Gollum was originally a hobbit named Sméagol who lived on the shores of the River Anduin. While fishing, his friend Déagol fell out of the boat, finding Sauron's lost ring of power at the bottom of the river. Sméagol murdered Déagol and claimed the ring for himself. Cast out by his community, he fled to the Misty Mountains, living in a cave. The ring's power unnaturally prolonged his life and twisted him into the creature Gollum. In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins stumbled upon the cave, finding the ring, which Gollum had misplaced. Gollum was enraged and cursed Bilbo. Enthralled by the ring's corrupting power, he had become obsessively attached to it over the centuries, calling it "my precious." This set off the events of The Lord of the Rings.