Thread: The Riddle-Game

Another hang-over from the pre-release forums, in honor of the original Riddle Game Master, Brodomir!

Originally Posted by Brodomir

Is "Riddles in the Dark" one of your favorite parts of The Hobbit? If so come and partake of a riddle or two here!

Rules:

1.Have fun and be nice.

2.Only one riddle at a time.

3.The person giving the riddle has 24 hours to respond yes or no to a answer or else it is counted as “dead.”

4.If a riddle is “dead", the person who gave the last riddle has first crack at posting a new riddle.

5.The first person to get a right answer to a riddle has 24 hours to post a new riddle. If no new riddle is given, then the last person to give a riddle has first crack at posting a new riddle.

6. If the person whose turn it is to give a riddle does not wish to give one, they may pass it to whoever they wish.

So now, the first of (hopefully) many riddles to come:


The world was young, the mountains green,
When first was wrought my silver sheen.
Though once I sat on Deathless head,
The brow on which I shone is dead.

The world's now grey, the mountains old,
And where I lie, the air is cold.
In clearest pool I do now rest,
'Til again I sit, on Durin's crest.

Is that talking about the Arkenstone?


I defer giving my own riddle, as I am at work and my resources are limited.

Originally Posted by Argulauth

The world was young, the mountains green,
When first was wrought my silver sheen.
Though once I sat on Deathless head,
The brow on which I shone is dead.

The world's now grey, the mountains old,
And where I lie, the air is cold.
In clearest pool I do now rest,
'Til again I sit, on Durin's crest.

I says it's Durin's "crown" in the Mirrormere.

If the previous riddler says I'm right, here's my riddle. If not, ignore

Many webbed fingers have I
On hundreds of hands, on hundreds of arms.
My brothers stand, my keepers walk,
Though each is lured by the other's charms.

My feet are deep, my food is brown
My skin is old, my heart is young.
My flesh is sturdy, my days are long
My hands draw power from the sun.

Originally Posted by renowiggum

I says it's Durin's "crown" in the Mirrormere.

If the previous riddler says I'm right, here's my riddle. If not, ignore

Many webbed fingers have I
On hundreds of hands, on hundreds of arms.
My brothers stand, my keepers walk,
Though each is lured by the other's charms.

My feet are deep, my food is brown
My skin is old, my heart is young.
My flesh is sturdy, my days are long
My hands draw power from the sun.

I'm not sure about the previous post either, although it certainly sounds like The Arkenstone. As far as your riddle is concerned, the answer is TREES!
Alas, I am no good at creating riddles but love trying to solve them. I defer to someone else to post below to keep this thread alive...

Just to confirm renowiggum's answer: the answer to the first riddle was definitely the Mirrormere that Gimli showed to Frodo (and Sam). While in Moria, Gimli chants a poem that refers to it.

Originally Posted by Tuor of Gondolin

Just to confirm renowiggum's answer: the answer to the first riddle was definitely the Mirrormere that Gimli showed to Frodo (and Sam). While in Moria, Gimli chants a poem that refers to it.

Sorry, I was called away unexpectedly for a couple of days. Yes, the answer to my first riddle was indeed the Crown of Durin, Lord of Moria.

Anyway, someone else give the next one, assuming the second one by renowiggum was answered correctly (trees?).

Trees, yes. Next?

(with apologies for a forum-less holiday weekend)

Another riddle, anyone?

Thank you for reviving the game; I thought all interest had faded. Since no one has put forth another riddle yet here is one that I came up with a few months back...

When Blinding King blinded be,
In twilight, his crown we see.

The Moon?
Good to see this thread up again! I was wondering if I was every going to get a chance to play

Nay, it be not the moon.

Originally Posted by Brodomir_Steelweaver

Thank you for reviving the game; I thought all interest had faded. Since no one has put forth another riddle yet here is one that I came up with a few months back...

When Blinding King blinded be,
In twilight, his crown we see.

An eclipse of the sun???

aye, an eclipse it is... your go.

Since no one is stepping up:

Lantern without flame
On ship never wet
Sailing sea without name
Piloted by man never dead

Coveted by firstborn
Inspired by tree
From the land I am shorn
Now can you name me?

Is it Earendil's silmaril? I don't have a riddle though, so anyone who wants to can go next.

Well, I guess I made that too easy, eh?

The Silmaril it is.

Seriously, though. Coming up with riddles is almost as much fun as guessing. Just give it a shot - you can do it!

maybe I'll try... I'll have to think of one though. I've never made a riddle before. I'll try to think of one and then post again if I do.

Okay, here goes... sorry if it's too easy.

