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| Valar and Maiar | |
|---|---|
| Publication Information | |
| Author | Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. |
| Editor | Pete Fenlon |
| Illustrator | Angus McBride (cover) Kent Burles, Liz Danforth, Stephan Peregrine (interior art) |
| Publisher | Iron Crown Enterprises |
| Released | 1993 |
| Format | Softcover |
| Pages | 128 |
| ISBN | 1-55806-196-7 |
| ICE stock no. | 2006 |
Valar and Maiar is a supplement (in the series Peoples of Middle-earth) for Middle-earth Role Playing, 2nd Edition and the Lord of the Rings Adventure Game. It is a revision of Lords of Middle-earth, Volume 1: the Immortals: Elves, Maiar, and Valar.[1]
Cover/Jacket Text
"...But it was not the trolls that had filled the Elf with terror. the ranks of the orcs had opened, and they crowded away, as if they themselves were afraid. Something was coming up behind them. What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it." - The Fellowship of the Ring
Imagine, after hearing all the awful legends, finally confronting a dreadful spirit borne out of the great Evil of the Elder Days, an immortal demon stirred from his primaeval slumber. Imagine meeting a Balrog.
In Valar & Maiar you learn about Balrogs, as well as all the other greater spirits (good and evil) inhabiting J.R.R. Tolkien's marvelous world. These immortal beings, the mighty Ainur, helped shape Middle-earth - the place Elves call Endor. Their story dominates much of the continent's troubled history. Fallen Ainur, Morgoth, Sauron, and the Balrogs, forever haunt the land, twisting Endor's peoples and perverting its politics. Faithful valar, like Oromë and Aulë, serve as patrons of the Free Peoples. Wise Maiar, like Gandalf and Tom Bombadil, act as caretakers of the Balance of Things. Each has a place in Eru's scheme, and each has a story that colors the grand saga of Middle-earth.
Inside you'll find alphabetical listings covering the appearance, motivations, characteristics, and background of each of the Valar and prominent Maiar: Overviews describing the general nature and history of all the "Holy Ones," the immortal Ainur, including the fallen spirits known as the Great Enemies.
- Valar, or "powers," the high guardians of the world:
- Manwë, the "Breather," Maker of Winds, Lord of the Sky, and King of the Valar.
- Varda, Elbereth Gilthoniel, the exaulted Queen of the Stars.
- Oromë, the "Huntsman," the world's greatest armsmaster.
- Tulkas, the "Mighty," strongest being in Arda.
- Maiar, or "Hands," the immortal servants of the Valar:
- Tom Bombadil, master of the Old Forest and the oldest of the Ainur in Middle-earth.
- Eönwë, the mighty Herald of the Valar and greatest of the Maia warlords.
- Melian, the Maia who married an Elf-king and became Queen of Doriath.
- Goldberry, the beautiful Water-spirit whose music charms the ageless flow of the River Withywindle.
- Wizards - Alatar, Gandalf, Pallando, Radagast, and Saruman - the five Maia emissaries sent to Middle-earth in the Third Age.
- Fallen Ainur, like:
- Morgoth, the "Black Enemy," the exalted Vala who became the origin of all Evil.
- Sauron, the "Lord of the Rings," the great Maia who served as Morgoth's high servant.
- Gothmog, the "King of the Balrogs," the lost Fire-spirit that led the Host of Angband.
- Ungoliant, the frightful "Demon of the Void," who poisoned the Two Trees that gave light to the World.
Complete character stats for ICE's Middle-earth Role Playing, Rolemaster, and Lord of the Rings Adventure Game systems, as well as provisions for adapting the characters to other adventure games.
Valar & Maiar is the first title in ICE's Peoples of Middle-earth adventure game series. Each work in this collection documents a specific race or group found in Tolkien's Middle-earth. Other volumes includes Dwarves, Hobbits, Orcs, Trolls, etc. Each is a comprehensive compendium describing all the notable characters from one of Endor's varied races.
