Gondorian Riddles

[Turin Ringhûn]

In the Sixth Circle, next to the Houses of Healing lies a magnificent building of interesting architecture. The fair surroundings as well as the peace and serenity, make this part of the White City ideal not only for recovering but also for pondering. As you enter through the gate, you behold a rather dark hall, lit only by a fireplace in the centre. There are comfortable wooden seats around and already several Gondorians seem to be in deep thought, their minds puzzled. A young man holding an unusual staff welcomes you speaking in a low, almost whispering voice: "Welcome good thinkers, riddle lovers and friends. I am the Riddlemaster. Enjoy yourselves with some fun pondering."

1: All may post, but the riddles must be about Gondor, Arnor, Numenor, you get the general idea, so we can learn about our kingdom and its history as we play.
2: One riddle at a time ... and riddles must have only one answer (no multi-part answers allowed)The person who answers the riddle correctly will post the next one, unless he or she asks someone else to do so.
3: No Chatting ... it makes it easier for people to see the answer to the riddle if people don’t hold conversations in here; we’ve got pubs for those. However feel free to add really short comments, descriptions or actions of your characters that fit the atmpsphere of the Hall of the Riddles and can make this thread less impersonal and more ME-related and fun.
4: No Spamming.
5: Keep the riddles fun and interesting, and don’t worry if it’s too easy. Of course it’s easy, when you know the answer. Unjustifiably hard riddles will be frowned upon. The RiddleMaster has the authority to put down riddles if they are judged to lack adequate clues. Of course that may happen only after due time.
6: Post Riddles and Guesses in Bold Type to make them easier to see. Add a color as well, if you wish. Post only ONE Guess at a time.
7: If you don’t have a riddle or an inspiration for a riddle, then either don’t guess, or relinquish your turn to whomever might volunteer. Please don’t forget to check guesses if you’ve posted a riddle.
8: If you answer a riddle correctly, and have not posted another one within 24 hours, then someone else will take your turn, to keep the thread moving.
9: Please single space when posting your Riddle. To single space hold down the Shift + Return.
10: DO NOT Post TOPICS with Riddles. Since the topic field is already narrowed to Gondor, Arnor and Numenor.
11: The person that posted the previous riddle may only participate in the following riddle after 10 unsuccessful guesses have been made.
12: Posters of new Riddles must respond to answers given within 24 hours of the initial posting and at least once in each 24 hour time period following until the correct answer is given. If a poster does not respond within the required timeframe those present will look at the answers given and make a decision, to the best of their ability, as to who has the correct answer. They will post the person’s name and a prompt allowing him/her to make the next riddle. That person has 24 hours from the time of the prompt. If no riddle is posted by that person, then the floor will be open volunteers. If the poster returns later at some point and wants to post a copy of their riddle along with the correct answer as they intended or confirm the correct answer that was approved they may do so.

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin stolled into the Riddle halls. It'd been some time since he'd partaken in the fine art of riddling. Stepping forward, he said, "I'll start off with this one I found difficult back in the day."

I am made of two,
The breathing and the breathless.
And also I am too,
Part mortal and part deathless.
And also I am both
Of earth and yet of sky,
And yet again of growing things,
In lands and days gone by.

[Finduilas Faelivrin]

Findy sat on a wooden bench near the doorway with her Herbal Journal spread open on her lap. Oh, that's a tough one. She stood, left her journal on the bench and walked slowly to the middle of the room. She cleared her throat and gave a guess, having no clue what the answer could be.

"Hmm, could this entity be Mount Doom? It's always seemed part alive to me." She took a few steps backwards and waited a few minutes to hear if she was correct or if others would give a better guess.

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin, having backed away from any light sources upon giving his riddle, stepped back when a guess came forward.

“Unfortunately, that is incorrect.”

[Ercassie]

It took Ilisys a time to wonder why the poor man didn’t simply have a name, although his proclamation did remind her of certain heralds in Dol Amroth, caught up in the describing of .. ah yes. She realised as others guessed, that it was a riddle.

