Althan

The Althan were a mysterious people which the Easterlings belived to have once ruled the World before the rise of Elves, Dwarves or Men.The ruling caste or tribe of the Althans had been the Lords of Essence.

Speculations
In the World of Rolemaster the Althans were the earliest life-form on Kulthea, nearly god-like beings with the ability to shapeshift who, in their corporeal shape, resembled mighty humans with six fingers on each hand.If adapted to a Middle-Earth setting the Althans should probably be reinterpreted as Maiar or Maiarindi.