Password

[Urwen]

Password: Constrainees and fetterers?

[Pervinca Took]

C Praise them with the greatest praise, these Princes of the West!
OLORIN: Take note from a florin, leaving nothing. Oft he’s pressed.
NORI: She? Not she. Or he? Not he. Then you? No, no! Nor me!
SHELOB: Broideress, or spinner? Cast a net – a thrower, she!
T Two kings mix – an ancient Brit, a dwarf – and make a third;
RADIANCE OF THE TREES: Illumination, fair beyond the scope of elvish word.
ARKENSTONE: Marvellous and radiant, at mountain’s heart it lies,
IORHAEL: Strength, endurance past hope’s end – such anguish in his eyes …
NERWEN'S PHIAL: Gifted, this, to light him, when all other lights should fail,
ELESSAR: … And one who tries to heal him, and many souls who ail.
EGGSHELL: This thing cracks so easily, you walk on it with care;
SARUMAN: And this one’s speech enchants, but only listen if you dare!

AZOG'S KINSMAN: ‘Murderers and elf-friends!’ in great wrath by him was said;
NO-ONE: Ancalime – in preference, this is the one she’d wed.
D The French breeze it is mingled for him; short yet doughty, he,

FARAMIR: And distant is a jewel? His quality is plain to see.
EVENING STAR'S LIGHT: Earendil is its guardian; a Silmaril its form;
TRAHALD: It’s heartbreaking and hideous, to see this one transform.
THEODEN: No lair after an article, that’s definite, for him,
EOMER: And Eastern Rome morphs into one of the brave Rohirrim!
R Starts radical – appalled, he sounds! No ire, though, ’neath his ’lids.
E Just change the first for mints and sweets we ate when we were kids.
RICHES: This word means wealth or treasures, that are used for good or ill,
SILMARILS: And for these things, so wondrous fair, unnumbered tears will spill.

Urwen has it!

Five clues to go.

[Urwen]

1. Cormacolindor?

[Huinesoron]

Taking a look at the pairs so far, I can make:

Saruman - Olorin
Azog's Kinsman - Nori
Shelob - Iorhael
Silmarils - Radiance of the Trees
Nerwen's Phial - Evening Star's Light
Elessar - Trahald
Eggshell - Riches
Faramir - (Cormacolindor)
Theoden - Eomer

Which leaves "Arkenstone" and "No-one", along with T (a king), D (someone short), R (a male), and E (unknown).

The only time the Arkenstone was particularly fettered was when Bilbo stole it - the rest of the time it was just kind of lying about. Could some descriptive phrase for Bilbo be the D clue? "short yet doughty" would fit.

I seem to recall that No-one ever caught Tom Bombadil about his ramblings, but I don't think there's a name that will fit any of the clues. He's a master, not a king.

I really want E to be Eonbon or Eumbug or something like that. ^_^

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Originally Posted by Urwen

1. Cormacolindor?

Nope.

Right characters, though.

[Pervinca Took]

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

The only time the Arkenstone was particularly fettered was when Bilbo stole it - the rest of the time it was just kind of lying about. Could some descriptive phrase for Bilbo be the D clue? "short yet doughty" would fit.

hS

Wrong about the D clue. It's cryptic, and composed of two elements (as in parts - not chemical ones).

Remember that the constraining and fettering is sometimes/often metaphorical. And think of the final, (well, excluding Dagor Dagoraths and stuff) resting place of the Arkenstone.

Pairs are correct, but 'Cormacolindor' means 'Ringbearers,' and is not the first answer.

'No-one' is paired with someone who fits, but perhaps not 'screamingly' so.

I tried all kinds of words/synonyms to make a password that did what Huey's did, and 'Constrainees And Fetterers' was literally the only such phrase I could make possible answers work with.

[Urwen]

1. Conin en Annun?

[Pervinca Took]

CONIN EN ANNUN: Praise them with the greatest praise, these Princes of the West!
OLORIN: Take note from a florin, leaving nothing. Oft he’s pressed.
NORI: She? Not she. Or he? Not he. Then you? No, no! Nor me!
SHELOB: Broideress, or spinner? Cast a net – a thrower, she!
T Two kings mix – an ancient Brit, a dwarf – and make a third;
RADIANCE OF THE TREES: Illumination, fair beyond the scope of elvish word.
ARKENSTONE: Marvellous and radiant, at mountain’s heart it lies,
IORHAEL: Strength, endurance past hope’s end – such anguish in his eyes …
NERWEN'S PHIAL: Gifted, this, to light him, when all other lights should fail,
ELESSAR: … And one who tries to heal him, and many souls who ail.
EGGSHELL: This thing cracks so easily, you walk on it with care;
SARUMAN: And this one’s speech enchants, but only listen if you dare!

