< Previous Background Material
This is a gathering of the Ainur, the spirit-beings who helped Eru Ilúvatar, the One, the great Creator, to create this world by their song. The 14 Valar are the highest ranking and most powerful of the Ainur, each in charge of an aspect of nature or an archetypal quality. Each Vala is assisted by many Maiar, lower-ranking Ainur spirits. These Maiar vary considerably in their powers -- some nearly as powerful as a Vala, and some more like fae.
Ainur are by nature spirit beings, but they can, if they chose, manifest either visible illusions or actual physical bodies, especially if they need to interact with the created races. If an Ainu loses his or her body, he or she can with time and energy recreate it.
In the Beginning, there was a 15th Vala, Melkor. He attempted to dominate the Song with his own music. Once the Song became physical, as the World, he attempted to rule all, to destroy the works of any who opposed him, and to corrupt all creatures to his evil service. He poisoned the Two Trees, early in the First Age. (What you see in Valarindë is no longer the Two Trees themselves, but your vivid memory of them, in the days of their glory.)
At the end of the First Age, Melkor was locked up "outside the walls of the world". But his chief Maia servant, Sauron, set himself up a the new force of evil. In the Third Age, the Valar sent 5 of their own Maiar, in the form of the Wizards, to oppose Sauron. As you recall, the Third Age ended with both Sauron and the corrupted wizard Saruman removed from their bodies. Their spirits are (we sincerely hope) so reduced in power that they can never take physical form again.
But can their wandering spirits still whisper poisoned words to susceptible minds?
And can Melkor sneak past his guards, back to the World? It wouldn't be the first time.
Meanwhile, we are gathered because we are concerned about strange and worrying news. The Ainur, and some of the Elder Children of Ilúvatar -- the Elves -- live in the Undying Lands. Other Elves, and the Younger Children -- the Humans -- live in the mortal world. We hear unsettling news from both worlds. Ancient Maia demons, the Balrogs, corrupted long ago into the service of Melkor, have been seen again. Monsters have been seen even on the borders of the Undying Lands. The Elves of the Teleri city of Alqualondë have vanished inexplicably, and their King, Olwë, has been receiving dire warnings from Irmo, the Vala of Dreams and Visions. Some new force of evil seems to be rising, or some old force regaining strength. But who? And what can we, the Ainur, do about it?
This is a gathering of the Ainur, the spirit-beings who helped Eru Ilúvatar, the One, the great Creator, to create this world by their song. The 14 Valar are the highest ranking and most powerful of the Ainur, each in charge of an aspect of nature or an archetypal quality. Each Vala is assisted by many Maiar, lower-ranking Ainur spirits. These Maiar vary considerably in their powers -- some nearly as powerful as a Vala, and some more like fae.
Ainur are by nature spirit beings, but they can, if they chose, manifest either visible illusions or actual physical bodies, especially if they need to interact with the created races. If an Ainu loses his or her body, he or she can with time and energy recreate it.
In the Beginning, there was a 15th Vala, Melkor. He attempted to dominate the Song with his own music. Once the Song became physical, as the World, he attempted to rule all, to destroy the works of any who opposed him, and to corrupt all creatures to his evil service. He poisoned the Two Trees, early in the First Age. (What you see in Valarindë is no longer the Two Trees themselves, but your vivid memory of them, in the days of their glory.)
At the end of the First Age, Melkor was locked up "outside the walls of the world". But his chief Maia servant, Sauron, set himself up a the new force of evil. In the Third Age, the Valar sent 5 of their own Maiar, in the form of the Wizards, to oppose Sauron. As you recall, the Third Age ended with both Sauron and the corrupted wizard Saruman removed from their bodies. Their spirits are (we sincerely hope) so reduced in power that they can never take physical form again.
But can their wandering spirits still whisper poisoned words to susceptible minds?
And can Melkor sneak past his guards, back to the World? It wouldn't be the first time.
Meanwhile, we are gathered because we are concerned about strange and worrying news. The Ainur, and some of the Elder Children of Ilúvatar -- the Elves -- live in the Undying Lands. Other Elves, and the Younger Children -- the Humans -- live in the mortal world. We hear unsettling news from both worlds. Ancient Maia demons, the Balrogs, corrupted long ago into the service of Melkor, have been seen again. Monsters have been seen even on the borders of the Undying Lands. The Elves of the Teleri city of Alqualondë have vanished inexplicably, and their King, Olwë, has been receiving dire warnings from Irmo, the Vala of Dreams and Visions. Some new force of evil seems to be rising, or some old force regaining strength. But who? And what can we, the Ainur, do about it?
__________________________________
"Ainu", "Vala", and "Maia" are singular.
"Ainur", "Valar", and "Maiar" are plural.
by Lihan Taifun
> Next