Riddling III

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

Thanks.

With what meager knowledge of the Elven langs I have... it includes light?

A knowledge of Elvish is not necessary to solve this riddle. In fact, it has little to do with Elves at all.

The clues given after the riddle was posted are the best avenue to take. The riddle by itself is just to vague. Oh well, that's riddling!

[Gordis]

Is it Durin's Day? I am almost sure I am right - it seems to fit all the clues
The first day of the dwarves' New Year, the first day of the last moon of autumn, when the moon and the sun are in the sky together.
And it has a person in it ... sort of.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Gordis

Is it Durin's Day? I am almost sure I am right - it seems to fit all the clues
The first day of the dwarves' New Year, the first day of the last moon of autumn, when the moon and the sun are in the sky together.
And it has a person in it ... sort of.

Well done Gordis! You have solved the Middle-Earth Astronomy Riddle. The answer is indeed Durin's Day!

The Middle-Earth Astronomy Riddle

I'm first and last.
I'm new and old.
I'm day and night
together it's told.

• First day of Dwarvish New Year

• Last cycle of the New Moon

• It must begin with a New Moon

• It’s been reckoned for Three Ages (which makes it old)

• It only occurs when the moon and the sun are seen together in the sky (day + night).
  

The key and unlock clues given later of course refer to Thrain's secret door into the Lonely Mountain. Obviously, this riddle was sourced from The Hobbit.

Kudo's to all who participated. Every little bit helped.

[Noble Elf Lord]

My weapon riddle is yet to be solved, I believe. Thoughts, anyone?

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

My weapon riddle is yet to be solved, I believe. Thoughts, anyone?

What weapon riddle? I musta missed it.

[Midge]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

A mighty weapon, the wielder was willing,
had to be broken for unforeseen killing.

This one.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

A mighty weapon, the wielder was willing,
had to be broken for unforeseen killing.

Anglachel? It slew Beleg, and was broken.

[Noble Elf Lord]

Originally Posted by Keith K

Anglachel? It slew Beleg, and was broken.

Sorry, no. The timing is getting correct, though.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

Sorry, no. The timing is getting correct, though.

Well, there aren't that many broken weapons that were "mighty" and named from those times. Has Angrist been guessed? It doesn't really fit all the clues though.

Maybe it is the cup that Turin busted over the head of Saeros?

[Noble Elf Lord]

Originally Posted by Keith K

Well, there aren't that many broken weapons that were "mighty" and named from those times. Has Angrist been guessed? It doesn't really fit all the clues though.

Maybe it is the cup that Turin busted over the head of Saeros?

OK. It's NOT a sword. And who said it has a name?

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

OK. It's NOT a sword. And who said it has a name?

Hmm. Is it bigger than a breadbasket?

[Valandil]

I'd go with Turin's cup - but that didn't kill Saeros, did it? (that was a hilarious try though, Keith K)

NEL - I have to admit I find your riddles a little vague. I think the art of riddling is for them to point to just one solution. If players can come up with a lot of other things that fit the description of the riddle, but they're wrong because it's not what you were thinking of - you probably need more in the riddle itself, to help narrow it down.

So... ideally (and it can be hard to do - but Keith K is REAL good at it) - the riddle should point to one thing, but JUST BARELY - and the other players may need to really know that item to be able to come up with it.

In the 'for what it's worth' department...

[Noble Elf Lord]

Originally Posted by Valandil

I'd go with Turin's cup - but that didn't kill Saeros, did it? (that was a hilarious try though, Keith K)

NEL - I have to admit I find your riddles a little vague. I think the art of riddling is for them to point to just one solution. If players can come up with a lot of other things that fit the description of the riddle, but they're wrong because it's not what you were thinking of - you probably need more in the riddle itself, to help narrow it down.

So... ideally (and it can be hard to do - but Keith K is REAL good at it) - the riddle should point to one thing, but JUST BARELY - and the other players may need to really know that item to be able to come up with it.

In the 'for what it's worth' department...

Since I am a very proud person, I'll try my best to swallow my pride and follow those guidelines.

So: the weapon is not a sword, it hasn't been named, and it's ideal length is lesser than it's wielder. Every a _ _ _ _ _ here should know that. Also it requires more technique than force.

[Keith K]

Composing riddles requires creativity, which is a good thing in my book. I hope one and all will post any riddle their heart desires. The more you work on them, the better you get. New devices come to mind, and over time the writer can develop many different varieties of riddles. They can take many forms, as I myself have discovered.

For instance

Here's one that I merely used adjectives directly provided by Tolkien's text:

Who Am I?

Short-statured,
long-armed,
crook-legged,
finger-groper.

Yellow-fanged,
foul-breathed,
soft-spoken,
evil-talker.

