The Riddle-Game

[Rhino-Man]

I'm not in the Shire
Nor am I by the fire
I'm filled with gloom
When I'm in the room
All pacing and brooding
Is my constant mood-ing

But my voice rings proud
(If perhaps overloud)
If it's all the same,
(As I care not for this game)
I wonder, Can you guess my name?

Bilbo? Not sure how he'd fit with part of the second stanza, and I can't remember where he is in Rivendell (ie. a room without a fireplace?), but he's certainly not in the shire and he gives you +dread.... And he's quite the downer! :-)

[Andjay]

My guess though I'm sure it's wrong is Strider.

However, it's been about a month since the riddle was posted; and no responses or hints from the poster.

Since apparently the poster "cares not for this game" I think it's safe to say that he's totally forgotten about it. I move that we allow another riddle to be posted.

[Edit: I figure I should also make mention of what I feel makes the best riddles: the best riddles are worded in such a way that the riddle is obvious once it's solved, and/or can only be the solution to the riddle; and all other answers don't fit. Rhyming, poetry etc are a bonus that make the riddle delightful instead of devilish, but in my opinion a riddle needs one or both of those two characteristics in order to keep an audience intrigued until the riddle is solved. With this last one, I barely even tried. The riddle starts out with 2 lines of what the object ISN'T, and all we're left with is something that broods or creates a brooding atmosphere, and has a slightly proud voice/sound according to the subjective opinion of the author...? That could be many things due to how vague it is.)

[Rouven]

I had a go earlier anyways, but apparently I snoozed ...
let's see how this works. The answer is something lotr.

*************

Three and two,
That’s five for you.

Four lost
Only one remains.

Like pieces in chess
Can you guess?

[Andjay]

White, Grey and Brown
make three of great renown.

Blue and Blue again
make two of Orome's ken.

All five were lost, not four,
but one returned and came back more
than what he seemd to be before
"Not last" said Varda in the days of yore.

They played the great game indeed,
but I would call them more like hands than pieces.

[Andjay]

well, did I get it right? Is the answer the Istari?

[Rouven]

well, did I get it right? Is the answer the Istari?

Argh, stupid me, I didn't realize that was an answer

Sorry, I kinda thought you were going with another riddle ...

I added one more line.

****************

Three and two,
That’s five for you.

Four lost
Only one remains,

in our fathers hands,
made to protect our lands.

Like pieces in chess
Can you guess?

*************

Should I add another hint?

[Andjay]

I am stumped. I feel like I have it just on the tip of my tongue but I cannot come up with a satisfying answer. Another hint would be appreciated.

[Rouven]

I guess the chess reference is not as clear as I thought - I may say more to that later, anyways - a few more lines.


Three and two,
That’s five for you.

The Sun and the Moon
standing high at noon.

Fangs of Iron
great power unsheathe.

See the twins
gnashing their teeth.

Four lost
Only one remains,

in our fathers hands,
made to protect our lands.

Like pieces in chess
Can you guess?

[Andjay]

See, I thought that chess line was pretty obvious--it has to be castles then.

But I could only think of a few castles, not 5. Certainly three in Gondor, but only 1...oh right.

Minas Anor
Osgiliath
Minas Ithil

Annuminas
Fornost

Three and two, that's 5 for you.

Four are lost; one remains -- Minas Tirith, which was once Minas Anor of old.

Like pieces in Chess - castles.

Can't believe I forgot about Annuminas :P

[Rouven]

Correct for the first half! In german the rook is called a tower, since the image still remains the same I left it in there, didn't know they are called castles as well!

Second half would have been the towers of the teeth, also known as the twin guardians, Carchost and Narchost.

I thought they all belonged together since the gondorians built them. Only Minas Anor was still held by Gondor at the end.

Still nicely done, your turn

[Andjay]

please stand by, I'm trying to come up with a good one.

[lf2536]

please stand by, I'm trying to come up with a good one.

[Andjay]

A dwarf with the head of a beast
A beast with the body of a man
I am the father of Dragons,
but myself no dragon.
What am I?


Sorry guys, I couldn't come up with anything better, and I'm so busy right now, I can't make it read any more cleverly.

I expect the answer will be up within seconds of the first reader seeing the riddle.

[Chiolas]

Turin?

http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Dwarf-mask

He had one of this masks and you can consider him a beast if by 'beast' you mean the strongest of all Men. As for the father of the dragons... I've got nothing O_o (he killed Glaurung, he wasn't his father -.-)

[Angel_of_Death792]

Here's one for you guys. The first person to get the correct answer will get a +1 to their rep.

It's quite easy, but here we go.

"I grow when my whole sees.
I grow when my whole feels.
I grow when my whole hears.
I give my whole glory.
My whole gives me glory.
What am I?"

BTW, not related to LOTR AT ALL. xD

[Andjay]

The guess of Turin is not correct.

And please see the rules for posting in this thread, AOD.

[Rouven]

A dwarf with the head of a beast
A beast with the body of a man
I am the father of Dragons,
but myself no dragon.
What am I?

This is LotR related, right?
I have a feeling this is all not to be taken very literal, trying to think more abstract but I can't come up with anything just yet.

[Andjay]

it is absolutely LOTR related.

[Chiolas]

The dwarf could be Azaghâl, king of Belegost and slain by Glaurung, he gave the elm of Dor-Lómin to Maedros

The father of dragons was Morgoth, but I doubt it's that obvious -.-

[Andjay]

Chiolas, you are very close. Keep at it

[Thaimli]

A dwarf with the head of a beast
A beast with the body of a man
I am the father of Dragons,
but myself no dragon.
What am I?


Sorry guys, I couldn't come up with anything better, and I'm so busy right now, I can't make it read any more cleverly.

I expect the answer will be up within seconds of the first reader seeing the riddle.

Wow, this is quite a hard one, actually. I don't want to say Telchar.
Hmmm..... Durin the Deathless?

[Andjay]

Thaimli:

Chiolas' guess was closer than thine;
The name of Durin fits not into this rhyme.
And sincerely surprised am I still to see
that after so close a guess,
my riddle remains a mystery.

Perhaps it is how poorly it's written.
Perhaps it's how in plain sight it's hidden.

[Chiolas]

I'm not sure where dragons woke up, the only given fact is that the Withered Heath was their breeding site. That site is located in the Grey Mountains (Ered Mithrin), the last remnants of the Iron Mountains (Ered Engrin), where Belegost - the realm of Azaghâl - was located. Thus the mountain range is the father of dragons but it's not a dragon

Glaurung was the first of the Urulóki (non-winged fire-drakes), he was known as the Father of Dragons

[Rouven]

I'm not sure where dragons woke up, the only given fact is that the Withered Heath was their breeding site. That site is located in the Grey Mountains (Ered Mithrin), the last remnants of the Iron Mountains (Ered Engrin), where Belegost - the realm of Azaghâl - was located. Thus the mountain range is the father of dragons but it's not a dragon

Glaurung was the first of the Urulóki (non-winged fire-drakes), he was known as the Father of Dragons

I tried to think a bit in this direction, what throws me of are the first two lines. A mountain range would surely not be referred to as a dwarf?

[Chiolas]

I tried to think a bit in this direction, what throws me of are the first two lines. A mountain range would surely not be referred to as a dwarf?

In my first try I mentioned Azaghâl and Belegost (that is in those mountains) and Andjay said I was close, so maybe the dwarf part is only referring to the king of Belegost (who used those anti-dragons masks), and only then to the actual riddle (what is the father of dragons and is not a dwarf?)

It's a long shot, but still valid :P