Fantasy Riddles: This product requires the use of Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition rules
A Gamer’s Resource For use with D20 Fantasy Rules
This document is part of System 20: A Do-It-Yourself supplement system available at creationsedge.com
Fantasy Riddles:
A Gamer’s Resource For use with D20 Fantasy Rules
Introduction Welcome to Fantasy Riddles: A Gamer’s Resource. This product is presented free as part of System 20, a do-it-yourself supplement system found on our website at www.creationsedge.com. System 20 allows you to create your own supplements, featuring the content of your choice, for a fraction of the cost of traditional RPG supplements. You’ll find over 400 different magic items, weapons, rings, and wear on our site, as well as our Add-A-Rooms, Adventures, and other role-playing aids. Our Free 20 section also hosts dozens of free creatures, items, and weapons to incorporate into your D20 fantasy campaign. This product requires the use of Dungeons & Dragons® Third Edition rules.
Fantasy Riddles is available for download on Creation Edge, Inc.’s website as part of the System 20 collection. Check out our website at creationsedge.com for more System 20 resources and information on upcoming releases.
~Open Game Content~ The content of this document entitled “Fantasy Riddles” which describe game mechanics are designated as Open Content. The remaining portions of this document are hereby added to Open Game Content and if so used should bear the COPYRIGHT NOTICE “Fantasy Riddles ©2002 Creation’s Edge, Inc.” and optionally the web address “www.creationsedge.com”. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. Dungeons & Dragons® and Wizards of the Coast® are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, and are used with permission. This document contains material based on the D20 System. The D20 System is trademark by Wizards of the Coast and is used according to the terms of the d20 System License version 1.0. A copy of this License can be found at www.wizards.com.
Fantasy Riddles - for use with D20 rules - © 2002 Creation’s Edge, Inc. www.creationsedge.com
Fantasy Riddles Collected By M. E. Kline
Introduction "Ahhhrrrggghhh!”, the dwarf raged, “By me father's beard I ‘ate these things!” “Grimwal please!” Xander hissed, “You’ll bring the rest of the wizard’s forces down on us!” “Let ‘em come!” Grimwal bellowed, tossing his magic hammer from hand to hand, “I’ll take somethin’ to bash over the ‘aff-witted ramblings of some ‘aff-witted mage any ol’ day!” The young ranger renewed his pacings, back and forth, before the fountain which dominated the center of the circular room. The reason for the dwarf’s raging stood at the center of the fountain; a statue standing all silent, waiting for an answer to the riddle it bore upon a marble plaque held in granite hands. We would have left the room already if it wasn’t for what lined it; all along the walls, set at intervals, were small alcoves lined with gold, jewels, and countless treasures. It was the wizard’s main vault we were standing in. We were sure of that. And all that stood between us and the treasure were ten magic barriers and one little answer to one little riddle we were sure would drop them all. But even I was beginning to lose my patience. “Xander. Be still.” I muttered. “I’m thinking.” The ranger snapped back. “Well do it in one place!” I had finished cleanin’ the last of the goblin blood an’ guts off of my blade. Already I could feel it askin’ for more. It knew there was more of the nasty things close by and if we didn’t go after them soon it would make me go after them. We were all getting a little anxious, my
sword included. Grimwal crept towards one of the barriers, licking his lips. He raised his hammer and made a weak gesture towards the barrier. I knew what was coming next. “Couldn’t we?” He offered, “Couldn’t we just bash-” “We’re not bashing anything!” Xander snapped, “Just step away from the alcove and let me think!” “You’ve been thinking...” The dwarf muttered as he slumped against the wall. Grimwal looked over at me, eyebrows raised in hopeful expectation. He made another gesture towards the barrier with his hammer. I gently shook my head no. The dwarf huffed, crossed his arms and tried his best to look crossed at the world. I moved closer to the fountain, hoping that a shift in position might cause a shift in my thinking. I stared at the fountain’s pool and the spout in the statue’s mouth. “Where’s the water?” The other two turned to look at me, then at the pool. It was bone dry. It looked as if it had been for years. “That’s it!” The ranger shouted, slapping himself on the head. His eyes shot to the plaque. “Three lives have I. Gentle enough to soothe the skin, Light enough to caress the sky, Hard enough to crack rocks. It’s water! The answer’s water!” “It’s not water!” Scoffed the dwarf. “Three lives. Water’s not livin’...” “It’s not literal.” Stressed Xander. The dwarf crumpled up his face at the term. “It’s not exactly what it says.” The ranger explained. “That’s the nature of riddles.” “Alright then, why aren’t the barriers droppin’?” Xander glanced at the ten magic barri-
ers. The treasure was still safely locked away. “Maybe it’s what it wants?” I offered. “Maybe we have to give the fountain some water.” “I got it’s water.” Grumbled the dwarf. Xander tried to stop him, but it was too late. Grimwal was already emptyin’ himself into the fountain. “Grimwal no!” “What, it’s got water in it!” The dwarf chuckled. “Well it’s got ale in it and ale’s got water in it...” The barriers collapsed and the treasure fell into the room. “Ha!” Bellowed the dwarf as he hiked up his pants. “Let’s see the wizard’s magic wand do that!” I had to laugh myself. It was the first time the dwarf's rash actions didn’t bring a world o’ hurt down upon our heads. That’s when the steel plate slid down over the door. An’ all o’ black rock lake started drainin’ in on us from above. “I hate riddles!” Grimwal managed ta spout, then he was lost in a torrent of water, along with Xander and me, an any chance I had o’ feedin’ my sword or my money pouch...
