, represented by Ghân-buri-Ghân? He is fat and not tall, and a Wild Man - not quite like the rest of Men of Middle-Earth. The only part I can't find a reference for is "in holes like rats." :(

[Marky Lazer]

It is a bit of a nasty one, so I toss in another hint...

It's one of the three ancient hobbit-kinds.

[Soronumë]

:( That doesn't still help me.... My friend has borrowed my copy of LotR... And still it wouldn't help since I could only say the Finnish version.

[Nuranar]

The Stoors are the broadest and heaviest (fattest), but the only mention of holes is made in reference to the Harfoots. Since it is said that all hobbits are inclined to be fat, I'm going to plunk for...

The Harfoots:

He is so fat - hobbitish, that's all (?)
Not big of height - "the Harfoots were... smaller, and shorter..."
Man but not quite - a hobbit, of course!
In holes like rats - "They... longest preserved their ancestral habit of living in tunnels and holes."

- LotR, Prologue, Concerning Hobbits

[Marky Lazer]

Which is correct!

Take it away Nuranar!

[Nuranar]

I, aloof but not alone, unsullied;
One of three, sundered, but close;
Seeing and hearing, perhaps, but
Never replying, heedless of the great voice.

Who or what is the speaker?

[Garen LiLorian]

Hmm. Sounds like one of the Elven rings.
One of three, sundered, but close; Leads me to believe the answer is Narya, the ring of Fire, wielded by Gandalf (since the other two were wielded by Elves... That's a little weak, I know)

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Tol Brandir

I, aloof but not alone, unsullied;- Had never been stepped on by man

One of three, sundered, but close;- one of three hills separated by the Anduin

Seeing and hearing, perhaps, but- the other two are Amon Hen, the hill of sight, and Amon Lhaw, the hill of hearing

Never replying, heedless of the great voice.- There is no hill of Speech ;), the great voice would be Rauros.

Sophia

[Nuranar]

Carry on, Thunder Mistress!
There is no hill of Speech ;)
Of course not. Who ever heard a hill talk? :D

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

I do know I should never attempt rhyme at 5 a.m.

Ere sea was broken I was not
yet rose when Atalante fell
Once sunset's home, her final stop
Now flaming birth I see as well


*Draws large black Xs over the riddle* I suspect the above riddle is actually deranged and request all of your permission to create a new one. I shall have it up this evening if you lovely people can be patient. ;)

[Soronumë]

Valinor???

[Marky Lazer]

Oomph, I really could use a hint in here...

[Evisse the Blue]

Arien aka The Sun?

[Marky Lazer]

With some thoughts of Evisse...

Ere sea was broken I was not
Arda was originally a flat world, the continents (Aman, Hither Lands and Darkland) were surrounded by a mighty ocean. So, it was pretty early when this 'thing' was already there...

yet rose when Atalante fell
Atalantë, Quenya for Númenor after its Downfall in II 3319. Though the Sun first rose at the beginning of the First Age...

Once sunset's home, her final stop
Doesn't makes sense, the sun comes back every day, doesn't it?

Now flaming birth I see as well
Is this like Heart of Fire (Anar or any name for the sun...) then it DOES make sense...

Ah... you got to help us out Sophia!

[Garen LiLorian]

I don't have an answer, at least not one that I think is right, but in the spirit of helpfulness;
The only lead I have is that it is something far to the west. The last two lines seem to refer to the changing of Arda from flat to round, if that's any help.
My only guess is 'the Waves'
The first line doesn't make sense, but
Atalante was destroyed by a tidal wave,
The Sun sets on the waves in the West, and since Arda was changed it also rises from them in the East.

I don't really think this is right, but maybe it'll spur someone else's thought processes.

[Neithan]

I have been reluctant to answer any of these questions since I am not at all sure that I could come up with a riddle but....I think that it is the sea itself.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Oh, I'm really sorry everyone! :o I completely forgot about this thread. The reason why the riddle doesn't make a lot of sense is because I wrote it when I was extremely sleep deprived and so the two halves don't go together in the proper way. I intended to come back and write a new one when I was more rested, but I forgot :(.

Anyway, since you all have made such an effort to answer this one, demented as it is, the answer I was looking for is the New Lands that arose from the sea after the destruction of Numenor and the removal of Valinor from the world. At least the first two lines get at that, the second two just get at the bending of the seas and the fact that the sun now goes around and not across. It doesn't make much sense.

