When did the dragon Smaug sack Erebor and force Balin into exile?
The year Balin turned seven, the dragon Smaug sacked Erebor. Dwarves fled into exile while their father Fundin later died in the Battle of Azanulbizar.
Questions about Balin (Middle-earth)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Balin die inside Khazad-dûm after establishing a colony there?
Orcs eventually overran the settlement after less than five years as Lord of Moria. An orc archer killed Balin in Dimrill Dale where his father had also died.
What is the origin of the name Balin according to scholar John D. Rateliff?
Scholar John D. Rateliff notes Balin is the only dwarf whose name does not come directly from Old Norse poem Völuspá. The name appears instead in Sir Thomas Malory's Middle English prose tale Le Morte d'Arthur.
Who voiced Balin in the 1977 Rankin/Bass animated version and the 2012 Peter Jackson live-action film series?
Don Messick voiced Balin in Rankin/Bass animated version released in 1977. Ken Stott portrayed Balin in Peter Jackson live-action film series starting in 2012.
Why did Tolkien create a facsimile book for the story of Balin's death at Khazad-dûm?
Tolkien expended enormous effort constructing a facsimile book to resemble the burnt volume abandoned at Balin's tomb. He carefully stained paper and burned marks into pages to make it authentic.