The Riddle-Game

[Womdon]

Not Isengar, but you're very close...

[Womdon]

Ok, this one seems to be a bit difficult, so I decided to re-word it a bit.

Little is said of this fated harbinger's measure,
Claimant and lover of fine Tookish treasure,
Whose doom was inexorably tied to Ulmo's pride,
Stuck above and to the side of heros undenied,
Dragon's head, exclaimant body, and tail that's long and round,
Look to lore (or to the riddle); therein the answer's found.

Minor changes, but I think it's more indicative now of the answer

[gildhur]

Little is said of this fated harbinger's measure,
Claimant and lover of fine Tookish treasure,
Whose doom was inexorably tied to Ulmo's pride,
Stuck above and to the side of heros undenied,
Dragon's head, exclaimant body, and tail that's long and round,
Look to lore (or to the riddle); therein the answer's found.

Saruman popped into my head from the "Tookish treasure" (pipewed), "Ulmo's pride" could be the Isen flooding his home, and "lore" seems obvious enough given his wizardry. But not sure how the rest fits.

Orthanc could also be a related answer for some of the same reasons.

[Silverlocket]

Little is said of this fated harbinger's measure,
Claimant and lover of fine Tookish treasure,
Whose doom was inexorably tied to Ulmo's pride,
Stuck above and to the side of heros undenied,
Dragon's head, exclaimant body, and tail that's long and round,
Look to lore (or to the riddle); therein the answer's found.

This wouldn't be Drogo Baggins (Frodo's father), would it?

SL

[Womdon]

Sorry, it's not Saruman, but good guess...

However, it is Drogo! Grats Silverlocket. Did the re-wording make it a little more sensible?

[elvyen]

whoa... what happened to everyone? my excuse is i had the flu all last week, and now im finally back at work and have been scrambling to catch up.
I get a chance to make a quick check on the old riddle thread and i find it gasping for breath. Where are we all? Im going to get started on my latest in the meantime!

[Silverlocket]

whoa... what happened to everyone? my excuse is i had the flu all last week, and now im finally back at work and have been scrambling to catch up.
I get a chance to make a quick check on the old riddle thread and i find it gasping for breath. Where are we all? Im going to get started on my latest in the meantime!

I can't speak for the others, but I have been pretty much swamped lately; I only get to pop in now and again. And if anybody knows how to get Solaris 10 to play nice with Intel 935/965 onboard graphics, please let me know.

I need to reread the last several pages to see what has been going on. I thought of something the other day that would make a good subject for a riddle, but I can't remember what it was.


SL

[Womdon]

Well even the greatest of conversations have a bit of a lull now and then. This is usually a very busy time of year for everyone.

I was intermittently working on a rather convoluted puzzle, but it's become a bit cumbersome. I think I'm better off writing riddles of the standard sort. By the way, I sent a PM to a dev casting my vote for a sticky for this thread, but I'm not sure that's the proper way to request it. Anyone know for sure?

At any rate, this is the Riddle-Game thread, so.... here's a riddle . Hope you like it:

Born in song and joy, and admired by nearly all
She was fed by Gandalf's first and greatest master
Not even such great love could prevent the siblings' fall
Great darknesses combined to reap vile disaster
Though her elder brother was favored, it is true
Tis her immortal child that breathes life to me and you

[e_h_b]

Laurelin? The younger of the Two Great Trees of Valinor, often associated as female and made by Yavanna, but fed by Lorien, Olorin's master in Valinor. Morgoth and Unguloint together destroyed 'the siblings'. The older tree was more favoured, and had the light that would later be the sun, while Laurelin was not as favoured, and gave the light of the moon.




e.h.b

[Womdon]

Although I feel compelled (in defense of the final line of the riddle) to mention that it was Laurelin's fruit that became the sun... You are indubitably, indisputably, absolutely, unabashedly, and quite in fact, correct.

Good job

[e_h_b]

Ah I always mix up the fruits . I was half hoping to get it wrong, just to keep this thread going. Ah well. If I had the literary prowess to write a riddle worthy of these august forums I would, but I'll leave that to you other forumites.





e.h.b

[Womdon]

Alright then, how about another?

