In the beginning, Eru Iluvatar formed the Ainur, primordial spirits of independent thought
with varying levels of power, each of whom inherited knowledge from a specific portion
of the creator’s mind.
All save for Melkor, greatest of the Ainur who shared in the gifts of nearly all the
others, making him insatiably curious, yearning to break free from the restrictions imposed
by Eru.
Resulting in a rebellion during the Ainulindale, when he disrupted the harmony of the Ainur
to sing aggressive, loud, and repetitive notes, engaging in a war of sound until the creator
ended the music and showed them a visual representation of they made.
This Vision of Arda depicted scenes of joy and triumph, but also great cruelty and suffering
infused by the music of Melkor.
Fascinated, the Ainur asked for the vision be made real, and so Eru agreed, on the condition
those who entered could not return until the universe reached its natural conclusion.
As a result, some Ainur remained in the Timeless Halls, while others descended into the Universe
Ea, where the 14 most powerful became the Valar, taking dominion over the shaping and
oversight of Arda, while the lesser and far more numerous Maiar, mostly served to aid
the Valar however possible.
Seeking to rule this world, Melkor was not considered one of the Valar, as he claimed
Kingship over all other, wreaking havoc upon any who would not submit.
When the other Valar stood united in their opposition, Melkor realized ruling this world
was no longer possible and so instead sought to destroy all of creation, causing so much
damage the lands of arda changed form.
Eventually, the Valar and Maiar founded the realm of Valinor as their homeland, an enchanted
paradise upon the Continent of Aman, also called the Undying Lands.
Requiring a light source, the Valar created the two Trees of Valinor Laurelin and Telperion,
beginning the years of the trees.
Meanwhile, Melkor claimed the eastern continent of Middle-earth as his own, ruling from the
northern fortress Utumno, while his western fortress Angband was commanded by his chief
Lieutenant, the fallen Maia Sauron.
Although many of the Maiar served the Valar, some chose independence, pursuing their own
goals and largely keeping to their own affairs, while others still grew corrupt and ambitious,
becoming servants of Melkor.
Among the most fearsome of his Maiar servants were the balrogs, fire spirits taking physical
form, led by Gothmog, another Lieutenant of Melkor.
Learning of his Dark Lords presence in Middle-earth, the Valar grew concerned for the Elves who
awoke in Cuivienen, the first of three child races meant to populate the world.
Melkor, ever seeking to perpetuate misery and destruction, started capturing wayward
Elves, to torture and twist into monstrous orcs ready to obey his every command.
One of Melkor’s greatest desires was to become a creator like Eru, forming his own
living beings.
Yet this was impossible, as only Eru possessed the secret fire that fuelled intelligent life.
Therefore Melkor used his dark powers to corrupt living beings until they were a horrifying
mockery of their former selves.
Wanting to protect the Elder children of Eru, the Valar and Maiar defeated Melkor in the
War for Sake of the Elves, capturing him with the special chain Angainor before returning
west, so eager to be done with the conflict they failed to eliminate the remaining servants
of the Dark Lord, who escaped the fighting or remained hidden in the lowers levels of
his fortresses.
With Melkor gone, the Valar invited the Elves to live with them in Valinor, as Eru granted
them the gift of immortality, meaning they could withstand the magic energy flowing through
the Undying Lands.
Those who accepted became the Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri Elves, while the tribal forest
dwellers who remained were called the Avari.
Although both the Vanyar and Noldor made it to Valinor without issue, the Teleri fractured
throughout the journey, with some remaining in the lands they passed while a great many
settled in the northwestern region of Beleriand, like their leader Elwe who married the Maia
Melian and founded the Kingdom of Doriath.
The great Lord Cirdan also stayed behind, ruling over the Havens of the Falas more from
duty then choice as he was specially chosen by the Valar to build ships that might transport
Elves travelling west to Valinor.
As for the Teleri who completed the great journey, they became great ship builders,
while the Vanyar dedicated themselves to serving the Valar and the Noldor became great craftsmen
and smiths, all the while Melkor seethed in captivity, hating the Elves and plotting his
revenge.
Imprisoned for 3 ages, Melkor at last enacted his plan, feigning repentance to seek pardon
from his good hearted brother Manwe, King of the Valar, who released him over the objections
of others.
At first Melkor was helpful and kind, but everyone learned the truth when he allied
with the Ungoliant, a primordial being of evil, to launch a devastating attack that
destroyed the two trees of light, plunging the continent into darkness.
They then moved north to the Fortress of Formenos where Melkor killed Finwe, ruler of the Noldor
Elves, stole the 3 precious silmaril jewels of the High King’s eldest son Feanor, and
fled east to Middle Earth.
Outraged by the crimes against his family, the new High King Feanor gave a rousing speech
and swore a powerful oath along with his seven sons, vowing to recover the Silmarils by any
means and at any cost.
