 A group of thirteen dwarves mounted a quest to take the kingdom back, aided by the wizard Gandalf and the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.In "The Hobbit", Thorin describes Smaug as "a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm".Critics have identified close parallels with what they presume are sources of Tolkien's inspiration, including the dragon in "Beowulf", who is provoked by the stealing of a precious cup, and the speaking dragon Fafnir, who proposes a betrayal to Sigurd.