Category:Maiar

The Maiar comprise the vast majority of the Ainur who left the Timeless Halls and entered Ea. When the fifteen Valar ventured into Existence and accepted wardship over the newborn World, the Maiar followed. Maia groups ordered themselves as vassals of the greater Ainur and labored according to guidelines of their Vala masters. They set about shaping Arda as the Powers directed. The Maiar s role was, as always, to aid their lords in completing the scheme envisioned by Eru. Although they serve the Valar, the Maiar share the nature of their greater brethren. They too are immortal, and they too are spirits without need of form. Like the Valar, Maiar adopt corporeal bodies to interact with Eru's Children. This enables them to perform their primary task, which is the tending of Arda. The Maiar carry their masters' word and serve as intermediaries between the Valar and lesser beings. Since their role both permits and requires them to interact with the inhabitants of Middle-earth more often and more directly than do the Valar, Maiar take form more frequently and maintain their forms (Q. "fanar") for longer periods. Their stronger connections to form reinforce their stronger links to lesser peoples. The Maiar, while born before Existence itself, share many of the pas- sions and shortcomings of the Children of Iluvatar. The number of Maiar is unknown; however, these lesser spirits make up a true and consider- able community. The Maiar are numerous enough to nurture their own societies and raise their own, magnificent war-host. Their variety is great and their tale reflects this varied character.

THE CHAIN OF GUARDIANSHIP
The Maiar serve as a link between the Free Peoples and the Valar. In turn, the Valar are Eru's representatives, the trustees of the World pat- terned by his thought. The chain bringing Eru's conceptions to fruition, then, looks something like this:


 * ERU (The One)
 * I
 * I
 * THE VALAR(The Greater of the Ainur in Ea)
 * I
 * I
 * THE MAIAR (The Lesser of the Ainur in Ea)
 * I
 * I
 * FREE PEOPLES (Elves, Men, Dwarves, Hobbits, etc.)

Although the One designed a great plan for Ea, he desired little interference in the affairs of his Children. Just as the brilliant diversity and indi- vidual passions of his Ainu servants endowed Creation with a richness and fullness of life, the myriad cultures and races of the Free Peoples have given Arda a character sparkling with infinite variety. The combination of Eru's delegation, the Valar's restraint, and the Maiar's discipline afford each tier in the hierarchy of existent life freedom. However outwardly chaotic, as long as the Balance of Things remains intact, the evolution of Eru's thought proceeds as planned. This Balance is fundamental to the Ainur's mission in Ea. Fallen Ainur, however, threaten the Balance and disrupt the chain of guardianship. Morgoth's Rebellion caused many of the Maiar to fall away from their appointed path. Some, like Aule's high servant Sauron, actually entered Arda in the service of the Black Enemy; others, like the renegade Fire Spirits (who would become known as the Balrogs), succumbed to Darkness at a later time. Each shunned Eru's conception and aban- doned any loyalty to the Balance of Things. It is this internecine strife among the Ainur that spawns the greatest plagues within Arda and upon the Children of Iluvatar. It is this Ainu infighting that serves as the most serious chal- lenge to Eru's peace.

Overview
Maiar: (Q, sing. "Maia") The lesser Ainur who entered Ea as servants of the Valar. They are also known as the People of the Valar, the Servants of Valinor, and the Servants of the Guardians. The ignorant (notably among Men) call them "Lesser Gods."

Maiar of Renown
Aamumeren Isa Aluin Amillo Amnon Andraax Arien Aru-Baito Badger Brock Caradhras [Claw-shade Cuodos Derdil the Lubber Duilwen Eath Eonwe Feaneldor Fawnwiddy Featiriel-mí-Nole Fenneldor Gandalf Gilim Glend The Ocean Sunfish The Great Shaker the Gulper Huan Ilmare Kalamire Kól Leukë Lindion the Oronin Linyuile Makar Meássë Melian Mock the Trickster Morfana Mori-Kam Moss-back Pike Mother Withywindle Muddling Annis Nahar Nenduhir Nenselde Nieliqui Nuncle Tim Old Man Willow Onak-Ji Osse Pallando Quelbaras Radagast Rhi Helvarch Ringed Serpent Sacha Salmar Shin-Ko Tathariel Telimektar Tethil Thorondor Tica Tilinias Tilion Uinen Uro-Lôk Woodhall's Glade Spirit Yantolindo

Groups: Azhan Bulor-Ilg Colruh Devam Earth Spirits Elementals Fairies Falmaríni Feadegnir Fire Spirits Flower Fays Folk of Tulkas Glade Spirits Hunters of Orome Kammekir Kelfaen Manir Neblins Nermir Nandini Navefaire Oarni Orossi Riverwomen Shadow Spirits Spirits of Air Spirits of Mandos Suruli Tavari Tittarmarka Uvalear Water Spirits Wingildi

Fallen Maiar or Umaiar
Alatar Boldog of Doriath Caradhras Carrog Drul Chaurka Dûran Durlach Eloeklo Erfaug Fankil Faucarach Felagrog Fercha Gaurhir Gilthrang Glaurung Gothmog Gulavhar Iaurloke Jäänainen Kuruki Lairathin Langon Lesh-Y Lungorthin Magurgoth Maroch Morthrog Mourfuin Muar Muul Baas Noose of the Sea Nyanoraughoth Old Man Willow Pûgudi Razarac the Rider Saruman Sauron Slyardach Spirit of Anor Telmorng Tevildo Thuringwethil Tredeinos Ulbandi Ungolianth Ûpo Zaken

Groups:Balrogs Bogies Boldogs Cat-Demons Daedhil Dindae Êlraukar Ghouls Gorgonaurath Gothrogath Greylins Hunters of Morgoth Ice-Demons Khia-vôl Mailedagnir Narlthryg Nauraukar Ogres Serpent-Demons Vampires Woigh

Personages
Ancalagon Arthorotur Badger Brock's Sons Beorn the Ancient Bolvag Caran-Carach Carcharoth Danuin Dior Draugluin Eagoth Elured Elurin Enna San Sarab Fanuin Goldberry the Gullion Gwaihir Gwethil Landroval Luthien Meklak Mourmaelgax Naruhel Ranuin Shelob Storlaga Tinfang Gelion Unglob Warg-King White cow

Groups
Badger Folk Cat Spirits Cockatrice Dragons Fell Wargs Flits Foxfire Giants Great Black Bears Great Eagles Great Spiders Horses of Valinor Jeebies Kelfaen Kine of Araw Morroval Morvul Mouse Spirits Neblins Nimfiara Nimrochath Noble Hounds Ocean sun-fish Ogres Orag Spriggans Werewolves Woodnymphs