Your spirits rise as you are drawing near to the East Gate of Moria. But then a huge, dark shape rises in front of you and bursts into flames: a Balrog! Durin's Bane blocks your escape.

When Revealed: Add the set-aside Durin's Bane to the staging area. It cannot take damage this round. If there is more than 1 player, it makes an immediate attack against the first player.

No more than 5 progress can be placed here each round.

Forced: At the beginning of the quest phase, Durin's Bane makes an attack against the first player. Any undefended or excess damage dealt by this attack must be placed here.

If this stage has damage on it equal to or greater than its quest points, the players lose the game. If this stage is defeated the players win the game.