AZOG'S KINSMAN: ‘Murderers and elf-friends!’ in great wrath by him was said;
NO-ONE: Ancalime – in preference, this is the one she’d wed.
D The French breeze it is mingled for him; short yet doughty, he,

FARAMIR: And distant is a jewel? His quality is plain to see.
EVENING STAR'S LIGHT: Earendil is its guardian; a Silmaril its form;
TRAHALD: It’s heartbreaking and hideous, to see this one transform.
THEODEN: No lair after an article, that’s definite, for him,
EOMER: And Eastern Rome morphs into one of the brave Rohirrim!
R Starts radical – appalled, he sounds! No ire, though, ’neath his ’lids.
E Just change the first for mints and sweets we ate when we were kids.
RICHES: This word means wealth or treasures, that are used for good or ill,
SILMARILS: And for these things, so wondrous fair, unnumbered tears will spill.

Yes. I thought 'Praise them with ... [great] praise' was a pretty generous hint! 'Conin en Annun' *means* 'Princes of the West.'

In other news, on 'Pointless' yesterday, they had 'imaginary languages' as a category, and not one of the six answers was a Tolkien language!

[Urwen]

T could be Thorin, but who is the Brit?

[Pervinca Took]

Originally Posted by Urwen

T could be Thorin, but who is the Brit?

Not Thorin, but close.

The British King is quite obscure.

It's a MAKE of mints/sweets in the E clue. A British make, which I don't think exists any more.

[Urwen]

And D is Dwalin (LA+WIND)

[Pervinca Took]

CONIN EN ANNUN: Praise them with the greatest praise, these Princes of the West!
OLORIN: Take note from a florin, leaving nothing. Oft he’s pressed.
NORI: She? Not she. Or he? Not he. Then you? No, no! Nor me!
SHELOB: Broideress, or spinner? Cast a net – a thrower, she!
T Two kings mix – an ancient Brit, a dwarf – and make a third;
RADIANCE OF THE TREES: Illumination, fair beyond the scope of elvish word.
ARKENSTONE: Marvellous and radiant, at mountain’s heart it lies,
IORHAEL: Strength, endurance past hope’s end – such anguish in his eyes …
NERWEN'S PHIAL: Gifted, this, to light him, when all other lights should fail,
ELESSAR: … And one who tries to heal him, and many souls who ail.
EGGSHELL: This thing cracks so easily, you walk on it with care;
SARUMAN: And this one’s speech enchants, but only listen if you dare!

AZOG'S KINSMAN: ‘Murderers and elf-friends!’ in great wrath by him was said;
NO-ONE: Ancalime – in preference, this is the one she’d wed.
DWALIN: The French breeze it is mingled for him; short yet doughty, he,

FARAMIR: And distant is a jewel? His quality is plain to see.
EVENING STAR'S LIGHT: Earendil is its guardian; a Silmaril its form;
TRAHALD: It’s heartbreaking and hideous, to see this one transform.
THEODEN: No lair after an article, that’s definite, for him,
EOMER: And Eastern Rome morphs into one of the brave Rohirrim!
R Starts radical – appalled, he sounds! No ire, though, ’neath his ’lids.
E Just change the first for mints and sweets we ate when we were kids.
RICHES: This word means wealth or treasures, that are used for good or ill,
SILMARILS: And for these things, so wondrous fair, unnumbered tears will spill.

P.S. The sweet company in question does still exist, but it has merged with another company, so the name is both companies put together.

[Urwen]

British company?

[Urwen]

Nvm, found it, and with that in mind, E is Erebor

[Pervinca Took]

CONIN EN ANNUN: Praise them with the greatest praise, these Princes of the West!
OLORIN: Take note from a florin, leaving nothing. Oft he’s pressed.
NORI: She? Not she. Or he? Not he. Then you? No, no! Nor me!
SHELOB: Broideress, or spinner? Cast a net – a thrower, she!
T Two kings mix – an ancient Brit, a dwarf – and make a third;
RADIANCE OF THE TREES: Illumination, fair beyond the scope of elvish word.
ARKENSTONE: Marvellous and radiant, at mountain’s heart it lies,
IORHAEL: Strength, endurance past hope’s end – such anguish in his eyes …
NERWEN'S PHIAL: Gifted, this, to light him, when all other lights should fail,
ELESSAR: … And one who tries to heal him, and many souls who ail.
EGGSHELL: This thing cracks so easily, you walk on it with care;
SARUMAN: And this one’s speech enchants, but only listen if you dare!

