Riddles in the Downs - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Pitchwife · 05-12-2010, 01:03 PM

Thanks, Rumil!
This was another good one, and quite amusing in hindsight. I found it tricky enough, and I don't think I'd have guessed it if Legate hadn't brought up the idea that it could be an object rather than a person. But what really gave it away was the end - 'lass and lad' sounded distinctly hobbitish to my ear, and knowing hobbits, what would they be most glad to set their eyes on? Food, of course!

Now why do I always have to solve a riddle when I haven't got a new one ready?

But I'll try hard to think something up soon; and Urwen, if you pop in here, have a nice cuppa tea, practice lotus position, listen to your own breath and... you get the picture.

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 05-12-2010, 02:35 PM

Thank God I was wrong! I've never been any good at constructing riddles, so I don't quite know why I piped up in the first place. Going back to lurking mode....

Beorn of Carrock · 05-13-2010, 12:11 PM

great guess, mate!!!

Pitchwife · 05-15-2010, 09:39 AM

Let's try this:

I keep the guard though I have no eyes,
I speak old words but am none of the Wise;
prize of thief not won by theft,
yet from my hidden home I was reft.
No beast am I, yet by hunters sought;
to some who craved me their bane I brought.

Urwen · 05-15-2010, 10:36 AM

Despite your warning,I'll take a try
The one Ring?

Pitchwife · 05-15-2010, 12:11 PM

I like to think I wouldn't be quite that obvious...

OK, I admit it sounds very much like the Ring, more than I actually realized before posting it; but the Ring is only an almost-match, not a perfect one (e.g. what would 'keep the guard' mean in its case? And none of the places where it lay 'hidden' for a while was really its 'home'). Keep guessing!

(P.S. What warning? I was merely asking you to give me a few days time to think of a new riddle, and thanks for the waiting. You're welcome to guess, of course!

)

Eorl of Rohan · 05-15-2010, 01:28 PM

Nauglamir?

Eönwë · 05-15-2010, 01:35 PM

Is it Bilbo/Frodo's Mithril shirt?

I keep the guard though I have no eyes, - Armour
I speak old words but am none of the Wise; - not sure about this one
prize of thief not won by theft, - Bilbo was given it by Thorin
yet from my hidden home I was reft. - Taken from Smaug's hoard
No beast am I, yet by hunters sought; - "Here's a pretty hobbit-skin to wrap an elven-princeling in! If it were known that hobbits had such hides, all the hunters of Middle-earth would be riding to the Shire."
to some who craved me their bane I brought. - The orcs who fought over it at Cirith Ungol

05-12-2010, 01:03 PM	#1
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	Thanks, Rumil! This was another good one, and quite amusing in hindsight. I found it tricky enough, and I don't think I'd have guessed it if Legate hadn't brought up the idea that it could be an object rather than a person. But what really gave it away was the end - 'lass and lad' sounded distinctly hobbitish to my ear, and knowing hobbits, what would they be most glad to set their eyes on? Food, of course! Now why do I always have to solve a riddle when I haven't got a new one ready? But I'll try hard to think something up soon; and Urwen, if you pop in here, have a nice cuppa tea, practice lotus position, listen to your own breath and... you get the picture. __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

05-12-2010, 02:35 PM	#2
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 733	Thank God I was wrong! I've never been any good at constructing riddles, so I don't quite know why I piped up in the first place. Going back to lurking mode.... __________________ Call me Ibrin (or Ibri) :) Originality is the one thing that unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. — John Stewart Mill

05-15-2010, 09:39 AM	#4
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	na vedui... Let's try this: I keep the guard though I have no eyes, I speak old words but am none of the Wise; prize of thief not won by theft, yet from my hidden home I was reft. No beast am I, yet by hunters sought; to some who craved me their bane I brought. __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

05-15-2010, 10:36 AM	#5
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Despite your warning,I'll take a try The one Ring? __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.

05-15-2010, 12:11 PM	#6
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	I like to think I wouldn't be quite that obvious... OK, I admit it sounds very much like the Ring, more than I actually realized before posting it; but the Ring is only an almost-match, not a perfect one (e.g. what would 'keep the guard' mean in its case? And none of the places where it lay 'hidden' for a while was really its 'home'). Keep guessing! (P.S. What warning? I was merely asking you to give me a few days time to think of a new riddle, and thanks for the waiting. You're welcome to guess, of course!) __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

05-13-2010, 12:11 PM	#3
Beorn of Carrock Pile O'Bones Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 13	great guess, mate!!!

05-15-2010, 01:28 PM	#7
Eorl of Rohan Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 602	Nauglamir?

05-15-2010, 01:35 PM	#8
Eönwë Flame Imperishable Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 3,928	Is it Bilbo/Frodo's Mithril shirt? I keep the guard though I have no eyes, - Armour I speak old words but am none of the Wise; - not sure about this one prize of thief not won by theft, - Bilbo was given it by Thorin yet from my hidden home I was reft. - Taken from Smaug's hoard No beast am I, yet by hunters sought; - "Here's a pretty hobbit-skin to wrap an elven-princeling in! If it were known that hobbits had such hides, all the hunters of Middle-earth would be riding to the Shire." to some who craved me their bane I brought. - The orcs who fought over it at Cirith Ungol __________________ Welcome to the Barrow Do-owns Forum / Such a lovely place