THE SILMARILLION

Hidden behind an enchanted barrier known as the Girdle of Melian, a magnificent woodland kingdom flourished in the First Age of Middle-earth. Here, the Sindarin Elves dwelt under the rule of King Elu Thingol and his Maia queen Melian, within the great cavern-halls of Menegroth, the Thousand Caves. This fortress-realm, protected by ancient magic and skilled warriors, became both a haven of Elvish culture and the stage for some of the most dramatic events in the war against Morgoth, including the fateful tale of the Silmaril and the doomed love story of Beren and Lúthien.

Half-elven mariner who sailed the Great Sea with the Silmaril upon his brow, pleaded before the Valar in Valinor, and now guides his ship Vingilot through the night sky as the Evening Star, bearing the light of hope for all peoples of Middle-earth.

A legendary green gem of elvish craft glimmers through the ages of Middle-earth, carrying the power of spring's renewal and nature's healing touch. First worn by the Lady Galadriel in the Elder Days, then passed to the hands of kings, this precious stone became a symbol of hope and restoration in the darkest hours of Gondor. The remarkable jewel would eventually lend its very name to the greatest king of the Reunited Kingdom, marking a new age of peace and prosperity for all Free Peoples.

Ancient peaks of azure stone stretch northward along the western edge of Middle-earth, where Dwarven lords once carved magnificent halls beneath the mountains. These legendary heights sheltered both the craftsmen of Belegost and the warriors of Nogrod, witnessed the earliest days of Beleriand, and later became the refuge of Durin's Folk after the fall of Khazad-dûm. From the First Age to the Third, these mighty mountains stood as silent guardians of countless stories, sacred relics, and the last memories of the sunken lands beyond.

In the Second Age of Middle-earth, west of the Misty Mountains lay a magnificent elven realm where master craftsmen forged legendary artifacts under the guidance of Celebrimbor, grandson of Fëanor. This land, where the greatest rings of power were crafted and where Sauron's deception led to tragic consequences, became both the pinnacle of elven craftsmanship and the site of one of their most devastating defeats.

Hidden in a secret valley of Tumladen, encircled by the Encircling Mountains, stood the greatest city of the Noldor in Middle-earth. For centuries, Turgon's hidden realm stood as a beacon of hope against Morgoth's darkness, until treachery and an army of Balrogs, dragons, and orcs brought about its doom. Through fire and steel, amid falling towers and broken gates, the last gleaming jewel of the Noldor met its end in the greatest battle ever fought between Elves and the forces of Angband.

The greatest craftsman of the Eldar ever to live, this legendary High Prince of the Noldor created the three most precious jewels in existence, led the first rebellion against the Valar, and sparked events that would shape the destiny of Middle-earth for ages to come. His unmatched skills in metallurgy, linguistics, and gemcraft were rivaled only by his pride, which ultimately led to an oath that would doom his people and forever change the fate of Arda.

In the First Age of Middle-earth, no deed of courage stands taller than when the mightiest of the Noldorin kings rode alone to the gates of Angband, challenging the Dark Lord Morgoth himself. Wielding his sword Ringil, this valiant High King wounded the Black Enemy seven times before falling, his last strike so fierce it left the dark Vala limping forever after. Even the armies of wolves and Balrogs trembled at his passing, and Morgoth himself never forgot the terror of that day.

In the depths of Nargothrond's halls, an Elven king of the Noldor chose honor over life, friendship over power, and sacrifice over safety. Lord of caves and master of wisdom, this golden-haired son of Finarfin would change the fate of both Elves and Men through his unwavering oath, ultimately facing a werewolf in the dungeons of Tol-in-Gaurhoth to protect the ancestors of Middle-earth's greatest heroes.

From the blessed realm of Valinor to the shores of Middle-earth, no Noldorin bloodline has left a deeper mark on the fate of Arda than that of the first High King of the Noldor. Through his three marriages and illustrious children—including Fëanor, Fingolfin, and Finarfin—this legendary ruler's legacy sparked the greatest achievements and most devastating conflicts of the First Age, forever changing the destiny of Elves and Men alike.

Before the Sun first rose in the skies of Middle-earth, the armies of the Dark Lord Morgoth poured forth from Angband, clashing with the Sindar Elves under King Thingol in the forests and plains of East Beleriand. This devastating conflict saw Orcs and evil creatures face the swift arrows of the Grey-elves, while Denethor's Green-elves of Ossiriand rushed to aid their kin, marking the first great struggle between the forces of light and darkness in the First Age.

Deep in the northern reaches of Valinor stood an imposing fortress where the greatest craftsman of the Noldor, his seven sons, and his father the High King dwelt in exile. Within its mighty walls, the legendary Silmarils were kept under guard, until the day darkness fell upon the Blessed Realm and Morgoth, the Great Enemy, unleashed terror upon this stronghold, forever changing the fate of the Elves.

Born in Valinor during the Years of the Trees, the mighty Noldorin princess wielded one of the three Elven rings, ruled the golden woods of Lothlórien, and stood as the last of the Exiles in Middle-earth. Her power rivaled that of Sauron himself, yet she rejected the One Ring's temptation, diminished willingly, and sailed West as one of the most legendary Eldar to ever walk beneath the stars.

From the dark pits of Angband emerged a terrifying beast of Morgoth's design: a wingless wyrm of immense power, whose burning eyes and venomous tongue could enslave minds and destroy kingdoms. This golden-scaled monster would lead armies, devastate Beleriand, and orchestrate the tragic doom of Túrin Turambar and Nienor Níniel, forever changing the fate of Middle-earth in the First Age.

A golden-haired warrior of the House of the Golden Flower faced down a Balrog in the burning ruins of Gondolin, sacrificing himself to save his people. Centuries later, an equally radiant Elf-lord appeared in Rivendell, wielding power that made even the Nazgûl flee in terror. These weren't two different heroes - this was the same legendary Glorfindel, whose spirit was so mighty that the Valar themselves granted him rebirth in Middle-earth.

Hidden within the encircling mountains of Tumladen, a magnificent Elven realm stood as the last great fortress against the dark powers of the First Age. For nearly 400 years, white towers gleamed in secret while King Turgon ruled from his Tower of the King, and mighty lords like Glorfindel and Ecthelion guarded its seven gates. Though betrayal would eventually lead to its doom, this shining city of the Noldor remained unconquered longer than any other realm in Beleriand, its fall marking one of the most heroic and tragic tales in all of Middle-earth's history.