ARTICLES

Before Shelob haunted Cirith Ungol, before the spiders of Mirkwood struck fear into travelers, an ancient horror arose from the Void itself. This primordial spirit took the form of a colossal spider, consumed the light of the Two Trees of Valinor, and grew so powerful that even Morgoth feared her insatiable hunger. Her descendants would plague Middle-earth for ages to come, but none would match the terrifying might of their ancestor, the Great Spider who dared to challenge the powers of Arda itself.

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 trusted servant of the Valar to Middle-earth's most feared tyrant, this fallen Maia forged the One Ring, corrupted kingdoms, and nearly conquered all lands from his dark tower of Barad-dûr. Though defeated in the War of the Last Alliance and again in the Third Age, his malevolent influence persisted across millennia, making him the greatest threat to ever shadow the free peoples of Arda.

The greatest battle ever fought in Middle-earth pitted the might of the Valar against the dark forces of Morgoth, resulting in the reshaping of entire continents. As armies of Elves, Men, and Maiar clashed with dragons, Balrogs, and countless horrors of the Enemy, Beleriand itself crumbled and sank beneath the waves, marking the end of the First Age and forever changing the face of Arda.

Deep within the halls of the Lonely Mountain, a fire-drake from the North made his lair amidst mountains of gold and precious gems. With scales like iron shields, teeth like swords, and claws like spears, this mighty dragon terrorized the dwarves of Erebor and the men of Dale, becoming the greatest and most powerful dragon of the Third Age. His very name struck fear into the hearts of all who heard it, and his legacy would forever change the fate of Middle-earth.

From the forges of the ancient Elven city of Gondolin emerged a legendary blade that would strike terror into the hearts of orcs for ages to come. This mighty sword, wielded by both Elven lords and Dwarf kings, glowed blue in the presence of its enemies and earned its fearsome reputation during the Fall of Gondolin. Later claimed by Thorin Oakenshield, the ancient weapon continued its legacy of orc-slaying through the Quest of Erebor, ultimately being laid to rest upon the breast of the great Dwarf king beneath the Lonely Mountain.

In Middle-earth's darkest hour, High King Gil-galad of the Noldor and King Elendil of Númenor forged an unprecedented military alliance that would shape the fate of all free peoples. Their combined armies of Elves and Men marched against the Dark Lord Sauron, culminating in an epic seven-year siege of Barad-dûr and a legendary battle upon the slopes of Mount Doom. This momentous campaign marked the end of the Second Age and forever changed the face 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.

In the blood-soaked fields of Anfauglith, the greatest host of Elves, Men, and Dwarves ever assembled in Beleriand marched against Morgoth's forces, only to face devastating betrayal and ruin. This catastrophic defeat saw the death of High King Fingon, the last stand of the House of Hador, and the capture of Húrin Thalion, forever changing the fate of Middle-earth and earning its bitter name in the tongues of both Elves and Men.

The greatest of all Elven maidens, daughter of a Maia and an Elven king, danced beneath the ancient trees of Middle-earth and sang with such power that she could shake the very foundations of Angband. For the love of a mortal man, she challenged the Dark Lord Morgoth himself, stole a Silmaril from his iron crown, and ultimately chose mortality over her immortal life – becoming the only Elf in history to truly escape the bounds of fate.

Seven stars and seven stones beneath a crown of silver unfurled in the wind before Mordor's gates, marking the return of the true King of Gondor. This ancient standard, borne by the Dúnedain's greatest leaders and now raised by Aragorn, son of Arathorn, became a beacon of hope for the armies of the West as they faced Sauron's darkness in the War of the Ring.

Before the shores of Middle-earth were reshaped by the wrath of the Valar, a vast realm of ancient forests, mighty kingdoms, and gleaming fortresses stretched across the western lands. Here, Elven lords waged war against the first Dark Lord, dragons soared over snow-capped peaks, and mortal heroes carved their names into legend. This was Beleriand - a land of immortal beauty and tragic destiny, where the greatest tales of the First Age unfolded beneath the light of the Two Trees and the first rising of the Sun.

From the ancient halls of Angband to the lonely peaks of Erebor, mighty wyrms of fire and shadow have struck terror into the hearts of Middle-earth's bravest heroes. These serpents of the North, bred by Morgoth himself, wielded devastating power through their cunning minds, armored scales, and deadly flame. Whether facing the Father of Dragons Glaurung's hypnotic gaze or Ancalagon the Black's mountain-crushing might, few who encountered these magnificent beasts lived to tell their tales. Yet their legacy burns eternal in the songs of elves, the memories of dwarves, and the nightmares of men.

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.

Perched upon the verdant hill of Túna in the Undying Lands, a magnificent white city gleams like captured starlight. Here, beneath the light of the Two Trees, the Noldorin Elves built their greatest stronghold in Valinor, where High King Finwë's halls echoed with the wisdom of ages and Fëanor crafted his legendary Silmarils. This radiant metropolis, with its crystal stairs and silver-white walls, stood as the crown jewel of Elven civilization until the Darkening of Valinor changed the fate of Arda forever.

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.