Durin's Bane

2012-01-05T11:07:02Z

98.84.100.27: /* Portrayal on Adaptations */

{{evil infobox
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - At the Bridge.jpg|250px]]
| name=Durin's Bane
| othernames=Nameless Terror [[Flame of Udûn]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]"</ref>
| created=Before the [[Music of the Ainur]] <ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Valaquenta]]</ref>
| years=
| age=
| destroyed=[[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The White Rider]]"</ref>
| realm=[[Morgoth]]'s dominions (early), [[Moria]] (after)
| gender=Unknown
| race=[[Balrogs]] ([[Maiar]])
| appearance= Large in scale, bearing a whip and a flaming sword
| accomplishments=Slew [[Durin VI]], ruined [[Khazad-dûm]], defeated [[Gandalf]]
|}}

'''Durin's Bane''' refers to a specific [[Balrogs|Balrog]] who was not otherwise named. It was probably one of the last of its kind, having survived the [[War of Wrath]]. After his long hibernation, he was awaken by the [[Dwarves]] in the [[Third Age]] and encountered by the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

== History ==
===Before Hibernation===
Durin's Bane was created as a [[Maia]], and followed [[Morgoth]] to [[Arda]] soon after its creation, like the other [[Balrogs]]. There it most likely fought in all major battles until the end of the [[First Age]]. When the [[Valar]] came against Morgoth in the [[War of Wrath]], Durin's Bane managed to flee and escaped into the east from the ruins of [[Angband]], burying itself in the roots of the [[Misty Mountains]], beneath [[Khazad-dûm]].

===Awakening and Third Age===
[[File:Daniel Govar - Flames of Udun.jpg|thumb|right|''Flames of Udun'' by [[Daniel Govar]].]]
For more than five millennia, the Balrog hibernated in its deep hiding place at the roots of the mountains in [[Khazad-dûm]]. It remained undisturbed throughout the [[Second Age]] and most of the [[Third Age|Third]], before the [[mithril]]-miners of [[Dwarves|dwarf]]-King [[Durin VI]] awoke it in [[Third Age 1980|T.A. 1980]]. Durin was slain by the creature, at which point it became known as ''Durin's Bane''<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Appendix A]], Durin's Folk</ref>.

The [[Dwarves]] attempted to fight the Balrog, but its power was far too great. Despite their efforts to hold Khazad-dûm against it, King Náin and many of the Dwarves were killed and the survivors were forced to flee. This disaster appears to have also reached the [[Silvan Elves]] of [[Lothlórien]], many of whom also fled the "'''Nameless Terror'''" (it was not recognized as a Balrog at the time). The elves began to call the place ''Moria'', "The Black Pit".

For five hundred years, Moria was left to the Balrog <ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Appendix B]]''</ref>.

[[Sauron]] began to put his plans for war into effect around the year 2480 of the [[Third Age]]. As part of these, he sent [[Orcs]] and [[Trolls]] to the Misty Mountains to bar all of the passes. Some of these creatures came to Moria. It is unclear as to whether Sauron could have controlled the Balrog (they were both [[Maiar]]) but it is probable that they would have been allied against the "common good". The Balrog did allow the Orcs and trolls to remain in Moria while it dwelt there. We do not know whether Sauron was aware of the Balrog's presence prior to this time.

The [[Battle of Azanulbizar]] was the climactic battle in the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]. It took place before the eastern gate of Moria in 2799 and was a victory for the Dwarves. However, the victors did not conquer Moria because [[Dáin Ironfoot]], having slain the Orc [[Azog]], felt the terror of the Balrog at the gate. Despite a failed attempt to recolonise Moria by [[Balin]] in 2989, Durin's Bane remained a menace in the ancient kingdom of the Dwarves whose nature was hidden to the outside world.

=== During the War of the Ring ===

[[Image:Danny Staten - Durin's Bane.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Durin's Bane'' by [[Danny Staten]]]]
In January of 3019, the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] travelled through Moria on the way to [[Mount Doom]]. There they encountered Durin's Bane at the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]. The Elf [[Legolas]] instantly recognised the Balrog despite having never seen one before. More importantly, the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] was there (perhaps for this very purpose); knowing that it was far more powerful than even the greatest of his companions, he challenged it<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]"</ref>.

Since Gandalf and the Balrog were both Maiar, they were beings of the same order. As they faced each other, Gandalf broke the Bridge in front of him, but as the Balrog fell it wrapped its whip around Gandalf's ankle, which dragged him down to hanging onto the edge. As the Company looked in horror, Gandalf lost his grip and said, "Fly, you fools!" as he fell down into the abyss. Neither he nor the Balrog was killed by the fall, and Gandalf pursued the creature for eight days until they climbed to the peak of [[Celebdil|Zirakzigil]]. Here they [[Battle of the Peak|fought for two days and nights]]. In the end, the Balrog was cast down and it broke the mountain-side as it fell. Gandalf himself died following this ordeal, but was later sent back to Middle-earth with even greater powers as Gandalf the White.<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref>

==Portrayal on Adaptations==
[[Image:Peter Jackson's Balrog.jpg|thumb|Durin's Bane in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
*'''''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]''''':
Durin's Bane has wings, albeit wings that were purely decorative as the Balrog could not fly. Jackson's Demon of Might was indistinct, a real blend of shadow and fire. Only its horned head, cloven feet, and clawed hands could clearly be seen.

*'''''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]], [[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]''''':
Many of the Evil factions can summon a Balrog, specifically Durin's Bane for a short period of time. It is one of the mightiest units in the game, but it cannot be built by the player. Rather, it is summoned as an in game power, picked up as a match progresses.
Due to the game being largely based off of the films, the Balrog's in-game appearance matches that of the Balrog found in Jackson's movie. The only significant difference is the lack of a majority of the smoke and fire that surrounded the film Balrog.

== See Also ==
*[[:Category:Images of Balrogs|Images of Balrogs]]
{{References}}
# [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Mirror of Galadriel]]"
#[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]], [[The Silmarillion]], [[Quenta Silmarillion]], [[Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath]]

{{ainur}}
[[Category:Balrogs]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[de:Durins Fluch]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:ainur:maiar:balrogs:fleau_de_durin]]
[[fi:Durinin Turma]]

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Durin's Bane