"Great," Daniel deadpans. "Should be easy enough."
"All right, let us think." Lucas frowns, scrutinizing the text. "No solid form... never wrong... but it hurts. Always straight as an arrow... truth--?"
"A stick," Azril says hopefully.
As Lucas says 'truth', the words begin to glow. Beneath them, Truth appears. The second riddle reads:
In daytime I lie pooled about, At night I cloak like a mist. I creep inside shut boxes and Inside your tightened fist. You see me best when you can't see, For I do not exist.
"Only seen in daytime... cloaked like a mist at night..." murmurs Lucas. "...sunlight? No, no, it gets inside boxes and fists... 'you see me best when you can't see'--"
As Lucas says 'truth', the words begin to glow. Beneath them, Truth appears. The second riddle reads:
In daytime I lie pooled about, At night I cloak like a mist. I creep inside shut boxes and Inside your tightened fist. You see me best when you can't see, For I do not exist.
"Only seen in daytime... cloaked like a mist at night..." murmurs Lucas. "...sunlight? No, no, it gets inside boxes and fists... 'you see me best when you can't see'--"
"A stick," Azril tries again.
"Darkness?" says Daniel.
As Daniel says 'darkness', the words begin to glow once again. Beneath them, Darkness appears. Together, they move on to the third and final riddle. It reads:
My chin is covered in ice, yet it is warm. Many shadows follow me, yet I cast but one. I’ve slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends. Born at the root of a tree with no branches, I am called night. Who am I?
"Only seen in daytime... cloaked like a mist at night..." murmurs Lucas. "...sunlight? No, no, it gets inside boxes and fists... 'you see me best when you can't see'--"
"A stick," Azril tries again.
"Darkness?" says Daniel.
As Daniel says 'darkness', the words begin to glow once again. Beneath them, Darkness appears. Together, they move on to the third and final riddle. It reads:
My chin is covered in ice, yet it is warm. Many shadows follow me, yet I cast but one. I’ve slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends. Born at the root of a tree with no branches, I am called night. Who am I?
Silence. Daniel wears a frustrated scowl while Lucas continues muttering to himself, repeating the riddle's words. "I'm guessing it's not a stick," Azril mumbles. Lucas mutters, "This one might be related to lore--'I've slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends'... perhaps a dragon who turned against his own kind?" "Or it could be a Rider," Daniel suggests, shrugging. "They're friends and slayers of dragons." "Neither explains the tree with no branches, nor 'I am called night'." Daniel sighs and sits on a rock. "This might take a while."
As Daniel says 'darkness', the words begin to glow once again. Beneath them, Darkness appears. Together, they move on to the third and final riddle. It reads:
My chin is covered in ice, yet it is warm. Many shadows follow me, yet I cast but one. I’ve slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends. Born at the root of a tree with no branches, I am called night. Who am I?
Silence. Daniel wears a frustrated scowl while Lucas continues muttering to himself, repeating the riddle's words. "I'm guessing it's not a stick," Azril mumbles. Lucas mutters, "This one might be related to lore--'I've slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends'... perhaps a dragon who turned against his own kind?" "Or it could be a Rider," Daniel suggests, shrugging. "They're friends and slayers of dragons." "Neither explains the tree with no branches, nor 'I am called night'." Daniel sighs and sits on a rock. "This might take a while."
Silence. Daniel wears a frustrated scowl while Lucas continues muttering to himself, repeating the riddle's words. "I'm guessing it's not a stick," Azril mumbles. Lucas mutters, "This one might be related to lore--'I've slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends'... perhaps a dragon who turned against his own kind?" "Or it could be a Rider," Daniel suggests, shrugging. "They're friends and slayers of dragons." "Neither explains the tree with no branches, nor 'I am called night'." Daniel sighs and sits on a rock. "This might take a while."
OOC: Is the answer related to events and/or characters in this world, or is it another general answer? --Or am I not allowed to ask for a hint like that? XD
OOC: Is the answer related to events and/or characters in this world, or is it another general answer? --Or am I not allowed to ask for a hint like that? XD
Silence. Daniel wears a frustrated scowl while Lucas continues muttering to himself, repeating the riddle's words. "I'm guessing it's not a stick," Azril mumbles. Lucas mutters, "This one might be related to lore--'I've slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends'... perhaps a dragon who turned against his own kind?" "Or it could be a Rider," Daniel suggests, shrugging. "They're friends and slayers of dragons." "Neither explains the tree with no branches, nor 'I am called night'." Daniel sighs and sits on a rock. "This might take a while."
'Sorry,' he says, after getting a few curious looks. 'The first line reminded me of someone. An old man at my childhood home. He had this great big white beard and we all called him Snowface of Iceface.' Coughing awkwardly, he gestures at the words.
'I'm no great riddle-cracker but I'm wondering about them words 'shadow' and 'dragon'. Just a thought - if they referred to the people of the Shadow an' Dragon Kingdoms . . . ?'
Goatie has more guesses on his mind. 'Now I don't get the tree bit but that other bit . . . ''I am called night?'' Ye don't think it actually means knight? As in the Black Knight?