AZOG'S KINSMAN: ‘Murderers and elf-friends!’ in great wrath by him was said;
NO-ONE: Ancalime – in preference, this is the one she’d wed.
DWALIN: The French breeze it is mingled for him; short yet doughty, he,

FARAMIR: And distant is a jewel? His quality is plain to see.
EVENING STAR'S LIGHT: Earendil is its guardian; a Silmaril its form;
TRAHALD: It’s heartbreaking and hideous, to see this one transform.
THEODEN: No lair after an article, that’s definite, for him,
EOMER: And Eastern Rome morphs into one of the brave Rohirrim!
R Starts radical – appalled, he sounds! No ire, though, ’neath his ’lids.
EREBOR: Just change the first for mints and sweets we ate when we were kids.
RICHES: This word means wealth or treasures, that are used for good or ill,
SILMARILS: And for these things, so wondrous fair, unnumbered tears will spill.

I have quite fond memories of Trebor Mints.

Trebor is 'Robert' backwards.

[Huinesoron]

Going completely clue-free: if T isn't Thorin, maybe it's THRAIN.

I think you said all my pairs were right last time, so now we're left with

Arkenstone - Erebor (final resting place)
Dwalin
No-one
???Thrain
???R

Perhaps Dwalin was constrained by Thrain to accompany him on his original quest to Erebor? That would mean R sits with No-one.

Hmm... is it RADAGAST? Starts with rad-, and sounds aghast?

gS

[Pervinca Took]

CONIN EN ANNUN: Praise them with the greatest praise, these Princes of the West!
OLORIN: Take note from a florin, leaving nothing. Oft he’s pressed.
NORI: She? Not she. Or he? Not he. Then you? No, no! Nor me!
SHELOB: Broideress, or spinner? Cast a net – a thrower, she!
T Two kings mix – an ancient Brit, a dwarf – and make a third;
RADIANCE OF THE TREES: Illumination, fair beyond the scope of elvish word.
ARKENSTONE: Marvellous and radiant, at mountain’s heart it lies,
IORHAEL: Strength, endurance past hope’s end – such anguish in his eyes …
NERWEN'S PHIAL: Gifted, this, to light him, when all other lights should fail,
ELESSAR: … And one who tries to heal him, and many souls who ail.
EGGSHELL: This thing cracks so easily, you walk on it with care;
SARUMAN: And this one’s speech enchants, but only listen if you dare!

AZOG'S KINSMAN: ‘Murderers and elf-friends!’ in great wrath by him was said;
NO-ONE: Ancalime – in preference, this is the one she’d wed.
DWALIN: The French breeze it is mingled for him; short yet doughty, he,

FARAMIR: And distant is a jewel? His quality is plain to see.
EVENING STAR'S LIGHT: Earendil is its guardian; a Silmaril its form;
TRAHALD: It’s heartbreaking and hideous, to see this one transform.
THEODEN: No lair after an article, that’s definite, for him,
EOMER: And Eastern Rome morphs into one of the brave Rohirrim!
RADAGAST: Starts radical – appalled, he sounds! No ire, though, ’neath his ’lids.
EREBOR: Just change the first for mints and sweets we ate when we were kids.
RICHES: This word means wealth or treasures, that are used for good or ill,
SILMARILS: And for these things, so wondrous fair, unnumbered tears will spill.

PAIRS:

Saruman - Olorin
Azog's Kinsman - Nori
Shelob - Iorhael
Silmarils - Radiance of the Trees
Nerwen's Phial - Evening Star's Light
Elessar - Trahald
Eggshell - Riches
Faramir - Conin en Annun
Theoden - Eomer
Erebor - Arkenstone
No-one - Radagast *

* And actually, you can reverse this pair and it still works - he constrains no-one and is constrained by no-one.

...

THRAIN is ONE of the TWO kings referred to in the clue. Mixed with an obscure British king, it will give you a THIRD king, which is the answer.

Monty Python brought us CONFUSE A CAT and MYSTIFY A MOLE.

But who, besides the Great Goblin, brought us CONSTRAIN A DWARF?

[Urwen]

Well, Thranduil did.


