Riddles in the Downs

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Tarn Aeluin?

Purple the heather that grows on the mountains,
Blue for the mirror that stands all alone. - the lake of Tarn Aeluin is filled with mirror-like water, and surrounded by the mountains where heather grows
Green for the jewel, the sigil of honour, - Elessar, from which Aragorn, the descendant of Barahir, took his moniker
Yellow the crown of the lord of my own. - Barahir could be the 'lord' of Tarn
Orange the standard of he who rules over, - I can't find Barahir's standard, but I assume it to be orange
Red for the fire that burns to the bone. - A reference to Dagor Bragollach, and the rivers of lava Morgoth sent forth

You're actually inside the correct answer, and you're right on your interpretation of lines 1,2, and 6.

It's not the Elessar, though.

hS

[Urwen]

And I found your orange too





This is the standard of Beorians, Barahir's people. There is your orange.

[Huinesoron]

Barahir would probably have used Beor's device, which per this page does actually contain some orange. But it's not the one I was thinking of.

(Whether the heraldry was in active use in Beleriand, or was created later and projected backwards, is a bit of an open question.)

hS

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

And I found your orange too





This is the standard of Beorians, Barahir's people. There is your orange.

Hah, you beat me to it!

hS

[Urwen]

So Tarn Aeluin is the correct answer.

[Urwen]

Wait, the lord of my own could mean the lord of its lord, ie. Barahir's lord, ie. Finrod, whose standard also contains orange. In which case, the jeewl line could refer to the Ring of Barahir.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

So Tarn Aeluin is the correct answer.

No. Tarn Aeluin is inside the correct answer. I thought I said that?

hS

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Wait, the lord of my own could mean the lord of its lord, ie. Barahir's lord, ie. Finrod, whose standard also contains orange. In which case, the jeewl line could refer to the Ring of Barahir.

Correct, almost correct, and correct (which is why I didn't say anything to 'the Elessar is the only green stone').

The line of authority goes from Barahir (green) to Finrod (yellow, with his 'crown' of golden hair), to... who?

And, y'know, where is Barahir lord of?

hS

[Urwen]

There is a dark green jewel in the middle of said ring.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

There is a dark green jewel in the middle of said ring.

I know. Which isn't the Elessar, and is the green jewel referenced.

Do you know the answer to the riddle yet?

hS

[Urwen]

After Finrod's death, it did go to Orodreth. And Barahir was the lord of Dorthonion.

[Urwen]

Dorthonion then?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

After Finrod's death, it did go to Orodreth.

A line of authority goes up. In this case, to Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor and Finrod's direct superior. His standard has orange flames in it.

And Barahir was the lord of Dorthonion.

Yep! DORTHONION, location of Tarn Aeluin, burned down in the Bragollach, is the answer to the riddle.

hS

[Urwen]

Let me have some time to make another one, then.

[Urwen]

I liked yours. Now, for mine own:


Long ago, in lands of old
I came to existence, with hair of gold
The holder of my heart had golden hair too
And our love was pure and true

Long ago, we left the shores
Of a land we called our home
We did in on my behest, disappearing from all the tales
But we helped provide hope in the times yet to come

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

I liked yours. Now, for mine own:


Long ago, in lands of old
I came to existence, with hair of gold
The holder of my heart had golden hair too
And our love was pure and true

Long ago, we left the shores
Of a land we called our home
We did in on my behest, disappearing from all the tales
But we helped provide hope in the times yet to come

Yesterday I was looking through Juliana Pinho's gallery, which reminded me of the fact I always forget: that Tuor and Idril were both blondes. So I have to make them my guess. I think it was Tuor who suggested they sail West, so he would be the speaker.

hS

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

Yesterday I was looking through Juliana Pinho's gallery, which reminded me of the fact I always forget: that Tuor and Idril were both blondes. So I have to make them my guess. I think it was Tuor who suggested they sail West, so he would be the speaker.

hS

Exactly right.

[Huinesoron]

Good riddle! The first verse misdirected me to Valinor for a bit before I remembered the pictures.

"Oh my God!" I hear them cry
(or perhaps my ears deceive me):
All the gnomes, I think, and sigh,
Yell "Codswallop!" when they see me.

I am the front that grows on the trees,
The box that makes some wheezy.
Am I for beasts or am I quite sweet?
Not sure - but I'm certainly easy!

One answer, and you proooobably want to focus on the second half.

hS

[Urwen]

Well, the only thing that grows on trees are fruits...

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Well, the only thing that grows on trees are fruits...

I'm... pretty sure that's not true.

hS

[Urwen]

And also leaves. Leaves of Lorien?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

And also leaves. Leaves of Lorien?

Nope. Just looking at half of one line isn't going to get you anywhere, I'm afraid.

hS

[Urwen]

So I need to solve the box line too?

Let's see....I came across Debain (wheezy) Gnome upon consulting google...

[Urwen]

VirtualBox.

[Urwen]

So Leavirtual or something?

[Urwen]

Noldor are sometimes referred to as 'gnomes'.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Noldor are sometimes referred to as 'gnomes'.

I think this is the first relevant thing you've said.

hS

[Urwen]

Finglas, also known as Leaflock? Locked box could make some people wheezy, especially when they're locked inside of it.

[Urwen]

So something that Noldor don't think of as very valuable, that start with lea or leaf?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Finglas, also known as Leaflock? Locked box could make some people wheezy, especially when they're locked inside of it.

Nope.

Originally Posted by Urwen

So something that Noldor don't think of as very valuable, that start with lea or leaf?

No and no. Like I said, 'Gnome = Noldo' is the first relevant thing you've said.

hS

[Urwen]

Well, only fruits, leaves and flowers grow on trees.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Well, only fruits, leaves and flowers grow on trees.

Strictly speaking you've left off bark (and a whole bunch of animals if you want to get picky - do squirrels grow on trees?). But yes, the thing that half-line refers to is a type of one of those three things.

Each line of the second half of the riddle, and each couplet of the first half, separately reveals the answer. So you've got six different ways to find it!

hS

[Urwen]

Based on your wording, I think that certain capital letters spell the answer.

But in case it's not, does that half-line refer to the half of the name of whatever grows on trees?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Based on your wording, I think that certain capital letters spell the answer.

I... have no idea what I said to make you think that. No.

Originally Posted by Urwen

But in case it's not, does that half-line refer to the half of the name of whatever grows on trees?

No. Why would it only be half? Oh... I see. No.

hS

[Urwen]

Because it says 'Front', as in front half, or first half. Unless you only mean first letter.

[Urwen]

I might be an idiot, but I just can't see what are the lines of the second stanza referring to.....

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Because it says 'Front', as in front half, or first half. Unless you only mean first letter.

Yeah, I see; I don't mean any of those things.

Originally Posted by Urwen

I might be an idiot, but I just can't see what are the lines of the second stanza referring to.....

Ah, well, let me expla--

Haaaaaang on. >_> You're not going to catch me out that easily.

Two lines of the second stanza are (I guess) cryptic clues; the other two are (I suppose) straight.

hS

[Urwen]

So all of the Noldor yell 'Nonsense' when they see the answer?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

So all of the Noldor yell 'Nonsense' when they see the answer?

Nope; the riddle-speaker thinks the Gnomes yell "Codswallop!" and "Oh my God!". But as line 2 establishes, the speaker's hearing might not be the best.

hS

[Urwen]

So something which sounds like 'Codswallop'?

'Gods gallop'?

Orome?