”Are you the Argonath ?” she asked him.

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin, once again stepped toward the light.

“Unfortunately, that too, is incorrect.”

[Galastel]

Galastel never much liked riddles. But her brother Anardil adored them. "It's a puzzle," he used to say. "You put all pieces together, look at it all sideways, and find the answer." This didn't excite Galastel at all, but since she was on babysitting duty, there she set, while Anardil tried his hand at finding the answer.

"Eärendil?"

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin listened to the next guess that came forth. Deep inside he groaned. "Unfortunately, that is not quite the answer to the riddle my good sir."

[Ercassie]

Wondering how many times they could encourage the riddler to step forwards and then back again, or if they might in fact manage to make him dance if they were to guess in quick succession .. Ilisys cocked her head to one side and queried “Are you Elros Tar-Minyatur ?”

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin felt that in some other dimension, he could be considered to be doing some sort of dance, one that claimed that it was what it was all about.

He listened to the next guess that came forth. He chuckled. It was the same thought line he'd had when he first heard the riddle but, "Alas, that is not the correct answer." he said stepping into the light once again. He now started to wonder if maybe he started with one too difficult. People were still guessing, so felt he didn't need to call a halt on the riddle and let someone else take a turn.

[Galastel]

Anardil scratched his head.

"Elessar perhaps?"

It only worked if the riddle referred both to the green stone set in an eagle-shaped brooch and to King Aragorn who bore it, but maybe that was the trick of it?

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin clapped. "Congrats young sir. That is the correct answer." he said with glee. "The answer is indeed Elessar, or Elfstone. You may now present a riddle of your own." Turin said motioning for Anardil to take the stage, while he himself returned to one the tables in the room.

Explanation below

I am made of two,
The breathing and the breathless. (The breathing- elf; the breathless- stone)
And also I am too,
Part mortal and part deathless. (Aragorn who is also known as Elessar)
And also I am both
Of earth and yet of sky, (The gemstone is of earth, set in an eagle broach)
And yet again of growing things,
In lands and days gone by. (Original was was made by Enerdhil of Gondolin to capture the beauty of sunlight in the trees. Aragorn's is likely a second one made later)

[Galastel]

Anardil bowed to Turin. Then, haltingly, he spoke a riddle of his own:

I come from the lily of the valley.
By a golden flower I was saved.
The foam flower carried me,
But among the flowers I may never walk again.

"Well done, little brother," Galastel whispered to him when he set down.

[Lantaelen]

Sitting among the pews, Abrazimir considered the recently spoken riddle, before raising his hand to offer up an estimation of the answer. "Would it be our most famous star, Eärendil?"

[Galastel]

Anardil had barely had time to sit down before the correct answer was spoken. "It is indeed Eärendil," he confirmed.

I come from the lily of the valley - 'Lothengriol', meaning 'lily of the valley', was one of the names of Gondolin.
By a golden flower I was saved - Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower fell protecting the company escaping Gondolin, including Eärendil, from a balrog.
The foam flower carried me - Eärendil's ship was called Vingilot, the foam-flower.
But among the flowers I may never walk again - he's stuck sailing the sky.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir gave a nod towards Anardil. "My compliments to you." He said, before standing and clearing his throat. Slowly, he began to recite.

The gate from whence the north wind blows,
Of three brothers, I look towards the west,
To the south, onwards the long river goes,
To the east, my brothers dwell at rest,
Hearing, tasting, touching, smelling, I do not
Therefore, this is what I got.

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin thought about the new riddle for several minutes. Eventually he raised a hand motioning he wanted to give a guess.

“Are you the Argonath?”

[Lantaelen]

"Close, but not quite it." Abrazimir smiled apologetically.

[Turin Ringhûn]

His guess was denied. “Hmm. If that’s not it, then maybe,”Turin thought. He weighed a few other options in his mind. He didn’t like this answer much more, but it made sense with the last line.

