The Sphinx's Lair

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Jeremy Dover

00:02

@bobble...I'm here for you. I think I have it with the wordplay (did not look at msh210's)...want me to get you back to work?

bobble

I have some obligations, so I have to leave anyhow... take it away!

Jeremy Dover

I think the CCCC might be SUBSCRIPTION, an underwriter's product. SUBS(-e = missing note)C(RIP=injury)TION

3 hours later…

Avi

03:23

rip and tear

rip is a tear, but RIP and tear(s) both express something sorrowful

2 hours later…

msh210

05:29

@JeremyDover That seems likely.

2 hours later…

oAlt

07:40

@Avi you're not wrong

5 hours later…

Sphinx

13:08

Q: Make Riley Riddles, Not War

When a famous man sets out With a frightening weapon in hand In between remain I, devout Against killing making my stand What am I?

Gareth McCaughan

@JeremyDover You got it! Well done.

Jeremy Dover

14:14

CCCC: Manic phony with nervous reaction that induces sleep (8)

Gareth McCaughan

@JeremyDover Solution to your CCCC is PHONY* + TIC making HYPNOTIC.

Jeremy Dover

@GarethMcCaughan: Yep, you got it!

7 hours later…

Gareth McCaughan

21:12

CCCC: River net (5)

bobble

SEINE (ddef)

(@GarethMcCaughan)

Gareth McCaughan

Yup. Thought it would go more or less instantly, but it's such a nice compact thing I couldn't resist.

(It feels like it ought to be a total chestnut; it's probably appeared in newspaper crosswords many times.)

bobble

I used that as an answer in my first crossword... ah, the memories

Gareth McCaughan

Doesn't seem to have been a C4 before, at least :-).

Anyway, your turn.

bobble

Also: I've solved TWO C4's. Haha! Take that! (who I'm yelling at is yet to be determined)

bobble

21:32

CCCC: Reverend's fine felines back up course-Q.A. site (5, 8)

Beastly Gerbil

21:44

@bobble thats more than the one I've ever solved :P

Having said that, I imagine all people looking at the new C4 knows the answer it's just who gets the wordplay :P

bobble

Yeah, I couldn't think of a definition that was harder yet fair. But the wordplay + alliteration was too good to resist :)

msh210

22:01

@bobble stack overflow (QA site) = REV OK CATS < + FLOW

I'm not sure what the "'s" is doing in the clue if my solution is correct.

bobble

@msh210, that's correct

msh210

CCCC: Beasts of burden? Good for nothing (4)

bobble

The "'s" was for the surface reading, and I thought I could add it since the charade was the same

Sphinx

22:47

Q: Simple? Substitution Cipher

The following was carved into the cliffs along one shore on the island of Pohnpei after a strange fog had engulfed the island. Even stranger sounds emanated from the fog before it dissipated slightly before the dawn of the next day. The next night certain letters were seen to glow blue. However, ...

cipher substitution

Sphinx

23:11

Q: Two chunky pixelated X's locked in mortal combat!

In this dramatic image, we witness two rather chunky pixelated letter X's (having recently fattened themselves up for the approaching winter) locked in mortal combat, fighting to the death for the right to claim territory and ultimately to survive and have offspring.* It may seem cruel, but it is...