The Empire of Chains: Tolkien’s Most Cruel Underground Nightmare

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:14]While much of Middle Earth's fear was focused on gloomy fortresses like Barad Dur or Minus Morgle, another evil power was silently taking root and swelling right beneath the most majestic mountain ranges. It was not an army molded purely by magic, but a civilization of cruelty, machinery, and chains. Under the absolute rule of a deformed giant tyrant, thousands of lives were crushed in the pitch black darkness to serve an industrial machine that never stopped.

[00:00:50]However, that heavily fortified underground empire was breached by just one fateful moment. A brightly shining sword swung in the cramped space. A gigantic body fell and then the entire northern realm shook. Few expected that the seemingly coincidental clash between Thoren Oakenshield's company of dwarves and the tyrant beneath the mountain was exactly the spark that ignited the great battle of five armies. The great goblin was not just an obstacle blocking the way. He was a core link in the evil ecosystem encompassing Middle Earth.

[00:01:29]Today on the Mythos Archive, let's venture into the dark labyrinth of Goblin Town to discover the truth about this bloody kingdom.

[00:01:40]Tolken introduces us to this striking character and his kingdom in the pages of The Hobbit. When Bilbo is on his great journey with the company of Thorin Oaken Shield, this takes place after the dwarves have left Rivendell and are crossing the Misty Mountains via the high pass. This is one of two passes located in the vicinity. However, the second and also easier path was known to run near the main gate of an orcish settlement, Goblin Town.

[00:02:13]Therefore, the high pass is the route that Thoren's company travels. However, these orcs are very cunning. Secretly, they had set a trap along this seemingly safe pass in the mountains because within a cave located along the pass, they had opened a passageway leading to their halls. They called it the front porch. And it is in this very cave that Thoren's company would take shelter during a storm. This hidden opening was so elaborate that even Gandalf did not detect it. Because he had explored the cave thoroughly before settling down to sleep for the night, the orc's prey had fallen into the trap, and soon their prey would be taken to Goblin Town.

[00:03:02]After the whole company had fallen asleep, Bilbo had a bad dream. a dream in which a crack in the wall at the back of the cave grew larger and larger.

[00:03:12]Paralyzed with fear in the dream, he could not call for help as the cave floor collapsed and he began to fall.

[00:03:20]Waking up with a start, Bilbo realized his dream was partially true. The crack in the wall had opened into a large passage. He screamed, but it was too late. The company was attacked by a group of at least 74 goblins. As we are told, there were six for each dwarf and two for Bilbo.

[00:03:43]The group was forcibly taken deeper into the mountain. But Gandalf was nowhere to be seen, and as the goblins drew closer to their main settlement, they began to sing a tune that surely lingers in the minds of many fans. Excerpt from deep inside Goblin Town from AUJ or perhaps you go my lad ho ho my lad animated version.

[00:04:08]>> Whichever tune you choose, the goblins promise pain and misery for their captives. And while we might consider this tune in the adaptations to be nostalgic or funny, the actual lyrics hint at a dark fate awaiting those they captured. Among the lyrics are cracking whips, laughing goblins, and the capttors are instructed to crush and smash with hammer and tongs.

[00:04:33]As Tolken explains, the goblins would use their prey as slaves, and these slaves would be forced to work until they died from lack of air and light.

[00:04:46]But these goblins, who are said to be cruel, wicked, and malicioushearted, were not just merely brutal beasts. They were also said to know how to mine and tunnel as well as anyone except the most skilled dwarves. And although their weapon craftsmanship left much to be desired, they had a knack for inventing torture machines or things that brought great destruction because gears, engines, and explosions delighted them.

[00:05:18]The company was finally brought to Goblin Town, and here they met the leader, the great goblin. Sitting on a large stone, a giant orc with a huge head spoke up.

[00:05:30]Who are these miserable persons?

[00:05:33]Dwarves. And this one, said one of the guards, yanking hard on Bilbo's chain, causing him to fall forward onto his knees. We found them sheltering in our front porch. What are you intending to do? The great goblin said, turning to Thorin. Up to no good, I'll wager.

