The Shire

This is where the story opens to Bilbo Baggins and he meets the rest of his companions, 171 years after Smaug destroyed Erebor.

Bilbo Baggins

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit of the Shire. Hobbits are little people, smaller than dwarves, who enjoy relaxing and not doing anything adventurous. They don't wear shoes and live in Hobbit holes in the ground. Bilbo is directly related to the great Bullroarer Took, and a Baggins of Bag End, greatly respected because they don't go on any adventures or do anything unusual.

Gandalf the Grey

Gandalf is a wandering wizard who often comes to the Shire and entertains the children with fireworks. He even entertained a younger Bilbo Baggins many years earlier.

The Dwarves

Bilbo is eating dinner one night when he is interrupted by a knock at the door. It is thirteen dwarves from Erebor:

Fili
Kili
Bifur
Bofur
Bombur
Dori
Nori
Ori
Balin
Dwalin
Oin
Gloin
Thorin Oakenshield, prince of Erebor

The dwarves help themselves to Bilbo's pantry and eat his dinner, and later Gandalf arrives. Gandalf and Thorin present a plan to remove Smaug and reclaim Erebor. They have a map that mentions a Back Door into the Lonely Mountain and an ancient key. They only need one more member for their quest: a burglar. Gandalf convinces Bilbo that he is the best choice for that position because he is small and light on his feet.