Sauron, also known as Annatar and as Marion, is a fictional character that is part of the legendarium created by the British writer J. R. R. Tolkien. He is the titular character and main antagonist in the novel The Lord of the Rings, although he also appears in The Silmarillion, where his origins are revealed. In the First Age, the Ñoldor Elves left the Blessed Realm of Valinor in the Utter West (against the counsel of the Valar) in order to wage war on Morgoth, who had stolen the Silmarils of Fëanor, enchanted gems that glowed with light from the now-destroyed Trees of Valinor. In that war, Sauron was counted as the greatest of [Morgoth's] servants that have names. His only equal in rank was Gothmog, the High Captain of Angband, and was soon feared as a lord of terrible phantoms and dreadful beasts--a shape-shifter, sorcerer, and cunning servant of his master.