Anyway, Garen LiLorian I think you were closest, so you may have the thread.

Sophia

[Garen LiLorian]

Huh. Well, hooray for closest, then.:p
Here you go.

Armies march at my command,
Yet I speak in no tongue of Man,
I shiver, though not from fear,
Though I carry it to those who hear,
Grond I command, and orcish host,
Hear my voice sounding Deep, and know you are lost.

[rutslegolas]

The Witch King of Angmar . ????

[Neithan]

Drums.

[Garen LiLorian]

Well done Neithan. All yours

[Neithan]

Oh crap what did I get myself into. Give me a little while and I will try to come up with one.

[Neithan]

Funny how I have a fair amount of skill when it comes to solving riddles but am completely incapable of creating them. So I stole this from another site.
I loved a great beauty
I fought a great fight
I killed my opponent
But died of a bite

[Evisse the Blue]

Is it Beren?

[Neithan]

I knew someone would guess that but no.

[Evisse the Blue]

Huan then? :p

[Marky Lazer]

I'll say Carcharoth.

I loved a great beauty
He loved the Silmarils.
I fought a great fight
He fought in the Hunting of the Wolf.
I killed my opponent
Carcharoth wounded both Huan and Beren mortally when they fought at the River Esgalduin.
But died of a bite
He was killed by Huan, a dog, so probably died because of a bite.

[Gil-Galad]

Finrod Felagund maybe?

[Neithan]

Sorry forgot about this thread, Huan was the correct answer so take it away Evisse.

[Evisse the Blue]

Given by the Fair,
Abandoned in despair,
Found by Hope
Recovered by the Traveller.

This one may be quite obscure.

[Marky Lazer]

Arwen Evenstar would be my guess.

Given by the Fair,
Given to Aragron by her father an elf. Elves are the fair race...
Abandoned in despair,
Elrond tried to convince her to go to the Undying Lands. Because there was nothing but despair for her.
Found by Hope
Hope: The meaning of Aragorn's name Estel
Recovered by the Traveller.
Gandalf called Aragron 'the greatest traveller and huntsman in this age of the world'

This is all I can make of it. Though I'm not certain this is the correct answer, I'm sticking with it for now anyway.

[Marky Lazer]

On a second thought, together with a friend of mine...

The Leaves of Lórien?

Given by the Fair,
Given by Galadriel.
Abandoned in despair,
When Merry and Pip were captured by the Uruks, they throw it away.
Found by Hope
Recovered by the Traveller.
See my previous explanation.

[Evisse the Blue]

Your second guess was correct. Take it away! :)
(only a minor correction: it was Pippin alone who dropped the leaf. The rest is correct.)

[Marky Lazer]

Thank you, Evisse! And you were of course right about the dropping...

Here I go then...

Dangerous it sounds
Pleasant the rounds
The colour of grass
Enjoyed en masse!

[Nirvana II]

money....the root of all evil?

[Marky Lazer]

That's not what I'm looking for.

[Marky Lazer]

I'll toss in a hint then, I guess...

I'm looking for a building.

[piosenniel]

The Green Dragon Inn, perhaps? :)

~*~ Pio http://forum.barrowdowns.com/ubb/icons/icon13.gif

[Marky Lazer]

Indeed it is! Your go, piosenniel!

[piosenniel]

Here’s a quick and easy one: :)

Tall amid the mists I stand
Silver pointed, white, and grand.
In darkness sleep now Aulë’s folk;
While wizard battles fire and smoke.

[Mithalwen]

Here’s a quick and easy one: :)

Tall amid the mists I stand
Silver pointed, white, and grand.
In darkness sleep now Aulë’s folk;
While wizard battles fire and smoke.


Celebdil ? One of the misty mountains (line 1)
Name means silvertine (line 2)
One of the mountains of Moria home of Dwarves (line 3)
Site of Gandalf's battle with the balrog (line 4) ?

[piosenniel]

I'll take that answer . . .

Your turn!

~*~ Pio http://forum.barrowdowns.com/ubb/icons/icon13.gif

[Mithalwen]

Lord of wind dwells on mountain high
Source of hope when end seems nigh


Short and easy... lacking inspiration... :(

[Celebriel Esgaledhel]

Could it be Gwaihir, or even Thorondor? BOth lived on high, and both played a part in saving someone. Thorondor was the first wind lord, but Gwaihir was one also, and his name means literally "windlord".

