The Elves were the first children of Eru Ilúvatar, the Creator of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantastical world of Arda. Beings of radiant beauty and great power, the Elves awoke on Middle-earth thousands of years before Frodo's journey in The Lord of the Rings. While Men were prone to exploring technology, Elves preferred to spend their time basking in their world's natural warmth.