Erabor Battle of Five Armies & The Third Age of Middle-Earth The current year for our Middle-Earth campaign is set during the year of 2946 of the Third Age. Inspired By J.R.R. Tolkien

Erebor, widely known as the Lonely Mountain, is one of the most significant Dwarf realms in the history of Middle-earth. It stands in stark geographical isolation in the northeastern region of the map, a massive, snow-capped peak that dominates the surrounding landscape. Its importance stems from both its strategic location near the Grey Mountains and the great East-West trade route, and the immense natural wealth hidden within its stone heart.

For the Dwarves of the royal line of Durin, it was not merely a mountain but their ancestral home, a center of their civilization, and a powerful symbol of their ingenuity and resilience. The kingdom within the mountain was founded by Thráin I, who left the ancient Dwarf city of Khazad-dûm (Moria) after discovering a magnificent gem called the Arkenstone. Under the subsequent rule of his son, Thorin I, much of the Dwarf population shifted further north to the Grey Mountains.

It wasn't until the reign of Thrór that the main seat of the Longbeard Dwarves was firmly re-established at Erebor, where it quickly became a prosperous and renowned center of commerce and craftsmanship. The kingdom flourished for centuries, fostering strong trade relationships with nearby Men of Dale and the Elves of Mirkwood. The prosperity of the mountain kingdom became legendary. The Dwarves of Erebor were master miners and craftsmen, famous throughout the lands for their exceptional skill in working with stone, silver, and gold.

They forged mighty weapons, crafted intricate jewelry, and developed innovative methods of construction that utilized the natural structure of the mountain itself. The wealth they accumulated was vast, filling the great halls of their underground city with immense treasures. This era marked a high point for Dwarf civilization in the North, with Erebor serving as a beacon of their cultural achievement.

This immense wealth, however, ultimately led to the kingdom's downfall. A powerful and greedy fire-drake from the North, known as Smaug, heard tales of the immense hoard of gold and decided to claim it for himself. Smaug descended upon the mountain, destroyed the neighboring town of Dale, and drove the Dwarves out of their home with fire and ruin.

The dragon took up residence within the deepest halls, sleeping upon the accumulated treasure and effectively ending the First Kingdom Under the Mountain. The surviving Dwarves were scattered into exile, carrying with them only the memory of their lost glory.

For many decades, Erebor remained silent and feared, a lair of a powerful beast. The dragon Smaug became a constant threat to the nearby region, deterring all attempts at resettlement or trade. The once-thriving trade routes stagnated, and the lands around the Lonely Mountain became desolate. The former King Under the Mountain, Thrór, was later killed in a distant land, and his son Thráin II was captured and lost, leaving a deep sense of despair among the displaced Dwarves and kindling a deep desire for vengeance and reclamation.

The turning point came with the resolve of Thorin Oakenshield, the heir to the throne. Driven by his grandfather's death and a determination to restore his people's honor and home, Thorin assembled a company of twelve other Dwarves. Aided by an unexpected alliance with Gandalf the Grey and the inclusion of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, the company embarked on a perilous quest to reclaim their stolen heritage. Their journey became one of the most famous tales of the age, symbolizing the enduring hope of the Dwarf people.

The Quest for Erebor eventually succeeded through clever planning and sheer luck, leading to the death of the dragon Smaug. However, the victory immediately led to new conflicts. The vast treasure hoard attracted the attention of multiple parties—the remaining Men of Dale, the Elves of Mirkwood, and the Dwarves themselves. A potentially devastating war over the gold was narrowly averted when a massive army of Orcs and Wargs attacked the mountain, forcing the disparate groups to unite in the legendary Battle of the Five Armies.

In the aftermath of the battle, Thorin Oakenshield perished, but his cousin Dáin Ironfoot took the throne as King Under the Mountain. The Second Kingdom Under the Mountain was successfully established. The wealth was distributed fairly, the town of Dale was rebuilt, and peace and prosperity returned to the region. Erebor once again became a powerful commercial hub and a formidable stronghold of free peoples in the North, demonstrating the extraordinary resilience of Dwarf civilization to reclaim their home against impossible odds.

Ultimately, Erebor endured as a fortress of strength and hope. It played a vital role in the later War of the Ring, enduring a siege by the dark forces in the East while the main conflict raged far to the west. The Dwarves, allied with the Men of Dale, held their ground, and after the final defeat of Sauron, the kingdom thrived well into the Fourth Age. The story of the Lonely Mountain is a testament to the perseverance, craftsmanship, and unyielding spirit of the Dwarves, who carved a lasting legacy of glory from the very stone of the earth.