[Mithalwen]

Gwaihir was teh one I was thinking of.. over to you.. :D

[Celebriel Esgaledhel]

I'm no good at making riddles, but here goes.


The world is dark, no longer free,
And I, amidst the evil, see
Usurpers from a far-off land,
Who deem to fight along the strand...
These tidings, bourn upon the breeze
Of others from across the seas...
Their sin has left me e'er aghast;
The feud will o'er eternity last.

Okay, this isn't really clear, but I'm looking for a specific name here, which, I hope, isn't too obscure.

[Fingolfin II]

Could it possibly be Manwe, seeing the dissent of the Numenoreans and watching Ar-Pharazon attempt to land on the Undying Lands?

[Celebriel Esgaledhel]

Good guess, but not it. Think of the other side of the sea...

[Evisse the Blue]

Could it be Eomer on the Pellennor as he sees the Black Ships coming?

[Marky Lazer]

Hmmm... another guess then...

Is it Castamir the Usurper (maybe with the Corsairs of Umbar?)?

Edit: This is Marky's friend, and I think it might be Eldacar.

[Celebriel Esgaledhel]

Both wrong. REmember, every line in the riddle contains a pointer.

hint: first age

[Nuranar]

Is it Thingol, seeing the Noldor arrive?

[Evisse the Blue]

Maybe the men of Middle Earth when Ar-Pharazon came to enslave them?

[Celebriel Esgaledhel]

Nuranar has the correct answer. I was looking for a little more detail, but this will do.

This was how the riddle pertained to Thingol:

The world is dark, no longer free,
(He had once lived in Valinor, and witnessed the light of the Trees; now they are dead, and Morgoth is on the prowl)

And I, amidst the evil, see
(Melian and her network of magic and spies; he is amidst the evil, but living in a realm protected my Melian)

Usurpers from a far-off land, (The Noldor....duh)

Who deem to fight along the strand...
(The kinslaying at Alqualonde...strand=shore)

These tidings, bourn upon the breeze
(again, referencing Melian)

Of others from across the seas...
(...)

Their sin has left me e'er aghast;
(the kinslaying...)

The feud will o'er eternity last.
(thingol always seems to have a bone to pick with the Noldor, and never trusts them)



So.....Nuranar has the thread.

[Nuranar]

Thanks, Marky, for the reminder.

I love riddles, but real life has swamped me at the moment and will continue to do so until Monday. So anyone can have it. *sniffle* :(

Have fun! I hope to reappear soon anyway. ;)

[Marky Lazer]

Okay then, because of my reminder, I'll take it ;)

To use as bait
For a nice fish
Can’t speak of hate
Yes, nice that is

[Celebriel Esgaledhel]

Wouldn't be referencing the Ring, would you? Sounds a lot like Gollum....or, one can used kindness to lure a 'catch' in, and especially nice catch, prrrecious. 'Can't speak of hate...'

I'll think on this one.








btw, as I just probed around the site and discovered a little thing call Control Panel, I'm just curious....who gave me the bad rep in this thread? Not that I mind, relly - I 'm just curious. (good thing I'm not a cat...)

[Marky Lazer]

No, it's not the Ring. I'm looking for a person, here.

[Marky Lazer]

Another hint then I guess...

Third age.

[Da Skorpion]

Could it be Gríma Wormtongue?

Now, since you showed me this place, and I suck at rhiming, if I'm correct I'll let you post a new one ML :)

BTW, Hi all! I'm skorp, a friend of ML. (The one who edited ML's post a few riddles back)

[Marky Lazer]

It is correct!

Now, don't be shy... The thread is yours!

[Da Skorpion]

Grrrrrrrrrrr! I Grrrrrrrrr!

I hope this'll do...

*looks around nervously* ;)

Ok, here goes nothing:


A creature of old,
dressed in gold.
Trapped on land,
a nose can’t stand.
Its fire extinguished,
when against a flaming star it skirmished.

[Nuranar]

Hmm... tricky.

A creature of old,
dressed in gold.

Sounds like Glaurung the Golden, Father of Dragons.

Trapped on land,
a nose can’t stand.

?? :eek: ?? A nose?

Its fire extinguished,
when against a flaming star it skirmished.

The only one who skirmished a star was Ancalagon the Black, who fought - and was slain by - Eärendil.

