Brandybuck

[Lmns Crn]

This thread gets my seal of approval. Heartily.

Tom Bombadil is an enigma in Tolkien's work, as was Goldberry.  The amount of theory about this is tremendous, and includes Tolkein's letters and his son's thoughts.

I personally do not believe that Tolkien, in this one instance, wanted it to fit.  I personally would classify him as a Non-Aratar Valar in game terms, though there are (purposeful?) contradictions to almost any theory, as Tom seems tied to Middle Earth itself and not of Arda in it's entirety.

Though a common theory paints Tom as a powerful Maiar formerly in service to Aule and Yavanna, I am fond of an alternate view: Tom is the Witch King of Angmar, moonlighting as a nature spirit when he's not running errands for Sauron.

[LordVreeg]

I might have to break out my GuildSchool versions I did of the Fellowship a few years ago...

[Nomadic]

Ah good old tom bombadil. I think my favorite theory is that he's the avatar of melkor.

Then of course you have the figures of legend from the silmarillion (my favorites being maedhros and beren).