To begin, this meant sailing east to fight the War of the Great Jewels against Melkor,
renamed Morgoth meaning Black Enemy.
Superseding the history of hostility between the sons of Finwe, Fingolfin and Finarfin
temporarily unified with the new High King, but soon enough fractured once more, when
Feanor and his most loyal followers committed the first kinslaying, slaughtering the Teleri
Elves of the coast to steal their ships for the voyage east across the sea.
In response to their departure and the Kinslaying, the Valar sent Mandos the Doomsman, who foresaw
tragedy and devastation for all Noldor that left the Undying Lands.
Upon hearing the Doom of Mandos, Finarfin and roughly a tenth of their people returned
to Valinor.
But Finarfin’s children continued on, including his daughter Galadriel whose golden hair was
said to have captured the light of the two trees, inspiring her uncle Feanor to create
the silmaril jewels.
Feanor’s admiration for Galadriel grew so intense, that on three occasions he asked
for strands of her hair, but each time was refused as she sensed darkness in his heart.
Despite mistrusting her uncle, she was eager for the journey as Galadriel had a rebellious
and independent heart, wanting nothing more than to explore these faraway lands and rule
a kingdom of her own.
Angered by the criticisms and judgments of others, Feanor departed with his faction across
the sea, leaving Galdriel and the other followers of his brother Fingolfin behind, feeling their
opposition to the kinslaying meant they could not be sufficiently relied upon in the coming
war.
Yet the remaining Noldor were determined to reach the eastern continent and so travelled
North through the dangerous, icy wastes of Helcaraxe.
Meanwhile, Melkor ruled from his fortress of Angband, gathering together all former
servants, including Sauron and Gothmog to spread corruption across the continent.
In the east, the younger children of Eru came into the world, with seven dwarf clans claiming
the Blue, Misty and Red mountains, while humans awoke in the lands of Hildorien with the rising
of the sun and moon, created by the Valar to replace the Two trees and illuminate the
entire world.
Yet as human settlements spread, they came under the influence of the Dark Lord causing
some to depart from these lands, becoming the Atanatari who journeyed west until reaching
Beleriand where they were known as the Edain.
Over the next five centuries, the Noldor fought the War of Great Jewels alongside their allies,
including the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains, the three Edain humans Houses and some of
the Teleri Elves, now called Sindar, who populated Beleriand since the days of the great journey
west.
Despite losing many great heroes like High King Feanor who died fighting a horde of Balrogs,
and his successor Fingolfin who died in single combat with Morgoth, the allies won a number
of early victories, allowing the Elves to live in relative peace for many years.
But the Dark Lord was crafty and patient, raising armies of balrogs, orcs, dragons,
trolls, and other wicked creatures to eventually conquer nearly all of Beleriand.
In the end, total defeat was only avoided when the half elven hero Earendil and his
mixed blood wife journeyed west to the Undying Lands with a silmaril jewel stolen from the
crown of Morgoth by Elwing’s grandparents.
Begging for their assistance, the Valar decided to intervene and launched the War of Wrath,
a bloody, 40 year struggle in which they fought their way to Angband only to lose momentum
near the end, facing possible defeat until the hero Earendil flew into battle aboard
a sky ship, accompanied by a mighty host of eagles to destroy the enemy’s winged dragons
including Ancalagon the Black, largest and greatest among them.
When at last the forces of the Dark Lord were defeated, Morgoth tried to sue for peace but
was instead force ably captured, with his feet hewn from under him, before the Valar
unhoused his spirit and sent it through the Door of Night into the timeless Void, unable
to return until the final battle of Dagor Dagorath at the end of the world.
With the war over, the final 2 silmarils ended up in the hands of Maedhros and Maglor, the
last remaining sons of Feanor.
Yet they’d done so much evil to fulfill their oath, including three separate kinslayings,
that the jewels deemed them unworthy and burned their hands.
Unable to live with all he’d done, Maedhros threw himself and his jewel into a fiery chasm,
while Maglor tossed his Silmaril into the ocean, living out his days singing and wandering
aimlessly through Middle Earth.
For centuries, the Valar did their best to avoid interfering in the affairs of middle
earth, and were once again reminded why that was the right decision, as their fighting
caused the collapse of Beleriand into the sea.
Therefore they resolved to return home and never again interfere with the peoples of
the east, issuing a pardon to the remaining Noldor of middle-earth while extending an
invitation to any other Elves who wished to make the voyage west.
Many were grateful and left for the Undying Lands, while others remained behind to found
new realms in middle-earth.
Although the Elves were given the option to enjoy an enchanted paradise, the other races
were forbidden from travelling west through the Ban of the Valar, creating this law for
many reasons, including the more practical concern over their mortal form being unable
to withstand the magic flowing through their lands, thereby shortening their lives considerably.
This then led to the more philosophical reasons behind this divide, which delved into their
specific gifts, as Elves were granted immortality but tied to the world, meaning that when this
creation ended, so too would their current form of existence.
