Riddles in the Downs

[Rumil]

Absolutely perfect Pitchwife!

(I can almost hear Legate saying 'but you must explain every line' - and you most certainly have done).

Agree the Old Man is such a mystery, and I can't remember him being discussed much on the Downs. Was he last of a hereditary line that were the 'wardens' of the Paths of the Dead? Or had he indeed been there himself since, presumably, Isildur's day in some sort of suspended animation due to an obscure subclause of The Curse?

Along, possibly, with The Mouth he seems to be the only human with a thousands-of-years lifespan. How does that work?

[Hakon]

Well with the Mouth maybe Sauron kind of gave him some kind of extended life. I mean if the one ring can extend your life like it did with Gollum then maybe Sauron can give it (extended life) sort of as a gift.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Hakon

maybe Sauron can give it (extended life) sort of as a gift.

But in the context (and the context of the Arda in general), I suppose it should be viewed more as a curse than a gift.

[Pitchwife]

OK, what about this? :

Stone and water do I clasp
in my silver-veinéd grasp.
Green I grow on branches tall
and not idly do I fall:
when I drop, I'm eloquent
and tell that here one living went,
but I'm mute while on my stem -
guess and tell me what I am!

Much too plain, I'm afraid, but hope you'll like it nonetheless.

[Morsul the Dark]

Very good sir.

The Elven Brooch

[Pitchwife]

See? I knew it was too easy!

Correct, Morsul. Would you mind explaining the poem?

[Morsul the Dark]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

OK, what about this? :

Stone and water do I clasp
in my silver-veinéd grasp.
Green I grow on branches tall
and not idly do I fall:
when I drop, I'm eloquent
and tell that here one living went,
but I'm mute while on my stem -
guess and tell me what I am!

Much too plain, I'm afraid, but hope you'll like it nonetheless.

the cloak is like camouflage hence stone and water
it's a silver brooch
third line...no idea
leaves of lothlorien do no idly fall
the brooch was dropped by pippin in order to lead aragorn to thm
mute...don't know
last line... take a shot

give me a bit to think of a riddle

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Morsul the Dark

third line...no idea

They are leaves.

[Pitchwife]

Filling in the gaps-
The brooches had the shape of green leaves veined with silver, and stone and water refers to the colour of the cloaks:

'Leaf and branch, water and stone: they have the hue and beauty of all these things under the twilight of Lórien that we love.'

You got the point about Pippin dropping his as a message to Aragorn, but the leaf-brooch would have been mute (i.e. told Aragorn nothing) if it had remained on its stem (i.e. at Pippin's neck). As for guessing, you've obviously done that!

[Morsul the Dark]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

They are leaves.

lol I know they're leaves but still that didn't knock me on the head.


I guard the hidden
in a place I don't fit in
Do not Disturb me
Or you'll be in my grasp see
When you have fled
the door, I'll crash on your head


Easy-peezy-Japaneesy

[Rumil]

Lovely riddle earlier Pitchwife,

now for Morsul's latest-

I guard the hidden
in a place I don't fit in - The Mines of Moria hidden behind the secret door
Do not Disturb me
Or you'll be in my grasp see - Nasty slimey tentacle-y grasp
When you have fled
the door, I'll crash on your head - And waste a couple of Holly trees just for good measure

So it must be The Watcher in the Water - yes?

Rumil

[Morsul the Dark]

Tada! go ahead Rumil!

[Rumil]

Ah, bit late for composition now,

will have a crack at a new one tomorrow (probably)

Cheers,

R

[Hakon]

Rumil and Morsul you are the riddle masters of this site. You are like Gollum and Bilbo from their riddle battle.

[Rumil]

Hello again all,

I hope we can tempt Legate back again, then you'll see some riddling Hakon!

Meanwhile, here's my latest effort,

Shouldn't be too taxing, probably....

Born within a hidden fastness,
I've travelled far and wide,
Providing hope against the darkness,
Enemies on every side.

Many a master have I served,
The greater and the lesser too,
Given a new name, well deserved,
Trust in me and we'll win through.

Threatening, when it was right,
Or cutting through the enemy,
I'll not for the unrighteous fight,
For that's my point you see

Happy riddle-unravelling,

Rumil

[Erendis]

Just the result of my analysis:Anduril

[Rumil]

Hi Erendis,

'fraid not Anduril,

Cheers,

Rumil

[LadyBrooke]

I'm just guessing but is it Aragorn?

Born within a hidden fastness, - I'm not sure if he was born there but he was raised in Rivendell.

I've travelled far and wide, - he traveled all over Middle Earth

Providing hope against the darkness, - Estel means hope and his mother said she gave hope to M-E but kept none for herself

Enemies on every side. - not sure what this would mean

Many a master have I served, - He served Etchelion and Thengel at least just off the top of my head.

The greater and the lesser too, - Rohan was considered lesser than Gondor by many according to Faramir's words in Ithilen

Given a new name, well deserved, - how many names does he have? Too many at least.

(Trust in me and we'll win through.

Threatening, when it was right,
Or cutting through the enemy,
I'll not for the unrighteous fight,
For that's my point you see) - not sure about any that.

I'm probably wrong about it though.

[Morsul the Dark]

Originally Posted by Rumil

Hello again all,

I hope we can tempt Legate back again, then you'll see some riddling Hakon!

