If I ever answer another riddle, I shall strive to give a much more air-tight riddle in response than this go around.
I tell ya, I really think that is the hardest part of the whole exercise. I can't tell you how many times I have this really cool little nugget I am trying to induce the group to guess and then, bam, four other perfectly acceptable answers come back. In order to elicit the answer I really want, have taken to disqualifying certain responses in advacne when I pose my riddles or else indicating that a certain number of alternative correct responses are required. And even then I find that I have overlooked one or more solutions.
I mistrust your definition of "easy," but I'll try anyway. "Beleg lalaith" means "mighty laughter," so I propose the laughter of the Witch-king, when he mocked Earnur because his horse ran away.
Appendix A: "Then the Witch-king laughed, and none that heard it ever forgot the horror of that cry."
I mistrust your definition of "easy," but I'll try anyway. "Beleg lalaith" means "mighty laughter," so I propose the laughter of the Witch-king, when he mocked Earnur because his horse ran away.
Appendix A: "Then the Witch-king laughed, and none that heard it ever forgot the horror of that cry."
Originally Posted by Vilnas
That is the correct translation and I will accept the answer. Good find in the appendix.
However, there is another laughter in the text that is greater still if anyone cares to keep guessing for fun.
I would have said Gandalf's laughter after Sam and Frodo awoke safely after the quest. But not sure if that's a "greater" laughter.
Actually, my first thought was one of the Valar laughed and that angered or somehow drove Melkor away (I think) but I'm doubting my recollection. Was it all music or wasn't there also laughter? And my texts are at home.
Actually, my first thought was one of the Valar laughed and that angered or somehow drove Melkor away (I think) but I'm doubting my recollection.
This is essentially correct. Melkor was kicking much $!@# until Tulkas arrived, heralded by laughter that filled Arda:
"It is told among the wise that the First War began before Arda was full-shaped, and ere yet there was anything that grew or walked upon earth; and for long Melkor had the upper hand. But in the midst of the war a spirit of great strength and hardihood came to the aid of the Valar, hearing in the far heaven that there was battle in the Little Kingdom; and Arda was filled with the sound of his laughter. So came Tulkas the Strong, whose anger passes like a mighty wind, scattering cloud and darkness before it; and Melkor fled before his wrath and his laughter, and forsook Arda, and there as peace for a long age."
"Tulkas laughs ever, in sport or in war, and even in the face of Melkor he laughed in battles before the Elves were born."
Tulkas really took it to Melkor in the earliest battles, and Melkor would have been completely defeated but for the fact that the Valar got sidetracked attempting to preserve as much of Arda as they could from the destructive force of their clashes.
Later, when the Valar were finally moved to take decisive action against Melkor for fear that he would wholly dominate the soon-to-be-awakened Elves, it was again Tulkas who physically overwhelmed Melkor:
"But at the last the gates of Utumno were broken and the halls unroofed, and Melkor took refuge in the uttermost pit. Then Tulkas stood forth as champion of the Valar and wrestled with [Melkor], and cast him upon his face; and he was bound with the chain Angainor that Aule had wrought, and led captive; and the world had peace for a long age."
Of course, the Valar eventually let Melkor out of his durance in the Halls of Mandos after three ages of the world had passed and Melkor outwardly expressed remorse. Manwe, being pure of heart, was unable to see through Melkor's dissembling. The destruction and sorrow that Melkor wrought was very great, until at last Melkor was defeated again in the War of Wrath and was cast out into the Void. But it is foretold in non-canon writings that Melkor will eventually return in a last battle, akin to a Ragnarok, when he will be defeated by Turin.
For those who have not read the Silmarillion, the "proper" name of Morgoth is Melkor (He who arises in Might). Feanor named him Morgoth (The Black Foe of the World) after Melkor destroyed the Two Trees, slew Feanor's father and stole the Silmarils.
For those who are truly unfamiliar with the greater legendarium, Morgoth was (is) the true villain of the universe, and he fought the other Valar (angels/demigods) to a standstill. Sauron served Morgoth as his lieutenant.
I know I'm out of practice...it's a bit abstract and possibly not a terribly good clue....maybe I should have stuck with "what do I have in my pockets?"
I know I'm out of practice...it's a bit abstract and possibly not a terribly good clue....maybe I should have stuck with "what do I have in my pockets?"
but that would have been more than two words!
maybe "My pockets?" would have worked!
And, as Bilbo would say, "Time!" give us some time!
PS - Vilnas - thanks for the detailed explanation. I wanted to pull out my Silmarillion to check but never got back to it yesterday.
I remembered, the lonely mountain has 6 ridges around its peak. Single hexagon due to its name.Royal ramp referred to the ramp of the dwarf king.
Solitary summit=lonely mountain
I remembered, the lonely mountain has 6 ridges around its peak. Single hexagon due to its name.Royal ramp referred to the ramp of the dwarf king.
Solitary summit=lonely mountain
I think you are right but the clues pointed me two a different answer.
Single hexagon+Royal ramp+Solitary summit=Orthanc
Orthanc rose up to more than 500 feet above the plain of Isengard, and ended in four sharp peaks. Its only entrance was at the top of a high stair.The grounds were laid out in a hexagon and the summit of course held Gandalf in solitary confinement - lol
Obviously Royal ramp fits better with the Lonely Mountain answer and Solitary summit could be a literal alternate translation of the name.
I think you are right but the clues pointed me two a different answer.
Single hexagon+Royal ramp+Solitary summit=Orthanc
Orthanc rose up to more than 500 feet above the plain of Isengard, and ended in four sharp peaks. Its only entrance was at the top of a high stair.The grounds were laid out in a hexagon and the summit of course held Gandalf in solitary confinement - lol
Obviously Royal ramp fits better with the Lonely Mountain answer and Solitary summit could be a literal alternate translation of the name.
D
Never thought of orthanc but I guess that could have worked too if we ignored the ramp.
Never thought of orthanc but I guess that could have worked too if we ignored the ramp.
Well, my thinking was that the Royal ramp could have referred to the single high stair that led to the only door to the tower and the only keys to that door was held by the Kings of Gondor before the time of the Stewards.
But yeah its a stretch and the answer is of course the Lonely Mountain.
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