Maiar and Valar

this is a mirror post of a notecard in Second Life, used with permission


Elven Pantheon –
as taken from The Simarillion by JRR Tolkien
by Dominique Darkwatch


This is just a quick reference guide to the pantheon of elven divine spirits as described by JRR Tolkien. As a cleric of Eru Iluvatar, I worship the One true Creator God, but venerate all of the ainur as divine beings, much as Tolkien himself as a Catholic would have venerated the saints, angels and apostles.


Elven Name: Iluvatar
Other names: Eru, The One
Deity of: All Creation
Other Notes: Created the Ainur – the Holy Ones – from his thoughts and engaged them in song and music from which all other creations were made. Some of the mightiest of the Ainur came to live on the Arda (Earth), and they became the Valar. Iluvatar is the one true god of the elven pantheon.

THE VALAR – Not gods, per se, but often treated and regarded as such by elves and men. They could be treated as gods by a cleric, in adopting specific practices that venerate and establish a personal relationship with that Vala. The following are just basic facts about each as contained in the Silmarillion. While they were divine, they were not gods. Their spirits had specific interests, hence the description names them as “spirits of” rather than “diety of.”

Elven Name: Morgoth
Other names: Melkor
Spirit of: Darkness, evil and all malice
Other notes: Was once the mightiest of the Valar, but strove against the will of Iluvatar and the other Valar. He claimed lordship over all of the Arda and sought to gain it for himself


Elven Name: Manwë
Other names: Súlimo, King of Arda
Spirit of: Of the wind and all of the air, including the wind and the clouds.
Other notes: King of the Valar, bretheren of Melkor and dwells with Varda, queen of the Valar. Can see all things when he is with Varda.


Elven Name:Varda
Other names:Lady of the Stars, Elbereth
Spirit of: All manner of light
Other notes: Can hear all things when she is with Manwe.

Elven Name: Ulmo
Other names: King of the Sea
Spirit of: The seas, rivers, springs, lakes and all flowing water
Other notes: Always allied with Manwe, and loves men and elves. Speaks to them through the music of the water.

Elven Name:Aulë
Other names: the Smith, Talka Marda
Spirit of: Of all substances of the earth; gems, rocks, soil and iron
Other notes: Master creator and master of all crafts wrought from any material brought from the earth. He is responsible for the creation of the dwarves. Spouse to Yavanna

Elven Name:Yavanna
Other names:Kementari, Queen of the Earth, Giver of Fruits
Spirit of: All things that grow on the earth. Spouse of Aulë. Creator of tree shepherds, to guard the trees


Elven Name: Mandos
Other names:Namo, Doomsman of the Valar
Spirit of: Death, keeper of the House of the Dead and Slain.
Other notes: Spouse of Vaire, the weaver of time, brother of Lorien and Nienna


Elven Name: Vaire
Other names:The Weaver
Spirit of: Time and fate, weaving a tapestry of each person's life in the hall of Mandos
Other notes: spouse of Mandos

Elven Name: Lorien
Other names:Irmo
Spirit of: Dreams and visions
Other notes: spouse of Este, brother to Mandos and Nienna

Elven Name: Este
Other names:
Spirit of: gentleness, healer of hurts and weariness
Other notes: Spouse of Lorien, and together provide refreshment even to the weary Valar


Elven Name: Nienna
Other names:
Spirit of: Grief, sorrow, pity, turns endurance into hope and sorrow into wisdom
Other notes: Sister to Lorien and Mandos

Elven Name: Tulkas
Other names:Astaldo, The Valiant
Spirit of: Sport
Other notes: Spouse of Nesse. Sometime called a laughing warrior, he is tireless and can outrun anything with legs

Elven Name: Nessa
Other names:
Spirit of: Dance
Other notes: Loves deer but can outrun them, spouse of Tulkas and sister to Orome

Elven Name: Orome
Other names:Aldaron, Tauron, Lord of forests
Spirit of: Forests and hunting
Other notes: Hunts the fell beasts of Melkor. Spouse to Vana

Elven Name: Vana
Other names: The ever-Young
Spirit of: Spring and flowers
Other notes: Spouse of Orome and younger sister to Yavanna

