Gandalf, having entered Dol Guldur and getting captured by Sauron, witnessed the armies of Dol Guldur leaving under Azog's command. Bard led his people into the ruins of Dale where they looked for shelter and supplies. Smaug was killed by the bowman Bard, who then became a leader amongst his people. Smaug then flew out of Erebor and attacked Lake-town. The Dwarves successfully entered the mountain and awoke Smaug, who they almost killed but ultimately failed. Azog was assigned by Sauron to lead his armies into war and while they prepared for their attack on the Lonely Mountain, Azog had Bolg resume the hunt for Thorin.

They were hunted by Azog and his Hunter Orcs from Gundabad until Bolg arrived, telling Azog to return to Dol Guldur. With the help of Gandalf the Grey, Thorin recruited 12 other Dwarves and the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins and set out from Bilbo's house, Bag End, in the Shire, heading for the Lonely Mountain. This chain of events forced Thorin to begin a quest to reclaim Erebor and reunite the Dwarves of Middle-earth. Azog led a hunt for Thorin and put a price on his head. His endgame would be to use Erebor as a base and reclaim the lands of Angmar that had once been ruled by the Witch King.Īzog the Defiler was one of Sauron's most loyal followers who had a desire to wipe out the Line of Durin, especially Thorin Oakenshield, the Dwarf Prince having cut off his arm at the elbow during the Battle of Azanulbizar. He began building an army, cross-breeding Moria Orcs and recruiting Orcs from Gundabad in Dol Guldur. In the year TA 2941, Sauron looked to the Lonely Mountain for it's strategic placement in Middle-earth. The Battle of Five Armies was known in Middle-Earth to be the largest battles that took place in the valley between Erebor and Dale, as well as in Dale and on Ravenhill. Complete forces of Dol Guldur and Mount Gundabad.Thousands of Men, Women and Children of Lake-town.Unknown amount of Gundabad Orc chieftains.Hundreds to Thousands of Men of Lake-town.

Battle of middle earth