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Wynnie
Nargothrond
Mar 3 2007, 2:37pm
Post #1 of 18
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LotR cryptograms -- March
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Can't Post
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Well, it's time for the inaugural cryptogram thread on the new boards. I'm assuming these go on Main, as they are Tolkien-based.
Below are FOUR encoded quotes from LotR (book, not movie). For general instructions and tips for solving cryptograms, follow this link.
Extra credit for naming: (a) who said it, (b) to whom, (c) in which chapter. If b is more than one person, you can name any/all of them; if a or b is an unnamed character, a general identification (e.g., "an orc") is fine. Open book, for what it's worth.
1. TRFS MEGYMN DWARVES JN SENY,
XL MEGYMN ZAR MGBB XS.
2. KWOP LFTAFV GZW NIFTF; SWN GZW
LFUMFV GZWT OICHOF QUNI SZNI ICHVL,
ZHF DURIN LCG.
3. HX'R EPX BOMBUR B THRAPIXLEC
QCHEW PSCIOPPYCN.
4. JUBB, O JZT GHMC BALIN, JRZYUPUM
KN DZEEUM KZN TZN.
Good luck with these! You may need it; it's a tougher-than usual batch.
For these puzzles (look for "BB") in PDF, old puzzles, or a handy printable alphabet, visit the Cryptogram Archive.
I guess we no longer need to worry about the thread falling off the board; take as much time as you like. And please come back the first Saturday of every month for more!
**SPOILER**
Hints for this month's puzzles appear below -- that is, they will appear if you highlight them.
In #1, M = C
In #2, G = Y
In #3, X = T
In #4, J = W
Owlamoo
ink drawing by JRRT
(This post was edited by Wynnie on Mar 3 2007, 2:39pm)
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Alassea Elensar
Ossiriand
Mar 4 2007, 3:25am
Post #2 of 18
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and there was an extra one, too.  I managed to figure them all out, but had a bit of trouble with the 2nd one. Here are my answers:
1. Just chance brought me then, if chance you call it -- Tom Bombadil to the 4 hobbits. FotR, "In the House of Tom Bombadil"
2. Luck served you there; but you seized your chance with both hands, one might say -- this where I had the trouble. Try as I might, I couldn't find this quote anywhere. It's late, though, and I'm just too tired to concentrate anymore.
3. It's not always a misfortune being overlooked -- Merry to Pippin, after Pippin finds him in a street in Minas Tirith. RotK, "The Houses of Healing"
4. Well, I was born lucky, whatever my gaffer may say. -- Sam to Butterbur (and Gandalf and the other hobbits) upon hearing good news about Bill the pony. RotK, "Homeward Bound"
Many thanks as always, Wynnie! These were a real challenge this month.
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Estelwyn
Lindon
Mar 4 2007, 12:00pm
Post #3 of 18
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1. JUST CHANCE BROUGHT ME THEN, IF CHANCE YOU CALL IT.
Tom to the hobbits in “In the House of Tom Bombadil”
2. LUCK SERVED YOU THERE; BUT YOU SEIZED YOUR CHANCE WITH BOTH HANDS, ONE MIGHT SAY.
Gimli to Merry & Pippin in “Flotsam and Jetsam”.
3. IT’S NOT ALWAYS A MISFORTUNE BEING OVERLOOKED.
Merry to Pippin in “The Houses of Healing”
4. WELL, I WAS BORN LUCKY, WHATEVER MY GAFFER MAY SAY.
Sam to Barliman Butterburr in “Homeward Bound”
I must confess to a bit of help from Google in finding the chapters for #2 and #4, so I can't claim full extra credit on those two I guess. You'll just have to take my word for it that I did know that Sam was the speaker in #4, and Merry & Pippin where being spoken to in #2.
Fun! Thanks
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 4 2007, 1:19pm
Post #4 of 18
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...in like a lion, and you're right, a couple of these were a bit "ferocious"!
A bit of the luck o' the Irish in these, eh? With some "leprechauns" (Dwarves) thrown in!
1. "Just chance brought me then, if chance you call it."
Tom Bombadil to the four Hobbits as they rest "In the House of Tom Bombadil", explaining why he happened to be near Old Man Willow in time to rescue them.
2. "Luck served you there; but you seized your chance with both hands, one might say."
Finding the source of this one led me on a merry chase! It's Gimli to Pippin, and they, Aragorn, Legolas, and Merry enjoy a meal above the "Flotsam and Jetsam" of Isengard.
3. "It's not always a misfortune being overlooked."
Merry to Pippin, as Pippin tries to help him get to "The Houses of Healing".
4. "Well, I was born lucky, whatever my Gaffer may say."
Sam to the other Travellers as they are "Homeward Bound", as he's told that Bill arrived safely at Bree.
