Bilbo Baggins, a curious young Hobbit is invited to journey with the wizard Gandalf and a group of Dwarves with the goal of reclaiming stolen treasure taken from their kin at the Lonely Mountain by the dragon Smaug.
The journey leads them from Bilbo's home in the Shire through the Elven stronghold of Rivendell and through the Goblin infested Misty Mountains where Bilbo meets a creature with an object of mysterious qualities that will change his life, and the life of his family, forever. As they continue, they discover that other vile creatures also seek to destroy them.