'Sorry,' he says, after getting a few curious looks. 'The first line reminded me of someone. An old man at my childhood home. He had this great big white beard and we all called him Snowface of Iceface.' Coughing awkwardly, he gestures at the words.
'I'm no great riddle-cracker but I'm wondering about them words 'shadow' and 'dragon'. Just a thought - if they referred to the people of the Shadow an' Dragon Kingdoms . . . ?'
Goatie has more guesses on his mind. 'Now I don't get the tree bit but that other bit . . . ''I am called night?'' Ye don't think it actually means knight? As in the Black Knight?
OOC: You're on the right track. How can you use the other clues?
'Sorry,' he says, after getting a few curious looks. 'The first line reminded me of someone. An old man at my childhood home. He had this great big white beard and we all called him Snowface of Iceface.' Coughing awkwardly, he gestures at the words.
'I'm no great riddle-cracker but I'm wondering about them words 'shadow' and 'dragon'. Just a thought - if they referred to the people of the Shadow an' Dragon Kingdoms . . . ?'
Goatie has more guesses on his mind. 'Now I don't get the tree bit but that other bit . . . ''I am called night?'' Ye don't think it actually means knight? As in the Black Knight?
OOC: You're on the right track. How can you use the other clues?
OOC: I'll give it a go.
IC:
Goatie elaborates on his analysis: 'I could be way off here, ladies and gents, but here goes . . . ' ''My chin is covered in ice, yet it is warm'' - That sounds like our person 'as a white beard.'
''Many shadows follow me, yet I cast but one'' - that's the Shadow Warriors a' following him.'
''I’ve slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends'' - I dunno, I assume he has killed real dragons, yet the Dragon Kingdom is his ally.'
'Born at the root of a tree with no branches . . . ' Here Goatie pauses.'Well, if I'm not very much mistaken that could be near where we are, in the Fortress. The Shadow Kingdom is right next to it, and starts at the foot of the mountains. A mountain - A tree with no branches?'
'I am called night. ' A play with the word, mayhaps, and mayhap it actually means 'knight'. Night is also black.'
'Thus, Black Knight.' Goatie finishes, shrugging and grinning. 'Anyone want to add onto that?
OOC: You're on the right track. How can you use the other clues?
OOC: I'll give it a go.
IC:
Goatie elaborates on his analysis: 'I could be way off here, ladies and gents, but here goes . . . ' ''My chin is covered in ice, yet it is warm'' - That sounds like our person 'as a white beard.'
''Many shadows follow me, yet I cast but one'' - that's the Shadow Warriors a' following him.'
''I’ve slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends'' - I dunno, I assume he has killed real dragons, yet the Dragon Kingdom is his ally.'
'Born at the root of a tree with no branches . . . ' Here Goatie pauses.'Well, if I'm not very much mistaken that could be near where we are, in the Fortress. The Shadow Kingdom is right next to it, and starts at the foot of the mountains. A mountain - A tree with no branches?'
'I am called night. ' A play with the word, mayhaps, and mayhap it actually means 'knight'. Night is also black.'
'Thus, Black Knight.' Goatie finishes, shrugging and grinning. 'Anyone want to add onto that?
Lucas looks at the two of them, impressed. "Not really. You two have a much better idea of this one than I do."
Goatie elaborates on his analysis: 'I could be way off here, ladies and gents, but here goes . . . ' ''My chin is covered in ice, yet it is warm'' - That sounds like our person 'as a white beard.'
''Many shadows follow me, yet I cast but one'' - that's the Shadow Warriors a' following him.'
''I’ve slain many dragons, yet they are also my friends'' - I dunno, I assume he has killed real dragons, yet the Dragon Kingdom is his ally.'
'Born at the root of a tree with no branches . . . ' Here Goatie pauses.'Well, if I'm not very much mistaken that could be near where we are, in the Fortress. The Shadow Kingdom is right next to it, and starts at the foot of the mountains. A mountain - A tree with no branches?'
'I am called night. ' A play with the word, mayhaps, and mayhap it actually means 'knight'. Night is also black.'
'Thus, Black Knight.' Goatie finishes, shrugging and grinning. 'Anyone want to add onto that?
Lucas looks at the two of them, impressed. "Not really. You two have a much better idea of this one than I do."
Alinor takes a deep breath. "White beard, Black Knight. I think . . . I think I know who this is." Stepping forward, she says, "Valithor Icebeard."
The words of the riddle begin to glow as the name appears below them. Valithor Icebeard. Slowly, the wall before them begins to slide out of the way.
'Get in!' murmurs Goatie with a grin, uttering the expression of triumph as he looks at Jednook.
The griffin utters a gleeful squawk. He hadn't really understood anything his master had deciphered but he knows Goatie did something good.
"Well done," Lucas murmurs in admiration. He steps through the threshold.
They all continue down the tunnel for some time before reaching a room quite different from any they have seen before. It is circular, quite wide, and full of sand. All the way at the far end, the tunnel continues.
"Well done," Lucas murmurs in admiration. He steps through the threshold.
They all continue down the tunnel for some time before reaching a room quite different from any they have seen before. It is circular, quite wide, and full of sand. All the way at the far end, the tunnel continues.
"Strange... where do you suppose all this sand came from?"