#3 was the trickiest, figuring out what word could fit "i _ _ i _ s" or "a _ _ a _ s"; once I realized it was "always", the rest fell into place.
Great challenge, Wynnie, thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road, or a secret gate...
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Alassea Elensar
Ossiriand
Mar 4 2007, 11:21pm
Post #5 of 18
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I finally had to give up, as it was getting late. I probably would have found it if I'd had another couple of hours. 
I approached #3 a different way. _ _' _ usually always ends in an 's', so I figured that it had to be 'it's' and the next word 'not', to go with it. That gave me the 's' in both 'always' and 'misfortune' (as well as the 'i' and 't'). The one that gave me most trouble decoding was #1. 
I always have fun with these, but this month's was a real challenge. (keep 'em coming, Wynnie!)
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Finding Frodo
Dor-Lomin
Mar 5 2007, 5:21am
Post #6 of 18
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I thought this would be the month I'd try the cryptogram, but your labelling them "tougher than usual" made me panic and run away. Maybe next month. I have been wanting to tell you Wynnie that I love the Tolkien owl in your signature. We have a running joke in our family about "howls", starting with a deliciously spooky large owl that hooted at us from the top of Grandpa Charlie's barn. If someone says they're scared of something, the response is always, "Well, I'm scared of howls on top of the barn!"
Where's Frodo?
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 5 2007, 1:19pm
Post #7 of 18
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the third one that's a "toughie". #1 and #2 are pretty straightforward - if you haven't seen our answers yet, give those a try! And once you begin #4, you may realize that it's familiar and you know it after getting halfway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road, or a secret gate...
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FantasyFan
Nargothrond
Mar 5 2007, 3:08pm
Post #8 of 18
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But these were trickier than usual, I agree.
1. 'Just chance brought me then, if chance you call it.' Tom Bombadil to Frodo and company, in the quiet time after dinner, In the House of Tom Bombadil.
2. 'Luck served you there; but you seized your chance with both hands, one might say.' Gimli, being witty, to Pippin (and Merry) discussing escape on the edges of ruin, Flotsam and Jetsam.
3. 'It's not always a misfortune being overlooked.' merry to Pippin after the witchking, on the way to The Houses of Healing.
4. 'Well, I was born lucky, whatever my Gaffer may say.' Sam about Bill, to Barliman (et al) in Homeward Bound.
I must say that I started from the bottom, got #4 then #3 fairly easily, (despite the triple O's) and the theme gave me #1, but #2 gave me fits (brain did not think you/your)
"That is one thing that Men call 'hope.' Amdir we call it, 'looking up.' But there is another which is founded deeper. Estel we call it, that is 'trust.' It is not defeated by the ways of the world, for it does not come from experience, but from our nature and First Being. If we are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the last foundation of estel, which we keep even when we contemplate the End. Of all His designs the issue must be for His children's joy."
Finrod, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, HoME X Morgoth's Ring
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Wynnie
Nargothrond
Mar 5 2007, 3:58pm
Post #9 of 18
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come back and try some next month. I'll make a point of coming up with a slightly less intimidating batch.
Owlamoo
ink drawing by JRRT
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Wynnie
Nargothrond
Mar 5 2007, 4:07pm
Post #10 of 18
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I've stopped trying to match my theme to the month (not wanting to repeat from year to year), but you're right -- my choice in this case was inspired by the upcoming Irish holiday.
It's always interesting to hear the different ways different solvers attack these things. Many possible routes to the same end.
Owlamoo
ink drawing by JRRT
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White Gull
Menegroth
Mar 5 2007, 6:48pm
Post #11 of 18
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I was going to ask you by email if you did!
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Wynnie
Nargothrond
Mar 8 2007, 2:09am
Post #12 of 18
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Oops, here I am forgetting to post the results from last month. "Yet late is better than never", as Éomer was heard to say on the way to Minas Tirith.
Chalk up perfect scores for Aerin, dernwyn, Fantasy Fan, hot water nobility, and Loresilme. That's perfect plus the maximum 9 points extra credit for everyone! Here are the solutions:
HXS SZLI L BLEE ITJ SN JNX: JNXO WXPIS ISTARI XMNA SZP PRUP NC T DALCP.
But this I will say to you: your quest stands upon the edge of a knife.
--Galadriel to the Fellowship, in The Mirror of Galadriel
A QR PS UQKKASK QO QDD QPG GANDALF QPT OMSIBMO SH VQOODF; VIO UQAOAPB SP OMF FGBF SH SPF OMQO A EQP'O FNEQYF AN USKNO SH QDD.
I am no warrior at all and dislike any thought of battle; but waiting on the edge of one that I can't escape is worst of all.