THE MAIAR – lesser ainur who came and served under specific Valar. These are the ones who appear in the writings of Tolkien but there were also many more than those named, hence there may be RP players of Maiar beyond those listed here

Elven Name: Sauron
Other names:Gorthauer
Spirit of: Darkness, evil and Malice
Other notes: Follower and servant of Melkor and later arose to take the place of Morgoth

Elven Name: Eonwe
Other names:
Spirit of: weaponry
Other notes: Herald of Manwe, also the maker and user of all weapons

Elven Name: Osse
Other names:
Spirit of: coastal seas, lakes, rivers
Other notes: Serves under Ulmo, spouse of Uinen

Elven Name: Arien
Other names:
Spirit of: The sun
Other notes: She helped care for the golden tree and later was chosen to guide the sun. serves under Varda

Elven Name: Tilion
Other names:
Spirit of: The moon
Other notes: He cared for the silver tree before it was destroyed, and then was chosen to guide the moon. Serves under the Vala Varda.

Elven Name: Ilmare
Other names:
Spirit of: Stars and star making
Other notes: Uses lightning as a weapon and assists Varda in making stars

Elven Name: Uinen
Other names:
Spirit of: coastal seas, lakes and rivers
Other notes: Spouse of Osse, helps to calm Osse's temper and calm storms also serving under Ulmo

January 21 2011 Noldor Quest in Second Life

The road to the Princess from Tirion Forest.

Begins in my favorite place in Tirion, where I hid this map.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tirion%20Forest/17/4/26

overland start in the Forest near the port.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tirion%20Forest/251/164/47

choose either the pass: shorter, less cover, more dangerous:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20Dragon%20Quest/82/69/46

or go around the mountains: more cover, more allies in the forest wolves and local elves.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20Dragon%20Quest/107/235/24

unless you take to water, all paths meet between two necessary bridges:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20Dragon%20Quest/232/58/37

provisions here. Meet hospitality with generosity, always...
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20DragonHeart/121/53/24

chose then among several paths from Provisions in the Heart
to the Desolation of the Dome, by water or land.
Avoid the air, for the foes have severe advantage there.
Seek Lord Drak and the Tyr Rik and their allies.

The desolate path is ...
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/81/202/24
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/186/245/25

The main door, the masters of Uhre believe is the only way into Nurutumbo.
Battle fought there will be hard won by invading ground forces:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/239/167/28

Success here you may enter the noxious fortress of Nurutumbo, called Eisengard.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/2/124/31

You must pass or open the black gates somehow
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/108/127/31

because the black gate control is inside at the base of the first tower
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/174/133/30

Up to the roof you find a drawbridge needs opened with a wheel on the far side.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/185/170/63

The second, darker tower looms, wights within.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/186/210/78

Up, up , up... You need a lock-pick.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/188/212/265

Escaping is easier than entry... all the lock keys and magics are on your side.


Only most trusted are given this more physically dangerous path, maybe unguarded and passable for a small, surefooted party, but it is treacherous, diverging at the start of the desolate path. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/81/202/24 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/142/219/33 Treacherous rock & flaming sky. No animal would climb this: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/166/186/48 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/189/124/79 Quiet, quickly... you are exposed: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/248/105/63 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uhre%20LavaDome/252/51/40 If it has not been discovered and barred: secret door: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/4/103/29 This cavern is treacherous... and constantly winding and defended http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/119/19/28 Better to climb past the sleeping dragon: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/137/41/56 Across the gates to the first cleft in the cliff: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/138/185/49 And thru to the open tower to use its magics... and the sales staff? http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nurutumbo/211/213/78 Easiest escape. Get to the roof and pray aloud for an Eagle. They know this place.

The Maiar

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy stories, the Ainur are a race of spirits. The Ainur ["Holy Ones", in the ancient Elvish language of Quenya] were the first of the creations of Eru Ilúvatar ['The One Father of All'] out of his thought, who aided in the creation of the world. The few most powerful and greatest of the Ainu are called the "Valar" [powers], the uncountable numbers of others are the "Maiar" [beautiful ones].

in the Timeless Realm, before the world was made, each of the Ainu was taught the art of music. Together, they made the Ainulindalë [Song of the Ainu], called "the Great Music": the story of all creation sung long before the material world was made. Further, each of the Ainu is associated with some element of the world and the Vala that personifies it.

