3. Riddle discussion

Riddle discussion


  • @b0e7f0edc2:

    Another parchment is put up with handwriting that seems to match that of the one baring "Pillar C, Side 2". It states the following

    This is the translation of the Pillar B, otherwise known as the "Pillar of Four Points". Above each side is this warning: "Names are power. Know the name of what you face."

    Side 1

    I am the teeth of the mouth of the earth,
    Darkness and water attended my birth,
    Softly and slowly extended in time,
    Name me and know me, solving this rhyme.

    Side 2
    I have split the one into five,
    I am the circle the few will spy,
    I am the path that breaks and gives,
    I am the bow that no man will bend.

    Side 3
    My step is slow,
    The snow's my breath,
    I give the ground,
    A grinding death,
    My Marching makes,
    an End of me,
    Slain by Sun,
    Or drowned in Sea.

    Side 4
    A hoard of rings am I,
    But not fit gift to a bride,
    I await only,
    a sword's kiss.

    It is possible that they represent the elements; the first being earth, second air, third water, fourth fire. However that is only one possibility. I ask that if you wish to ponder what the answer to these riddles are, you do so on a seperate piece of parchment that those which the translations are found ((IE please start a new thread if you want to try to reason out the answers through posts))

    Oreth begins a new piece of parchment, with columns for each of the riddles

    Riddle One:

    Would seem to suggest Stalactites and Stalagmites. They appear as the teeth within caves, the "mouths of the earth", and they form in dark places, over long periods, through the trickling of water, addressing the "darkness and water" bit and the "softly and slowly extended in time" bit. For now, this would seem the obvious answer, which by no means makes it correct.

    Riddle Two:

    This one would seem to obviously be a rainbow. "The bow that no man will bend" gives it away, while the reference to "the circle few will spy" and splitting "the one into five" seem to reinforce it, as rainbows do look as if they could continue on to become a circle, but one rarely sees that much of it, and they likewise turn light of one color into light of many. "The path that breaks and gives" is slightly problematic. I will continue thinking on it. Again, not positive, just a preliminary guess.

    Riddle Three: For obvious reasons, I'm guessing "glacier" here, though I'm trying to think of something else that would fit.

    Riddle Four: This one is currently stumping me….though that particular turn of phrase might be vastly ironic if one of the half-formed possibilities in my head turns out to be true..


  • Time doesn't really exist in specific places, near as I know. I'm going to go with Ting and….my previous guess...with "Darkness"


  • Perhaps Time


  • Ting voices a couple opinions on the riddles in passing.

    "The set of four could be some sort of obscure directions to finding a set of chainmail.

    And the latest riddle is clearly darkness. Death can be seen, and arguably heard felt and even smelt. Silence can arguably be heard. And nothingness is not under hills … dirt is under hills... dirt and darkness."


  • On a rare visit, Keira smiles at the talk of the most recent riddle.


  • I would go with "silence" or "darkness" before "death", really.

    Or "nothingness" for that matter.


  • Khyrill mentions to Celebring or Oreth,

    "It should not be difficult to translate single words into Netherese. With Evendur's resources, which allowed to him learn the language, and my understanding of Halruaan, and the work we have already done, it should in fact be relatively easy."


  • Elor's quick to jump on that one, probably because it is blatantly obvious.
    "Death"


  • Another parchment is delivered to Cera's tree with Spellweaver's seal.

    @8c37b444ae:

    The mage Marek having focused on the glowing pillar in the far cave produces the following translation for the one carved face:

    It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
    Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt,
    It lies behind stars and under hills,
    and empty holes it fills.
    It comes first and follows after,
    Ends life, kills laughter.


  • Jerr points out that the rings could also be a siries of glacial lakes or ponds.


  • Speak Netherese? Ha, no. But maybe we have a book on the subject up at the College? shrugs


  • Hmm…chainmail? possible. Odd, but possible.

    On another note, it should be considered that there is a fifth riddle here, aside from the ones carved into the rock: What is the significance of these riddles?

    That is, what is so important about these four concepts that they bore carving, in code, into stone for posterity?

    Is there some pattern between the four that reveals some greater or lesser truth? Or do they serve as a key to some sort of lock? Something to ponder on.

    Edit: Oreth looks down and notices Celebring's note, and frowns

    Hmm…how did i miss this? Yes, this would seem to be at least one answer to the problem....anyone know how to actually speak netherese, that we could try this out?


  • "With that, I am fairly confident you have your answers… Since that pillar reacts to sound, the question now would be, do you cry out the names of Stalactites and Stalagmites, the Rainbow, the Glacier, and Chainmail in Netherese as loud as possible?"

    "... Seems kind of silly when I put it like that, I think I preferred the idea of the four elements."

    chuckles softly.


  • "No, that is probably right… In fact i was just thinking the very same at this exact moment... "


  • Nicahh says in passing as she escorts some kids from the camp back to the Sisterhood:

    "Equinox suggest that perhaps the last riddle's answer was chainmail. Not an elemental thing, but…. who knows."


  • Celebring:

    "I would have to agree with the possible relation to the four elements… I know that when Penny and I spoke of it, something like a canyon comes to mind when we looked over the first verse... Penny seemed to think the third represented ice somehow. It's much to think on... Seems there are many possibilities."

    rubs his chin thoughtfully.