People of the Stars

		The People of the Stars (The Elves)
	Eldar Elves of the Great Journey		Avari The Unwilling	Orcs?
Vanyar Light Elves	Noldor Deep-elves	Teleri The Third Clan
	Falmari Teleri of Aman	Sindar Grey-elves of Beleriand	Nandor Followers of Lenwë
		Laiquendi Green-elves of Ossiriand		Silvan Elves Others who left the Great Journey

Millennia before the rising of the Sun and Moon, the land of the Valar was lit by the Light of the Two Trees. Far across the Sea to the east, Middle-earth lay in darkness, but for the glimmer of starlight. It was into this starlit world that the first Elves awoke, and when they were discovered by Oromë he gave them a name, Eldar, meaning 'People of the Stars'. Soon afterwards the Elves became divided; one group elected to follow Oromë back to Aman, while the rest refused the summons and remained behind. From that time, the name 'Eldar' became attached solely to the Three Kindreds who set out on the Great Journey into the West: the Vanyar, the Noldor and the Teleri.