--Pippin to Beregond, in Minas Tirith
R FPSZN EDVZ FVIC NHCSNYEW THRZG, SZN RP RF EPPCHWA NSHG RZ PXC STAFF TCYVHC IA YCCP.
I stand upon some dreadful brink, and it is utterly dark in the abyss before my feet.
--Éowyn to Faramir, The Steward and the King
Owlamoo
ink drawing by JRRT
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Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 8 2007, 3:14am
Post #13 of 18
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I've managed to miss the last few!
1. Just chance brought me then,if chance you call it.
Bombadil to Frodo and companions, "In the House of Tom Bombadil"
2. Luck served you there; but you seized your chance with both hands,one might say.
Gimli to Merry and Pippin, "Flotsam and Jetsam"
3. It's not always a misfortune being overlooked.
Merry to Pippin, "The Houses of Healing".
4. Well, I was born lucky, whatever my Gaffer may say.
Sam to Frodo et al, "Homeward Bound"
  
Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Aerin
Hithlum
Mar 10 2007, 4:19am
Post #14 of 18
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The last two were easy (especially no. 3), but the first two were tougher.
1. Just chance brought me then, if chance you call it.
Tom Bombadil to Frodo, In the House of Tom Bombadil
(I got "call it" right away, but thought that "c_a__c_" looked wrong, so I wasted a lot of time trying different possibilities for the last two words. This was easier once I'd solved 3 & 4 and realized that the theme for this month was "chance." BTW, it's a word Tolkien uses a lot!)
2. Luck served you there; but you seized your chance with both hands, one might say.
Gimli to Pippin, Flotsam & Jetsam
(Very tough! I wasted a lot of time being certain that "gzw" had to be "the" or "who," since it had to be a three-letter word that could add one letter to become a four-letter word. It took me forever to realize that "you" and "your" also worked!)
3. It's not always a mistortune being overlooked.
Merry to Pippin, The Houses of Healing
(This was actually one of the easiest ones ever, for me.)
4. Well, I was born lucky, whatever my gaffer may say.
Sam to Butterbur, Homeward Bound
(This would have been very quick except that I got hung up on "gaffer," trying other double letters instead of "f".)
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Wynnie
Nargothrond
Mar 10 2007, 1:15pm
Post #15 of 18
(1906 views)
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with the new boards is the ability to set a thread for watching. As long as I remember to do that, I won't miss any cryptogram replies no matter when they come in.
You're right about Tolkien's frequent use of "chance", "luck", "fortune", etc. I had quite a few quotes to choose from for this theme.
Owlamoo
ink drawing by JRRT
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GaladrielTX
Dor-Lomin
May 17 2009, 5:18pm
Post #16 of 18
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I finally got around to solving some old cryptograms. I did the one in this thread from March, 2007; however, I also had another from back in February, 2007, when we were on the old boards. Because I can't post there, I'll post the answers to both here:
February, 2007:
1. But this I will say to
you: Your quest stands
upon the edge of a knife.
Who said it: Galadriel
To whom: The Fellowship (looking at Frodo)
In which chapter: The Mirror of Galadriel
2. I am no warrior at all
and dislike any thought of
battle; but waiting on the
edge of one that I can’t
escape is worst of all.
Who said it: Pippin
To whom: Beregond
In which chapter: Minas Tirith
3. I stand upon some
dreadful brink and it is
utterly dark in the abyss
before my feet.
Who said it: Éowyn
To whom: Faramir
In which chapter: The Steward and the King
March, 2007:
1. Just chance brought me then,
if chance you call it.
Who said it: Tom Bombadil
To whom: Frodo
In what chapter: In the House of Tom Bombadil
2. Luck served you there; but you
seized your chance with both hands,
one might say.
Who said it: Gimli
To whom: Pippin
In what chapter: Flotsam and Jetsam
3. It’s not always a misfortune
being overlooked.
Who said it: Merry
To whom: Pippin
In what chapter: The Houses of Healing
4. Well, I was born lucky, whatever
my gaffer may say.
Who said it: Sam
To whom: Butterbur
In what Chapter: Homeward Bound
~~~~~~~~
The TORNsib formerly known as Galadriel.
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Wynnie
Nargothrond
May 19 2009, 2:16am
Post #17 of 18
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to get a notification that someone had replied to a thread I'd marked for watching, and find that one (two, actually) of my old cryptogram threads had been revived! Nicely done, GalTx; there never was a time limit on these, and you get full marks. And you made my day!
:-)
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GaladrielTX
Dor-Lomin
May 19 2009, 12:17pm
Post #18 of 18
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I was surprised to get a reply from you!
You saved me from extreme boredom at work for several hours. You might see more from me over the next few days because the bosses will be out and I've got almost all my work-related stuff for the month done.
~~~~~~~~
The TORNsib formerly known as Galadriel.
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