“Are you Amon Hen?”

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir gave a nod. "You are correct, friend. The answer is Amon Hen. The floor is yours." He said and took his seat, ready for the next riddle.

The gate from whence the north wind blows - reference to the Gate of Argonath.
Of three brothers, I look towards the west - reference to the three hills of Nen Hithoel, the lake above the falls
To the south, onwards the long river goes - reference to the Anduin following through
To the east, my brothers dwell at rest - Amon Hen is most westward of the three
Hearing, tasting, touching, smelling, I do not
Therefore, this is what I got - Amon Hen is named the Hill of Seeing

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin nodded at the announcement he got the riddle correct. Stepping forward, he gave the next riddle.

From the dawn of time I hail.
Names of kings have I gone by.
Death has not stopped me from keeping my post.

[Turin Ringhûn]

As no one has proposed a guess for some time, the riddle master stepped partially into the light and said,

"We will skip this riddle for now. The floor is open to anyone else who has a riddle."

[Ercassie]

Ilisys had been walking through her thoughts, considering the mystery that had so stunned the room to silence. It was a very thought-provoking riddle, and the master seemed to fear it too much so, for he would move them on. Stirred, Ilisys sprang up to appear at his side, even as he departed.

"But what if you were The White Tree of Gondor ?" she wondered.

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin was disappointed the riddle master had decided to cut off his riddle. But it seemed almost immediately after, someone chimed in with the correct answer.

"That is it indeed." Turin said. "Take the floor. Sorry everyone if my riddle was too hard."

From the dawn of time I hail. - In Valinor, time began being counted with the two Trees. During this time, Yavannah grew a tree (Galathilion) for those who lived in Túna. From this one, all other white trees came.
Names of kings have I gone by. - White Trees in Tol Eressëa, and Númenor have gone by the name of Celeborn and Nimloth, Elven Kings.
Death has not stopped me from keeping my post. - Though the (2nd) White Tree of Minas Tirith died, it remained in its place until Aragorn found a new seedling to replace it.

[Ercassie]

Ilisys ducked her head in respect to Turin. "I do not think you should apologise for making people think," she smiled upon him. "And especially for thinking about Gondor." Whether her own try would prove difficult or simple, she did not know. But there was one way only to find out. And so :

"Last of just four
My time was far more.
Conceived peace from war
My folk were not poor."

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir listened to the riddle posed by Lady Ilisys, before standing and making his answer.

"Are you Ciryaher Hyarmendacil I, the last of the four ship-kings of Gondor?"

[Ercassie]

She had no need to turn and see who had guessed, for she knew the voice as certainly as he had known the correct answer.

"I am indeed," she agreed, with a smile. "For Ciryaher Hyarmendacil I was, as you say, the last of the 4 Ship-Kings of Gondor. His reign lasted some 134 years, which were peaceful after he defeated the Haradrim at war. And it is said, that during those long years with he at the helm, the country was extremely rich, for her enemies were forced to pay tribute, as a consequence of their defeat. The floor is yours."

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir nodded to Lady Ilisys and again cleared his throat before reciting the riddle he had in mind.

In the Garden of Gondor I am but a small part,
Though the new future of the world there did start,
There many voices did cry out in praise,
And left one hobbit in a daze,
Where am I?

[Galastel]

The riddle recalled to Anardil the most recent history of his home. If he got it right, his father would have actually been there.

"The Field of Cormallen, perhaps?"

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir smiled and nodded to Anardil. "You are correct, Sir. The floor is yours."