From the ancient Riddle of the Sphinx to the riddle on the doors to Moria, riddles have played an important and enduring part in our myths and fantasies for ages. It’s no surprise that they play an important role in RPG’s as well. In environments laden with swords and sorcery, riddles present obstacles not to be overcome by brawn or brains but by wit. They serve to fill a gap in the action and often present a unique challenge for even the most skilled and able adventuring party. Part of their appeal in RPG’s is that it’s one of the few times we ourselves truly
make the crossover into the RPG world. Our success in overcoming a riddle obsticle lies not in a score on a character sheet or the luck of a die role but solely upon our own problem solving skills. Even the most dedicated role player will step out of character for a moment when answering a riddle. Most view it as a challenge directed at them rather than the character that they’re playing. Thus even Mongo the Barbarian with a 6 intelligence and a 5 wisdom can still provide the solution. Should this be the case? Maybe. Maybe not... The following riddles have been collected from numerous sources. They have been gathered here due to the fact that their content and solutions fit well into a fantasy gaming environment (in other words, you won’t find one with an answer like ‘airplane’ or ‘computer’). The answers are separate from the main text so that you might try your hand at solving them first on your own. After the riddle list is a look at riddle solving as a skill. The concept being that if a party gets stumped by a particularly perplexing riddle a character with the riddle solving skill might be entitled to a hint or even the solution. This is offered as a means to keeping the players in character even when encountering riddles, or as a way of allowing the game to progress through a riddle encounter that has even the players stumped.
The Riddles Riddle #1 Who makes it, has no need of it. Who buys it, has no use for it. Who uses it can neither see nor feel it.
Riddle #2
Riddle #8
It is said among my people that some things are improved by death. Tell me, what stinks while living, but in death, smells good?
If a man carried my burden He would break his back. I am not rich, But leave silver in my track. Riddle #9
Riddle #3 What goes through the door without pinching itself? What sits on the stove without burning itself? What sits on the table and is not ashamed?
Until I am measured I am not known, Yet how you miss me When I have flown. Riddle #10
Riddle #4
When set loose I fly away, Never so cursed As when I go astray.
Whilst I was engaged in sitting, I spied the dead carrying the living. Riddle #11 Riddle #5 I know a word of letters three. Add two, and fewer there will be.
Each morning I appear To lie at your feet, All day I will follow No matter how fast you run, Yet I nearly perish In the midday sun.
Riddle #6
Riddle #12
I give you a group of three. One is sitting down, and will never get up. The second eats as much as is given to him, yet is always hungry. The third goes away and never returns.
My life can be measured in hours, I serve by being devoured. Thin, I am quick, Fat, I am slow, A gust of wind my dreaded foe. Riddle #13
Riddle #7 Always hungry, I must always be fed, The finger I lick, Will soon turn red.
I am seen in the water If seen in the sky, I am in the rainbow, A jay's feather, And lapis lazuli.
Riddle #14 Glittering points That downward thrust, Sparkling spears That never rust.
place of meeting. Behead me again, and I am the partner of ready. Restore me, and I become the domain of beasts. Riddle #20
Riddle #15 You heard me before, Yet you hear me again, Then I die, 'Till you call me again.
What does man love more than life, Fear more than death or mortal strife? What the poor have, the rich require, and what contented men desire, What the miser spends and the spendthrift saves, all men carry to their graves?
Riddle #16 Three lives have I. Gentle enough to soothe the skin, Light enough to caress the sky, Hard enough to crack rocks.
Riddle #21
Riddle #17
Riddle #22
You can see nothing else, When you look in my face, I will look you in the eye and I will never lie. Riddle #18
Ripped from my mother's womb, Beaten and burned, I become a blood-thirsty slayer What am I?
