Riddles in the Downs

[Huinesoron]

I do not sit, enthroned on mountain's bones,
But I remember.
I do not light the sky with stars that fly,
But I remember.
I do not stand alone, as grey as stone,
But I remember--

--and I speak.

hS

[Urwen]

Gurthang?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Gurthang?

Nope.

hS

[Urwen]

The Palantir of Orthanc? It speaks by allowing Sauron and Saruman to communicate.

[Urwen]

Or it could be Maglor's Silmaril, but the third stanza doesn't fit.

[Urwen]

I do not sit, enthroned on mountain's bones,
But I remember. - One lies with Maedhros in earth's core
I do not light the sky with stars that fly,
But I remember. - One with Earendil, in the sky
I do not stand alone, as grey as stone,
But I remember-- The last one in the ocean, and it's not alone, because there are two others like it, and they are a memory of the ancient past as a whole

[Huinesoron]

You're quite right that it doesn't fit. That's because it's not the answer.

hS

[Urwen]

But only the Silmarils fit the second stanza.

[Pervinca Took]

The second couplet. (There's only one stanza).

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

But only the Silmarils fit the second stanza.

That you've thought of so far, yes.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

All I can think of is an Oliphaunt ....

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

All I can think of is an Oliphaunt ....

Which is relevant to the riddle.

But isn't the answer.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Not Fastitocalon?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

Not Fastitocalon?

Nope.

The whole riddle ties together; I'm not just naming random things the answer isn't.

hS

[Urwen]

I think there is a reason the word remember is underlined.


For this reason, I think the answer is Treebeard, who once said he remembers the older days i.e First Age.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

I think there is a reason the word remember is underlined.


For this reason, I think the answer is Treebeard, who once said he remembers the older days i.e First Age.

Good thought, but no.

The formatting is for emphasis, rather than because any particular word is special.

hS

[Urwen]

Is it a living thing?

[Urwen]

Troll's purse?


There are only so few speaking things, and the whole riddle seems to point at trolls.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Is it a living thing?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Urwen

Troll's purse?

There are only so few speaking things, and the whole riddle seems to point at trolls.

Trolls are relevant to the riddle, but this (and they) are/is not the answer.

hS

[Urwen]

You said both trolls and Oliphaunts are relevant? Giants? Gigantic things?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

You said both trolls and Oliphaunts are relevant? Giants? Gigantic things?

I did say that, and I meant it. It has nothing to do with their size, though.

hS

[Urwen]

Then does it have to do with their color?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Then does it have to do with their color?

Only insofar as colour is directly mentioned in the riddle.

hS

[Urwen]

Huan?

[Urwen]

Also, could you give me a hint or would you prefer if I abused the ten day rule again?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Huan?

Nope!

Originally Posted by Urwen

Also, could you give me a hint or would you prefer if I abused the ten day rule again?

I have given you lots of hints, the riddle has been up for less than 24 hours, and you're not the only person playing. The point of these riddles is to be tricky puzzles to solve; you have to think about everything that was written, and what it could mean. Why did I mention those three specific things as something that the speaker does not themselves do? What do they mean by 'I remember'? What do they speak about (this one's pretty standard English grammar to be honest)?

Don't just go 'the riddle includes the word 'grey', so it must be something grey!'. It doesn't work like that.

hS

[Urwen]

Then I think the first line refers to Hurin, who was forced to sit on a seat upon Thangorodrim. The third refers to Theoden, who is compared to grey stone. Or maybe to the old guardian of the Paths of the dead. But the second line eludes me.

[Urwen]

And I might as well be the only person playing, considering that no one else has played recently. If more people were posting answers, then you'd have a point, but they aren't.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

And I might as well be the only person playing, considering that no one else has played recently. If more people were posting answers, then you'd have a point, but they aren't.

Pervinca's last post was less than eight hours ago.

hS

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Then I think the first line refers to Hurin, who was forced to sit on a seat upon Thangorodrim. The third refers to Theoden, who is compared to grey stone. Or maybe to the old guardian of the Paths of the dead. But the second line eludes me.

None of those are correct. Given that I have already said that both trolls and oliphaunts are relevant to the riddle, I'm not sure why you've decided to discard them entirely. The point of asking for hints, surely, is that you use them to narrow down your options...?

hS

[Urwen]

Except that there is no living thing connected to both of those that fits perfectly.

[Urwen]

Well, both were used by the Mordorians and Mordorian allies, but that doesn't help.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Except that there is no living thing connected to both of those that fits perfectly.

Yes there is.

Originally Posted by Urwen

Well, both were used by the Mordorians and Mordorian allies, but that doesn't help.

No, it doesn't.

hS

[Galadriel55]

I believe I hit upon the link, but not the exact answer. All are connected through Sam's singing.

I do not sit, enthroned on mountain's bones, - "troll sat alone on his seat of stone"
But I remember.
I do not light the sky with stars that fly, - "the finest rockets ever seen, they burst in stars of blue and green"
But I remember.
I do not stand alone, as grey as stone, - "grey as a mouse, big as a house, etc"
But I remember--

--and I speak.


So... Sam? Sam's Songs?

[Pervinca Took]

Bows to Huinesoron and G55.

Very, very clever.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I believe I hit upon the link, but not the exact answer. All are connected through Sam's singing.

I do not sit, enthroned on mountain's bones, - "troll sat alone on his seat of stone"
But I remember.
I do not light the sky with stars that fly, - "the finest rockets ever seen, they burst in stars of blue and green"
But I remember.
I do not stand alone, as grey as stone, - "grey as a mouse, big as a house, etc"
But I remember--

--and I speak.


So... Sam? Sam's Songs?

Sam is the answer, as the person who was perfectly ordinary to look at, with no wondrous talents, but through his poetry spoke of many marvels.

Congratulations to G55, and also to Urwen and Pervinca for getting the troll and oliphaunt lines.

hS

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

Congratulations to G55, and also to Urwen and Pervinca for getting the troll and oliphaunt lines.

Indeed. I kept thinking about Earendil as the flying star at first, and it was the other guesses that made me think broader. It was a group effort.

This one is inspired by the last, but not nearly as tricksy. Enjoy!



The first among the first,
I travelled there and back,
And there again I went
And stayed there till the end.

I missed the slaughter cruel.
I missed the backwards trip.
I missed the heroes' rise,
I missed the heroes' fall,
And strife internecine.

And when I had the chance
To go with honour there,
I passed it to another.
I missed the great revenge.

[Urwen]

Thingol?

[Pervinca Took]

Or maybe the very first elf to awaken, who is never heard of again?

Imin, was it?

[Galadriel55]

Neither one, but both are on the right track.