Middle Earth Campaign Setting (4e Campaign Setting)/Mythology
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Mythology
The works of Tolkien (of which The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion are parts) is the single work of English literature with the widest scope entirely because of the rich and vast mythology that is presented within The Silmarillion and The History of Middle Earth. The Silmarillion and The History of Middle Earth present the creation of the world by Ilúvatar and the crafting of the world over many ages before the creation of the Sun and Moon, as well as the war between the Valar and Morgoth, the Enemy.
The Valar are often called “gods” among men, and worshipped as such, but the elves appear more to honour the Valar than to openly praise them. Each one of the Valar oversaw a different part of the shaping of the world, and the elves that travelled to the Undying Lands (Aman) learned great lore from each.
Each of the Valar has domains and teachings in the same way as the deities in the Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook, and divine characters draw upon power granted by the Valar. With the exception of Morgoth, who was cast into the void at the end of the First Age of the Sun, none of the Valar take an active interest in the events in Middle Earth and the other landmasses outside of the Undying Lands.
For most of the history of the world, the lands inhabited by the Valar (called Aman, or the Undying Lands) were part of the world to the far west of Middle earth, but at the start of the Second Age Aman was removed from the world where only elven ships could reach it.
This chapter contains the following sections:
- History: A brief overview of the creation and shaping of middle earth, as well as the history of the Three Ages of the Sun.
- The Valar: An overview of the fourteen Valar and Melkor, the traitor who is not counted among their number.
History
The Silmarillion begins; “There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made.”
Thus begins the rich and detailed history of the creation of the world; a tale that is as rich and detailed as any real-world work of mythology. This section gives a brief overview of that history up to the end of the Third Age of the Sun at the end of The Lord of the Rings.
This section is only brief and is naturally no substitute for reading The Silmarillion, and thus should only be used for reference.
The Creation of Eä
The Music of the Ainur
Eru, the One (called Ilúvatar by the Elves) created the Ainur, the Holy Ones, and created the Timeless Halls in the Void to house them.
Ilúvatar then proposed a Great Theme of music to the Ainur, and they formed a great heavenly choir and began to sing Ilúvatar’s Great Music.
Melkor, “He Who Arises in Might” (later Morgoth, the Enemy) then thought to interweave ideas of his own imagining into the music, and discord arose about him, though some Ainur attuned their music to him.
Ilúvatar then proposed a Second Theme to counter Melkor’s music, but it was drowned out. Thus Ilúvatar proposed the Third Theme, and it grew in strength, taking the most powerful notes of Melkor’s loud, vain and repetitive music into itself. Then, Ilúvatar rose both of his hands, and in a single, powerful chord, the music ceased.
The Vision of Ilúvatar
Ilúvatar then revealed to the Ainur a vision of a world that would be created by Ilúvatar through the Great Music of the Ainur, and the history of this new world began to unfold in the vision. In the vision was foretold the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar, the Elves and the Men, the Firstborn and the Followers.
But while the Ainur gazed upon the vision, it was taken away from them by Ilúvatar. Knowing that the Ainur desired to enter into the world, Ilúvatar spoke and said; “Eä! Let these things Be!” And so, the World That Is was created.
The Shaping of Eä
The Beginning of Days
Ilúvatar gave the Ainur a choice; they could either remain beyond the confines of the world in the Timeless Halls with Ilúvatar, or they could enter the world and become bound within it until the end of days.
Fourteen of the greatest of the Ainur entered the world to be instruments in its forging. These fourteen therefore became the Valar, the “Powers of Arda”, and fourteen of their number began the long process of shaping the world, but as there was strife in the Music of the Ainur, so there was strife in the creation. While the earth was yet young, Melkor coveted it, and he said; “This shall be my kingdom, and I name it unto myself!”
But Manwë, who was the brother of Melkor in the mind of Ilúvatar, and he called many spirits to him—these Ainur entered the world and became the Maiar.
The First War
The Valar took shape and form for themselves in the image of the Children of Ilúvatar, some male and others female, a difference that they had from the beginning. Melkor saw what the Valar had done, and in envy he too visible form himself, but because of his malice his form was dark and terrible.
Melkor descended upon the world in greater power and majesty than the other Valar, his bright with wrathful fire, and thus the first war began between Melkor and the Valar. Every labour the Valar completed, Melkor undid or destroyed it. As the Valar raised mountains, Melkor toppled them. As they hollowed seas, Melkor spilled them.