Meanwhile, here's my latest effort,

Shouldn't be too taxing, probably....

Born within a hidden fastness,
I've travelled far and wide,
Providing hope against the darkness,
Enemies on every side.

Many a master have I served,
The greater and the lesser too,
Given a new name, well deserved,
Trust in me and we'll win through.

Threatening, when it was right,
Or cutting through the enemy,
I'll not for the unrighteous fight,
For that's my point you see

Happy riddle-unravelling,

Rumil

hidden fastness could be Rivendell
of course he's travelled
He is the last King so he is the hope of Man
he's surrounded by enemies all the time.

the next two lines are bit tough....
Many a master have I served,
The greater and the lesser too,

He asks Frodo to trust him...
he's is called elendil by galadrial
He can be malicious when needed like scaring barnalbe... that name right the innkeeper...
and definatelt fight bad guys
and wouldn't fight for evil

Edit: Just relized...didn't say my answer
Aragorn

[Rumil]

Hi Morsul and LadyB,

nope, not Aragorn (my Heffalump trap successfully sprung, Bwa haha haha HA - as Phantom would put it)

Erendis was pretty close!

Rumil

[Annunfuiniel]

Born within a hidden fastness, -- forged in Gondolin
I've travelled far and wide, -- traveled from there to the Lonely Mountain, the Shire and Mount Doom, to name but few
Providing hope against the darkness, --well, helped in many a dark place (vaque, I know )
Enemies on every side. --the Battle of Five Armies; Weathertop; that tower where Frodo was held captive etc.

Many a master have I served, --guys in Gondolin?, Bilbo, Frodo, Sam
The greater and the lesser too, --see above
Given a new name, well deserved, --Sting; need explanation?
Trust in me and we'll win through. --and so it happened

Threatening, when it was right, --i.e. when baddies attacked, I guess
Or cutting through the enemy, --it cut through the webs of Shelob (edit: and the webmaker herself, of course), and orcs (and Nazgul? can't remember right now, but it could've cut through them too, no doubt)
I'll not for the unrighteous fight,
For that's my point you see --it glowed (it's point glowed?) if enemies were near, and probably couldn't be wielded by the enemies?

So, I'm pretty sure the answer is Sting; though I might be just too sleepy to see right.

[Eönwë]

Is it Gurthang?


x-ed. Ah, maybe 'tis so.

[Pitchwife]

Annun, I was about to post the same answer, but refreshed in time to see you beat me to it. Hope it's the right one!

[Rumil]

Hi all,

Annunfuiniel has it, excellent!

Only odds and ends to explain-

Providing hope against the darkness - glowing blue in presence of orcses and generally being useful in a tight spot

Given a new name, well deserved - named Sting after Bilbo's battle with the spiders in Mirkwood

Threatening, when it was right - when Bilbo and Frodo drew Sting to threaten Gollum (for the best of reasons naturally) and Sam at Cirith Ungol too!

'Couldn't be wielded by enemies' is what I was thinking

As you noticed I tried to make this one really ambiguous, but Annun and Erendis were like bloodhounds on a scent!

[Annunfuiniel]

Greatgreatgreat! I'm busy with work and festivities today, but hopefully have time tomorrow for some riddle-writing. Bear with me!

~Annu(n)

[Erendis]

Originally Posted by Rumil

Erendis was pretty close!

Rumil

If that's close,thanks for the compliment,Rumil!
I have hell of a nose!-no,really,it ts a cute french one-

[Pitchwife]

*bump*

[Morsul the Dark]

Annunfuiniel and I were chatting on Facebook She said I could take the thread I Swear!

sooo here goes;

I am the Drummer
I am the Carrier
I am the Sleeper
I am the Fattest
I am one of Fourteen

[Annunfuiniel]

Regrettably I have no time for riddles right now, so Morsul has my permission to take the thread. So my apologies, and please do carry on!

[Eönwë]

I believe 'tis Bombur

[Morsul the Dark]

wasn't it so ridiculously difficult

you got it!

(It was all I could think of in interest of continuing the thread)

[Eönwë]

He is also the walrus

Anyway, ok, I'll take at stab at it. Here's an easy one:

From the hands of the maker
To upon a master's head
Used to hurt the evil foes
The cause of much bloodshed.

[Hakon]

Gurthang

[Eönwë]

Sorry Hakon, but no, it's not Gurthang.

[Pitchwife]

Silmaril.

From the hands of the maker - Feanor's;
To upon a master's head - in Morgoth's crown;
Used to hurt the evil foes - like Carcharoth;
The cause of much bloodshed. - Feanor's oath, kinslaying and the War of the Jewels.

[Eönwë]

You have it Pitchwife. And with exactly the things I had in mind as well.

Your turn, go on and make a riddle.

[Pitchwife]

Well, after my death scene in Mnemi's game this was pretty obvious!

I've got an idea for a new riddle, but I'm a slow rhymer and need to look up some details. Give me a day or two.

[Pitchwife]

Just noticed my idea has been done before. It's really hard to come up with something new for these threads!
I'll try to think of something different, but don't know how long it's going to take me. If anybody has an idea in the meantime, go ahead!

[Morsul the Dark]

bump

[Pitchwife]

Thanks for your patience! Here's an easy one again:

Relics of forgotten times,
we sit and watch the road that climbs
to haunted places filled with dread,
our eyes hollow, dark and dead.