Yes. The Dreaming City is based on the High Elf (Noldorin) Kingdoms of the First Age. Especially Gondolin and Menegroth. ...and Forsaken was a shift in the lore around the Awoken, giving them a role similar to that of the Noldor/High Elves in the saga of Middle-Earth. The Noldor were a tribe of elves who sacrificed their immortality to leave the Earth Paradise (Valinor) to chase The Devil (Melkor/Morgoth/First Dark Lord) to wage war upon Him in retaliation for the murder of their King, His theft of the Silmarils, and his defilement of the Trees that lit The Undying Realm. Their role in God’s (Eru/The One) plan was to lay the foundation of civilization before bequeathing ME back to Mankind, and fading from the world and returning to Valinor. The Noldor were cursed to fight this war alone because they murdered other Elves (Kinslaying) for the ships to return to ME to pursue Melkor. But Melkor was too powerful. Over centuries he wore down the forces of the Noldor, and destroyed their kingdoms one by one. Only when it appeared that Melkor was set to achieve total victory, and the Noldor had been reduced to begging for aid, did the angels (ainur/ Holy Ones)who were granted charge over Middle-earth ( The Valar) finally withdraw their curse and come to their aid. The Valar and the host of Elves who had remained in Valinor finally came to Middle-earth in their full power. Routing Melkor and his forces of orcs , Balrogs, and fell beasts ( including Analagon the Black) and banishing Melkor from Creation. But at the price of plunging a third of ME (Beleriand) into the sea, and Noldor vowing to eventually leave ME and return to Valinor (Fulfilling this vow is why the Elves were “fading” and leaving ME during the War of the Ring.) https://images.app.goo.gl/4yNemn9hA61UaiSSA Sauron—the Dark Lord of The Book of Westmarch (LotR)—- was Melkor chief lieutenant. He just marshaled the remnants of Melkors forces. Melkor was similar in stature to Lucifer, and had the power to create living beings subject to his will. The power to create beings with Free Will ( The Secret Fire) was reserved only to Eru Himself. Sauron, was only able to corrupt and seduce beings created by others. The Rings of Power were a gambit to try to take Middle-earth through treachery and enslaving its rulers minds. But the Noldor discovered the plot in time. Melkor was an Ainur that was equal stature to the leader of the Valar...Manwe (every time you see the Eagles, or feel a wind blowing from the West, that is the hand of Manwe). Sauron, The Balrogs, and the Wizard/Istari (Gandalf, Saruman, and Radegast) are all part of a host of lesser angels: The Maiar. Which is why Gandalf’s body was destroyed battling the Balrog in Moria, but was able to come back as Gandalf the White...and assume the mantle Saruman held before being corrupted by Sauron. If you’ve read the lore of the Awoken you’ll see many parallels between the Awoken and the Noldor. Like the Noldor, the Awoken are caught in the middle of a conflict between Light and Darkness. Where the forces of Light have been largely unwilling to get involved in the fight. But remember. All stories are human stories. So there are only a limited number of stories that can be told..,and that people can relate to.

I can only dream to be invested in the lore of things like that. Though that does not mean I love summerizations of it just as much though!

The Silmarillion is a tough read—-it reads like a compilation of lore or mythology —-instead of like a novel. I’m a hardcore Tolkien geek, and it was a serious slog getting through it. Let idiots like me do the work for you....,

Amen to this. It is certainly a tough read, but rewarding

It is. But you gotta [i]really[/i] love Tolkien to hang in there....