Oblivion: riddle solved

I wondered, for a while, if I hadn't made this challenge a little too challenging by its obscurity. But of course, several very creative and perceptive Vocalites soon began to piece the puzzle together. In so doing, many of the ideas offered were of such inventiveness, and oh so close to the character (Simon) in the story, that they have generated some fabulous ideas for story line and character development. They have also given me the inspiration and, more importantly, the impetus, to get the story back on track. As some may recall, I recently published a piece about progress with the story stalling:

Some of the answers to the riddle, offered by readers, focussed more on the riddle of the story itself than the question posed in the actual riddle. While these suggestions may not have won any prizes, some were very perceptive indeed, and helped me to understand what makes sense to readers and what does not. In my WIP, Oblivion, I have tried to create a mystery around the appearance of a previously unknown man, who is introduced in such a mysterious, and potentially suspicious, way that all sorts of possibilities arise.

Is he a businessman, a fraudster, an angel, a devil, or what? The answers people have provided have included these, and other, possibilities. All of which have been added to my mental melting pot, and which are helping me to work out where to take the story next. For this I am truly grateful.

What about the winners?

Before I reveal the names of the winners, first I feel I must confirm the solution to the riddle:

When I thought about the name of the banking branch with the safety deposit facility, the first thought I had was Harry Potter’s visit to the Wizard bank Gringotts. By playing around with anagrams of Gringotts, I ended up with Grotings, later adding the T as an initial of the name Thomas. So, in answer to the question, why did I name the bank Thomas (T.) Grotings?

SOLUTION TO THE RIDDLE

T. Grotings is an anagram of: Gringotts - the Wizard bank from Harry Potter

A lot of the answers suggested there was a great deal more guile on my part, in naming the bank. I only wish I was as creative, inventive and devious as some of these answers suggest. If you read some of the comments made on the riddle page, you will know what I mean.

How was this answer coded into the riddle? Let's take it line by line.

Deep within my vaults you’ll find

Coin of finest metal mined

The most important thing to note in this riddle is that it is written in the first person. There is a narrator and it is not me (the author) so who/what is it? Clearly something with vaults and gold (finest metal mined) would have to be a bank or, as in the story, a safety deposit service or branch of a bank. Well done to Tim Carmichael for first pointing this out.

Yet why, dear reader, have a mind,

Am I, as title, named and signed?

The narrator asks why it (the bank) is named as it is. The 'signed' could be taken as an additional clue. The final four lines of the riddle merely tell you to read the first three chapters of the book to help find the solution to the riddle.

I had, in reserve, another clue which would make it clear that the bank's name is an anagram. Before I had need of it, though, this clue was found by Tim Carmichael. Tim suggested it may be an anagram, and had some other very perceptive answers involving the coin known as a groat, and the possibility that the name reflected a security and perpetuation that was contrary to the meaning of the title of the story: Oblivion. I am so grateful to you, Tim, for the time and thought you put into this, and you have inspired me to think more deeply about some of the philosophical questions arising from the story. This is already helping me to think through how the story should continue, adding many possibilities.

I hope it is not too frustrating to have come so close but I believe your answer qualifies for the best incorrect answer, and so duly wins one of the prizes (see below).

At this point, I must confess that when I used the anagram of Gringotts to name the safety deposit Grotings, I was short of a"T". I then quickly changed the name in the story from just Grotings, to Thomas Grotings, with the implication of the initial T, making up the deficit. This is where the ‘as signed’ may also help. If the bank had been named after its founder, Thomas Grotings, he may well have signed his name T. Grotings, anagrammatically Gringotts.

And the winners are

First prize: for being the first person to establish that the name Grotings (T. Grotings) was chosen as an anagram of Gringotts is Sasha Desideri. Well done to Sasha. Your $10 first prize tip has been paid.

Second prize: for being the second person to make a correct stab at the reason for the name of the bank goes to Paul Stewart. Like Tim and Sasha, Paul put a great deal of thought into the reasons behind the name and, like both of them, completely out-thought me in the process, again providing me with a great deal of inspiration. Please accept your $5 second prize tip, Paul.

Third prize: since nobody else got the reason for the name correct, the prize is forfeit but I hate to waste money, and so...

Best (incorrect) answer: I have no hesitation in awarding the best incorrect answer to Tim Carmichael. Please read: Tim's comments on the Riddle page

And, given that Tim was so close, and his reasoning so astute and creative, I have decided to add the third prize $5 to his well-earned best answer prize, and award Tim a $10 tip for his brilliant reasoning. I think this only fair since he led both the other winners to their prizes.

Please accept your combined $10 Best Answer prize tip, Tim.

Thanks again to all who joined in the fun, and for giving me some great ideas and inspiration to continue the story. Chapter four of Out of Oblivion is on the way.