Riddles in the Dark

[Ephtariat]

@Hill I was just teasing

[Ephtariat]

@Romeran not a comb

[Romeran]

@Ephtariat when you say "teeth" are these actually called teeth (as in a gear, a comb, a zipper, a saw) or are these "metaphorical teeth" in some other sense like the "biting wind" somewhat implies teeth (but doesn't not actually refer to the wind as having 'teeth') or for example a statement which says something impactful might be referred to as "having teeth". Feel free to ignore my question for clarification if it makes the riddle too easy I may be taking it too literally.

[Ephtariat]

@Romeran I think I can tell you that the teeth are not key to the riddle, not even to understand that line. You might as well read it as "even if he had strong teeth (which he might well have), he would still not eat". It's the not eating that is the point, but only in relation to the rest of the riddle. And this should be enough as a hint.

[Romeran]

Is it Fire?

[Ephtariat]

@Romeran You're very far from getting even close, in any of your guesses. You're completely off track. Actually, nobody came close.

[Romeran]

I'll let other people take guesses then. I'm clearly not picking up what you're laying down

[Ephtariat]

I'm honestly surprised it's so hard. My character only took two wrong guesses before getting it right, but probably she was helped by context!

[Romeran]

The author of your character also presumably knows the answer

[Ephtariat]

Yes, but he doesn't tell her!

[Romeran]

I don't believe one can truly divorce their own knowledge when writing; "human activities cannot be impersonal" after all. Once one knows the answer, it's practically impossible to truly act like you do not. Which is why I think we generally are poor judges of the difficulty of our own riddles.

I could also just be really bad at riddles !

[Ephtariat]

I'm not my characters. They have their own lives, independent of me. I'm just lucky enough to come to know about them!

[Aikári Salmarinian]

(I copied the poem by Eph from the other page)

He has strong teeth but does not eat,
And he is not awake nor is asleep,
An animal whose calls do often rhyme,
And what he hunts offends him more than crime

Oh boy... is it a weapon?

[Ephtariat]

Aiks: not at all. I'm starting to wonder whether I should give further clues, but I'm worried I might be giving it away.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Are you something to eat?

[Ephtariat]

Aiks: I decided I'll give the clue.
I'm not something.
I'm someone.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Hmm, Mouth of Sauron?

[Ephtariat]

Not a given person, but a category of persons

[Aikári Salmarinian]

A category? Hmm vampires? The batlike creatures in service of Morgoth and Sauron?

[Ephtariat]

As I said earlier, this riddle comes from my own fantasy novels, that are set in the Kingdom of Arlen, not in Arda. Nonetheless, it is a riddle that could be meaningfully asked in Middle-earth, and also in our own world, without references to fantasy.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Eph: Sorry! Then I have to give it up guessing. I never heard of your novels before so I know nothing of your universe, but cool you wrote them! The floor of guessing is for others who know your novels.

[Ephtariat]

Aiks: As I said, it can be asked anywhere, because it has no specific reference to my novels, nor to Arda, nor to any other fictional setting. You can ask it to the next person you meet on the street.

[Ephtariat]

@Silky Gooseness Should I eat somebody for not guessing my riddle? I heard that dwarves such as @Drifa are good with ketchup.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

You may have to give another clue. Nobody knows which direction to take it, or so I would guess. At least, I can gain no handle on the riddle. On the other hand, if you wait long enough then some people (like the Dwarf) will begin to get bugged by the riddle - and then the whole thing enters a second and more intensive phase (my experience). But this can go on a very long time.

The charges brought against the Dwarf, regrettable as they perhaps were, resulted, please note, because one line of a famous riddle was mispoken. Those who talk ketchup would do well to be sure that their own riddles are impregnable.

But really, go on - give us a clue.
Please.

[Ephtariat]

Clue: the person in question is defined as he is in connection with another person.
And now the riddle is served on a silver plate, really.

[Silky Gooseness]

@Silky Gooseness Should I eat somebody for not guessing my riddle? I heard that dwarves such as @Drifa are good with ketchup.

