In the beginning of the Second Age, the Dúnedain attempted to help the Men of Middle-earth, but eventually desired to dominate them. The men who served Sauron revered him as a god and feared him greatly. Most other Men in Middle-earth lived in simple tribal societies or were under the domination of Sauron. Eventually, their power and pride became so great that they challenged the Valar themselves, and were destroyed. They sailed east, exploring Middle-earth and founding great cities there. The Second Age was the Age of Númenor, the great island kingdom that was created for the descendants of the Edain in the first years of the Age, and as the years passed, their power grew until it surpassed that of any nation of Men, before or since. In this war, Eregion was destroyed and Celebrimbor killed. When the Elves perceived that he desired to rule them with the One Ring, they resisted, and Sauron waged war against them. This attracted the attention of Sauron, who tricked the Elves into making the Rings of Power by his aid. Together they made great endeavours in smithcraft, until the skill of the Elves reached a height never to be matched again. These Elves, led by Celebrimbor son of Curufin, became close friends with the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm. In the early part of the Second Age many Noldorin Elves journeyed East of the Ered Luin and established the realm of Eregion near the Misty Mountains. Imladris, or Rivendell, was founded by Elrond about halfway through the Age. From its Grey Havens Elven ships sailed daily to the West. It lay in what remained of Beleriand, between the mountains of Ered Luin and the Great Sea. Lindon was an Elvish realm ruled by Gil-galad, last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.

Second age total war