Riddles in the Downs

[Galadriel55]

Indeed! The speaker is Luthien, her double is Arwen. Proud is Thingol Greycloak / Greymantle, and Humble is Gandalf Greyhame / Greymantle / other forms of grey attire.

Did Gwaihir appear in the First Age? I thought Thorondor took all the lead roles there.

Anyways, the riddle was solved very much by a group effort, Urwen identifying the female half and Huey the male half of the characters. Huey had the final explanation, but of course it wouldn't have been possible without Urwen's contributions. I think officially it goes to Huey but I wanna give Urwen a big kudos for cracking the first half!

[Urwen]

Please make one soon.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Did Gwaihir appear in the First Age? I thought Thorondor took all the lead roles there.

I believe Christopher removed the fact that Thorondor's chief vassals (eg when rescuing Beren and Luthien) were Gwaihir and Landroval, because he thought it would be confusing.

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Anyways, the riddle was solved very much by a group effort, Urwen identifying the female half and Huey the male half of the characters. Huey had the final explanation, but of course it wouldn't have been possible without Urwen's contributions. I think officially it goes to Huey but I wanna give Urwen a big kudos for cracking the first half!

I'm actually going to pass, both because I think Urwen did way more than half of the work (including actually mentioning both Elu and Mithrandir, in the correct halves of the riddle and all!), and because I don't have anything at all in mind. So unless you don't want it, Urwen, it's all yours.

hS

[Urwen]

I actually had a Legate-style riddle of my own prepared.


I stood tall for a long time
I saw them in their prime
I witnessed the downfall
And the death of us all

Gone was the joy
Gone was the splendor
But your heart remained true
When they had closed that door

You turned to me
For their own sake
And now, at the end
We'll leave this land

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

I believe Christopher removed the fact that Thorondor's chief vassals (eg when rescuing Beren and Luthien) were Gwaihir and Landroval, because he thought it would be confusing.

I wonder now, what happened to Thorondor? Where is he in the Third Age? Am I forgetting something from the end of the Sil?

Looking forward to your masterpiece, Urwen!

Edit: crossed with Urwen. Will take a look and a thought at the riddle.

[Galadriel55]

Hmm, Miriel and Meneltarma? Meneltarma being the one that stood tall through Numenor's prime and its downfall. Not sure what the second stanza is, but Tar-Miriel's heart did remain true to the Faithful and their morals. She fled to Meneltarma to plead for the Numenorians, not just to save her own life, but both were drowned by the giant wave.

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Hmm, Miriel and Meneltarma? Meneltarma being the one that stood tall through Numenor's prime and its downfall. Not sure what the second stanza is, but Tar-Miriel's heart did remain true to the Faithful and their morals. She fled to Meneltarma to plead for the Numenorians, not just to save her own life, but both were drowned by the giant wave.

I worked on it for two days and it got cracked in seconds. Guess even the best effort is not enough. Maybe I shouldn't have been so vocal about characters I like....

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

I worked on it for two days and it got cracked in seconds. Guess even the best effort is not enough. Maybe I shouldn't have been so vocal about characters I like....

Or maybe make riddles about a variety of characters? But in any case, that wasn't how I solved the riddle, your liking for Miriel was just confirmatory after I figured it out. It was a constellation of associations that lead me to the Downfall of Numenor, and from there to Meneltarma.

I don't have any ideas ready at the moment. Can I leave the thread open for whoever thinks of something first?

[Urwen]

I don't think it's against the rules, so yea....