Notable artefacts
As each of the Valar and Maiar are described as characters, complete with character statistics and equipment, ICE came up with new artefacts to fill in the gaps.
| Name | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Echerun | “Lord Maker” (S.) | The hammer of Aulë, made of gold and inlaid with black eog.[2] |
| Lissicoirë | “Sweet Stirring“ (Q.) | Estë's cup that fills up with sweet healing wine of the wielder's choice.[3] |
| Irmírë | “Jewel of Desire“ (Q.) | Irmo's mithril circlet, with a blue diamond. It captures the dreams taken by his Staff of Dreams.[4] |
| Luinêl | “Blue Star“ (Q.) | Manwë's silver sceptre with a blue sapphire on top. Holding the sceptre and sitting on the Throne of Ilmarin allows one to see anywhere in Arda.[5] |
| Vilyagollor | “Sky Robes“ (Q.) | Manwë's blue robes.[5] |
| Taramacil | “High Sword“ (Q.) | Manwë's sky-blue sword, forged by Aulë. A spirit within can speak with the wielder.[5] |
| Gebir-i-Manwë | “Manwë's Stake“ (Q.) | Manwë's sky-blue spear. It is invisible when thrown, only reappearing when it strikes.[5] |
| Staff of Sorrow | Nienna's quarterstaff, made from a branch of Telperion. It makes opponents experience sorrowful mental images.[6] | |
| Luvaninque | “White Bow“ (Q.) | Oromë's unbreakable mallorn longbow. It is seven and a half feet long, yet is silent fired.[7] |
| Iaroma | “Old-voice“ (Q.) | Vairë's black eog mace.[8] |
| Vardamírë | “Jewel of Varda“ (Q.) | Varda's white mithril headband with a single adamant. The gem can glow as bright as the stars if needed.[9] |
| Coríriel | “Lady's Ring“ (Q.) | Varda's unadorned mithril ring. [9] |
| Quettamacil | “Word-sword“ (Q.) | Eönwë's white broadsword. The wielder's commands are engraved on the sword.[10] |
| Amulet of Dreams | A silver and black ithilnaur amulet with a grey diamond. It was gifted to Melian by Irmo. The wielder can read the last thoughts of another if placed on the forehead.[11] | |
| Telpelúva (Q.) or Cúceleb (S.) | “Silver Bow” | Tilion's seven feet long longbow.[12] |
| E Thrond | “Ancient Root” (?) | Alatar's gnarled white staff. It is a living tree root, that when planted can become a tree for as long as the wielder desires.[13] |
| Ring of Soul-taking & Earring of Souls | Pallando's jewelry, both with a black laen orb. The ring can separate souls, which are stored in the orb of the earring.[14] | |
| Erivagil | “Wood-sword” (S.) | Radagast's silver-wooden sword that cannot be wielded against living plants or non-speaking animals.[15] |
| Glosovagil | “White-sword” (S.) | Saruman's mithril alloy sword, with moonlight-hidden symbols on the blade. It cannot be wielded against Dwarves.[16] |
| Gebir Melkor | “Melkor's Stake” (Q.) | Melkor's black steel spear, inlaid with red ithilnaur.[17] |
| Corómorna | “Black Ring” (Q.) | Melkor's black mithril ring, which can alter the dreams and desires of its foes.[17] |
| Mormacil | “Black Sword” (Q.) | Sauron's black ithilnaur broadword, for slaying Elves. It is unbreakable against all except eog.[18] |
| Cuivigurth | “Awakening Death” (S.) | The flaming black ogamur whip of Durin's Bane.[19] |
| Calris | “Light Cleaver” (S.) | The flaming black eog sword of Durin's Bane.[19] |
| Pedonor | “Fire-speaker” (S.) | The flaming black ogamur whip of Gothmog.[20] |
| Bragolamarth | “Sudden Doom” (S.) | The flaming black eog sword of Gothmog.[20] |
| Ûrgon (S.) or Fëagon (Q.) | “Commander of Spirits” | The black eog mace of Gothmog, symbolizing his overlordship.[20] |
| Lugnor | “Fire-loop” (S.) | The flaming white ogamur whip of Lungorthin.[21] |
| Nimrist | “White-cleaver” (S.) | The flaming white eog sword of Lungorthin.[21] |
| Undamarth | “Descending Doom” (S.) | The white eog mace of Lungorthin, symbolizing his position as Guard-lord.[21] |
| Adugoroth | “Double Horror” (S.) | The flaming black ogamur double-whip of Múar.[22] |
| Gordring | “Dread Hammer” (S.) | The black eog mace of Múar.[22] |
References
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p.2
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 28
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 30
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 31
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 33
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 38
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 38
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 45
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 49
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 60
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 64
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 70
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 79
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 85
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 87
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 90
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 95
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 105
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 105
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 109
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 111
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), pp. 114-115