The Silmarillion tells of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien's World, when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle Earth, and the High Elves made war upon them for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor. It is to this ancient drama that the characters in The Lord of the Rings so often look back to.The Elf-Man T�rin Turambar, the last of the great heroes born of man but fostered by the Grey-elves of Mithrim, was fair and strong and marked by sorrow. A dragon-slayer, he was also a curse unto his kin, treacherous to foes, faithless to friends, and husband of his sister. During T�rin's time and long past, Ulmo, King of the Sea, came to Valinor out of the deep waters, and spoke of the need of the Elves and the overpowering might of Morgoth. And the War of Wrath began. At its end the Silmarils found their homes: One in the airs of heaven, one in the fires of the heart or the world, and one in the blackness of the waters, and all Middle-Earth was peaceful for many years. Peace reigned until the rise of Sauron, greatest servant of Morgoth, who recovered the rings of power and wore the Ruling Ring until it was cut from his hand. At the bidding of Mithrandir, the Great Ring of Power was cast into the Fire of Mount Doom from where it was wrought. Men grew strong and prospered. But the power of the Three Rings was ended and the world grew weary and grey to Elven-kind. They departed by ship into the high