Upon their first appearance in the main narrative, it is stated that the Eagles had been sent forth to Middle-earth by Manwë, to live in the mountains north of the land of Beleriand, to watch upon Morgoth, and to help the exiled Noldorin Elves in extreme cases. The Eagles were ruled by Thorondor, who dwelt (apparently with the majority of his folk) in the Encircling Mountains to the west of Dorthonion.