Hearing about the wealth of the Dwarves of Erebor, Smaug flew south "like a hurricane coming from the North" and attacked the wealthy Dwarven kingdom of the Lonely Mountain and its adjacent lands. He first landed upon the mountain before going down the slopes and setting the woods on fire. When the dwarves came running out of the front gate Smaug killed them all before turning his attention to the men of Dale, also killing most of their warriors including Girion, Lord of Dale. Returning to the mountain, he crawled into the front gate and left no dwarf he found alive.

Only Thrór, King under the Mountain, and his son Thráin II managed to escape by using the secret side-door, while Thorin Oakenshield was one of the few dwarves who were not inside the mountain at the time of the Attack. Smaug claimed the treasure for himself and laid there upon a bed of gold, for the next two centuries only occasionally leaving the mountain to carry away people and continue the destruction of Dale. The area surrounding the mountain became known as the Desolation of the Dragon.

In T.A. 2770 Smaug attacked the Lonely Mountain and the town of Dale. He claimed the treasure of the mountain for himself and forced Thrór, King under the Mountain, and his people into exile. Thorin's quest - with the help of his burglar Bilbo Baggins - to reclaim the treasure ended in success when Smaug was slain by Bard in T.A. 2941.

"I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong strong."
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J.R.R. Tolkien, Inside Information, The Hobbit
Art by Kyle Pedley
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FROM 136.56.44.*

Smaug destroys Laketown.
Art by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt.
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FROM 136.56.52.*

Artwork of the Day : The Hobbit-- Smaug the Destroyer by Ted Nasmith.
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FROM 136.56.52.*