Men however were granted the gift of Mortality, meaning they were not tied to this world and
after death would go on to a second unknown destiny prepared by the creator.
For many years these diverging fates did not cause any major issue between the races, but
in time, some men would object, believing their gift to be a curse, envious of the immortal
Elves living in paradise.
As for the human Houses of the Edain who fought for the Valar, they were rewarded with increased
wisdom, longer lifespans, enhanced abilities and a new homeland upon the island of Elenna
(e LEN na), raised in the middle of the Sea of Belegaer.
Establishing the Kingdom of Numenor, Elros, a son of Earendil ruled as their first King,
blessed with even greater abilities and a longer life then his people, as he and his
brother Elrond were descended from a powerful bloodline including Elven Kings, Chieftains
of men and even a Maia Queen.
The Valar therefore granted them the right to chose their own fate among the Children
of Eru, causing Elrond to take the life of an immortal elf, while Elros chose to be a
man, granted the gift of mortality.
Yet while Elros was destined to die, his extraordinary bloodline allowed him to live five centuries,
establishing the foundations of a mighty human kingdom that rose to become the most powerful
realm in the world east of Valinor.
Among the many heroes descended from the lineage of Elrond and Elros, there were many important,
famous figures of history, like Ar-Pharazon, High King Elendil, King Isildur, Arwen the
Evenstar and the ranger Aragorn who became High King Elessar.
Back in middle-earth, survivors recovered as best they could, with the Dwarves of the
blue mountains joining Durin’s Folk in Khazad Dum, while the non-Edain humans of the west,
known as middle-men, for the most part retained good relations with their neighbours, though
some, who were not Edain but shared blood with the House of Haleth, spoke a different
language and over time were no longer considered kin.
Although they would not appear in the histories of middle-earth until the third age, at some
point the diminutive Hobbit race, an offshoot of men made their way into the world, divided
into the peace loving farmers and fisherfolk of the Harfoot, Stoor and Fallohide clans,
who largely kept to their own affairs.
As for the Noldor, Sindar and Green Elves, they settled in the newly formed Kingdom of
Lindon under High King Gil-Galad, while who wished to reach the Undying Lands visited
the port city of Mithlond ruled by Lord Cirdan.
Then there were those with more adventurous spirits who journeyed into the lands of the
east, coming into contact with their ancient kinsmen the Silvan Elves, descended from those
Teleri who abandoned the great journey to Valinor early on, and now populated the forests
east of the Misty Mountains.
These Teleri now called Silvan welcomed the more advanced western Elves with open arms,
even accepting the Sindar noble Amdir as King of Lothlorien and the former Lord of Doriath
Oropher as King of the Woodland Realm.
Though Morgoth was defeated and could no longer directly influence the world, some of his
Orcs, Trolls, Dragons, Balrogs and other servants fled east, as did his Lieutenant Sauron, who
initially had a change of heart upon witnessing the defeat of his master, offering his surrender
to the Maia Eonwe.
But upon learning he was to be taken west and judged by the Valar, he could not bring
himself to display such humility, remembering the power and influence he held under Morgoth,
and ultimately fled to become the Second Dark Lord of Middle-earth.
By the year 1000 SA, Sauron settled in Mordor, started building the tower of Barad-dur, and
was breeding armies of orcs and trolls while also recruiting human warriors from the Easterlings
and southern Haradrim, men tricked, coerced or corrupted into his service.
Yet the Second Dark Lord knew armies alone would not bring victory, and so endeavoured
to use cunning, manipulation and subterfuge to enhance his own power while weakening and
undermining his enemies.
The Elves meanwhile, continued to settle lands east of Lindon, with Galadriel, the lady of
light, her Sindar husband Lord Celeborn, a former Lord of Doriath ruling over the Elves
of Eriador from Lake Nenuial for a few centuries.
When Galadriel, one of the original rebels who left Valinor rejected pardon from the
Valar to remain in Middle-earth, they placed yet another ban upon her, once again forbidding
entry to the Undying Lands, only for her to proudly reply she had no interest in returning.
Eventually Galadriel, her husband and daughter Celebrian moved to the newly settled realm
Eregion around the year 750 SA, ruled by her kinsmen Celebrimbor, a great smith renown
for his skill and ancestry, as the grandson of Feanor, possibly the most famous and powerful
Elves to ever live.
Celebrimbor’s love of crafting was shared by his people, many of whom were of Noldor
descent, becoming unique among the Elves of the time by developing amicable relations
with the dwarves of Durin’s Folk, bonding over their shared love of smith work.
Living comfortably for centuries, it was in the year 1200 SA that the Elves of Eregion
were visited by Annatar, the Lord of Gift, claiming to be an emissary of the Valar, eager
to teach them advanced craftwork.
Ever eager improve their skills, the Elves embraced these lessons, and started working
on the rings of power.