Mirkwood Spiders

Name: Mirkwood Spiders

AKA: Unknown

Location: Mirkwood

Novel: The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien



Natural History:
Discovered by Bilbo Baggins and company on their journey to the Lonely Mountain. Upon entering Mirkwood, which had become a dark and sinister place with the coming of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, these giant spiders ensnared the thirteen dwarves.

The spiders were huge and hideous, weaving their webs in the trees and hanging their captured prey in bundles,which they preferred to let hang a bit. They spoke to one another in a sort of thin creaking and hissing. To slow down their prey, they used their stingers. Their legs were hairy and they had many eyes.

Bilbo Baggins enraged them by calling them Attercop, Old Tomnoddy, lazy Lob and crazy Cob. The spiders were easily defeated by the throwing of stones and by Sting, Bilbo's sword.

The spiders may have been from the brood of Shelob.

"What nasty thick skins they have to be sure, but I'll wager there is good juice inside." -Spider

Smaug

Name: Smaug

AKA: The Great Worm, Smaug the Magnificent, Smaug the Golden, the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities

Location: Erebor, the Lonely Mountain

Novel: The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien



Natural History:
In the year of the Shire 2770, the Third Age of Middle-Earth, Smaug the dragon descended on Erebor, having heard of the great wealth contained within its halls. Upon his arrival he destroyed the town of Dale and drove the dwarves from their home. Smaug remained king of the Lonely Mountain and its fortune until 2941, when Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim his throne and treasure. Smaug was killed by Bard of Esgaroth.

Though one of the mighty fire-drakes (Urulóki) of old, Smaug had a weak spot on his left breast near his heart. The hobbit Bilbo Baggins discovered the spot when riddling with the dragon, which is the only way to speak to dragons, if you don't want to reveal your proper name, and don't want to infuriate them by a flat refusal. No dragon can resist the fascination of riddling talk and of wasting time trying to understand it.

Smaug had a great sense of smell and taste, enabling him to identify other races. Especially if he had previously consumed them. The smell of hobbit, however, greatly puzzled him. His eyes let out piercing red light. Iron scales adorned his backside. His underside was covered with the jewels and emeralds from the treasure upon which he rested. Out of his nostrils and mouth he could send forth a raging fire and vapor.

Smaug may have been the last dragon in Middle-Earth.

"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!" -Smaug