The Revived Tolkien Trivia

[HareBrain]

To which, phonetically and diametrically, I say Naah ....

My brain has fixated on this as referring to the inscription on the doors of Moria: "I, Narvi, made them". Am I getting hopelessly lost?

 

[Grimward]

Unfortunately yes, my good hare.

Instead of Narvi, what do folks call me (short version of name)?

(Other than "oblivious", "dense", "clueless", etc., that is....)

Then flip that short name and the phonetic "Nah" above around.....

 

[The Judge]

Mirgahna
Girmhana
Harmgina

Anagrams I can do, but I suspect this is from a book I don't have, so nothing is leaping out at me.

In the meantime, re puss/hare, from Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

Puss. A conventional call-name for a cat... also applied in the 17th century and since to hares. The derivation from Lat. lepus, a hare, Frenchified into le pus, is, of course, only humorous.

 

[HareBrain]

Grim meant Naugrim, though he seems to believe the Nau is pronounced "Naah", when it is pronounced "Now". (Tutty tut-tut.)

But I'm still none the wiser as to the answer. I don't recollect a passage in the Silmarillion about the Naugrim migrating an alphabet, but that's not to say there isn't one.

 

[The Judge]

Well, you know, if I'm given duff instructions...


("flip... around" in a crossword would indicate an anagram, and since I've been cross-wording over the weekend, I slipped into anagram mode automatically )

Do the letters have to be alphabetical as opposed to epistolary?

 

[HareBrain]

Ah, this has to be it ...

In those days, it is said, Daeron the Minstrel, chief loremaster of the kingdom of Thingol, devised his runes ... By the Naugrim the Cirth were taken east over the mountains and passed into the knowledge of many peoples

Silmarillion, Ch10: "Of the Sindar"

 

[Grimward]

Bravo, friend Hare, bravo!

Besides, the idea with a clue is to get in the ballpark, as it were, not to lead one's audience by the nose (snout, tentacle, whisker or whatever appendage might be appropriate) to the answer, right? Then there's the matter of responding to the question....."To which I say Now...." wouldn't have been very helpful, would it?

*A bell appears in the Good Hare's paw, complete with graceful, flowing Cirth which translate to "Your Turn"*

Or perhaps it says "Corned Beef and Hash, please."....not sure...

P.S. Sorry to have confused you, Your Honor. Will try to avoid crossword and/or scrabble terminology in the future, although there can be no guarantees.

 

[HareBrain]

Then there's the matter of responding to the question....."To which I say Now...." wouldn't have been very helpful, would it?

But neither was your actual response, and at least "I, Now" has the advantage of being accurate (if nonsensical in the context)

I'm off on holiday tomorrow with a billion-and-three things still to do today, so I doubt I'll be able to come up with a decent challenge in time. Since pdurrant came up first with a valid answer (if not the one you had in mind) I suggest he or she sets the next one. Otherwise I'll have a go in a week.

 

[Grimward]

Now now, my good rabbit, you say toe-maw-toe, I say toe-may-toe, and all that stuff....

I second your motion, however; with the Hare haring off to realms of fantasy (carrots and cabbage figure prominently), I do believe the floor is yours, pd......

 

[pdurrant]

Well, that one didn't draw any interest, apparently....

How about this: those who bore the letters east were known for making many things, but here they were only carriers.....

Well, I think (third time lucky!) that I know who you're talking about now - it's tracking down a quote that's the trouble...

 

[Hilarious Joke]

Harebrain got it pd!

 

[pdurrant]

Now now, my good rabbit, you say toe-maw-toe, I say toe-may-toe, and all that stuff....

I second your motion, however; with the Hare haring off to realms of fantasy (carrots and cabbage figure prominently), I do believe the floor is yours, pd......

Oh — umm.. OK. I'll give it some thought and I hope to have something for you all by the end to today.

 

[Grimward]

* The "Jeopardy" Theme Music plays on....*

 

[pdurrant]

end of today.

Well, that was much too optimistic. Coming up with something neither too easy not too hard is quite a challenge in itself...

 

[Pyan]

Well, that was much too optimistic. Coming up with something neither too easy not too hard is quite a challenge in itself...

Not too hard? I'm unfamiliar with this concept....

 

[pdurrant]

OK, having pondered, I ask for the solution to a puzzle in the Hobbit. No, not one of the riddles, but instead, Bilbo's profession. Or at least, the profession the Dwarves took him to have.

Who first suggested to Thorin & Co. that Bilbo Baggins was a professional thief, and why? A quote please!

Oh — and no, it wasn't Gandalf!

 

[Grimward]

Hmmm, maybe you missed this, or perhaps you mean this, pd?

If not, will reconsider, as I'm definitely swayed by recency effect here....

 

[pdurrant]

Hmmm, maybe you missed this, or perhaps you mean this, pd?

If not, will reconsider, as I'm definitely swayed by recency effect here....

Oh bother. I forgot to search the thread first....

Do I try again, or pass the still-ringing bell to you?

 

[Grimward]

Give it another shot, chief!

(Mr. Pyan will only overrule me if he doesn't like what you come up with.....)

 

[pdurrant]

OK, here's my question at last:

Who was the first to bear Gandalf's sword, Glamdring?

I want a name, although you can add titles and lineage if you wish.

I don't insist on a quote, since I don't think it's explicitly stated anywhere in one neat passage. Extra points if you find one!