However, the labours of the Valar were not entirely in vain, though their purpose was not wholly fulfilled. Slowly the world was fashioned and made firm, for Tulkas the Strong entered the world, and Melkor fled from his wrath and laughter. Melkor was cast out of the Order of the Valar and Tulkas took his place and remained in Eä.
The Ages of the Lamps
The Forging of the Lamps
After the strife of the first four Valarian Ages came an idealistic time known as the Ages of the Lamps, so called because of the two great lamps forged in that time to light the world. The Vala Aulë the Smith forged two great lamps held aloft upon two massive pillars, and Varda the Star Queen filled them with light so that they shone light upon the earth, and she and her husband Manwë hallowed them.
During this time of light, the Valar forged the first kingdom of the Valar on the Isle of Almeren in the centre of the Great Lake at the centre of Eä. At this time, Yavanna the Fruitful planted the great forests and wide meadows, and brought fourth many animals of field and stream. For this reason, the time is also called the Spring of Arda.
Almeren was not the only kingdom forged in this time, for the evil Maiar of Melkor gathered in the north and in secret Melkor raised vast iron mountains and built the fortress of Utumno in their roots.
The Destruction of the Lamps
When at last Melkor felt that he had gathered enough strength, he came forth from Utumno in strength and made war on the Valar while they were yet unprepared. Melkor cast down the pillars of the lamps, and they broke the mountains as they fell. The light of the lamps spilled over the land, consuming the land in flame. In the tumult, the kingdom of Almeren was destroyed.
The Ages of the Trees
The First Era of the Trees and Ages of Darkness
After the fall of the Lamps, the Valar went west to the continent of Aman and began to build a second kingdom named Valinor. There the Valar raised mansions, planted gardens and built a massive city known as Valimar.
On a great hill west of the gates of Valimar, the Valar planted two huge and magical trees, taller than any other trees; Laurelin the Golden and Telperion the White. The two trees shone with a brilliant golden and silver light, and the waxing and waning of their lights was used to measure the length of each day.
In this time, the Great Eagles were created by Manwë, the Ents were conceived by Yavanna and Aulë created the dwarves in secret, but Ilúvatar knew of Aulë’s creation, and put the dwarves to sleep until it was time for the Children of Ilúvatar to awaken.
The light of the Trees did not reach Middle Earth, so while Aman was in the First Era of the Ages of the Trees, Middle Earth was in the Ages of Darkness, lit by neither Trees nor stars. In this time, Melkor’s domination over Middle Earth began, and he built a fortress named Angband from which to rule. To protect her forests from Melkor, Yavanna put them to sleep to be awakened when the darkness of Middle Earth was lifted.
The Second Era of the Trees and Ages of Stars
The Second Era of the Ages of Trees began with Varda filling the skies with new stars so that Middle Earth would be lit in starlight for the coming of the elves, and as she finished her labours, the elves awoke in Middle Earth and first of all they saw the stars. It did not take long for Melkor to kidnap some of the elves and from these he bred the orcs in mockery of the elves.
Oromë then found the elves, and though some fled from him and were lost, most stayed and found that he was friendly and benevolent. Oromë headed back to Aman with news of the elves. The Valar responded to the news by attacking Melkor in Utumno. Melkor was defeated and chained in Aman for three ages.
Shortly after, Oromë returned to the elves and began to lead them to the Undying Lands, and though many of them stayed behind, most of the elves made the Great Journey to the Undying Lands and in that time they learned much from the Valar. Fëanor of the Noldor forged three shining gems that shone with the light of the Trees; these were the Silmarils, the most beautiful gems in the whole of time, and Fëanor loved them with a fierce and jealous love.
At the end of his three ages of imprisonment, Melkor sued for pardon and Manwë granted it on the condition that Melkor remained within Aman. But he was deceived, for Melkor sowed seeds of doubt among the elves, and then fled. When he returned, he brought the great spider Ungoliant with him, and her webs covered Aman in impenetrable darkness. Melkor smote both of the Trees with his spear, and Ungoliant drunk them dry until they withered, gaining strength from their sap. As he fled, Melkor stole the Silmarils, and from thence he wore them on his dark crown.
Angered by the theft, the Noldor elves fled from Aman and returned to Middle Earth to wage war with Melkor to retrieve the Silmarils.
