After being shaped from the thoughts of Eru, the fourteen Ainur known as the Valar entered Arda to bring order to the world and confront the emerging evils of Melkor. They played a significant role in shaping Arda through the music of Ilúvatar, often addressing each other as "brother" or "sister". Each Ainur contributed to the creation of the world through music, except for Melkor, who was considered the most powerful at the time. His disagreement with Eru's vision for Arda led to his expulsion and a rebellion that caused many of the world's problems.

After Arda's creation, the fourteen Valar initially resided on Almaren, a concealed island on the Great Lake. However, after its destruction and the reshaping of the earth, long before the Awakening of the Elves, they moved to Aman and established the realm of Valinor. They were later known as the 'Powers of the World', although they seldom directly intervened in the world's events. Eru granted them authority over Arda, and in Valinor, they built the golden city of Váli-màr, with their own residences scattered across the plain, and Máhanaxar, the "Ring of Doom", where they convened and held discussions.