Riddling III

[Gordis]

Not Frodo, but...
I leave it to Val.

[Valandil]

Oh... did Sam give them?

EDIT: No wait, I think it was Bilbo - at his big eleventy-first birthday bash!

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Valandil

EDIT: No wait, I think it was Bilbo - at his big eleventy-first birthday bash!

Quite.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

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.

Is the weapon something separate that the wielder can hold in his hand, or is it something that is an essential part of the wielder himself? Some power he calls from within?

[Gordis]

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.

This is a tough one. Let me try.

ancient casket with wings of a seagull - old Numenorean helmet
seven gems = seven stars
light on the head = Elendilmir

I would say Elendil.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Gordis

This is a tough one. Let me try.

ancient casket with wings of a seagull - old Numenorean helmet
seven gems = seven stars
light on the head = Elendilmir

I would say Elendil.

That is a great guess, and I like that you interpret the riddle line by line, but it is not quite what I was originally thinking. It is such a good try that I will go ahead and give the answer that I had in mind when I composed it a few years ago, which is The Crown of Gondor. I sourced it from LOTR, in the chapter The Steward and the King.

There it is written:

Then forth from the Gate went Faramir with Hurin of the Keys, and no others, save that behind them walked four men in the high helms and armour of the Citadel, and they bore a great casket of black lebethron bound with silver.

'...I have today brought hither from Rath Dinen the crown of Earnur the last king, whose days passed in the time of our longfathers of old.'

Then the guards stepped forward, and Faramir opened the casket, and he held up an ancient crown. It was shaped like the helms of the Guards of the Citadel, save that it was loftier, and it was all white, and the wings at either side were wrought of pearl and silver in the likeness of the wings of a sea-bird, for it was the emblem of kings who came over the Sea; and seven gems of adamant were set in the circlet, and upon its summit was set a single jewel the light of which went up like a flame.

Anyway, I think that Elendil could also be an answer to this particular riddle. Thank you for giving me new insight to an old idea.

Well done, Gordis!

[Valandil]

It was the 'and his glory was spread over the earth' that pointed me away from the helmet/crown.

But... I suppose a little hyperbole sweetens the game.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Valandil

But... I suppose a little hyperbole sweetens the game.

At times I cannot help myself from taking a bit of poetic liberty...

Besides, I somehow felt I needed a conclusion to the durn thing! It was just hanging there until I added that last line...

[Gordis]

Thank you, Keith - but you shouldn't have given the answer, really...

The riddle was not solved - and it was a good one, exactly pointing to the Crown. My bad - I have forgotten this description of the Crown in the "Steward and the King".
And there was the casket line never explained.
And the light was not Elendilmir...

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Gordis

Thank you, Keith - but you shouldn't have given the answer, really...

The riddle was not solved - and it was a good one, exactly pointing to the Crown. My bad - I have forgotten this description of the Crown in the "Steward and the King".
And there was the casket line never explained.
And the light was not Elendilmir...

As you wish.

However, the casket could be a ship, Elendil would have been wearing a Numenorian helmet, and this is an allegorical riddle...

[Noble Elf Lord]

Originally Posted by Keith K

Is the weapon something separate that the wielder can hold in his hand, or is it something that is an essential part of the wielder himself? Some power he calls from within?

Something separate. And it yet needs some separate parts in order to function correctly. I mean, sure you could whack some Orc butt with it, but it may well break.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Gordis

My bad - I have forgotten this description of the Crown in the "Steward and the King".

You and everyone else. As I recall, they couldn't figure it out the first time I posted it either.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

Something separate. And it yet needs some separate parts in order to function correctly. I mean, sure you could whack some Orc butt with it, but it may well break.

Is the weapon a bow?

[Keith K]

Here's a new riddle for y'all.

Wooden walls up in the sky
No other prison ever reached as high.

[Keith K]

Try this one, too:

Golden stars on hillside laid,
Namesake of a pretty maid.

[Gordis]

The last two seem very difficult!

So, I will take an easier one

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.

Grishnakh?

[Gordis]

Originally Posted by Keith K

Try this one, too:

Golden stars on hillside laid,
Namesake of a pretty maid.

Elanor?

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Gordis

The last two seem very difficult!

So, I will take an easier one


Grishnakh?

Quite right.

[Keith K]

Originally Posted by Gordis

Elanor?

Yes, Elanor is also right.

[Noble Elf Lord]

Yes, my weapon is bow. Whose?