Lugburz-slave,
Nazgul-fane.
Ring-lust,
spear-thrust
was his bane.

This is one of my earliest ones (along with the above). It has a different form altogether than the previous example:

Complete the last line....

hill is to Hole,
as mountain is to Tower,
as tree is to ______.

Is that a riddle? Well, it's a puzzle at the least, and where better to post it than here in the Riddling Thread?

In this early one, I used allegory and metaphor forcing the solver to think abstractly:

From his home in an ancient casket
the all-white sea-bird rose.
His wings were as pearl and silver,
and seven gems adorned his breast.
From his head there sprang a light
which went up like flame,
and his glory was spread over the earth.

Here's one in which I again used direct quotes from the text to describe what may be a monster, but is actually a place. As an added twist, I gave the answer within the body of the riddle, (as represented by the two capitalized words).

black boned bleak bare
shoulders sharpened with fangs.
dark silent watchful
Haunted sleepless eyes
Pass by, draw not near.

Sometimes I get "cute" with em. Just for funsies:

Complete the rhyme:

We can drive you nearly crazy.
Hurry by, don't be lazy.
We're in the marshes
all you seekers,
Sam would call us:
_______!

or,

Can this marriage work?

He likes the highlands.
She likes the lowlands.
He like the big trees.
She likes the little trees.
He likes the wild woods.
She likes the meadows.
He likes to talk with things.
She likes to order things.

Trying a different form, I presented these awhile back:

Who Am I?
1) Iron Hat the nail pounder assistant = helm the hammer hand = Helm the Hammerhand
2) Flipper pole = Fin rod = Finrod
3) Pelt skin = Skin bark = Skinbark
4) Small plastic building block-girl = Lego lass = Legolas
5) Additional Teutonic Barbarian = More Goth = Morgoth
6) Cadaver room-Social outcast = Morgue goth = Mogoth
7) Semi throws = Half flings = Halflings

Where Am I?
1) Split hollow = Riven dell = Rivendell
2) Dewy Horse-light brownish hues = Misty Mount tans = Misty Mountains
3) Center Planet = Middle Earth

Another form my riddling has taken can be seen here:

What is the relationship between these things?

Ring of Barahir
Sword of Thingol
Axe of Tuor
Bow of Bregor


Editors note: To correctly solve the puzzle you must state why the items are listed together. For extra credit : why does the Ring stand out above all these fabulous items?

and here:

Find the connection…

What is the relationship between these things:

Two sacks of potatoes
One new spade
A woolen waistcoat
A bottle of ointment

some tell a story and are kinda long, some are very short. Anyway, the point is that riddles can be anything we want them to be.

P.S. Feel free to try and solve these riddles if you have not seen them before...

[Noble Elf Lord]

Keith, for the riddle of Ring of Barahir and stuff: is the answer that they were all given as gifts, and only the ring was ever "returned"? ...That was the wildest guess in the history of the Riddling thread. (It is rarely that I feel ashamed, cherish the moment. )

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

Keith, for the riddle of Ring of Barahir and stuff: is the answer that they were all given as gifts, and only the ring was ever "returned"? ...That was the wildest guess in the history of the Riddling thread. (It is rarely that I feel ashamed, cherish the moment. )

They may have been given as gifts, (not sure about that), but that is not the relationship I am looking for. As for the ring, you may be sort of right on that, but not exactly. Therefore, you must try again on both counts!

[Gordis]

Let me try:

What is the relationship between these things?

Ring of Barahir
Sword of Thingol
Axe of Tuor
Bow of Bregor


Editors note: To correctly solve the puzzle you must state why the items are listed together. For extra credit : why does the Ring stand out above all these fabulous items?

All of the items found their way to Numenor, as heirlooms of the House of Elros (UT). And the Ring of Barahir was the only one that found its way OUT of Numenor!

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Gordis

Let me try:



All of the items found their way to Numenor, as heirlooms of the House of Elros (UT). And the Ring of Barahir was the only one that found its way OUT of Numenor!

Exactly. The ring was all that survived, and survives yet, if I am not mistaken.

As Gordis has noted, this riddle was sourced from Unfinished Tales.

[Valandil]

Originally Posted by Keith K

:
:
:
and here:

Find the connection…

What is the relationship between these things:

Two sacks of potatoes
One new spade
A woolen waistcoat
A bottle of ointment

We should take these one at a time, and savor the moments.

I think these are the things that Frodo gave to The Gaffer.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Valandil

We should take these one at a time, and savor the moments.

I think these are the things that Frodo gave to The Gaffer.

They are indeed! Better him, than the Sackville-Bagginses, I reckon.

Ooops! You are not quite correct after all, Val. Here's a new riddle: what part of that answer is wrong?