The Riddle-Game

[Wilpatmo]

I live in the hills far away,
I'm the last from Weathertop to the sea,
If ever I go out wandering,
All scream and run in terror from me,
I dwell alone very sadly,
I am indeed a monstrous beast,
But if ever you dare to approach me,
you'd certainly be in for a feast!

It's not Scatha the worm, is it? He's long dead and gone.

[lastalliance]

Nope, not Scatha. Sorry.

[lastalliance]

Now I'm thinking the answer to Elvyen's riddle could be Orodruin or the one ring. (I'm really taking those metaphors to an extreme here) I know both are very likely wrong, but I'm just going to keep throwing out guesses that almost make sense until I get it right.

[Klapton]

ok here goes, whether or not it's ready

No ponderous thought, no philosophy grand
Did I scheme in my head; clean shaven and hairless
But a treacherous plot, maliciously planned
Shared with the Dread, and then sprung on the careless
Yet no traitor am I, for the thoughts were not mine
In this murderous tale, where corrupt hidden meetings
Nearly made the great die, or leave stronghold behind
But each day without fail, I’m seen wounded and bleeding

I have no idea... I'm just quoting this so I (we) can read it some more without paging back several pages.

Come on folks! We haven't solved this one yet!

[lastalliance]

Alright, now I'm guessing Maedhros on Elvyen's riddle. I'll wait for Elvyen to tell me that all of my guesses are incorrect before spamming the thread with ideas anymore, though.

[elvyen]

all guesses wrong haha i hope ive stumped you guys because it so clever, not because its badly written hehe

how about the second line being:



No ponderous thought, no philosophy grand
was schemed in this "head", clean shaven, hairless.
But a treacherous plot, maliciously planned
Shared with the Dread, and then sprung on the careless
Yet no traitor am I, for the thoughts were not mine
In this murderous tale, where corrupt hidden meetings
Nearly made the great die, or leave stronghold behind
But each day without fail, i'm seen wounded and bleeding

[lastalliance]

I know I'm wrong again... but maybe the Ithil stone or the palantir of Orthanc?

[Bailo]

I live in the hills far away,
I'm the last from Weathertop to the sea,
If ever I go out wandering,
All scream and run in terror from me,
I dwell alone very sadly,
I am indeed a monstrous beast,
But if ever you dare to approach me,
you'd certainly be in for a feast!

Its got to be the Lonely Troll from Perry-the-winkle
One of my favorite poems by Tolkien.

[lastalliance]

Its got to be the Lonely Troll from Perry-the-winkle
One of my favorite poems by Tolkien.

Congratulations! You nailed it. I was hoping nobody else had read "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil." The Lonely Troll was just a depressed guy looking for a friend. Everyone was afraid of him and even if he tried being polite they would run away screaming. A hobbit felt sorry for him and tried to comfort him, then they went away together to a feast The Lonely Troll had prepared. (It turns out he's quite the cook)

[Berephon]

Congratulations! You nailed it. I was hoping nobody else had read "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil." The Lonely Troll was just a depressed guy looking for a friend. Everyone was afraid of him and even if he tried being polite they would run away screaming. A hobbit felt sorry for him and tried to comfort him, then they went away together to a feast The Lonely Troll had prepared. (It turns out he's quite the cook)

Ah, I never would have gotten that one. The only part of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil I have read recently is the literal adventures of Tom. Good show!

[lastalliance]

Thank you! And I forgot to mention... Bailo, you win an imaginary invisible pipe!

[Merciful_Death]

I don't think so, as the Lhún is also a river between Weathertop and the Sea.

Map-wise, I think the Lhun ends in a bay just north of the east-west line through Amon Sul.

If you count the bay as part of the river, it's a closer call.

[Klapton]

all guesses wrong haha i hope ive stumped you guys because it so clever, not because its badly written hehe

how about the second line being:



No ponderous thought, no philosophy grand
was schemed in this "head", clean shaven, hairless.
But a treacherous plot, maliciously planned
Shared with the Dread, and then sprung on the careless
Yet no traitor am I, for the thoughts were not mine
In this murderous tale, where corrupt hidden meetings
Nearly made the great die, or leave stronghold behind
But each day without fail, i'm seen wounded and bleeding

Is it Osgiliath?

[Silverlocket]

Bald Hill, perhaps?



I was working on a new riddle, by the way, but in the meantime someone posted one very similar, so I'm going to wait a while before I post it. I'm really enjoying elvyen's latest so far.