Now, the first five lines all apply to Smaug, I think. He was also called the Gold, I remember a line about "the stench of Smaug" in the Mountain (don't have my books with me), and his fire was extinguished when Bard's arrow knocked him out of the sky into the lake. But neither Bard nor his arrow can be called a star, much less a flaming one, can they?

Still, on the whole, I plump for Smaug. (Fun riddle, and good to see you on the board, skorp!)

[Da Skorpion]

Ooooh.... sooooo close!:)

It's not Smaug, but you mentioned several key leads which, if you look a bit further, will lead to the correct answer. :D

[Marky Lazer]

Then it is Glaurung?

[Gil-Galad]

Scatha the Worm?

[Da Skorpion]

ML is correct!

A creature of old, (Dragon, and the first of its kind)
dressed in gold. (Golden Scales)
Trapped on land, (Wingless dragon)
a nose can’t stand. (It had a cloud of stench around it)
Its fire extinguished, (Breaths fire/was slayed)
when against a flaming star it skirmished. (flaming star is the name of the sword that slayed it before it was reforged)

[Marky Lazer]

Skorp: "and I suck at rhiming"? This was a fairly good riddle in my opinion...
I reckoned it wasn't Smaug because of the "creature of old" part...
Anyway...

We come in black and white
White as snow, black as the night
We sailed south, upon the Great Sea
Where we went remains a mystery

[The Perky Ent]

Hmm...no idea. Umm...Corsairs of Umbar?

[Da Skorpion]

the magical cats of queen Berúthiel?

We come in black and white (nine black cats and one white cat)
White as snow, black as the night (same)
We sailed south, upon the Great Sea (The queen was set adrift (exiled) by the queens husband with nothing more then her cats. She sailed into the far south.)
Where we went remains a mystery (Never heard of again, except in legends)


Noooooo, I didn't look this up *rolls eyes* :D

[Marky Lazer]

Good Job! The thread is yours!

[Da Skorpion]

Here goes number two...

Round a river east and west we’d settle,
we decided during a great westward travel.
But when darkness engulfed the land,
only the west would stand.
East moved north,
and would hide underground henceforth.

[The Perky Ent]

Wood Elves?

[Da Skorpion]

Nope.

[Gil-Galad]

The Naugrim?

[Da Skorpion]

Nope.

[Marky Lazer]

The Dead?

Round a river east and west we’d settle,
River Morthond?
we decided during a great westward travel.
But when darkness engulfed the land,
only the west would stand.
East moved north,
"if the West prove mightier than thy Black Master, this curse I lay upon thee and thy folk..." They got cursed by 'the west'
and would hide underground henceforth.
They now live under the White Mountains.

[Da Skorpion]

Nice try, different river:)

I'd say try to find an other word for travel, and then look further.

[Marky Lazer]

Another try...

Silvan Elves?

Round a river east and west we’d settle,
Great River Anduin
we decided during a great westward travel.
But when darkness engulfed the land,
only the west would stand.
East moved north,
the Elves of the Great Journey travelled westward through the lands of Middle-earth
and would hide underground henceforth.
They lived in underground dwellings protected by magic.

[Da Skorpion]

Correct

Round a river east and west we’d settle, (Lorien & Mirkwood)
we decided during a great westward travel. (The great journey)
But when darkness engulfed the land, (Sauron's might spread to Mirkwood and Lorien)
only the west would stand. (Lorien was protected by Galadriel and her ring, Mirkwood would be taken by the Necromancer whom in fact is Sauron)
East moved north, (The wood elves retreated to the north of Mirkwood.)
and would hide underground henceforth. (They lived in underground dwellings protected by magic)


The Perky Ent: I couldn't count your answer as correct because only the Elves of Mirkwood are wood elves.

All of you: Are my riddles ok like this?

[Marky Lazer]

I like your riddles. Keep them coming... after you answered this one!

Party, all night long
Fireworks and songs
Wedding cakes
and Birthdays
Joy in many ways

[Da Skorpion]

Hmmmmm, I was actually hoping an other member would answer this one. I saw the answer immediately, but decided that it was too much Marky, me, Marky, me, Marky, me in this thread since I joined. But....

I CAN'T... TAKE IT... ANYMORE!!! ARGH!... MUST...... ANSWER!... CAN'T LET... THREAD... DIE... ;) :p


Party field, where Bilbo had his eleventy-first birthday.