The Valar had fought a much earlier, much more cataclysmic war with Melkor in Middle-earth called the First War with Melkor, and there was also the War of the Powers during the Years of the Trees.

And the Eagles joined the Battle of the Black Gate before the Ring was destroyed. It was only a matter of minutes, but it still happened earlier.

Isn’t that how the open-source community operates?

Gotta say, every time I go out and look at the moon I can’t help but wonder what would happen if it somehow exploded. Then I find myself wondering why I’m not in an asteroid-mining ship and end up questioning all my life choices.