Durin's Bane refers to the Balrog of Morgoth that fled following Morgoth's defeat during the War of Wrath to live and slumber deep within the depths of the dwarven kingdom of Moria during the Third Age. Although its true name and history are largely unknown, it became an important figure during the War of the Ring, eventually being awakened by the dwarves of Moria, wreaking destruction upon those who stood against it and and forcing the survivors to abandon the kingdom. Moria was left to the Balrog and became known as a place of darkness and fear for hundreds of years, and it was not until the Fellowship of the Ring passed through Moria and inadvertently awakened the Balrog that it was finally slain in an epic showdown with the wizard Gandalf.