Three-word Tolkien Trivia

[bambubambubambu]

Humbug, Hostage, Host

I have 2 answers and I think both fit equally well, so I can't decide on which is a better fit.

The answers are Saruman and Sauron.

Humbug has several meanings one of which is "fraud".

Both Saruman and Sauron can be thought of as frauds.
Saruman was acting fraudulently when he pretended to be helping the free peoples against Sauron and when he pretended to be an ally of Theoden/Rohan.
Sauron was acting fraudulently in his guise as Annatar when teaching the elves ringlore. (Lord of gifts indeed).

Both Saruman and Sauron were hostages. Saruman held captive in Orthanc by Treebeard.
Sauron taken hostage and held captive in Numenor by Ar-Pharazon.

Both Saruman and Sauron acted as hosts when they held various individuals as captives; Saruman held Gandalf captive. Sauron held many captives including Gollum/Smeagol.

Both excellent candidates! I think I might just let it go a bit more. I didn't think this one had too many possible answers.

Here's some more clues:

-The person was a short mortal.
-The meaning of humbug in this case is more 'betrayer'

Additionally, I'll rearrange the words into more or less the order this person was each word.

hostage host humbug

[Milliard]

Humbug, Hostage, Host

I have 2 answers and I think both fit equally well, so I can't decide on which is a better fit.

The answers are Saruman and Sauron.

Humbug has several meanings one of which is "fraud".

Both Saruman and Sauron can be thought of as frauds.
Saruman was acting fraudulently when he pretended to be helping the free peoples against Sauron and when he pretended to be an ally of Theoden/Rohan.
Sauron was acting fraudulently in his guise as Annatar when teaching the elves ringlore. (Lord of gifts indeed).

Both Saruman and Sauron were hostages. Saruman held captive in Orthanc by Treebeard.
Sauron taken hostage and held captive in Numenor by Ar-Pharazon.

Both Saruman and Sauron acted as hosts when they held various individuals as captives; Saruman held Gandalf captive. Sauron held many captives including Gollum/Smeagol.

I'll help you a bit.

In this case Saruman fits better, because he was directly called in those ways by Gandalf (probably fraud instead of humbag, I don't really know because I read LotR in spanish, but it's mainly the same adjective which was also used in spanish)

[Curandhras]

Possibly Bilbo?

Though he was a host before he was ever a hostage so I guess that doesn't really work.

[Milliard]

Lotho Sackville-Baggins

hobbit (short) betrayer of the Shire, host of Saruman an then his hostage until is murdered

Edit: didn't saw the new order of the word, so i'm probably wrong

Edit 2: Mîm, the petty-dwarf who was captured by Turin, then host of his company at Amon Tudh and finally their betrayer!

[bambubambubambu]

Edit 2: Mîm, the petty-dwarf who was captured by Turin, then host of his company at Amon Tudh and finally their betrayer!

There it is! Was thinkin' this was too hard. Well done and I pass the stick to you!

[Milliard]

There it is! Was thinkin' this was too hard. Well done and I pass the stick to you!

wiiii, it appeared in my mind from one moment to another xD

well another 3-2-1, this is a hard one (?):

Hephaestus' fashion bane

the answer is only one

[Curandhras]

wiiii, it appeared in my mind from one moment to another xD

well another 3-2-1, this is a hard one (?):

Hephaestus' fashion bane

the answer is only one

Hephaestus is the Greek version of Aule. Fashion can mean valued work or at least something someone dedicates a lot of time to.

So I'd guess Hephaestus' fashion could be the Dwarves, or at least Durin?

Perhaps the answer is Durin's Bane? (long shot, I know )

[Milliard]

Hephaestus is the Greek version of Aule. Fashion can mean valued work or at least something someone dedicates a lot of time to.

So I'd guess Hephaestus' fashion could be the Dwarves, or at least Durin?