The Ages of the Sun
The First Age of the Sun
From the ruins of the trees, Yavanna and Nienna coaxed a single flower and a single fruit from which the legacy of the Trees could continue, and the flower was named Isil, while the fruit was named Anor the Fire-Golden. Aulë built great vessels for the fruit and the flower, and they became the Sun and the Moon.
With the rise of the sun, humans, the second-born of Ilúvatar, awoke to the world and tribes of humans spread throughout Middle Earth and Beleriand.
Throughout the First Age of the Sun, the Noldor elves fought against Melkor who was now called Morgoth, the Enemy. Morgoth’s forces fought from the fortress of Angband, but for four hundred years Angband was under siege. However in this time Morgoth bred the fire-breathing dragons and he destroyed the elven kingdoms of Beleriand one-by-one, with Gondolin being the last to fall. However, in the last battle, Morgoth was overthrown and cast into the void until the end of the world, but the victory had a price, for all of Beleriand was ruined in the fires of war and sank beneath the sea.
The Second Age of the Sun
The Second Age of the Sun was the Age of Númenor, a kingdom of men founded on a newly created star-shaped island to the west of Middle Earth. Númenor was founded in the year 35, and was founded by the Edain, humans gifted with a greater lifespan than other humans.
In the first thousand years of the Second Age of the Sun, Sauron reappeared in Middle Earth and founded Mordor, while the elves founded Eregion in Eriador. Sauron and the elven smiths forged the rings of power, with the One Ring forged to bind the powers of the rings to Sauron a century later. The elves retaliated to Sauron’s treachery by declaring war against Mordor, but the realm of Eregion was destroyed by Sauron’s forces.
In the year 1700 of the Second Age of the Sun, the Númenoreans began to colonise Middle Earth, and five hundred years later the Ringwraiths appeared. Sauron was defeated by Númenor and captured, but Sauron deceived the Númenoreans into invading Aman. The response from the Valar was severe; Aman was removed from the surface of the world and Númenor was sunk beneath the seas; only those that remained loyal to the Valar and the elves survived to flee to Middle Earth and found Arnor and Gondor.
In the last century of the Second Age of the Sun, the elves and men of Gondor and Arnor forged an alliance against Mordor, known as the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, and together they made war on Sauron. The Second Age ended when the ring was cut from Sauron’s hand by Isildur and the armies of Mordor were defeated.
The Valar
The Valar and the Valier—the female Valar—are the great and powerful spirits that shape the world according to Ilúvatar’s design, and humans often call them “Gods”. The Valar can take on physical forms like to the Children of Ilúvatar; the genders and forms of these shapes are defined by the essences of the Valar and Valier and do not define them. When they wish, the Valar may instead to walk unclad, and then they cannot be perceived by any of mortal race or by the elves.
Presented here are the seven Valar and seven Valier who shaped the world, as well as Melkor, who was once counted among their number but is now forever an outcast for his treachery.
Aulë
The Smith and Master of all Crafts
Lawful Good Vala
Domains: Creation, Earth, Protection, Skill
Aulë the Smith has lordship over all of the substances from which Eä is made. In the beginning his craftsmanship was practiced with Manwë and Ulmo, and he fashioned the lands with them. Later he became the smith and the master of all crafts, and he delights in all works of skill regardless of the size of the undertaking. Aulë is the master of the gems of the earth and the gold and other metals of the rock as well as the mountains and basins of the seas. Aulë is most alike to Melkor in thought and powers, so there has been great strife between them, and Melkor has always been jealous of Aulë, however where Melkor betrayed Ilúvatar in his desire to create, Aulë has remained faithful to him, except in the creation of the dwarves whom he gave over to Ilúvatar’s will, and unlike Melkor, Aulë does not envy the work and skill of others, instead seeking and giving counsel.
Estë
Estë the Gentle, Healer of Hurts and Weariness
Good Valië
Domains: Hope, Love, Life, Protection
Estë is the healer of wounds and of weariness, and is the gentlest of the Valar, and she is the wife of Irmo, the lord of Lórien. Estë wears raiment of grey, and her gift is in healing; those who are wounded or wish for the healing of another seek out Estë, for her gentle touch can heal even the most grievous of injury.
Irmo
The Master of Visions and Dreams
Good Vala
Domains: Arcana, Moon, Trickery
Irmo is the master of visions and dreams, and is the younger of the Fëanturi brothers. Irmo resides in the gardens of Lórien in Aman, and he is most frequently known by the name of his abode. Lórien is among the fairest places in Aman and is filled with many spirits. Those who are weary go to see Irmo in Lórien to find repose and easing of their burdens.