Ainu are shape-shifters. They normally have three forms: one invisible, one like a noble and beautiful elf (because they admire the elves and wish to make them comfortable) and at least one more native form that expresses their purpose in the world. Further shape-shifting is recorded, but not common. While in the world, Ainu are ageless, but can suffer injury and even destruction, when they must revert to bodiless invisible forms.

The Ainu are featured in much of JRR Tolken's "The Silmarillion". The most complete Tolkien description and naming of the countless Maiar is in "The Book of Lost Tales", quoted here as they are leaving the Timeless Realm to create the material world after the Great Music. Translations from Quenya are in [brackets].

-----------------------------------------------------------

[AIR]
Behold, Manwe Súlimo [(good-man) king wind] and Varda [queen] the Beautiful arose. Varda it was who at the playing of the Music had thought much of light that was white and silver and of stars. Those twain gathered now wings of power to themselves and fared swiftly though the three airs…

With them came many of those lesser Vali [powers (also "Valar")] who loved them and had played nigh them and attuned their music to theirs, and these are the Mánir [(good) spirits of the air] and the Súruli [spirits of wind] the sylphs of the airs and of the winds.

[FIRE]

…Now swiftly as they fared, Melko [flame] was there before them, having rushed headlong flaming through the airs in the impetuosity of his speed, and there was a tumult of the sea where he had dived and the mountains above him spouted flames and the earth gaped and rocked; but Manwë beholding this was wroth.

[WATER]

Thereafter came Ulmo and Aulë, and with Ulmo [fluid] were none, save Salmar [harpist] only who was after known as Noldorin [wisdom], for good though the heart of [Ulmo,] that mighty one he thought ever deep thoughts alone, and was silent and aloof and haughty even to the Ainur;

[EARTH]

with Aulë [invention] was that great lady Palúrien [earth-mother] whose delights were richness and fruits of the earth, for which reason has she long been called Yavanna [fruitful] among the Eldar [elves].

About them fared a great host who are the sprites of trees and woods, of dale and forest and mountain-side, or those that sing amid the grass at morning and chant among the standing corn at eve. These are the Nermir [fays of the meads] and the Tavari [fays of the woods], Nandini [fays of the valleys] and Orossi [fays of the mountains], brownies, fays, pixies, leprawns [leprechauns(?)], and what else are they not called, for their number is very great: yet must they not be confused with the Eldar [elves], for they were born before the world and are older than its oldest, and are not of it, but laugh at it much, for had they not somewhat to do with its making, so that it is for the most part a play for them; but the Eldar are of the world and love it with a great and burning love, and are wistful in all their happiness for that reason

[WATER]

Now behind these great chieftains came Falman-Ossë [Surf Maker - Sea Lord]of the waves of the sea and Ónen [Sea Lady] his consort, and with them the troops of the Oarni [sea-dwellers] and Falmaríni [surf-dwellers] and the long-tressed Winglidi [foam-nymphs], and those are the spirits of the foam and the surf of ocean. Now Ossë was a vassal and subordinate to Ulmo, and was so for fear and reverence and not for love.

[SPIRIT]

Behind him came Tulkas Polórëa, [steady might] rejoicing in his strength, and those breathren the Fanturi [spirit masters] Lórien Olofántur, [the Slumber Dream-master] and Vefántur Mandos, [the Doom-master of the Dead], … and the twain who are known as the Tári [Queens] Fui Nienna, [the Weeping Mistress of Death] and Vána Tuivána, [the Ever-Young Mistress of Life]…

-------------------------------------
Thus the fae, mer and furry fit in Tolkien's world as these Ainu when in visible form.
Enjoy your play!
---------------------------------------

ref:

The Book of Lost Tales - One (posthumous) JRR Tolkien, Ed CR Tolkien
copyright (C) 1983, the Estate of JRR Tolkien

