Ainur (Jedi Renaissance)

The Ainur, (singular Ainu), were a race of beings native to the Deep Core planet Tython. Originally members of the {{Sw|Je'daii Order]] the Ainur, meaning Holy Ones, mastered the technique of immortality and shed their mortal coil to exist as luminous beings. Capable of shrouding themselves in physical forms, the Ainur were immune to the passage of time and could not be slain or sickened. Having survived the {{Sw|Force Wars}} by sheltering on the moon of Ashla, the Ainur descended to the war-torn surface of Tython where they made their home on the continent of Arda. Arriving on Tython, the Ainur would guide and order of the continent's growth; of these there were fifteen more powerful than the rest, Je'daii Masters. Fourteen of these great Ainur became the Valar while the fifteenth, Melkor Belegûr, turned aside from that path and became the first Dark Lord. The many lesser Ainur: the Rangers, Journeyers and Padawans, that accompanied the Valar down to Arda become known as Maiar.

Biology and appearance
A race of beings formerly comprised of a diverse number of other species including Humans, Cathar, Twi'leks, Zabraks and Iktothci, the Ainur evolved together to form a superior race of immortal beings. Kindling the Flame Imperishable within themselves through the use of arcane Force powers, the Ainur enabled the luminous being of their spirit to retain its identity, similar to the technique of becoming a Force ghost after death. However, the Ainur were not dead and they maintained their ability to interact with the physical world, creating and crafting as they saw fit. While shedding their mortal forms, an Ainu could take on a physical form if they wished, walking about the world and taking it in with their senses. When walking among mortals, most Ainur appeared as larger, fairer versions of the Quendi with pointed ears and beautiful voices. Impervious to the maladies of the living, the Ainur could not be killed and could not suffer the physical traumas of the world.

Power and abilities
Because the Ainur were once Je'daii, they were extremely skilled in the Force and continued to learn as Force entities. Capable of shaping the world and repairing the damages of the Force Wars and other wars which would consume the world, the Ainur could not kill each other or deviate from the Will of the Force. While they could raise plant life and animals, the creation of new species was something generally profane and unethical, though exceptions did exist. Each of the Ainur had a specialized skill learned at one of the nine Temples of the Je'daii, and their transformation into Force entities magnified their skills and expanded the possibilities of their creations.

Origin
The Je'daii Order existed on the Deep Core world of Tython for millennia, surviving in peace and contemplating the nature of the Force. When Infinite Empire and the Force Wars shattered that peace, several Je'daii fled to the moons of Ashla and Bogan to take shelter and hide in the ruins there. When the war concluded in 25,783 BBY the survivors emerged to find Tython in ruin and the other Je'daii fractured and scattered to the stars. Looking down on the world they had inhabited for generations, the Je'daii received a vision from the Force, revealing the restoration of the planet and a bright future for the survivors. Enamored with the vision but uncertain of all of its aspects, thirteen Je'daii Masters decided to lead a large group of Rangers, Journeyers and Padawans to the surface to seek out an habitable land. Taking one of the last functioning starships, the group new there was only enough fuel to descend to the planet, and that a return journey would not be possible. Once all accepted this fact, the group set out to reclaim their world. Searching out the symmetric continent of Arda, the Je'daii found their homeworld shrouded in luminous fog while an impenetrable dust cloud blotted out the sun.

Landing on Arda, the Je'daii Masters set out to bring their vision to fruition, using their considerable might to create forests, carve out rivers and raise mountains. As their plans began to take shape, the Je'daii Melkor Belegûr descended on a second transport from the moon of Bogan to gaze upon the work of the others. Jealous by their deeds and the adoration and respect of those Je'daii who followed them, Melkor used his dark Force skills to mar the work of his brother and sister Je'daii. Superior in power, the others struggled to subdue Melkor until the intervention of the Je'daii Tulkas Astaldo, who arrived on a third transport. Realizing he was outnumbered, Melkor fled Arda and took refuge on the continent of Westeros until he could recover. With Melkor gone for the time being, the Je'daii returned to their work. Using arcane Force skills and ancient scrolls the Masters, who began to call themselves the Valar, kindled within themselves and the others, or the Maiar, the Flame Imperishable. The Flame Imperishable was a legendary phenomenon within the Je'daii Order which granted immortality while stripping away the mortal coil of those who knew it. As their physical bodies vanished, the Valar and the Maiar became the Ainur, immortal and impervious to physical harm and disease. Roaming the world freely and formless, each individual Ainu could take on physical form to interact with the world however they wished, typically appearing as tall humanoids with pointed ears.

Spring of Arda
The fourteen Valar began setting the continent right again, creating within its center the Lake of

The Line of Melian
Among the many Ainur that entered the World long ago, there was one of the order of the Maiar named Melian. Alone of all the Ainur, she wedded one of the Children of Ilúvatar, King Elu Thingol of Doriath, and wove the Girdle of Melian that protected Doriath for many centuries,. From her, a strain of the Ainur entered the bloodlines of the Elves and Men, passed down through generation after generation, and were still present at the time of the War of the Ring. Elrond was Melian's great-great-grandson, and Aragorn, too, was her descendant, though through many more generations than Elrond.

Relationships between the Valar
Ilúvatar brought the Valar (and all of the Ainur) into being by his thought, and may therefore be considered their father. However, not all of the Valar are siblings; where this is held to be so it is because they are so "in the thought of Ilúvatar".

It was the Valar who first practiced marriage, and later passed on their custom to the Elves. However only one such marriage among the Valar took place within the world, that of Tulkas and Nessa after the raising of the Two Lamps. Ulmo and Nienna (and Melkor) were unmarried. In the diagram below the Aratar are in bold font and the Fëanturi are in Italic font.