If I may take two guesses (and impishly fail to give my reasons [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]): the vale of Minas Morgul, or Avathar of Aman.

Neither. Keep guessing!

Herm, perhaps the Dead Marshes?

If it isn't the Dead Marshes, then the only place that sort off is like that is Mordor, I guess.

Is this Angband? Something about chambers and darkness kind of alerted me to that.

Finwe has it. Good job, or lucky guess? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

What lies beneath this fallen world?
The cold expanse with darkness filled.
The winding paths that crush the mind,
They fall to dreaded depths, yet climb
To bitter heights cruelly unkind.

Whilst chambers daunt and haunt the lost
Never to waken, minds cold with frost.
Eager for death, not yet to die,
first live to come, last dead to lie.
All this has passed, ere came the Eye.

Quite. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Carry on,
Iarwain

Actually, the phrases "winding paths" and "bitter heights" gave it away, since Mordor doesn't really have "bitter heights," or at least not compared to Angband.

This one's going to be a little hard.

Made of gold,
Encrusted with jewels,
Adorned a mighty man,
Still adorns that mighty man,
Witnessed a foolish master,
Condemn himself while under,
the influence of bee-food,
Or partially bee-food at least,
Witnessed a moment of paranoia,
Watched him pass away,
In a place where others passed away,
But didn't really pass away.

Would that be Sauron's tounge, or Ar-Pharazon's clothes?

I'll guess at Ar-Pharazon's crown, although if this is true the next riddle should be given to Iarwain.

No, no, m'lord. If it is his crown, then you have won it. When I said clothes, I meant no more than clothes. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Iarwain

All of you are very very off. I'll give you a hint. You've got the right race, but the wrong kingdom and the entirely wrong time. Look at other Mannish kingdoms.


BTW, this one is hard. It is extremely obscure.

Is the mannish kingdom Rohan? If so does it concern the paths of the dead?

Well, I'm far too tired and time-constrainted to answer right now. I'll wait for a few more clues, to make it easier... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] What an infuriatingly strange riddle you have given us, Finwe.

Is it maybe the Arkenstone?

The answer is Baldor's Belt, I believe.

Iarwian

My word! That was quick! You really have to tell me how you get these things so quickly, Iarwain.

In other words, Iarwain got it. It was Baldor's Belt.

Ah, but that was only my second riddle solved. The first was Sophia's, and I wouldn't call that quick or easy in the least. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Thanks for the compliment though. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

It is incredible that I've been writing so many riddles lately. Here's another.

'Twas greed, indeed;
Corruption of sorts,
the force that pushed the fleets from port.
Arrogance, a foolish crime,
had led our people forth,
this time.

But I at least have seen the cause,
Indeed, his sweetened tounge it was.
From Minas Tirith did he come,
that sickly fruit, the clever one.

And now, away from home we go,
The final seeds our boats do tow.
The last sons of the greatest men,
we sail away, begin again.

Who am I?

Iarwain

Glorfindel?

Even though, you're wrong, I'd be very interested in how you came up with that answer. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Iarwain

Elendil?

Quite. Your go! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Iarwain

When king was mad with thoughts of power
And relations with the gods had long turned sour
I sailed away from the land of the gift
Its balance of power my hope to shift
But I was never seen again
Of any of the race of mortal men
My son and his family managed to flee
the destruction in ships across the sea
There he became a mighty king
But fell to the one who bore the ring

Who am I?

Amandil, father of Elendil.

Correct, your turn Finwe.

Hmmm, let's make this one another hard one:


Slippery and slimy with mud, am I,
Part of the geography,
Of every country, am I,
Found in all the worlds, it's true,
Below the substance,
That gives life to you,
Without that substance,
Our life would disappear,
Thus, I am important,
Yet seem not dear,
I can shine at places,
I witnessed a murder,
I witnessed a massacre,
Just what can I be?

The Marshes?

Kind of close, but not quite. You're thinking too high (high = measuring high). Think a little lower.

The Brandywine River, maybe?

Nope.

You've got the general idea, but it's too general. I need something a LOT more specific.

you are either a bog or mud.

Iarwain

You're extremely close with that second guess, Iarwain, but just not close enough.

silt

Nope. Think of something that usually CONTAINS mud!

The river bank of the Anduin

Extremely close, extremely close. You got the "river-" part right, but it's the second part that you're missing.

Here's a hint:

Hard and uncomfortable, I can be,
Soft and cuddly, I can be too,
Whole Houses of Creatures,
Came into being on me,
Both fëar and hroar,
Just what can I be?

Now if you manage to solve this fairly easy riddle, you will get the second half of the word, that is the answer to the first riddle. Complicated enough?

river-bed, it is

Iarwain

P.S. If I'm right, Voralphion gets it.

If you are right, you should get the next clue, as I said river bank and you said river bed, which are different.

Technically, Iarwain got it.

Voralphion: I really wanted to give you the credit, but as you said, "river bank" and "river bed" aren't the same thing, although they are mightily close. I hope you don't mind.

My good Voralphion, what should happen and what does happen are very often very different. I confer the duty of riddle making to you. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Iarwain

Although the riddle making duty was given to me, I have been unable to think one up. If anyone else would like to go, be my guest.