In a moment, Aragorn went from having many to having none
And of these things, Iluvatar has not seen one
Yet in the Shire Frodo and Sam found a way
To encounter them each and every day
Warrior to warrior, slave to slave
The way Gollum sees Smeagol
Is lost twixt knight and knave
What is rare for the regal
Is but a greeting away
For most it's a simple task to find one today

[elvyen]

Very cool sounding riddle Womdon! Pondering it now

and still fiddling with one of my own as well

[andulinde]

Womdon, is the answer a peer, or an equal, or somesuch? Aragorn went from being one of many rangers to being the heralded returning King, and Iluvatar is peerless... Frodo & Sam in the Shire, warrior-to-warrior, slave-to-slave, Gollum-Smeagol are all peer relationships, but knight-to-knave is not. And kings have few of them.

[Womdon]

Indeed Andulinde, the answer is an equal or peer. You've got a knack for riddle-solving... although I suppose that much should be apparent from your impressive forum title.

[elvyen]

Ack so close, I was stuck on "rival"

nice guess andulinde

[Womdon]

Ahhhh, it's Friday morning, and for once I get tomorrow off! I'm in a positively wonderful mood. Here's one I thought up driving to work this morning:

Gatekeepers of the stars watching in silence as they roam
Harbingers of sweet visions or fearsome burning strife
They've seen the ends of the earth while never leaving home
Covering lands in darkness or gifting the world with life
These eternal wanderers, with never a thought for rest
To take from the sea and give to the land is their only quest

[elvyen]

Hah cool riddle Womdon your a very prolific riddler, tons of great offerings from you!

my guess is clouds, though im not entirely sure about the never leaving home line

[Womdon]

Well, when your home is the sky you generally get quite the view. You are of course correct, Elvyen.

[elvyen]

Ahh ok yeah that makes sense great riddle

Here's my latest


It starts with the stars, it ends with the moon
It’s a keeper of secrets, and magical runes
Blood shed by the firstborn, from black Khazad Dum
Spilled on a page or the gates of that tomb

[Womdon]

Hmmm... interesting...

Kinda spooky too. The first line made me think of mirrormere, and the line about the firstborn made me think about Eregion. Lots of ways to go with that, but perhaps the first line is to be taken literally. I believe the substance used to make the magical runes on the west gate of moria was made from mithril and called "starmoon".

Or as it is known by the elves, Ithildin. Is that the answer?

[elvyen]

Perfect nice job

the reference to the page referred to the fact that moon letters were most likely written with ithildin as well, since it was only visible by moonlight or starlight

[Womdon]

Ok, my turn again. I'm not sure how difficult this one will be since it's so lengthy and descriptive, but it was certainly fun to write,

A being of honor, a king's steadfast kin,
took claim of the crown because of a sin.
Good intentions can line the foulest of paths,
and lead the most worthy to terrible wrath.
A promise was made, and that promise kept,
through blood, ice, fire - trapped in war's net.
His brother was gifted with skills unmatched,
but it was to his pride that elvish doom latched.
And through all this horror, dishonor and pain,
this hero held true to his word until slain.
To stand before evil, the darkest of lords,
and fearlessly challenge the clashing of swords,
is no minor feat and shall be favored fond,
until all legends fade, and the wisest move on.

[e_h_b]

I do believe that you are speaking of Boromir. He was Aragon's friend throughout, and he promised to keep Frodo safe from harm. Faramir was exceedingly gifted, and because of his pride the ring (elvish doom) took him. He stood before the Uruks of Saruman protecting Merry and Pippin until he was slain.





e.h.b

[Hawk9]

ehb posted as i wrote, and it makes sense that it would be borimir, or even Farimir. both of them had good intentions of bringing the ring to gondor. Though borimir tried to take it forcfully, and Farimir eventually let Frodo go. They both held true to their words, and Borimir died defending his.

btw... e_h_b... does your sig come from portals?