THRAIN+LUD

[Pervinca Took]

CONIN EN ANNUN: Praise them with the greatest praise, these Princes of the West!
OLORIN: Take note from a florin, leaving nothing. Oft he’s pressed.
NORI: She? Not she. Or he? Not he. Then you? No, no! Nor me!
SHELOB: Broideress, or spinner? Cast a net – a thrower, she!
THRANDUIL: Two kings mix – an ancient Brit, a dwarf – and make a third;
RADIANCE OF THE TREES: Illumination, fair beyond the scope of elvish word.
ARKENSTONE: Marvellous and radiant, at mountain’s heart it lies,
IORHAEL: Strength, endurance past hope’s end – such anguish in his eyes …
NERWEN'S PHIAL: Gifted, this, to light him, when all other lights should fail,
ELESSAR: … And one who tries to heal him, and many souls who ail.
EGGSHELL: This thing cracks so easily, you walk on it with care;
SARUMAN: And this one’s speech enchants, but only listen if you dare!

AZOG'S KINSMAN: ‘Murderers and elf-friends!’ in great wrath by him was said;
NO-ONE: Ancalime – in preference, this is the one she’d wed.
DWALIN: The French breeze it is mingled for him; short yet doughty, he,

FARAMIR: And distant is a jewel? His quality is plain to see.
EVENING STAR'S LIGHT: Earendil is its guardian; a Silmaril its form;
TRAHALD: It’s heartbreaking and hideous, to see this one transform.
THEODEN: No lair after an article, that’s definite, for him,
EOMER: And Eastern Rome morphs into one of the brave Rohirrim!
RADAGAST: Starts radical – appalled, he sounds! No ire, though, ’neath his ’lids.
EREBOR: Just change the first for mints and sweets we ate when we were kids.
RICHES: This word means wealth or treasures, that are used for good or ill,
SILMARILS: And for these things, so wondrous fair, unnumbered tears will spill.

PAIRS:

Saruman - Olorin
Azog's Kinsman - Nori **
Shelob - Iorhael
Silmarils - Radiance of the Trees
Nerwen's Phial - Evening Star's Light
Elessar - Trahald
Eggshell - Riches
Faramir - Conin en Annun
Theoden - Eomer
Erebor - Arkenstone
No-one - Radagast *
Thranduil - Dwalin **

* And actually, you can reverse this pair and it still works - he constrains no-one and is constrained by no-one.

** Dwalin and Nori swapped around also works, of course .
...

And now ...

Over to Urwen again!

[Galadriel55]

Wow, what a great password! Another work of art!

[Urwen]

I might need to pass once again...might...

[Pervinca Took]

Thanks, G55, but credit must go to Huinesoron for the idea.

I enjoyed writing one in verse and finding pairs to fit, though. My only rhyming one in this thread apart from the one about the inns, I think.

[Urwen]

I am running out of possible themes for themed password, so I might do non-themed ones from now on. That said, I must cede this turn, as it's been too long.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

I am running out of possible themes for themed password, so I might do non-themed ones from now on. That said, I must cede this turn, as it's been too long.

Non-themed passwords are fine, though I think we'll all drive ourselves crazy trying to find the theme anyway.

This one is strongly themed, though the password itself is only part of the theme if you squint really hard.

1. - Not a ewe's namesake, the ground is missing you.
2. - A short Swedish band's slightly mixed diction, like Duke Edward.
3. - The darkest is mixed up - are Batman's city misspelled slightly?
4. - Forward the sphere, backward the VP, chop out the heart and find the angel.
5. - I am briefly a cat, you owe yourself a consonant, in the loch, quick!
6. - Second confused digit is confusing up here.
7. - A pair of vowels runs in confusion, comes second.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

3. MORGOTH - GOTHAM + R (are) ?

7. SAURON - A + O + RUNS?

[Galadriel55]

I am so used to crypticclues by now that you automatically read the instruction words as instruction words, but with these types of clues I love to allow myself the pleasure of literal interpretation for the sake of fun, and have to admit I just broke down at "I am briefly a cat". Also, I feel that the most appropriate answer, both literal AND cryptic, to the clue about confused second digit is: "Wot???"

I highly suspect that GROND is if not the answer to #1 then part of the answer, but no idea what the ewe has to do with it.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

3. MORGOTH - GOTHAM + R (are) ?

7. SAURON - A + O + RUNS?

Both correct.

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I am so used to crypticclues by now that you automatically read the instruction words as instruction words, but with these types of clues I love to allow myself the pleasure of literal interpretation for the sake of fun, and have to admit I just broke down at "I am briefly a cat". Also, I feel that the most appropriate answer, both literal AND cryptic, to the clue about confused second digit is: "Wot???"

