Ah, very interesting. I happen to be re-listening to the audiobook of The Silmarillion today and I’m at the part where the talk about the origin of orcs.
So the World of Tolkein sort of a blend of polytheistic and monotheistic.
There’s Iluvatar that’s the One God overall and that Valar which are kind analogous to the ancient greek or Roman gods of our world.
So the Valar lived to the far west in Valinor. And the Elves (also called the 1st children of Iluvatar) were first created and put on “Earth” (Arda) to the far East by lake Quivi’ennen’ (sp?).
The Elves made their way west, and essentiallly the nobler elf you were the further west you kept going. And the noblest Elves made it to Valinor itself.
Now, in these days there’s was no Sun and no Moon yet. Just stars. So it was a Twilight world.
In those early days when the Elves were mostly in the far East, some Elves were captured by Melkor (Melkor is kinda like Satan or whatever) and enslaved in his dungeons in Ultumno and Angband. Those Elves were corrupted and disfigured and bred (and bred and bred and bred) and become the race of Orcs.
A couple other interesting things I’m reminded of as I re “read” Silmarillion.
The Valar called Aule created the Dwarves BEFORE the Elves were created. And Illuvator was kinda pissed that Aule did that. Aule said “Sorry, I guess I’ll destroy what I made?” Illuvator said, “Nah, no worries. Just but those seven original Dwarves asleep and buried until I create the Elves, then I’m good with you bringing your Dwarves alive, okay?” (I’m paraphrasing of course).
And llluvatar also said, “Umm., now because of all this I’m afraid they the Dwarves and Elves are always gonna not get along.”
Around the same time, Yvanna (another Valar) created the Ents. But I think she was smart enough to wait until the Elves were created, so as not to piss off Illuvatar.
Got all that?