Manwë
The king of Aman and Lord of the Breath of Eä
Lawful Good Vala
Domains: Justice, Storm, winter
In the designs of Ilúvatar, Manwë and Melkor were brothers, but though Melkor was at first the stronger of the two, Manwë was favoured by Ilúvatar and he understands most clearly the purposes of Ilúvatar. Manwë was appointed by Ilúvatar to the first of all kings and ruler of all of Eä. Manwë delights most of all in the winds, clouds and the air above Eä, and he is surnamed súlimo, which means “Lord of the Breath of Arda”, and he loves all the birds and they do his bidding. Manwë dwells with Varda his spouse in halls above the everlasting snow upon Oilossë, the highest peak of the mountain Taniquetil, the highest mountain in Eä. When Manwë ascends to his throne and looks out on Eä, if Varda is with him he sees further than any other in Eä, through mist and darkness and over the sea.
Melkor
He Who Arises in Might; the Enemy
Evil Vala
Domains: Darkness, Death, Destruction, Torment, Trickery, Winter
Melkor is frequently named last among the Valar, and his name means “He Who Arises in Might”. But Melkor forfeited that name long ago when he betrayed Ilúvatar, and he is no longer counted among the Valar. He is now frequently called Morgoth, “the Enemy”, especially by the Noldor elves, who suffered much by his hand. Melkor coveted Eä since its creation, and desires mastery over all life. From this arrogance and lust grew contempt for all natural life; what Melkor cannot subvert, he ruins or destroys. It was Melkor who first created the orcs and the trolls in mockery of elves and ents, and in this act is shown the full extent of his contempt for the harmony of Eä.
Námo
The Lord of Mandos, Keeper of the Houses of the Dead
Lawful Good Vala
Domains: Death, Fate, Justice, Knowledge
Námo is the keeper of Mandos, the Halls of the Dead, and is thus most often called by the name of his halls, and he is the elder of the Fëanturi brothers. Námo knows all things fated by the Music of the Ainur, save those hidden by Ilúvatar, and he forgets nothing. Námo has the position of Dooms-man of the Valar, pronouncing his judgements and dooms at the bidding of Manwë.
Nessa
Mistress of the Wild and the Lawns of Never-Fading Green
Good Valië
Domains: Freedom, Life, Luck, Wilderness
Nessa is the spouse of Tulkas and is the sister of Oromë. Nessa is lithe and fleet of foot, swift as an arrow, and she delights in dancing. Nessa also loves deer, which follow her in a train when she goes out in the wild. Nessa is often revered as a goddess of nature and the wilds alongside Yavanna and her brother Oromë, and is favoured by druids and rangers.
Nienna
The Sorrowful
Good Valië
Domains: Hope, Protection, Torment, Winter
Nienna is the sister of the Fëanturi brothers, but she dwells alone. Nienna is filled with a great sorrow for the damage that Melkor has done to the world, and mourns for every wound that he has caused. Her sorrow is so great that her part in the Music of the Ainur turned to a lament long before its conclusion, and so her sorrow is woven into the themes of the World. Nienna does not weep for herself, and those that listen to her learn pity and empathy, and to endure through hope, and she brings strength of spirit and can turn sorrow to greater wisdom. Nienna dwells to the west, far from the Valarian city of Valimar, and she often visits the halls of Mandos, where those who await judgement cry to her.
Oromë
The Hunter; Lord of Forests
Good Vala
Domains: Freedom, Life, Strength, Wilderness
Oromë is a hunter of monsters and foul creatures, and he loves horses and hounds, but it is trees that he loves most of all, thus he is often revered alongside his sister Nessa. Oromë loves Middle Earth and left the lands for Aman last, and reluctantly, and even then he returned often; thus it was Oromë who first discovered the elves and guided them to Aman, so he is revered only a little less than Varda. His horse is named Nahar, the father of all horses, who is white in the day and silver at night. If Oromë is less strong than Tulkas, he is greater and more dreadful in anger that even Melkor fears him.
