Moria was founded in the First Age of the world, long before the forging of the Rings of Power and even before the children of Númenor landed on the shores of Middle-earth. In the east of the Misty Mountains did Durin, the father of the Dwarves, make his home, far below the peaks of Zirak-zigil, Barazinbar and Bundushathûr. He and his folk fashioned a mighty underground realm, and Khazad-dûm (as the Dwarves name it) became a testimony to Dwarvish skill and proud splendour. As the numbers of Durin's folk grew, so did they fashion new halls from caverns, span bottomless chasms with bridges of stone and fashion sturdy gates from the very skins of the mountains themselves.

Deep below the crags, Moria may have been a place of strength, but it was not a place of darkness. Great windows were let into the sides of the mountains and carefully crafted channels brought light to the halls below. For long years and through the lives of many kings, Moria was a mighty realm. Amidst the pillared halls, several generations of Dwarf kings sat on the carved throne of Durin, and the realm grew rich through the skills of his folk.

Moria was wealthy because the mountains were wealthy, and the Dwarves delved deep in search of iron, gold, and gemstones of all kinds. These were the toys and servants of the Dwarves, wrought with great skill and cunning to produce all manner of wondrous artefacts that were the envy of the other kingdoms in Middle-earth. Even so, the true riches of Khazad-dûm were not in gold or iron, but in what was called mithril by the Elves or known as Truesilver in the Common tongue. What the Dwarves called it no one knew, for they never told, but mithril was a substance of wonder. As hard as dragonscale, it could be polished like silver and wrought like iron. The Elves adored mithril for its beauty, and soon a great trade route between Moria and the neighbouring land of Eregion was established. Over time, a great friendship grew up between the two peoples, nowhere more deeply signified than on the west gate of Moria where the emblems of Durin sat alongside those of the High Elves.

Alas, to all moments of happiness there is an end, and the days of Moria were numbered when Sauron came to Eregion. He did not come for mithril, but instead, with the aid of the Elven-smiths of Eregion, he forged the Rings of Power. He came in disguise to the Elves and with his aid and knowledge were forged nine rings for the kings of Men and seven rings for the Dwarf lords. The friendship between Moria and Eregion was such that of the seven rings forged for the Dwarf lords, one was gifted to the king of Moria. Sauron left Eregion for a time and in the far land of Mordor he forged the One Ring, a tool through which he could bend to his own the will of the other ring-bearers. Through their wisdom, the Elves of Eregion perceived Sauron's intent and hid from him the three rings they had forged for their people. His intent discovered, Sauron revealed his true nature, and his forces crushed the people of Eregion. The west door of Khazad-dûm was sealed, but the folk of Durin remained in Moria, safe in their fortress of stone. Or so they thought.

In the outside world, times changed. The Last Alliance overthrew Sauron and his fortress of Barad-dûr was broken. As time passed, the line of Gondor waned and the power of the Elves began to fade. As the Third Age passed by, a shadow fell once more upon Middle-earth. Unconcerned with the affairs of the outside world, the Dwarves continued to delve below the mountains in search of mithril. Alas, their greed proved to be their undoing, for as they went ever deeper, they unleashed a terrible power; a creature of shadow and flame, mightier and more terrifying than any Dwarf still living could recall: a Balrog. It slew Durin, the King of Moria, and countless others died at its hand. 'Durin's Bane' the Dwarves named the Balrog and, helpless before its power, they fled in terror. The gates to the once-proud realm were closed and the mighty halls fell into ruin. The Dwarves came eventually to the lonely mountain in Erebor and there made their home, until the dragon Smaug took it from them. For a long time, Durin's folk were reduced to penniless exiles, their former wealth and glory denied to them. In desperation, the Dwarves attempted to reclaim Moria, but Goblins and Trolls now dwelt there and the Dwarves were driven away. Time passed and many years later, indeed the very year in which Bilbo Baggins found the One Ring, Smaug was slain by Bard of Esgaroth, and the Dwarves once more made the Lonely Mountain into their home.

Under the rule of King Dáin, the halls of Erebor took on a glory to almost rival the lost realm of Moria, but not all were content. Three decades before the Ring passed to Frodo, Balin, son of Fundin, persuaded Dáin to give him leave to attempt to reclaim Moria, thinking that it too could be restored to its former grandeur. Dáin let Balin go with a heavy heart, for although he too felt the lure of his heritage, fear of the evil in Moria and of Durin's Bane hung heavy on his mind. Balin took many of the folk of Erebor with him and for a time messages returned to Dáin that spoke of Balin's success and of the reopening of the mines. Ultimately though, Dáin's fears were correct, for after only a short span of years the messages stopped, and no more news came from Moria. Balin's fate would stay a mystery until the Fellowship of the Ring travelled through those halls many years later.

Next: Playing Scenarios in Moria.