12) Is it used to provide water in arid desert settings? No. Not normally. But this is not a normal group. So - "Maybe, but I doubt it happens often" is a more correct answer? Or, "theoretically possible"?
11) Is it one thing as opposed to a group of things? No. Yes. Uh. It is a group of things. It could be described as one thing. In my mind it's been an "it", but it could have just as easily have been "them".
10) Does it have a distinctive smell? Yes. Faintly.
09) Is it decorative? Yes. Could be considered perfectly darling, could have a simply divine aroma.
08) Is it a tree? No.
07) Is it a specific species of flower? No.
06) Known for its flowering tendencies? Yes.
05) An actual vegetable that I might eat? No.
04) Is a type of fungi? No.
03) Is it in part or wholly green? Yes.
02) Vegetable? Yes.
01) Mineral? No.

Is it one of Wyndam's Triffids?

Ah... the weird questions are so illuminating...

... most illuminating ...

13) Is it one of Wyndam's Triffids? Ick. No.

If it's not a specific sort of flower, then is it a group of types of flower?

well heck. I thought I answered this morning. I just love computers... Sorry.

anyway:

14) Is it a group of types of flower? Yes.

Now whoever guesses the type of group gets the crown and scepter, uh, once I get the scepter.

<off to call and complain to the scepter polisher>

I could postulate a posy or contend that it's a corsage.
I could notify my notion it's a nosegay freshly plucked.
I could bet that it's a bouquet built from blossoms bought from Belgium.
But to tell the truth my brain's gone blank. I'm absolutely ... out of ideas.

Edited to correct minor but annoying typo.
Re-edited to explain edit.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2010 02:57PM by MistyCat.

Very nice! Not interested in guessing, I guess.

Since there is no guess, I can't answer!

Come on - doesn't anyone out there want a scepter!? I hear it's really cool!

Not so much "not interested in guessing" as "wanting to make an intelligent guess."

14) Is it a group of types of flower? Yes.

"A group of types of flower."
"Types of flower in a group."
"Flower groups."
"Grouped flowers."

OK.

Is it a vase of flowers?

Ding Ding Ding!!!

We have a winner!

Is it a vase of flowers? Yes! Congratulations! You got the answer in 15 questions. Specifically, it was a vase of white and purplish blue flowers with green leaves and stems. Are cut flowers alive? I'm still thinking about that one... Some of them are pretty dead now, but one of the white flowers is still very pretty, and the green fern leaves are still very green and look alive to me.

<hands over receipt for crown and scepter to MistyCat>
Maybe you'll have better luck getting your hands on the crown and scepter.

<moves crown and sceptre to new safe location>

<takes receipt to pawnshop for evaluation. Gasps. Takes receipt to Recycling Depot for greater return.>

<Decides to reuse dismantled Mantle. Looks in cupboard for parts of disMantle. Can find only datMantle. Apologises.>

OK, time for the new, easier, more user-friendly Questioning Contest.

Object identified, named, and description locked in the Pink Cardboard Box of Maximum Security.

First question please.

Who wrote Hamlet?

OR

Is it damaged by water?

<Hands over sceptre; it was under the sofa>



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2010 09:30AM by EgonSpengler.

<Bows deeply, would accept sceptre gracefully except excruciating sciatica agony accentuated by bow. Uses sceptre as crutch to straighten. Looks around for crown. Crown not found error. Pouts. (But in manly fashion.) Holds back tears and attempts not to give damn. Damn not given error. Shrugs, tucks sceptre into pocket of Mantle.>

Bonus Answer #1
Q. Who wrote Hamlet?
A. You did, immediately after writing, "Who wrote " and prior to the question mark. Probably.

Bonus Answer #2
01a. The specific object, which is composed of dead vegetable, is damaged by water. Other objects which fall into the same class as the specific object may be composed of other materials which are less susceptible to water damage. <verbose mode off.>

01 Is it damaged by water? Yes

Is it a book, magazine, pamphlet, or anything in that general category of papery bearers of information?

Hamlet is the one where there is a good case to suggest that it was written by Bacon, isn't it?

Sorry

02 Is it a book, magazine, pamphlet, or anything in that general category of papery bearers of information? Yes
01 Is it damaged by water? Yes

02a "Yes" to the "general category" aspect.

<Hamlet. I've heard a good case made for Christopher Marlowe too, but the fervent Baconians would fry you in pigfat for mentioning it. The "It was Shakespeare wot dun it" faction would simply say "Fie, poltroon! Thy name, besmirched, shall sully no longer my VisageVolume Folio. Thou art unfriended.">

I'm not going to ask any questions because I don't want that scepter back. (grin) Not even going to chance it! However, I am curious as to how the "verbose mode" works, as the "off" setting on my computer never seems to hold. Duct tape, superglue, heavy bricks - none of that keeps the setting in place. Electrical outages seem to reset it to "on", as well, as a recent incident proves...

As to who wrote Hamlet, I would say Mr. Fforde. I like his Hamlet better than that one I had to study in school!

<Sorry, VM, but the "Verbose Mode" I'm using is a decision-making software setting at this end, in an attempt to make it more likely that the unknown object will be guessed. It used to be firmware, but I'm much older now.>

For the record, I fall into the "It was Shakespeare wot dun it" camp.