ANST - Riddle Competitions

Gunnora Hallakarva gunnora at bga.com
Sun Sep 13 01:03:14 PDT 1998


As some of you may recall, in the Old Days it was the custom from time to
time to hold Riddle Competitions in the Barony of Bjornsborg.

I recently revived this custom at Mendersham Defender/King's Lancer, and
many people had a marvellous time playing the Riddle Game with me.  It was
so much fun, in fact, that I would like to announce that I will be
sponsoring yet another Riddle Competition, this time at the Barony of
Bjornsborg's Fall Court, October 16-18
(http://www.accd.edu/sac/leassist/fallco~1.htm)

I will have Riddle Game handouts available at the Gate (available as soon
as I arrive onsite) and I will have these handouts available in my camp and
near the listfield as well.  The competition will have two parts:  first
the contestants will have to solve five riddles (from the handout) and in
the second half of the game everyone will get a chance to compose their own
riddles.

As a warm-up, here are the riddles from the Riddle Competition at
Mendersham.  I won't give out answers, but if you email me I will tell you
if you guessed correctly.  #3 actually has three valid answers -- I didn't
plan it that way, but people kept bringing back such good guesses!

(1) I have split the one into five.
    I am the circle that few will spy.
    I am the path that breaks and gives.
    I am the bow no man may bend.

(2) Three times am I tied --
    By leather, chain, and my own pride.
    What am I?

(3) My beak does have a razor's edge
    The better for to shear.
    Hold my wings within your hand
    If my appetite you'd steer.

(4) I am the mill that grinds the stones
    And leach from the land my nature.
    My breath I give back all full of life,
    Tear of no sorrow, the cup of all creatures.

(5) In the spring I tilled the fields.
    At summer's end I carted hay.
    By fall as a bear I make my rounds.
    In winter I dip up curds and whey.

After these riddles, the Mendersham Riddlers were given the following three
assignments:

(6) Create an original riddle whose answer is "saddle."

(7) Create a two-line riddle whose first line is:  "I am the army of a
thousand swords"

(8) Create your own original riddle on any topic.

Though I failed to write the saddle riddles down (if you created one,
please send it to me for my riddle book!) here are the riddles created by
those who perservered through the end of the riddle contest.  Note that
despite having the same first line, every riddle for #7 has a completely
different answer!

Ulf Gunnarsson
(7) (a) I am the army of a thousand swords
I am the dragon who guards the golden horde.

(8) (a) Ground not touching
Still I am standing
Beasts to me in death do come.
Women try to burn my skin.
Often bones are found within.

Robin of Gilwell
(7) (b) I am the army of a thousand swords
I defend royal badges from theiving lords.

(8) (b) Though proud of my prowess in the lists
I am struck by sword and pummelled by fist.
My brothers help not, though they stand there together.
Chained on my knees, I stand taller than ever.

(extra) The thistle brings forth a noble lord.
I am both the warrior and the edge of his sword.

Muriel FitzLloyd
(7) (c) I am the army of a thousand swords
But it is the horse, arrow, and Dog Face warrior's they'll remember!

(8) (c) We ride ever ever in all directions
East, west, north, south.
Our feet touch not the ground.
No place do we make our home.
Behind us death, fire, silence.
We are the Dog Face warriors
Called ghosts.
But is the horse and arrow they'll recall.

Joanna Montgomery
(7) (d) I am the army of a thousand swords
Heads and tails I attack in hordes.

(8) (d) Invisible, unwelcome pest.
Hard to locate, yet easy to find.
Easily defeated by a single hand.
My conqueror sneaks up from behind.

Bjorn
(7) (e) I am the army of a thousand swords
Beware if towards me ye do come.

(8) (e) Good for the horse.
Lucky for the man.
What am I?

The new Riidle Master of Mendersham is Master Robin, though nice prizes
were awarded to each of the five riddlers who stuck it out to the end.
Many others who only played the first half of the game were rewarded by the
entertainment of trying to solve the first five riddles throughout the day.

I hope to see many riddlers, wits honed, at Bjornsborg Fall Court.


Wæs Þu Hæl (Waes Thu Hael)

::GUNNORA::

Gunnora Hallakarva
Herskerinde
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Ek eigi visa þik hversu oðlask Lofstirrlauf-Kruna heldr hversu na Hersis-Aðal
(Ek eigi thik hversu odhlask Lofstirrlauf-Kruna heldr hversu na Hersis-Adhal)

============================================================================
Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.



More information about the Ansteorra mailing list