Due to the destruction of records during the Trolloc Wars, little is known of King Thorin's appearance or the details of his early life. He ruled Manetheren during a time when the entire world was at war with the Shadow and he helped forge Manetheren's reputation as a nation that would always assist others in the defense of humanity. Early in his reign he established a close relationship with King Balwen Mayel of Aridhol, who had been fighting protracted battles of attrition against armies of Shadowspawn. Over time, King Thorin observed his ally despair of winning the war eventually falling under the manipulations of a councilor named Mordeth who advised that the only way for Aridhol to defeat the Shadow was to become as cruel as their enemy.