2. Maedhros: Rose & Ham & D. I had a feeling Rose was involved but couldn't put the other pieces in place until I worked backwqrds from the theme (Feanorians?).

#5 isn't by any chance deriving AMRAS from the ""Mars bar" slogan: "A MARS a day helps you work, rest and play", is it?

And I believe #1 is CARANTHIR? ("Chair" + "rant").

Yes!
 

CARANTHIR: Confused convener swallows a tirade, and then he appears.
MAEDHROS: Note, Sam’s bride and father circulate for him.
???R???: Troubled, the enemy hurtled to him.
AMROD: In a dream rode out, he did.
AMRAS: Mingled, one a day will help you work, rest and play. For him.
???N???: Dog of night? He’s a little shaken.
???E???: He’s foolish - changes two (lineless) dollars for other notes – in turmoil.
MAGLOR: See him where the puma glories in his speed.

I think #3 is FËANOR ("Foe" + "ran").

That, by elimination, would make #6 CURUFIN and #7 CELEGORM, but I haven't actually worked out the clues yet.

Er... CELEGORM from "gormless"? But I don't get "lineless dollars".

And "cur" + "fuin" for CURUFIN?

An S is a dollar sign without lines through it. You lose two S's from gormless, exchanging them for musical notes.

CARANTHIR: Confused convener swallows a tirade, and then he appears.
MAEDHROS: Note, Sam’s bride and father circulate for him.
FEANOR: Troubled, the enemy hurtled to him.
AMROD: In a dream rode out, he did.
AMRAS: Mingled, one a day will help you work, rest and play. For him.
CURUFIN: Dog of night? He’s a little shaken.
CELEGORM: He’s foolish - changes two (lineless) dollars for other notes – in turmoil.
MAGLOR: See him where the puma glories in his speed.

THEME: NERDANEL, FEANOR & SONS

All correct, and for the reasons you stated. Well done!

See my last post for explanation of 'lineless dollars.'

And over to Galadriel55!

Thanks, but it was G55, not me, who guessed the password, so it's her turn.

So sorry, G55! Duly amended, and deservedly over to you.

It's you two confusing me, with your nicknames of the same character! :D

We do it on purpose. :p



This one was inspired by some of Pervinca's masterpieces.

1. Pub locks out of order.
2. Mosquito absent but confused.
3. Fan's friend paid only a fifth of my price.
4. Note in stirred hot water.
5. ...with a bowstring for a harp.
6. Hammer scrambles hard worker.
7. Dwalin's brother loses way.
8. Half as tall as old.

7. Bain son of Bard? (Balin loses B).

P.S. You've written a fair few masterpieces of your own!

Ah ... is this one of those puzzles without straight elements?

1. Pub locks out of order.
2. Mosquito absent but confused.
3. Fan's friend paid only a fifth of my price.
4. Note in stirred hot water.
5. ...with a bowstring for a harp.
6. Hammer scrambles hard worker.
BAIN: Dwalin's brother loses way.
8. Half as tall as old.

Balin loses L but yes, the answer is correct. ;)

Not all clues have straight elements because the password is very thematic - knock a couple down and the rest will fall. But not all elements are strictly cryptic.

As the clues have me baffled, I'll try guessing the theme instead.

Are they all children of a more famous parent?

No...

I could have a guess at number 1 if there were a 'sounds like.'

Aerin

('air for locks; inn for pub). :D

Good guess but no. You're thinking the right way though.

I will give hints as needed. Are you working on a particular clue?

Well ... maybe the theme is kings?

I will make a guess at Thranduil for 'with a bowstring for a harp.'

The theme is not kings. However, all the characters are male.

Is #5 Haldir, who said the bowstring/harp line to Legolas while justifying blindfolding him?

The only theme I can see linking Bain and Haldir is 'showing up in movies when you ain't supposed to'... :D

hS

It's not Haldir. :D There is one person there closely linked to Bain.

If it helps, #3, 5, and 8 are not really cryptic.

I wonder whether the S.B.s only paid a fifth of the value of BAG-END? The only other discussion of price I can remember is in Bree, and there everyone seemed to overpay.

The theme would, of course, be 'starts with B'. :D

hS

Not Bag-End. But you're not wrong about the pattern. ;)

For #5- BARD?

And #4 is BILBO ("B" + "boil").

...They don't really all start with B?

1. Pub locks out of order.
2. Mosquito absent but confused.
3. Fan's friend paid only a fifth of my price.
BILBO: Note in stirred hot water.
BARD: ...with a bowstring for a harp.
6. Hammer scrambles hard worker.
BAIN: Dwalin's brother loses way.
8. Half as tall as old.



As I said, the password is very thematic - and there is more than one pattern. :p

8. Beor....?

Or is it BEORN, since so far they've all been "Hobbit" characters (or their offspring)? Beor was old and Beorn was tall...

Neither Beor nor Beorn. I'm curious - why them? How did you get that from the clue?

Beor is known as the old.


Maybe Dori, or Ori (Halves of Aldor and Beor, who were both called 'Old')

#2 could be no bug == BUNGO Baggins, father of Bilbo.

Which suggests a theme of 'fathers and sons starting with B'.

hS

Correct on both counts!


1. Pub locks out of order.
BUNGO Mosquito absent but confused.
3. Fan's friend paid only a fifth of my price.
BILBO: Note in stirred hot water.
BARD: ...with a bowstring for a harp.
6. Hammer scrambles hard worker.
BAIN: Dwalin's brother loses way.
8. Half as tall as old.

I believe #6 is BEREGOND ("Grond" + "bee"), meaning his brat Bergil must be one of the other clues...

Aha! He's #8: "I am ten years old already, and shall soon be five feet."

1. Pub locks out of order.
BUNGO: Mosquito absent but confused.
3. Fan's friend paid only a fifth of my price.
BILBO: Note in stirred hot water.
BARD: ...with a bowstring for a harp.
BEREGOND: Hammer scrambles hard worker.
BAIN: Dwalin's brother loses way.
BERGIL: Half as tall as old.

Password: Bombadil?