It is great fun to come up with clues that "make sense" linguistically, but are utter nonsense when actually considered. I am briefly a cat. ^_^

And... 'wot' is not the answer, but it is more than half of it.

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I highly suspect that GROND is if not the answer to #1 then part of the answer, but no idea what the ewe has to do with it.

Correct! Because it's not a ewe...

... it's a ram. ^_^

('s namesake, there are two gronds of course.)

GROND - Not a ewe's namesake, the ground is missing you.
2. - A short Swedish band's slightly mixed diction, like Duke Edward.
MORGOTH - The darkest is mixed up - are Batman's city misspelled slightly?
4. - Forward the sphere, backward the VP, chop out the heart and find the angel.
5. - I am briefly a cat, you owe yourself a consonant, in the loch, quick!
6. - Second confused digit is confusing up here.
SAURON - A pair of vowels runs in confusion, comes second.

hS

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Hui

And... 'wot' is not the answer, but it is more than half of it.*

Right. How about: Wot the 'ell?

[Pervinca Took]

I got to GROND, but drew a blank at ewe. Double meaning of 'ram' is inspired.

[Pervinca Took]

2. A for ABBA or AHA. (Sorry - checked and AHA were Norwegian).

NATTER for 'diction.'

ANNATAR.

(I'll get me coat).

The only word that seems to fit for password is GAMBLES.

4. BAUGLIR? BALL plus a vice president I can't find backwards with the middle letters chopped out?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

2. A for ABBA or AHA. (Sorry - checked and AHA were Norwegian).

NATTER for 'diction.'

ANNATAR.

(I'll get me coat).

The only word that seems to fit for password is GAMBLES.

4. BAUGLIR? BALL plus a vice president I can't find backwards with the middle letters chopped out?

ABBA is the Swedish band, and BALL is the sphere, but neither of the answers you derive from them are correct (& nor is Gambles).

hS

[Pervinca Took]

GUMSHOES - the little-known private detectives of Middle-earth.

I know. It's some elvish term that I won't know.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

GUMSHOES - the little-known private detectives of Middle-earth.

I know. It's some elvish term that I won't know.

Not Gumshoes, but also not Elvish! It's a fairly standard English word. (So are... three of the four remaining answers, for that matter.)

hS

[Galadriel55]

6 - perhaps TOWER, two...er?

[Pervinca Took]

GAMBITS for the password?

4. BALROG.

BAL(L) + (E)ROG (Al Gore, a former Vice-President).

...

And I think 2 must be ABDICATION. AB(BA) + DICTION with an A in it but otherwise not mixed - so perhaps it's ABBA that's slightly mixed, before shortening.

King Edward abdicated and became a Duke.

I suppose Aragorn and many other Numenorean kings abdicated, too.

5. IMLACH? Has I'M and CA(T) and most of LOCH. Not sure about 'owe yourself a consonant,' though.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

6 - perhaps TOWER, two...er?

Yep! I was confused, so you should be too.

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

GAMBITS for the password?

Correct! Very much just 'a word that fit the answers', I'm afraid.

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

4. BALROG.

BAL(L) + (E)ROG (Al Gore, a former Vice-President).

Entirely right. (As a Maia, a balrog is still an angel!)

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

And I think 2 must be ABDICATION. AB(BA) + DICTION with an A in it but otherwise not mixed - so perhaps it's ABBA that's slightly mixed, before shortening.

King Edward abdicated and became a Duke.

I suppose Aragorn and many other Numenorean kings abdicated, too.

And so is this. AB(B)A + diction, for the Duke of Windsor aka Edward VIII.

The abdication referred to here is not connected to a death (unlike, say, Aragorn's).

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

5. IMLACH? Has I'M and CA(T) and most of LOCH. Not sure about 'owe yourself a consonant,' though.

I'm = I am, briefly; the cat is not brief, and the loch is not LOCH. This one is an English noun, derived from an adjective.

GROND - Not a ewe's namesake, the ground is missing you.
ABDICATION - A short Swedish band's slightly mixed diction, like Duke Edward.
MORGOTH - The darkest is mixed up - are Batman's city misspelled slightly?
BALROG - Forward the sphere, backward the VP, chop out the heart and find the angel.
5. I - I am briefly a cat, you owe yourself a consonant, in the loch, quick!
TOWER - Second confused digit is confusing up here.
SAURON - A pair of vowels runs in confusion, comes second.