Tulkas
The Strong and the Valliant; Greatest Warrior of the Valar
Good Vala
Domains: Destruction, Strength, Vengeance, War
Tulkas is the strongest of the Valar, and the greatest in deeds of prowess. Tulkas was the last to enter the World, and he came to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor. Tulkas delights in wrestling and contests of strength, and he needs no steed for he is the fastest of all living things that run. Tulkas needs no weapon, for his strength is so great, and in battle he laughs as he does in sport. Tulkas is the patron of warriors and athletes.
Ulmo
The Lord of Waters and Master of the Seas
Good Vala
Domains: Sea, Storm, Wilderness
Ulmo is master of the waters of Eä, from the seas to the rivers to the rain, and rather than remaining in one place for long, he moves through the waters of the world at will, and thus he rarely walks on land or clothes himself in corporeal form. Sometimes he goes to the shores of the seas and plays music upon his great horns; those that hear the music of Ulmo are forever filled with a longing for the sea, but Ulmo’s voice is most often heard in Middle Earth in the music of the water; the elves thus say that his spirit runs in all the veins of the world, and news reaches him before the other Valar, though he dwells often in the depths of the sea. Ulmo is second only to Manwë in power in the order of the Valar—save only Melkor—and is closest to him in friendship, but since the Music of the Ainur he rarely joins the Valar in council, only joining the others when matters of great urgency are discussed.
Vairë
The Weaver; Chronicler of Time
Lawful Good Valië
Domains: Change, Moon, Fate
Vairë is the spouse of Námo, the keeper of the Halls of Mandos where the dead are housed. Vairë is called “the Weaver”, for she chronicles all things that have been in time in great tapestries that line the walls of Mandos. As her tapestries of time grow in length, the halls of Mandos grows to accommodate them.
Vána
The Ever-Young; the Spirit of Spring
Good Valië
Domains: Change, Moon, Life, Love
Vána is the spouse of Oromë and the younger sister of Yavanna. She is the ever-young, and as she passes by all flowers bud and if she looks on them they open. Her coming is heralded by the songbirds that sing before her. Vána is the personification of spring, and she dwells ever in the gardens of Valinor where it is forever spring. The children of Ilúvatar look to Vána for hope and new life in times of darkness as well as for the wellbeing of newborn children.
Varda
Lady of Stars; Elbareth the Lady of the Stars
Good Valië
Domains: Freedom, Hope, Moon, Sun
Varda is the spouse of Manwë and the Lady of the Stars, the most powerful of the Valier—the female Valar. Her beauty is too great to be described in the words of elves or men, because the light of Ilúvatar with which she kindled the stars is in her face. In the beginning of time she came to Manwë’s aid because she knew Melkor’s corruption before the Music of the Ainur and rejected him, so her name has always been a bane to the creatures of the Darkness. Varda dwells at the peak of Taniquetil with Mandos, and if she listens beside Manwë as he watches, she can hear more clearly than any voices from all over the whole of Eä. Varda is held in the greatest reverence by the elves, who call her Elbareth and call upon her name in the shadows of Middle Earth in uplifted song to ward of fears and bring hope out of despair.
Yavanna
The Giver of Fruits; Queen of the Earth
Lawful Good Valië
Domains: Change, Earth, Life, Wilderness
Yavanna is the spouse of Aulë the smith, and is the queen of all things that grow in the earth, as well as the sister of Vána the Ever-Young. She is next in reverence to Varda, and takes the form of a tall woman robed in green, though she sometimes takes the form of a great tree crowned with the sun and spilling golden dew upon the earth, but its roots watered by Ulmo and the winds of Manwë in its branches. It was Yavanna who planted the first seeds in Eä and conceived the Ents, the guardians of the trees in Middle Earth.
The Maiar
The Maiar are spirits of the same nature—Ainur— as the Valar, but they are of lesser power to them. Few of the Maiar are known by name to the Children of Ilúvatar, and they are rarely worshipped as the Valar are. Below are described some of the Maiar that are known to the Children;
Ossë is a vassal of the Vala Ulmo; he delights in winds and storms, and he laughs amongst the tumults of the sea. Once Ossë was tempted by Melkor and brought great tumults in the seas unbidden by Ulmo until his spouse Uinen calmed him; thus those that sail the seas love Ossë, but they do not trust him.
Melian was once the servant of Vána and Estë, and tended the gardens of Irmo, until she went to Middle Earth and founded Doriath.
Olórin is the wisest of the Maiar. He once dwelt in Lórien, but his ways often brought him to Nienna, and from her he learnt patience and pity.
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