Valar

The Valar are the Powers of Arda who shaped and rule the World. They lived on the Western continent of Aman. The Leader of the Valar is Varda, the Queen of the Stars and Queen of the Valar and of All the Ainur. Varda is the greatest, wisest and most powerful of all the Ainur. She is also Leader and Queen of the Aratar, the Holy Ones of Arda.

History

The Valar were the fourteen Ainur who, after being molded of Eru's thought, entered Arda after its creation, to give order to the world and combat the new evils of Melkor. They had helped to begin the shaping of Arda through the music of Ilúvatar, and often referred to one another as "brother" or "sister". Each of the Ainur had added his or her own part to the music creating the world incarnate, save for Melkor. His vision of what Arda should have been differed from Eru's, which led to his banishment and great rebellion that would cause most of the ills of the world of Arda.

The fourteen Valar originally dwelt on Almaren, a hidden island on the "Great Lake", but after it was destroyed and the earth was reshaped, long before the Awakening of the Elves, they relocated to Aman and founded the realm of Valinor. They would become known as the 'Powers of the World', though rarely directly intervening in the world's course of events. Eru instead gave them delegation of Arda, and so at Valinor they constructed the golden city of Valimar, their own mansions dispersed cross the plain; and Máhanaxar, the "Ring of Doom", at which they would confer and hold counsels.

With the Valar came lesser spirits called the Maiar. Though subordinate to the Valar, the Maiar were very powerful nonetheless. They are the Lesser Gods who also took part in the Music. The Maiar are: Ilmarë, Arien, Silverberry, Goldberry, Tilien, Ossë, Eönwë, Nyélhuine, Sauron, Thuringwethil, Gandalf, Radagast, Saruman, Alatar and Pallando.

It was originally Melkor's intention to rule Arda for himself, but Manwë, the superior of the Valar, called other spirits to help him confront Melkor. (Among these were the other Valar and the Maiar.) Melkor withdrew from Arda after the short War for Sake of the Elves, and the Valar continued their creation and furnishing of the World, while Melkor plotted to return and regain dominance. In time, once he returned in secret and ruined the Two Trees of Valinor with Ungoliant, Valinor lost its light, and the Valar eventually set to creating the Sun and Moon in the sky.

The War of the Jewels was prompted after Fëanor refused to forfeit his Silmarils to the Valar, for the rekindling of the Two Trees. He ended his and the Ñoldor's allegiance with the Valar, and bore a new conflict between the Elves and Melkor. The Valar soon fortified their realm, and brought about the "Hiding of Valinor", preventing Melkor and Fëanor and his followers from entering. The conflict between Melkor and the Valar was not resolved until the war's climax, during which the Valar came physically into Beleriand, helped conquer Melkor's forces at Angband, and captured him. He was taken to Aman and cast behind the Door of Night.

In the Second Age, the Valar created anew the island of Elenna in the middle of the Sea, for the noble peoples of the Edain who had resisted and endured the war against Melkor. On this island was established the kingdom of Númenor, which lasted three millennia until their king Ar-Pharazôn attempted to contravene the Ban of the Valar. The Valar sank the island, and the living Númenóreans sailed eastward, and settled Middle-earth.

Once Sauron had begun to regain power in Middle-earth after his defeat in the War of the Last Alliance, the Valar sent an order of five Maiar, the "Istari", unto Middle-earth, to provide a strong opposition to Sauron until his final destruction.

Powers and abilities

Valar are Gods of Eä. They created and shaped the Universe (Eä).They possess Supernal Wisdom, Power, Beauty and Knowledge. Valar are more powerful then the Maiar, the Lesser Gods. The Valar have superior abilities to the Maiar, such as controlling light and of fire, transforming into any form, or trancing Men or Elves with their presence. Aside from this, they can also create and shape the elements.The World (Arda) is their servant. Everything that exists in the World serves them because they had created it. They rule the World and decide its faith and the faith of everything that exists in it. However, they possess Supernal Fairness and Justice and they will always make only the best and the most benign decision.

Names

These are the names of the Valar as they were known to the Eldar. In Middle-earth, they were known by other names of Sindarin origin; for example they called Varda Elbereth. Men knew them by many other names, and sometimes worshiped them as Gods. The Elves called Varda, the creator of the stars, Elentári. The dwarves called Aulë, their creator, Mahal. The Ents called Yavanna, their creator, Kementári. It should be noted that, with the exception of Oromë, the names listed below are not actual names but rather titles: the true names of the Valar are nowhere recorded. Male Valar are called "Lords of the Valar"; females are called "Ladies of the Valar," or Valier. Among these exist six married couples, with only Ulmo and Nienna remaining single.

Ladies and Lords of the Valar

Varda Elentári the Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Valar and of all the Ainur and wife of Manwë,

Manwë Súlimo the King of the Winds, King of the Valar and husband of Varda

Yavanna Kementári the Queen of the Earth, the Fruit-Giver and the wife of Aulë

Vána the Ever-young the Lady of the Earth and the wife of Oromë

Ulmo the Sea King and Lord of Water

Aulë the Smith Lord of Crafting and the husband of Yavanna

Estë the Gentle the Lady of Healing and Rest and the wife of Irmo

Vairë the Weaver the Weaver of Time and wife of Mandos

Lórien the Lord and Master of Dreams, Visions and Desires and the husband of Estë

Nienna the Weeper and the Lady of Mercy

Mandos the Doomsman the Judge of the Dead and the husband of Vairë.

Nessa the Dancer Lady of Forests and the wife of Tulkas

Oromë.the Huntsman the Great Rider and the husband of Vána

Tulkas the Wrestler the last of the Valar and the husband of Nessa.