The Silmarillion, JRR Tolkien, Ed CR Tolkien
Copyright (c) 1977 by George allen & Unwin Publishers) Ltd,

copyright material quoted under "fair use" rules

Valimar

From "the Book of Lost Tales" and "the Silmarillion" chapter "Of the beginning of Days", collected descriptions of Valimar in Valinor in Aman in Eä


"Behind the walls of the Pelóri [mountains] the Valar established their domain in that region which is called Valinor, and there were their houses, their gardens, and their towers. In that guarded land the Valar gathered great store of light and an the fairest things that were saved from the ruin; and many others yet fairer they made anew, and Valinor became more beautiful even than Middle-earth in the Spring of Arda; and it was blessed, for the Deathless dwelt there, and there naught faded nor withered, neither was there any stain upon flower or leaf in that land, nor any corruption or sickness in anything that lived; for the very stones and waters were hallowed.

And when Valinor was full-wrought and the mansions of the Valar were established, in the midst of the plain beyond the mountains they built their city, Valmar of many bells.

"But in the plain in the full radiance of the [Two] trees was a cluster of dwellings built like a fair and smiling town, and that town was named Valmar. No metal and no stone, nor any wood of mighty trees was spared to their raising. Their roofs were of gold and their floors of silver and their doors of polished bronze; they were lifted with spells and their stones were bound with magic."

The domains of Oromë & Vána in Valimar:

in Valimar his halls are wide and low, and the skins and pelts of great richness and price are strewn there without end upon the floor or hung upon the walls, and spears and bows and knives thereto. In the midst of each room and hall a living tree grows and holds up the roof, and its bole is hung with trophies and with antlers. Here is all Oromë's folk in green and brown and there is a noise of boisterous mirth, and the lord of forests makes lusty cheer; but Vàna his wife so often as she may steals thence.

The Gardens of Vána were far away from the noise in the Halls of Oromë, fenced stoutly from the wilder lands with whitethorn of great size that blossoms like everlasting snow. Its innermost solitude is walled with roses, and this is the place best beloved of that fair Lady of the Spring. (bolt)

The domains of Tulkas & Nessa in Valimar:

His was a house of mirth and revelry; and it sprang high into the air with many storeys, and had a tower of bronze and pillars of copper in a wide arcade. In its court men played and rivaled one another in doughty feats, and there at times would that fair maiden Nessa wife of
Tulkas bear goblets of the goodliest wine and cooling drinks among the players. But most of all she loves to retire to a place of fair lawns whose turn Oromë her brother had culled for the richest of all his forest glades, and Palúrien had planted it with spells that is was always green and smooth. There danced she among her maidens as long as Laurellin was in bloom, for is she not greater in dance than Vana herself?

The domains of Ossë & Uinen in Valimar:

"Osse, too had a great house when he tired of the noise of the sea. They brought thousands of pearls for its building and its floors were of sea-water and its tapestries like the glint of silver skins of fishes and it was roofed with foam.

-------------
ref:

The Book of Lost Tales - One (posthumous) JRR Tolkien, Ed CR Tolkien
copyright (C) 1983, the Estate of JRR Tolkien

The Silmarillion, JRR Tolkien, Ed CR Tolkien
Copyright (c) 1977 by George Allen & Unwin Publishers) Ltd,

The Life and Times of Túna

Once upon a time, there was a little hill named Túna.

Actually, at the beginning of time, when things such as hills and valleys and oceans formed under the influence of the Valar powers, the little hill didn't know it was a "tun" [hill] or would be called "Túna" ["this mound"], or even have much idea (if a hill can have ideas... and I think that it can) of what would become of it and what role history would give it.

But, at this once upon a time, this little hill found itself quite serenely under soft starless skies as the susurrussing sea slowly charmed eastern shore-side stones into soft sands. Perhaps bright things traversed it and the sky and the sea of this one particular little hill, but it was really no different than all the other soft rolling hills stretching easily across a gentle continent, except for being a little smoother and rounder [kor] and a littler nearer the rolling ocean than the other little hills. But things changed nearby much faster than the tides and winds usually change little hills.