I wouldn’t advise it yet (although I, too, have heard Drifa is good with ketchup) - might we have another clue?? I have puzzled it over in my puzzler, and am still baffled. For category of persons I thought it might be something like a jailer, or a tracker, but the rhyming call, animalistic nature, and suspended state of awareness leaves me none the wiser as to an answer.

[denisan]

Hi there! May I try? Could it be a soldier or warrior?

[Ephtariat]

He often day-dreams.

[Drifa]

This is a category of person that is part animal. It may or may not have teeth, but regardless, it does not eat, sleep, or wake. He calls in rhymes and hunts for mistakes (what is more offending than crime, blunders). But if he cannot eat, sleep or wake, he must be dead.
Are you a centaur? Do they daydream?

[Ephtariat]

He's very much alive, although some of them commit suicide, if they're desperate.

[Arnyn]

Errr. A poet? Though I don't know how a poet is defined by a connection to another person. So it's not a good guess.

A bully? A bully can rhyme insults, and is defined by having someone he is actually bullying. Maybe a bully daydreams a lot, I have no idea. Don't know what he hunts that offends him more than crime. Uniqueness?
Bullies are also often traumatized one way or another and in need of help, so I can see a desperate bully committing suicide...

But yeah. A glimpse into my head if nothing else, then.

[Ephtariat]

You're getting closer with the poet. He's not necessarily a full-fledged poet, but the occasion often makes him one.

[Arnyn]

A charmer?

[Ephtariat]

@Arnyn You're very close, but remember that he may suffer so much to get to suicide. He may be deceptive, but that's not necessary at all. He may well be honest, and a true one is indeed necessarily honest.

[Arnyn]

The enamoured, the infatuated?

[Ephtariat]

@Arnyn In my book, the riddle is asked by a petrified fairy to Ashlynn, who recently lost her husband and son. After two wrong answers, she thinks that if her husband was there he would know, because he was so good at riddles. She thinks she misses him so much she even thinks about him instead of solving the riddle. And that's how she gets it. She immediately answers: "the lover". And she gains access to the lost Flying City of Memnon. So, welcome to Memnon.
(Illustration: "The Lost Memnon" by Sebastiano B. Brocchi)

[Arnyn]

I got a riddle! Even if it was my fourth guess, let's hope @Chrysophylax Dives doesn't get a heart attack by this bizarre turn of events!

Thanks, Eph!

Does anyone else have a fun riddle? I'm honestly not much of a riddler. Evidently.

[Ephtariat]

@Arnyn For the record, Ashlynn's two wrong answers were "a parrot" and "hunger". Here we had (among others) a saw, a bully, and wind. Not too bad...
Thanks for the good fun!
Now I would like to guess one asked by others, but after a while I may have other riddles from my books...

[Drifa]

Nice, Arnyn! I almost guessed a love-sick Romeo, but I had to get back to work. I would have never got it without hints. Good riddle, Ephtariat!

[Ephtariat]

Thanks, @Drifa!

[Karis Ziranphel]

An easy one for you all since it has been a week.

What howls with no lips,
Sends sheets high with a sigh,
Sings through trees,
Sinks Ships?

[Arnyn]

wind

[Karis Ziranphel]

Excellent- wind is correct! The floor is yours Arnyn.

[Drifa]

*sneaks a riddle in to keep the riddle game moving * *grin*

Not M-e related.

Every day I give my cry
My song, my call, my serenade.
But no one applauds or cheers "Hurray"
They simply punch me and walk away.

[Romeran]

An alarm clock?

[Drifa]

@Romeran I am a clock! Hit us again with your best shot.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Just throwing in a riddle so the Dwarf's brain gets the necessary workout. Hope this is OK, Romeran.

Up top, green, scarlet, blue and blue.
Down below, blue, white, yellow and yellow.
Say our names.

[Romeran]

Thanks @Chrysophylax Dives I missed this notification! And you also saved me from having to write another riddle too!

[Drifa]

Are you middle-earth related? I cannot guess without knowing. Do not tease us, dragon.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Well, I feel I already gained a minor victory as I assumed you (Drifa) would have this one quicker than one of those frogs with a long tongue zaps a passing fly.

Yes, naturally I am M-e related. (I would have said were I not.)