I build up castles. I tear down mountains. I make some men blind, I help others to see. What am I?
Riddle #23 With thieves I consort, With the vilest, in short, I'm quite at ease in depravity; Yet all divines use me, And savants can't lose me, For I am the center of gravity. You can’t have anything without me. What am I?
What is no man yet bares man’s form? Dies each night, by day reborn. A silent companion it voices no needs, sometimes follows sometimes leeds.
Riddle #19
Riddle #24
As a whole, I am both safe and secure. Behead me, and I become a
Silently I speak my tale, stiff is my spine, my body pale. Examine me
and you’ll find leaves though I no thing of nature be. Though my outside may seem quite plain, inside I hold a wonderland. What am I?
At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. Riddle #30
Riddle #25 Forward I am heavy, yet backwards I am not. The answer’s revealed if properly sought. What am I?
I never was, always to be, No one ever saw me, nor ever will, and yet I am the confidence of all, who put off their plans until my arrival.
Riddle #26
Riddle #31
It is in rock yet not in stone, it is in marrow but not in bone. Although it is no thing dead or living, it can be found in taverns drunk and drinking. Always sober never sick the answer to the riddle is part of the trick.
Runs over fields and woods all day, Under the bed at night sits not alone, With long tongue hanging out, A-waiting for a bone. Riddle #32
Riddle #27 I weaken great men for hours each day, show them strange visions while held in my sway. It take them each night, though day takes them back. None suffer to have me, but do from my lack. What am I? Riddle #28 Bright as diamonds, Loud as thunder, Never still, A thing of wonder. Riddle #29
The beginning of eternity, The end of time and space, The beginning of every end, And the end of every place.
Riddle #33 Two brothers we are, great burdens we bear, all day we are bitterly pressed; I am a window, I am a lamp, I am clouded, I am shining, and I am colored; set in white, I fill with water and overflow. I say much, but I have no words. What am I?
Riddle #34
Riddle #39
I went into the woods and got it, I sat down to seek it, I brought it home with me because I couldn't find it
What is one thing that all wise men, regardless of their religion or politics, agree is between heaven and earth?
Riddle #35
Riddle #40
I have two arms, but fingers none. I have two feet, but cannot run. I carry well, but I have found I carry best with my feet off the ground. What am I?
This is as light as a feather but no man can hold it for long. What is it? Riddle #41
Riddle #36 I am the heart that does not beat. If cut, I bleed without blood. I can float, but have no fins. I can sing, but have no mouth.
I turn my head and you may go where you want. I turn it again, you will stay till you rot. I have no face, but I live or die by my crooked teeth. Who am I? Riddle #42
Riddle #37 In marble halls as white as milk, Lined with a skin as soft as silk, Within a fountain crystal-clear, A golden apple doth appear. No doors there are to this stronghold, Yet thieves break in and steal the gold. Riddle #38 I am both Mother and Father. I am seldom still, yet I never wander. I never birth nor nurse. What am I?
I have rivers without water, Forests without trees, Mountains without rocks, Towns without houses. What am I?
The Skill Riddle Solving (Wis) You are particularly skilled at solving riddles. You delight in opportunities to test your wits against them and sometimes find guilty pleasure in watching others struggle with them. You might also have a riddle or two handy to inflict upon your fellow adventurers during lengthy travels or around the campfire, or worse yet, just before turning in for the night. Check: When using riddle solving to answer a riddle the checks are as follows: DC 10 for eliminating a possible answer before it is used (“I think the answer maybe ‘water’. Does that seem right?”), DC 15 for a hint ("You remember a similar riddle where the answer wasn’t a word but a single letter."), DC 20 for a straight answer (“You remember hearing this one before. The answer is “man”.). Retry: Another attempt has a DC +10 higher that the last skill check. The possibility for a second chance isn’t always there after a wrong answer has been given. For instance a riddle that triggers a trap, or a stone golem requesting a specific password probably wouldn’t allow a second try. Special: Gnomes in particular love riddles. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Riddle Solving checks.
The Answers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
A Coffin A Pig (Ham) Sunlight A Wagon or Coach The word “Few” Wood, Fire, Smoke A Fire or Flame A Snail Time An Arrow Your Shadow A Candle The Color Blue An Icicle An Echo Water A Mirror The Letter “V” The Word “Stable” Nothing Sand Iron A Man’s Shadow A Book The word “Ton” The Letter “R” Sleep A River or Waterfall The Stars Tomorrow A Shoe or Boot The Letter “E” An Eye A Splinter A Wheelbarrow Wood An Egg A Tree The Word “And” Your Breath A Key A Map
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