Who Are We?
 

 
Thus it came to pass that of the Ainur some abode
still with Iluvatar beyond the confines of the World;
but others, and among them many of the greatest and
most fair, took the leave of Iluvatar and descended
into it.  But this condition Iluvatar made, or it is the
necessity of their love, that their power should thence-
forward be contained and bounded in the World, to be
within it for ever, until it is complete, so that they are
its life and it is theirs.  And therefor they are named
the Valar, the Powers of the World.
  But when the Valar entered into Ea they were at
first astounded and at a loss, for it was as if naught
was yet made which they had seen in vision, and all was
but on point to begin and yet unshaped, and it was
dark.  For the Great Music had been but the growth
and flowing of thought in the Timeless Halls, and
the Vision only a foreshadowing; but now they had
entered in at the beginning of Time, and the Valar
perceived that the World had been but foreshadowed
and foresung, and they must achieve it.  So began their
great labours in wastes unmeasured and unexplored, and
in ages uncounted and forgotten, until in the Deeps of
Time and in the midst of the vast halls of Ea there came
to be that hour and that place where was made the habi-
tation of the Children of Iluvatar.
-- J.R.R. Tolkien

This is what it means to be one of the Valar.  Long hours
of toil to create into being our vision.  And it is the
necessity of our love: Arda is our life, and we are its
life.  When you legend the valar and see their age stop
and think of the great deeds that go unsung, and the
hours spent shaping a world that players had yet to see.
And most of all, enjoy Middle-Earth, for you are its
life-blood, the Children of Iluvatar.

Take a minute to look around you.  Do an internet search for
our name sometime...  We're #2 on the Mud Connector's list
of most searched-for muds.  We've been reviewed in magazines,
online (like AT&T's College Network, Yahoo's "Cool Site of the
Week" list, etc), and even on TV. In fact, it has become so
that whenever anybody mentions Tolkien, someone mentions us.
 
Why the hype?  It's you guys.  The Maiar.  The "people of the
Valar" as Tolkien called them.  And it's this place.  Take a
look at what we've done.  The sheer size of this place.  It is
a daunting and formidable task.  Tolkien's world is so huge
and detailed.  We have succeeded where others have failed, to
bring to life this world.                                    

And we have done so in a consistant manner with his writings.
We have stuck to theme.  You don't find Santa's Elves or Paladins
here like everyplace else.  No 'gnome' or 'drow' race here.
But more than that it's the areas.  They fit together into the
world and provide challenge and consistancy.  The timeline is
set, and the world lives even tho it's always the same day.
 
And now we're are in our most difficult task: Minas Tirith. The
chief city of Gondor, the crowning achievement. And that is what
it is. And I just want to let you all know, all the Maia past
and present and future - you're doing one hell of a job.  
And I thank you.
 
"To bring Tolkien's Middle-Earth to life."
 
Aule