Thorin Oakenshield, a dwarf, is also an exiled king descended from ancient kings whose people have been scattered across Middle Earth. His ancestors' greatest kingdoms were in Moria and under Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. Thorin leads an expedition of 13 dwarves (including his nephews Fili and Kili) and the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon known as Smaug. He wields the sword Orcrist, the goblin-cleaver. Of all the gold in Erebor, his heart most desires the Arkenstone, the king's jewel. He is known by Oakenshield because in the battle for Moria (the dwarves went to Moria after their home was seized by Smaug, but their enemies, the Orcs were already there) his shield was knocked away by Azog the Defiler. In a last attempt to save himself from Azog, Thorin grabbed a fallen oak branch to use as a shield. With that oaken shield and his sword, he led the dwarves of Erebor and drove the Orcs back into Moria. Show less «