The Red Book of Riddles
This handye booke doth containe alle diverse manner of riddles and follyes, and, by means of carefulle studye, the prudente scholarlye gentlemane maye finde himselfe noe longer discomfited by the sharpe wite of his fellowes.
[The posing and puzzling of riddles is a convention of polite aristocratic Western society. Nobles and social aspirants collect books of riddles and study them, hoping thereby to increase the chances of their appearing sly and witty in conversation.]
1 The question:
It has a tail, a side and a head
I call it what I call a snake
It has no body and it is dead
The answer:
It must be a drake
2 The question:
Poets know the hearts of Men and Mer
But beasts can't know my heart, you see
This book was written by a bear
The answer:
It is not a book of poetry.
3 The question:
I gave you a sock, not unlike a box
With hammers and nails all around it
Two lids open when it knocks
The answer:
It must have been a great hit.
The Yellow Book of Riddles
For earnest pleasure, and the strengthening of the mind, the author here collects all that he has learned of the art of riddling, by dint of diligent study, and through years of discourse with others of similar inclination.
[[The posing and puzzling of riddles is a convention of polite aristocratic Western society. Nobles and social aspirants collect books of riddles and study them, hoping thereby to increase the chances of their appearing sly and witty in conversation.]]
1 A metal neither black nor red
As heavy as man's golden greed
What you do to stay ahead
With friend or arrow or steed
dael :rewsnA ehT
2 A man says, "If you lie to me I will slay you with my sword. If you tell me the truth, I will slay you with a spell." What must you say to stay alive?
drows a htiw em yals lliw uoY :rewsnA ehT
3 A Bosmer, was slain. The Altmer claims the Dunmer is guilty. The Dunmer says the Khajiit did it. The Orc swears he didn't kill the Bosmer. The Khajiit says the Dunmer is lying. If only one of these speaks the truth, who killed the Bosmer?
crO ehT :rewsnA ehT
Lord Hlaalu the Founder's Riddles:
1 I am a humble thing,
yet magical powers I contain,
and when you do ingest me,
the despised curse will not remain.
I grow at a great height,
and one place only do I grow,
for there you will have to search,
and find me, for only then will you know
what it is I look like,
and what it is I do.
What am I??
slateP enabsfloW :rewsnA ehT
2 I am the perfect One,
some would say the Exact One.
I once met a young god,
and presented a challenge of my own,
yet he still understood it clearly,
and won with easy grace.
For this great unexpected victory,
I smiled fifty-faced, quite perfect,
And broke, and gave up
my great star-utensil,
honoring the wonderful effect
the young god's knowledge had on me.
If you were wise in the god's Lessons,
you would recognize me, I'm sure,
and would quickly guess on,
and would know what my name and title are.
Who am I???
edutitcaxE fo rollecnahC :rewsnA ehT
3 I am in a position of power,
and am a position myself.
I don't like to be thought of as lower,
and cannot be sat on a shelf.
I am traditionlly Akaviri,
perhaps the most fearsome of these,
and when you come even near me,
I could eat you without a sneeze.
But for now I am complacent,
and do the Emperor's will,
but if I overtake the throne,
you can be sure your life will be nil.
What am I? (I am a position)
etatnetoP :rewsnA ehT
Azura's Star, the Honorary Highest Minstrel's Riddles:
1 It is not itself,
Nor is it truth,
But many an elf
Will use it as proof
Of the Dwemer’s demise,
The God’s blameless state.
A joke’s all it is,
Told by Khajiit who hate.
What is it?
oreZ nomreS :rewsnA ehT
2 Three we are, but will not stay,
For now the Fourth is on its way.
Our boundaries marked by times of change,
And each beginning truly strange.
What are we?
sarE :rewsnA ehT
3 Daemon's birth,
Massive jaws,
Poisoned orb,
Rending claws.
Scaly skin,
Lightning spews.
Want to fight?
I win. You lose.
What am I?
thordeaD :rewsnA ehT
4 Before Master, they killed for me.
Before Mother, they plotted for me.
Before Mystery, they shone for me.
Together we are known by a single name.
Name it.
snoitapicitnA ehT :rewsnA ehT
5 The High Priest of the Deep Elves made me,
But Azura cleaned me of his profane hands.
I slay the false ones with a touch,
But I have never been soiled with the heart of the trickster.
Another is named like unto me,
And the Ashlanders are beneath me.
What am I?
ratS dna nooM :rewsnA ehT
6 I slew the one who loved me best,
Who brought me back from silent rest,
Extinguished his vivacious flame,
For Xarlys never was my name.
allaP :rewsnA ehT
7 I sing a tune of murder
For those of blood that's true.
I corrupt the purest childhood.
Heck, I could be in you!
esuoH htxiS fo gnoS nosioP :rewsnA ehT
8 I hail from a city on Summerset Isle,
And only the truly mad will employ me.
I ask the Incarnate with a purse and a smile,
"Will you kill for the house Telvanni?"
tserduolC fo omiloM :rewsnA ehT
9 We are all of us failed,
One way or another,
Struck down by House Dagoth,
Or by Lord, Mage, and Mother.
We're of no one profession,
For the dead have no trade,
But, please, take our possessions,
To help end our charade.
Who are we?
setanracI eslaF :rewsnA ehT
10 Three we are, and three we stay.
To fight the lot would be unwise.
But we have mercy, so we say,
"Pick your manner of demise!"
Just one of us will be your end.
Alacrity's a choice of yours.
A bear with antlers, set to rend,
Or do you wish the spear that gores.
Who are we?
enicriH fo stcepsA :rewsnA ehT
11 The moons alone reign over birth,
And no newborn is free,
But listen closely, foreign friend,
Khajiit tells you what he be:
When mother-cat bore litter this,
Jone looked down with rounded face,
And Jode was likewise unashamed,
So Khajiit moves with twice the grace.
What is Khajiit?
ehcneS :rewsnA ehT
12 In the jungles where the Beast-Folk roam,
There lies a place of mist and loam.
The traitor’s fall awaits you here,
But forest treasure’s hid by fear.
Name the place.
doowkruM :rewsnA ehT
13 I've the star of the west and the voice of command.
I look down upon all who're not my type of man.
I've proven your better eight glorious times.
Now, please, give a title to me and my kind.
lairepmI :rewsnA ehT
14 From shadows dark, with haunting flame,
I've not a weapon to my name.
My brothers bright of frost and storm,
Like me, have evanescent form.
I serve no master but myself,
And my best trick won't faze Dark Elf.
What am I?
hcanortA emalF :rewsnA ehT
15 Our father looks after the ones who are spurned.
He punishes sinners who lie,
And though we must lick the Imperial heel,
We'd rather be servants than die.
Who are we?
scrO :rewsnA ehT