In the Garden of Gondor I am but a small part, - Ithilien is called the Garden of Gondor due to the variety of fauna that grew there
Though the new future of the world there did start, - King Elessar received the returning ringbearers in Cormallen after the destruction of Sauron and the ring
There many voices did cry out in praise, - The various folk of Middle-Earth praised the ringbearers in their many languages
And left one hobbit in a daze, - Samwise wept when he got his wish of hearing his and Frodo's journey by a loremaster
Where am I? - The Field of Cormallen

[Galastel]

Anardil took some time to think of a riddle. Making riddles up was much harder than solving them. At length he said

I came from Rhûn or thereabouts.
In a cloven dale I sang and heard rebuke,
Under mountains I made enemies recoil,
On a green sward I called and called.
From the river I came home to bring news of sorrow.

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin had still been workin on that last riddle when it finally dawned on him that it had already been answered and a new riddle given. He mulled this one over a couple times. The only thing that came to mind was:

"Are you the Horn of Gondor? Specifically the one Boromir had."

[Galastel]

"Indeed it is," Anardil bowed to Turin.

I came from Rhûn or thereabouts. - Vorondil father of Mardil hunted the wild kine of Araw in the far fields of Rhûn.
In a cloven dale I sang and heard rebuke, - Boromir blew the horn before setting out from Rivendell (the name meaning cloven dale). Elrond rebuked him for it.
Under mountains I made enemies recoil, - in Moria, when Boromir blew the horn, "for a moment the orcs quailed and the fiery shadow halted."
On a green sward I called and called. - 'Parth Galen' means 'green sward'. The last time Boromir blew his horn
From the river I came home to bring news of sorrow. - the two pieces of the horn were brought to Minas Tirith, making Denethor and Faramir believe (correctly) that Boromir was dead. "The shards came separately to shore: one was found among the reeds where watchers of Gondor lay, northwards below the infalls of the Entwash; the other was found spinning on the flood by one who had an errand on the water."
(That said, the horn is never called "the Horn of Gondor" in the books - that comes from the movie. It's "the horn of Boromir".)

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin nodded at the confirmation he got the riddle correct. Stepping forward, he gave the next riddle.

I was founded before the end of the first
To the lights of the sky my name is a guardian.
A great water cuts through my median.
Plagues and war left me lonely and hurt.
Who am I?

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir raised his hand, albeit with some hesitation. "Are you the city of Osgiliath?"

[Turin Ringhûn]

Turin nodded when he heard the correct answer.

“That is correct. The floor is yours.”

I was founded before the end of the first - Founded before Elindil, First King of Gondor, died.
To the lights of the sky my name is a guardian. - Osgiliath means fortress of the stars.
A great water cuts through my median. - Anduin flows through the city
Plagues and war left me lonely and hurt. - plagues and war caused the city to be abandoned.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir nodded his thanks and stood to recite his next riddle.

Of the Sister-Kingdom in the cold,
His realm divided of old,
A divided house he left behind,
His sons leading the Dunedain to decline.
Who am I?

[Lantaelen]

It's been over a week since I posted my riddle. I apologize if it was too difficult or the change of topic from Gondor to Arnor was unexpected. The answer is Eärendur. Someone else may take the floor!

[Lail]

@Lantaelen I only just saw riddles here. Would you like another go at being the Riddler and I promise to come guess?

[Lantaelen]

@Lantaelen I only just saw riddles here. Would you like another go at being the Riddler and I promise to come guess?

Most certainly! I have another riddle cooked up for ya, once more based in the Southern Kingdom.

In the west of the Stone-Kingdom it lay,
Yet none of the Tall Men did stay,
Despite jutting out into the sea,
Between where the old great havens be,
The end of the mountains White was nearby,
So tell me, where am I?

[Merewyn]

Is it Andrast?

[Lail]

I think Ta'leus has it, but I promised to guess so - Ras Morthil?

[Lantaelen]

Sorry for the delay. Ta'leus was correct in that it is Andrast!

Winddancer edit:
CLOSED THIS THREAD AS IT WAS INACTIVE AND WE HAVE 2 OTHER RIDDLE THREADS; PLEASE USE THE ONES IN THE SHIRE OR FANGORN, TY!