First came lights: One by one, little stars [elen] appeared floating in the dark sky, then more and more of them. A sudden flash of light far across the waters to the east glowed then faded almost as soon as it appeared. After a dark time, another, brighter light glowed, but this one shined steady and long. As if they had been waiting for that light, soft green grasses and tiny flowers colored Túna and all the hills and valleys, eager to live and grow with urgency that no hill could ever hope to match. Then, when that bright light went out, the little growing things slowed and stopped growing, in a sleep as deep as hills' sleep under dark skies, moving no more than the stones themselves. But these things were all common for all the little hills across the great wide world

If little hills can have a father (... and I think that they can), that is who seemed to appear next. Father, as hills can sense these things, seemed to be piling hill upon hill upon hill to the west, making a huge craggy fence of mountains running north to south perhaps a league inland from the coast. If a hill feels fear, Túna feared that it would be added to the tremendous mountain range, or that the mountains would fall onto it. But little Túna was untouched. Only the hills deep inland were lifted into the fence [pelo] of mountains [oror] that grew impossibly high, and higher. Pelóri, those mountains would be called.

One of those mountains, south-west yet very near to little Túna, grew taller and yet taller. White snow and ice gathered on its slopes even as it grew. Snow-white [lossë] would color the tallest of that tallest of mountain ranges in all the world, forever [oio]. Mount Ever-white, Oiolossë, it would be called. The tip [tillë] of high [tá] Oiolossë is chilled and pale [ninquë]. That lofty place, highest of all places in the wide world, would be a home to gods. Taníquetil, it would be called.

Even as those lofty mountains rose above little Túna, more and more stars populated the dark sky while the green grass slept. And dark things seemed to travel from the lands north and from the sea east to test and cross the new mountains, but they were unable to penetrate their fence. Those dark things took little notice of Túna and the league-wide strip of land between the mountains and the sea under their feet, since there was nothing there to interest them. Soon they left, some back over the sea, some back to the north and some down the coast to the south.

Again light appeared, but now from the west, behind the mountains, bathing the sky in shifting silver and golden glows. Suddenly, some mountains were cleaved and cast down, and the light burst bright onto little Túna as the light [cala] passed thru the cleft [cilya] out over the hills and the ocean to the lands far to the east. Calacirya, would that pass be called.

Even as the last stone fell, the sleeping grasses awoke and grew anew. And because the light was brighter there, Túna's growing things and those nearby took on a lushness and beauty unseen in the rest of the round wide world. Creatures and animals came and went. Trees and forests grew in that long coastal plain that would soon be called Eldamar, "Elf [elda] - home [mar]"

For, slowly streaming through the eastern ocean, a large lone [eressëa] island [tol], borne in the sea-god's arms and bearing the willing elves seeking the light, approached the shore off the Calacirya and pressed itself into the coast, indenting the shoreline. The eager elves departed the traveling island to see the bright lights, escorted by fae and spirits and gods themselves. Too soon, the lonely island retreated away across the sea, leaving the empty Bay of Eldamar to mark its landing right near little Túna, again untouched by the change in terrain.

Finally, noticing our unusually untouched pretty little hill, as history tells us, "The gods named that hill "Kôr" by reasons of its roundness and its smoothness" " pg 132). On that very site, in view of Manwë's snowy palace on Taníquetil in the majestic Pelorí, and the verdant Eldamar stretching south through unnamed forests and north to what will be called Alqualondë, in the light of the Two Trees through Calacirya, the Noldor elves with king Finwë erected a tower to watch [tir] over the pass and sparkling seas for monsters and the elves yet to come, building finally the greatest of cities there. Tirion, after the watchtower, it would be called.

Much has been written of the beauty and flower of Tirion on Túna, once called "Kôr, the town on the round hill", and even "Kortirion, the ancient town built above the rocks of Eldamar, whence the fairies marched into the world", ("The Book of Lost Tales 1", page 296) and more will be written elsewhere.

But happily (if a hill can be happy ... and I think that it can), the island of Tol Eressëa returned to the Bay of Eldamar, within sight of little Túna, where it is rooted to this very day. And in time, even more little islands scattered themselves like mystic stars up and down the coast, shadowing the seas. And, finally, all those islands and all these lands described here (The Undying Lands, Aman, this land is all called) and those living there were lifted off the wide round world toward the Timeless Realm, where little Túna can still be found.

And they lived happily ever after (if a hill can live...