Required for the formation of DNA double-strand breaks during meiosis together with narya and nenya. May interact with itself and with narya and nenya through their RING-type zinc fingers. During early pachytene, colocalizes with narya to the central region of the synaptonemal complex (SC) in both linear stretches and discrete foci which correspond to recombination nodules. As pachytene progresses, found mainly at recombination nodules. Double-strand break formation is required for recruitment to recombination nodules but not for linear localization to the central region of the SC. Expressed in nurse cell and pro-oocytes (at protein level). High levels of X chromosome non-disjunction at the first meiotic division, severe failure to initiate DNA double-strand breaks in oocytes in early pachytene and complete failure of meiotic recombination. The name 'vilya' derives from the fact that this protein contains a RING-type zinc finger and vilya is the mightiest of the three rings of power given by the elves of Eregion in J.R.R. Tolkien's books.