[Anguirel]

Thrain is possibly the coolest Dwarf ever to have drawn breath. Fine, he had a tragic and unsuccessful career. Since when has that stopped people from being heroes?

Born into privilege, Thrain had to tough it out, penniless, in the wild. Unlike his father, he didn't throw his life away in a blood-feud, however. He kept adventuring on, passing down lore, keeping the artefacts of his line safe for as long as he could. Though he lost his Ring eventually, he saved the map for Gandalf and his son-which means he must have at least partially withstood Sauron's torture.

He ended in madness. So? So did Jeanne de Montfort, Henry VI and Nietzche. Thrain was a true Dwarven Hero, perhaps unequalled until the career of Gimli.