One to go! I'd love to know if anyone can spot the theme; this is a closed set, with only one debatable item excluded.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

5. IMPETUOUSNESS?

NESS gives us the loch, (I hope - there are an awful lot of Scottish lochs!)

Ah, cat is PET, perhaps?

U You
O Owe
US Yourself - maybe literally, in text language, or You plus N for a consonant?

(I tried 'impatience' first).

GAMBITS are STRATEGIES, I believe, but sort of 'opening' strategies, which are often a bit of a gamble?

Hang on ...

Morgoth was Eru's gambit - and a risky one. And the Valar's, when they gave him a second chance?

Sauron was the Valar's - a second chance again?

Grond was Sauron's gambit?

Isengard (Tower) was Saruman's?

Impetuousness - Sauron's, counted on by Gandalf?

Abdication - not sure, if it isn't a Numenorean lying on his death bed. I think there are people in thd annals who 'refused the sceptre,' but you'd have had to accept it in the first place to abdicate, I think.

Balrog - Feanor's?

I'm sure GAMBIT was a late 70s/early 80s game show. It was also a film starring a very acrobatic Shirley MacLaine, (upside down, stealing a diamond, 'The Wrong Trousers' style, IIRC!)

(Edward VIII was not the first Duke Edward on Wikipedia - I went up a blind alley until it was clear it was about abdication - not used to hearing the former Duke of Windsor called that!)

[Galadriel55]

Non-sceptre abdications include Finrod's renunciation of Nargothrond and Maedhros passing on the title of High King to Fingolfin. Doesn't help me figure out what this closed set is though.

Oh. Wait. Is it the demises/ends/events causing the passing of the title of the High Kings of the Noldor?

GROND - Fingolfin
ABDICATION - Maedhros
MORGOTH - Finwe
BALROG - Feanor
IMPETUOUSNESS - Fingon presumably, whose people rushed too soon onto Anfauglith
TOWER - Turgon
SAURON - Gil-galad

What is the debatable item? And I still don't see how Gambit applies to some of them...

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

5. IMPETUOUSNESS?

NESS gives us the loch, (I hope - there are an awful lot of Scottish lochs!)

Ah, cat is PET, perhaps?

U You
O Owe
US Yourself - maybe literally, in text language, or You plus N for a consonant?

Correct! It was U-O-U + S for the consonant, because... apparently I didn't think of 'us'. -_-

GROND - Not a ewe's namesake, the ground is missing you.
ABDICATION - A short Swedish band's slightly mixed diction, like Duke Edward.
MORGOTH - The darkest is mixed up - are Batman's city misspelled slightly?
BALROG - Forward the sphere, backward the VP, chop out the heart and find the angel.
5. I - I am briefly a cat, you owe yourself a consonant, in the loch, quick!
TOWER - Second confused digit is confusing up here.
SAURON - A pair of vowels runs in confusion, comes second.

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Non-sceptre abdications include Finrod's renunciation of Nargothrond and Maedhros passing on the title of High King to Fingolfin. Doesn't help me figure out what this closed set is though.

Oh. Wait. Is it the demises/ends/events causing the passing of the title of the High Kings of the Noldor?

GROND - Fingolfin
ABDICATION - Maedhros
MORGOTH - Finwe
BALROG - Feanor
IMPETUOUSNESS - Fingon presumably, whose people rushed too soon onto Anfauglith
TOWER - Turgon
SAURON - Gil-galad

What is the debatable item? And I still don't see how Gambit applies to some of them...

That's right! Though the impetuous one was Feanor; apparently Gothmog killed both him and Fingon, so I was able to swap back and forth.

"Gambit" is very much a "what word fits these answers" password - my second option was MAGGOTS. But taking the sense of 'risky strategy', most of them died in battle against superior foes, Maedhros resigned to try and heal the rift in the Noldor, and Finwe was only at Formenos to try and generate sympathy for Feanor. So it kiiind of fits.

The debatable one is Maglor, who was presumably at least Acting High King while Maedhros was hanging around Thangorodrim. But Maglor's a bit wet, and is never actually accorded the title in the books anyway. (Also, Finarfin - but his reign is ongoing!)

And over to Pervinca!

hS

[Pervinca Took]

But Maglor's a bit wet

It 's all that sea-spray.

So heartless, Huinesoron!

I have a couple I wrote a while ago. I'll put one up soon.

P.S. I think GAMBITS fits your clues far better than MAGGOTS!