Perhaps the answer is Durin's Bane? (long shot, I know )

good guess, i'm tempted to take it but's not the answer i'm looking for, if no-one can crack it i'll take it as correct.

clue: by fashion I mean an accesory

[Curandhras]

good guess, i'm tempted to take it but's not the answer i'm looking for, if no-one can crack it i'll take it as correct.

clue: by fashion I mean an accesory

I've been mulling over "anvil bane" in my head for ages

Here's another long shot: Hephaestus' fashion could be a hammer. Hammer bane could be Foe - Hammer -> Glamdring?

EDIT: Only just realised "Durin's Bane" is 2 words, not 1.. /facepalm.

[Milliard]

I've been mulling over "anvil bane" in my head for ages

Here's another long shot: Hephaestus' fashion could be a hammer. Hammer bane could be Foe - Hammer -> Glamdring?

EDIT: Only just realised "Durin's Bane" is 2 words, not 1.. /facepalm.

ding-ding-ding!!!

we have a winner! please take the price and do your riddle!

[Curandhras]

ding-ding-ding!!!

we have a winner! please take the price and do your riddle!

Ugh. I'm far too tired to think at the moment.

I'll check back tomorrow with a riddle when I'm more awake.

EDIT:Hmm. I'll see how this one goes:

Gondorian Helios Homage

[Milliard]

Ugh. I'm far too tired to think at the moment.

I'll check back tomorrow with a riddle when I'm more awake.

good idea, is far more easy solve a riddle than make a new one xD (and even more to me due to be a spanish speaker D: )

[bambubambubambu]

Ugh. I'm far too tired to think at the moment.

I'll check back tomorrow with a riddle when I'm more awake.

EDIT:Hmm. I'll see how this one goes:

Gondorian Helios Homage

I'll take a shot...

Helios being the Greek personification of the Sun + Gondorian tribute =

Minas Tirith which was formerly Minas Anor, the Tower of the Setting Sun?

[Curandhras]

I'll take a shot...

Helios being the Greek personification of the Sun + Gondorian tribute =

Minas Tirith which was formerly Minas Anor, the Tower of the Setting Sun?

Haha, hole in one. Well done

[bambubambubambu]

Forgot about this one for a bit! Here's the new one.

cagey chattering curer

[bambubambubambu]

First hint:

In this case cagey means knowledgeable or wise...

[bambubambubambu]

Second hint:

You can think 'prattles on' or 'chatterbox' instead of chattering if you like...

Also, it's been awhile on the obfuscated and two word thread. Someone could probably take the turn if they wanted to...

[Boraxxe]

Herbmaster

In the houses of healing in Minas Tirith.

[bambubambubambu]

Herbmaster

In the houses of healing in Minas Tirith.

Was thinkin Ioreth specifically but close enuff! The riddle stick is yours!

[Boraxxe]

Simple one:

Unusual ear ornament

[Duathrandir]

Wish ya had waited. I had Ioreth.
Impatient precious.

"Only just realised "Durin's Bane" is 2 words, not 1.. /facepalm"
-Curandhras-
A bit late now but Durin's Bane can be narrowed to Balrog.

[Duathrandir]

Bird's nest (or simply, nest). on the petrified troll.

[Duathrandir]

...so here goes. 321, pro'ly very simple.
Autocrat's Acrimonious condition

[Canus]

...so here goes. 321, pro'ly very simple.
Autocrat's Acrimonious condition

Using the definition of "acrimonious" as "angry and bitter", if one has this condition we might say one is "cross"; using "king" for autocrat, I get "King's Cross" for the two-word bit, but must confess am a bit stumped here. Is this on the right track, or am I over-thinking things?

[bambubambubambu]

...so here goes. 321, pro'ly very simple.
Autocrat's Acrimonious condition

I'm going to guess Denethor II. Gandalf accused him of using the grief over the loss of Boromir as an excuse to, among other things, wheedle information out of Pippin. By this time in the story he was quite the bitter old man.