SL

[elvyen]

Wow TLA, nice riddle, I never wouldve gotten the answer, but it fits perfectly

[elvyen]

DING DING Silverlocket once again nails it! Nice one it is AMON RUDH, or bald hill hehe

The hairless "head" being bald hill
The treacherous scheme being the petty dwarves betrayal
The dread one being morgoth that they betrayed Turin to
The Great nearly dying is Beleg's near fatal wound from the attack, and the leaving stronghold being Turin taken captive,
The wounded and bleeding being the red Seregon flowers that bloomed on its peak, giving the appearance of blood

so there ya go, nice guess SL, you are my nemesis haha

[sdaorss0rc]

DING DING Silverlocket once again nails it! Nice one it is AMON RUDH, or bald hill hehe

The hairless "head" being bald hill
The treacherous scheme being the petty dwarves betrayal
The dread one being morgoth that they betrayed Turin to
The Great nearly dying is Beleg's near fatal wound from the attack, and the leaving stronghold being Turin taken captive,
The wounded and bleeding being the red Seregon flowers that bloomed on its peak, giving the appearance of blood

so there ya go, nice guess SL, you are my nemesis haha

excellent...

[Klapton]

DING DING Silverlocket once again nails it! Nice one it is AMON RUDH, or bald hill hehe

The hairless "head" being bald hill
The treacherous scheme being the petty dwarves betrayal
The dread one being morgoth that they betrayed Turin to
The Great nearly dying is Beleg's near fatal wound from the attack, and the leaving stronghold being Turin taken captive,
The wounded and bleeding being the red Seregon flowers that bloomed on its peak, giving the appearance of blood

so there ya go, nice guess SL, you are my nemesis haha

WOW. That was some riddle! I was groping with my Osgiliath guess, taking "head" to mean it was the chief city of Gondor and "wounded and bleeding" as the ruins being visible from Minas Tirith. Now that the answer is revealed, it does indeed fit perfectly. WELL DONE! both Riddler and Guesser!

Let's see how quickly this one is solved...

I have touched purest flame and not been burned.
I have been consumed by Evil, but committed none.
My owner counted me small loss for his gain.
With a heavy hand I was recovered,
And my treasure was given to my brother.

[auximenes]

I have touched purest flame and not been burned.
I have been consumed by Evil, but committed none.
My owner counted me small loss for his gain.
With a heavy hand I was recovered,
And my treasure was given to my brother.

Hmm, I don't think this answer fits all of your riddle, but I'll toss it out anyway, is it Smeagol's brother?

[Silverlocket]

I have touched purest flame and not been burned.
I have been consumed by Evil, but committed none.
My owner counted me small loss for his gain.
With a heavy hand I was recovered,
And my treasure was given to my brother.

Beren's hand?

It grasped a Silmaril, was bitten off by Carcharoth -- which Beren considered small loss for the gain of Luthien's hand in marriage -- and was recovered by Mablung "of the Heavy Hand."


Assuming that is correct, here is another -- somewhat silly -- riddle:

Sing hey! for me, my hearty friends --
quick, before my allurement ends.
Better than fountain, rain, or stream,
better than spring or cup, I deem --
on your back or on your knee,
at close of day Sing hey! for me.
SL

[Klapton]

Beren's hand?

It grasped a Silmaril, was bitten off by Carcharoth -- which Beren considered small loss for the gain of Luthien's hand in marriage -- and was recovered by Mablung "of the Heavy Hand."


Assuming that is correct, here is another -- somewhat silly -- riddle:

Sing hey! for me, my hearty friends --
quick, before my allurement ends.
Better than fountain, rain, or stream,
better than spring or cup, I deem --
on your back or on your knee,
at close of day Sing hey! for me.
SL

You are correct! And you are also a BATH!

[TheOneRinger]

No, he's not a bath! He's water! Nice riddle on Beren's hand! And the Amon Rudh one was also good!

Howsabout this?

Many farms, and many hands
In between four kingdoms of men
These are very famous lands
The fairest of which is losing a head
My people feed an army grand

Where am I?

This is probably going to be pretty easy

[Klapton]

No, he's not a bath! He's water! Nice riddle on Beren's hand! And the Amon Rudh one was also good!

Nah. He mentions other forms / vessels of water, saying he's even better.

Sing hey! for the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away!
A loon is he that will not sing:
O! Water Hot is a noble thing!

O! Sweet is the sound of falling rain,
and the brook that leaps from hill to plain;
but better than rain or rippling streams
is Water Hot that smokes and steams.

O! Water cold we may pour at need
down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed;
but better is Beer, if drink we lack,
and Water Hot poured down the back.

O! Water is fair that leaps on high
in a fountain white beneath the sky;
but never did fountain sound so sweet
as splashing Hot Water with my feet!

[TheOneRinger]

No, I meant hot water...
But now that I read it again, yah, yer right.

You gonna guess my riddle?

[elvyen]

wow so many great riddles! i loved the Beren's hand riddle Klapton, lots of fun to solve, the line about small loss for gain was the key for me
I agree with the bath answer for SL's latest!
and 1ringer's latest, im still pondering... it sounds intriguing

(thanks for the compliments on my riddle, im glad it turned out ok )