| − | The story takes place at a time when the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]], immortal and fairest of all beings in the world, are leaving the war-weary world to sail to the blessed realm of [[Valinor]]. With the departure of the Elves, the Age of [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] has come, but they are opposed by the Dark Lord, [[Sauron]]. Although Sauron is a formidable foe, most of his powers are bound to a magic [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] which was cut from his finger in a battle thousands of year ago. This Ring fell by chance into the hands of a [[hobbit]], [[Bilbo Baggins]] who in turn left it in the keeping of his nephew and heir, [[Frodo Baggins]]. The ''Lord of the Rings'' follows Frodo's adventures as he journeys to destroy Sauron's Ring. | + | In the [[Second Age (Middle-earth)|Second Age]] the Dark Lord [[Sauron]] created the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] to help him conquer the peoples of Middle-earth. The Elves and Men of Middle-earth, led by High King Gil-galad of the [[Noldor]] and King Elendil of the [[Arnor|Dúnedain]], formed the ''Last Alliance of Elves and Men'' to fight him. Sauron was defeated and the Ring cut from his hand, and the ''War of the Last Alliance'' ended. |
| | + | The story takes place at a time when the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]], immortal and fairest of all beings in the world, are leaving the war-weary world to sail to the blessed realm of [[Valinor]]. With the departure of the Elves, the Age of [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] has come, but they are opposed by the Dark Lord, [[Sauron]]. Although Sauron is a formidable foe, most of his powers are bound to a magic [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] which was cut from his finger in a battle thousands of year ago. This Ring fell by chance into the hands of a [[hobbit]], [[Bilbo Baggins]] who in turn left it in the keeping of his nephew and heir, [[Frodo Baggins]]. The ''Lord of the Rings'' follows Frodo's adventures as he journeys to destroy Sauron's Ring. |