A thing of great worth,
All did admire,
Found deep in the earth,
Hoarded by fire,

After worm was not 'live,
'Twas found in his hoard,
Then was battle of five,
Now lies with Dwarf-Lord.

This one is the Arkenstone I believe. I'll try to come up with one tomorrow if I'm right, but anyone who has one ready go ahead.

I second that Arkenstone guess.

The arkenstone it is!

Only one color, but not one size
Stuck at the bottom, but easily flies
Present in sun, but not in rain
Doing no harm, and feeling no pain

A shadow be my guess.

yep, a Shadow.

Excellent riddle! here is my next one since I won....


I'm a slippery fish in a cloudy sea;
Neither hook nor spear will capture me.
With your hand you must hunt and seize this fish,
And see that it ends up in the dish!

Could it possibly be a clam? But then again a clam isn't very slippery.

I don't think I'm right... but is it rain?

Nay, it be neither a clam or rain

electricity?

Oh, that was good.

It's a bar of soap that's fallen in the bath.

My riddle (if my answer proves correct):

Silent, yet full of wisdom
When older then you, I may yet be young
Or younger, I may yet be old

Judge me not by my face
But in the tale I tell
Will my purpose be told

My arms together bar you
Open they admit you
To the knowledge they enfold

a book?

I write lots of riddles.

There once was a thing I was thinking,
Like an eye without eyelid unblinking,
We know it is there,
By the cube and the square,
And its status among us is shrinking.

What is it?

And...

As a river I flow, toward the sky,
Yet not a geyser, am I,
To the ocean a river's delta may gush free,
But my torrent flows invisibly.
At the end, I leaves no trace,
To quench the thirst, I feed my face.

What am I?

A book it is.

Originally Posted by TheStormKing

a book?

I write lots of riddles.

There once was a thing I was thinking,
Like an eye without eyelid unblinking,
We know it is there,
By the cube and the square,
And its status among us is shrinking.

What is it?

And...

As a river I flow, toward the sky,
Yet not a geyser, am I,
To the ocean a river's delta may gush free,
But my torrent flows invisibly.
At the end, I leaves no trace,
To quench the thirst, I feed my face.

What am I?

1) A root sign

2) the wind

Originally Posted by bergeron

1) A root sign

2) the wind

Wrong on both guesses. I hope it doesn't sound mean to say 'not even close', because then you might shift your paradigm, and find the answer another way.

So, not even close.

Originally Posted by TheStormKing

And...

As a river I flow, toward the sky,
Yet not a geyser, am I,
To the ocean a river's delta may gush free,
But my torrent flows invisibly.
At the end, I leaves no trace,
To quench the thirst, I feed my face.

What am I?

Evaporation.

Originally Posted by TheStormKing

a book?

There once was a thing I was thinking,
Like an eye without eyelid unblinking,
We know it is there,
By the cube and the square,
And its status among us is shrinking.

What is it?

I've been thinking about this one for awhile and this is all I can come up with:

An endangered animal being kept in a zoo.

Reason: We may not see certain endangered species in day to day life, least of all in the wild. However, we are able to see these things inside a zoo ('We know it is there'). And the 'cube and the square' could refer to the cage in which the animal is kept. And the fact that the animal is endangered represents 'its status among us is shrinking.'

I was able to explain myself out of that one, heh, however I still feel it's not the correct answer.

Originally Posted by TheStormKing

There once was a thing I was thinking,
Like an eye without eyelid unblinking,
We know it is there,
By the cube and the square,
And its status among us is shrinking.

What is it?

Silly guess, but I thought of Pluto.

A planet is like a giant eyeball, we know of it through mathematical calculations (the cube and the square), and it's status is definately shrinking.

Originally Posted by TheStormKing

Wrong on both guesses. I hope it doesn't sound mean to say 'not even close', because then you might shift your paradigm, and find the answer another way.

So, not even close.

Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch...

*Runs off in terror trying to beat out the flames...*

Originally Posted by TheStormKing

As a river I flow, toward the sky,
Yet not a geyser, am I,
To the ocean a river's delta may gush free,
But my torrent flows invisibly.
At the end, I leaves no trace,
To quench the thirst, I feed my face.

What am I?

Is it a rainbow?

Originally Posted by renowiggum

Silly guess, but I thought of Pluto.

A planet is like a giant eyeball, we know of it through mathematical calculations (the cube and the square), and it's status is definately shrinking.

CORRECT. Very good, sir! Though your eyeball analogy is incorrect. Planets, when viewed, do not twinkle like stars. They appear as solid points of light.