The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) is a consumer protection statute, first passed in 1974. One of its purposes is to help consumers become better shoppers for settlement services. Another purpose is to eliminate kickbacks and referral fees that increase unnecessarily the costs of certain settlement services.
Danielle Maurer, Noldor Elf in search of Silmaril. Views. Sauron is a Maia, one of the spirits that rank below the Valar in terms of power. They are more than the elves and other creatures of Middle-Earth, but not as powerful as the Valar (who function like the gods of Middle-Earth, even though they did not create themselves).
After Melkor's defeat in the First Age, Sauron became the second Dark Lord and strove to conquer Arda (Middle-earth), creating the Rings of Power for this purpose. In the Second Age, he was defeated in the War of the Last Alliance by the last line of defense: Elves and Men under kings Gil-galad and Elendil.