Do these Riddles work? MY PLAYERS STAY OUT!

[Scupper]

I've never made up riddles before, but I wanted to throw a few into my game this weekend.

Bottom line: Do these stink? Are they too easy? Too hard? Nonsensical?

First:
I please the vain, but damn the innocent,
Enrage the righteous, instruct the ignorant.
Multiplied, I am revealed the faster,
And when unveiled, I brand my master.

Second:
I am valor’s foe and a tyrant’s friend,
In darkness I grow, and near life’s end.
Who heeds my call may his life prolong,
But you’ll not hear him praised in song.

Third:
A paladin clasps me to his breast,
But perhaps it is not for the best.
For as I grow I sure shall crack
And stain his soul the darkest black.

Fourth:
I speak good news that spells disaster.
I stand between servant and master.
News of me is unwelcome, unbidden,
But worse ‘twould be if I remained hidden.

 

[Savage Wombat]

I thought they were pretty good - but not too hard. The similarity in theme of the answers makes it easier to solve them as a group, though.

 

[RangerWickett]

First:
I please the vain, but damn the innocent,
Enrage the righteous, instruct the ignorant.
Multiplied, I am revealed the faster,
And when unveiled, I brand my master.

"I please the vain" immediately cued me into it being a mirror, and so does the multipled line. I suppose 'brand' is an odd way to say 'reflect,' though, and I can't figure out how a mirror would damn the innocent, enrage the righteous, and instruct the ignorant. Unless you've got different mirrors than I do.


Second:
I am valor’s foe and a tyrant’s friend,
In darkness I grow, and near life’s end.
Who heeds my call may his life prolong,
But you’ll not hear him praised in song.

I think this one is too vague.


Third:
A paladin clasps me to his breast,
But perhaps it is not for the best.
For as I grow I sure shall crack
And stain his soul the darkest black.

Pride? But the wording could use some work if that's the answer.


Fourth:
I speak good news that spells disaster.
I stand between servant and master.
News of me is unwelcome, unbidden,
But worse ‘twould be if I remained hidden.

The truth? I dunno. Most of the riddles so far seem a bit too vague. Assuming I'm even on the right track, you should edit them a bit to give one or two clues that are more precise.

 

[Liolel]

1st: Mirror
2nd: Fear
3rd: Anger or pride unclear which one
4th: gossip

This is our best guess over here.

 

[Scupper]

Re: Re: Do these Riddles work? MY PLAYERS STAY OUT!

First:
I please the vain, but damn the innocent,
Enrage the righteous, instruct the ignorant.
Multiplied, I am revealed the faster,
And when unveiled, I brand my master.

"I please the vain" immediately cued me into it being a mirror, and so does the multipled line. I suppose 'brand' is an odd way to say 'reflect,' though, and I can't figure out how a mirror would damn the innocent, enrage the righteous, and instruct the ignorant. Unless you've got different mirrors than I do.

Hmm, not a mirror. Maybe vain is too misleading.

How about:
I please the foolish, damn the innocent,
Enrage the righteous, instruct the ignorant.
Multiplied, I am revealed the faster,
And when unveiled, I brand my master.

Second:
I am valor’s foe and a tyrant’s friend,
In darkness I grow, and near life’s end.
Who heeds my call may his life prolong,
But you’ll not hear him praised in song.

I think this one is too vague.

Third:
A paladin clasps me to his breast,
But perhaps it is not for the best.
For as I grow I sure shall crack
And stain his soul the darkest black.

Pride? But the wording could use some work if that's the answer.

It is Pride. How about:

In hero's heart I grow unchecked,
Swell as he's lauded with respect,
But grown too great I sure shall crack
And stain his soul the darkest black.

Better or worse?

Fourth:
I speak good news that spells disaster.
I stand between servant and master.
News of me is unwelcome, unbidden,
But worse ‘twould be if I remained hidden.

The truth? I dunno. Most of the riddles so far seem a bit too vague. Assuming I'm even on the right track, you should edit them a bit to give one or two clues that are more precise.

Not the Truth (or Gossip, but that's closer). How about:

I speak good news but bring disaster.
I serve a cause, but not my master.
News of me is unwelcome, unbidden,
But I grow worse, the longer hidden.

 

[Scupper]

Yeah, second is "Fear."

 

[Kalanyr]

1) Lies
4) Treachery

 

[Scupper]

1) Lies
4) Treachery

Yup.
Yup.

 

[Farland]

Riddle One

Number one almost fits the answer "zero" or "nothing," except for the last line.

 

[der_kluge]

I got "Undeath" for number two.

I am valor’s foe and a tyrant’s friend,
Yep, undead.

In darkness I grow, and near life’s end.
Vampires and other undead favor darkness

Who heeds my call may his life prolong,
Liches

But you’ll not hear him praised in song.
No one praises liches.