Tree-Twisting Riddles

[Mojo]

Welcome to Tree-Twisting Riddles! There is a long tradition of riddles playing a large part of cultural life in Middle-Earth, and we have often kept that memory alive in the forest. There is a riddle thread in another kingdom at the moment as well, but that thread seems to be allowing riddles involving non-Middle Earth topics as well. In keeping with Fangorn tradition, these do not have to all be riddles but could also be wordplay or pictogram puzzles, but let's keep the answers at least somewhat Middle-Earth related.

Most importantly, have fun!

[Mojo]

I guess I'll kick this off. Silly me starting a thread without a Riddle!


A great hero once feared me
And would not set foot in my land
But when his need was dire
I lent a helping hand
Knowing not his impending doom
I sent him off with a basket of mushrooms

[Oak]

My guess is Farmer Maggot of the Marish in the Eastfarthing in the Shire. Frodo was scared of him. He had three big dogs, Grip, Fang and Wolf. He lived in a house instead of a hobbit hole due to marshy nature of the land. Frodo in his youth would sneak into Maggot's fields to steal mushrooms. The dogs chased Frodo all the way to Buckleberry ferry. There after Frodo was terrified of Farmer Maggot. But then came the journey concerning the ring years later. After being threatened by one of the black riders Maggot was still hospitable to Frodo, Sam and Pippin. He took them to the ferry in his own wagon where they met Merry along the way. When they reached their destination, he gave them a gift from Mrs. Maggot, which was a basket of Mushrooms.

[Mojo]

@Oak You are correct! It was Farmer Maggot! I therefore pass the helm to you as the new Riddler. Not like the Batman villain though (at least I hope not!).

As an aside - this riddle came to me when I was cutting up mushrooms to cook for dinner tonight. You never know where the inspiration will come from!

[Oak]

I made dark the realm of the Valar
Yet I am not an Ainur.
Unlight is my weapon
It is said I came from the darkness above.
I have devoured the gems of the Noldor
Horrors are my children.

[Li.]

My guess is Ungoliant.

[Oak]

You are correct. She is what I had in mind. She also weaves webs of darkness but that would be too obvious, so I left that part off.

You get to post the next riddle.

[Li.]

I forgot how hard it was to write these things! It's especially difficult to hit that perfect blend of vagueness and specificity. Let's see if this one even approaches being a challenge.

In a kingdom old as time,
Whose roots run deep,
And towers climb:
I am the shadow
That sleeps inside.

[Mojo]

Wow, lots of possibilities here! I'm going to guess Durin's Bane, the Balrog of Moria. Durin the Father of Dwarves was one of the original Dwarves made by Aule even before the Children awoke, and the roots of Khazad-Dum go far under the mountains.

[Li.]

Nailed it!

[Mojo]

Woo! Okay, let's try this one...

Many times have I died
At the hands of a hound
And the Downfall of Men
But the end only came
By my own design

[Moriel]

Might it be Beren?

[Mojo]

Very good guess, but not quite! Beren does mostly fit with the clues given, but wasn't what I was thinking of...

[Li.]

I'm no t convinced that it fits exactly, but based on the last line I would guess at Turin Turambar?

[Mojo]

Li, your inclination was correct that Turin was not the correct answer, though you are both on the right track that all of the events mentioned occurred within The Silmarillion book.

[Li.]

I'll have one last guess before I leave this for wiser Ents to crack. Is it Luthien Tinuviel?

[Mojo]

Not quite Li, but one of the events of the Lay of Leithian are referenced in the above riddle.

I'll give a partial hint - "died" in this case refers to the physical body perishing, not the soul/spirit.

[Flame Fried Ent]

Curufin?

[Mojo]

Another good guess, but not correct, it's someone more well-known than Curufin.

[Flame Fried Ent]

Celegorm?

[Mojo]

Nope, I think you're thinking about this too hard. It is not a minor character in the history of Arda.

[Yávië]

Finrod?

(this might be my first ever post in Fangorn?? :shock: )

[Mojo]

Aerlinn, welcome to Fangorn! Hope you come by more often, it's a fun place to hang out!

Also, sadly, Finrod is incorrect, but the guesses are getting closer to the mark.

[Thorin Firehelm]

Hmmmm, is it Glorfindel by any chance? He's the only one jumping to my mind right now.

[Mojo]

It is not Glorfindel, though that isn't a bad guess since he did perish in the fall of Gondolin.

The previous guesses in regards to the Beren and Luthien story were closer to the mark in identifying one of the "deaths" in the riddle.

[Rior Laegiel]

Sauron?

Being defeated by Huan and then once again when Isildur cut the ring off his finger but not really dead until the ring was destroyed.

[Mojo]

Ding ding ding we have a winner!!

He took werewolf form but was defeated by Huan and had to flee that body
His guise of Anatar was destroyed at the Destruction of Numenor
But his true "end" only came when The Ring (something he designed) was destroyed.

Great job @Rior Laegiel!!

[Rior Laegiel]

Open floor for anyone wanting to present a new riddle.

"Stop wasting everyone's time and just do it."
(Rumple, OUAT (Had to, sorry. The dark one made me do it! *hides behind tall ent*))

[Flame Fried Ent]

A smith was I,
and descended from same.
Inspired an evil trinket
by my works of good.
Did I swear an Oath?
Unsure, but one
cursed my family.

[Moriel]

Celebrimbor?

[The Elf Imperishable]

Curufin's Wife?

[Flame Fried Ent]

@Moriel got it right!

I'm a bit rusty with these....

You're up!

[Moriel]

Hurrah!

From me came first light after darkness,
My voice told the old of the new;
I shine like a star in the nighttime,
And blaze like new snow in the day.

[The Elf Imperishable]

Arien?

[Moriel]

Incorrect!

[Menolly]

When all the riddles are Middle-earth related, I realize how very rusty my lore knowledge has become. Is it Earendil?

[Moriel]

It is not! One more guess and I'll give a hint if the answer isn't found :smiley8:

[Li.]

Varda?

[Moriel]

Incorrect!

Hints:
Not a person, but a being.
Not a Vala, but Valinorean.
A voice does not always have words.
Sparks struck in pursuit of Darkness.

[Li.]

Tilion?

[Moriel]

No, but closer! This being is also a companion of Oromë

[Menolly]

Ooh! Nahar?

[Moriel]

You got it @Menolly !!

Nahar's hooves struck sparks that were the first light after the Darkening of Valinor
Nahar's neighing alerted Oromë to the presence of the awakened elves
Nahar's coat was said to be silver at night, and white during the day

Your turn

[Menolly]

Phew and it only took two extra clues :smiley8:

My rotten heart spread corruption
Through an ancient swath of land
Only one held mastery over me
And could turn back my green hand

[Moriel]

Old Man Willow?

[Menolly]

Correct! My riddles seem to be either way too easy or way too hard. Your turn!

[Moriel]

It was a good one!! I'm better at LotR riddles than non-LotR ones

I have known elves, and dwarves, and men;
Many unknown places lie in me and beyond,
Some here still, some lost to the ages.
I have known the unknowable blue,
The Red, and the Yellow,
Seas and lakes and forests and kine.

[Mojo]

Wow there are so many options for this one. I don't think it's right but I'm going to guess Khazad-dum?

[Moriel]

Incorrect! But you are on the right track that it is a location.

[Flame Fried Ent]

Fangorn Forest?