[00:05:53]Spying on the private business of my people, I guess. Thieves, I wouldn't be surprised to learn. Murderers and friends of elves not impossible. Come.

[00:06:03]What do you have to say in your defense?

[00:06:06]Thorin the dwarf at your service, he replied. It was merely a meaningless, polite remark. Of the things which you suspect and imagine, we have absolutely no idea. We were just sheltering from a storm in a cave that seemed convenient and abandoned.

[00:06:24]We had no other thought than not wanting to inconvenience the goblins in any way whatsoever.

[00:06:31]Um, said the great goblin. So you say, could you tell me what on earth you were doing up in the mountains, where you came from, and where you were going? In fact, I want to know everything about you. Not that it will do you much good, Thorin Oaken Shield. I already know too well about your people. But tell the truth, or I will prepare something particularly uncomfortable for you.

[00:06:59]We are on a journey to visit relatives, nephews, and nieces and firsts, second, and third cousins along with other descendants of our grandfathers who live on the eastern slopes of these truly hospitable mountains," Thoren said, not knowing what to say immediately in that moment when it was clear that telling the exact truth would not yield any good results.

[00:07:26]He is a liar. Oh truly great supreme one, said one of the guards. Several of our people were struck by lightning in the cave when we invited these creatures down and they died stiff as stones.

[00:07:40]Furthermore, he has not explained this.

[00:07:43]He held out the sword that Thoren had carried. This the sword obtained from the trolls lair.

[00:07:51]The great goblin let out a truly terrible howl of rage when he saw it.

[00:07:56]And all his soldiers nashed their teeth, clashed their shields, and stomped their feet. They recognized the sword immediately. It had killed hundreds of goblins in its prime. When the beautiful elves of Gondolind hunted them on the hills or fought before their city walls, they had called it Orcrist, the goblin cleaver, but the goblins simply called it biter. They hated it and hated even more anyone who carried it.

[00:08:27]Murderers and elf friends, the great goblin shouted. Slash them, beat them, bite them, crush them, take them away to black holes full of snakes, and never let them see the light again. He was so angry that he jumped off his seat and personally lunged at Thorin with his mouth wide open.

[00:08:50]Right at that moment, the lights in the cave went out, and the large fire in the middle of the room turned into a pillar of glowing blue smoke spewing white sparks at the goblins. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Gandalf, wielding Glamring, another sword of Gondolin killed the great goblin.

[00:09:11]And so the whole company escaped, although Bilbo would be separated from the group and have an encounter with Gollum. Meanwhile, Gandalf and the dwarves found their way through the tunnels of Goblin Town. Eventually, they would reach the goblin gate on the eastern slopes of the Misty Mountains, called the back door by the orcs, and Gandalf would explain its intended use.

[00:09:38]They created that gate many ages ago, he said. Partly to serve as an escape route, if they needed one, partly to open a path to the lands beyond where they still sneak out in the dark and cause great damage. They always guard it, and no one has ever been able to block it. They will guard it doubly carefully after this," he laughed.

[00:10:03]It was at this very door that Bilbo would tear his buttons off while squeezing through to escape from Gollum.

[00:10:11]And although this passageway leading to their home and the exit to harass Wilderland might have been more strictly guarded in the days that followed, the more direct consequence of this encounter would be none other than the Battle of Five Armies.

[00:10:31]The news of the great goblin being killed would spread, and it fanned the flames of the orc's hatred towards the dwarves into a frenzy. Because although the settlement of Goblin Town was undoubtedly a large-scale city for their species, it was not the only city. We are told that at this time, the capital of the orcs was none other than Gundabbad and Bulg, the great chieftain of that region. to avenge the deaths of both the great goblin and the dragon smug would mobilize a massive orc force from both the Misty Mountains and the Grey Mountains.

[00:11:12]Although the great goblin was called the goblin king, no, not that king. All right. In Peter Jackson's adaptation, it is not certain that he was actually the supreme ruler of the orcs because it is often assumed that the true king of their species would live in their capital. Whatever his role was, he was clearly an important figure among the orcs. Important enough that his death contributed to sparking the great battle of five armies.

[00:11:44]But there were also those who rejoiced upon hearing the news of the great goblin's death when the company arrived at the home of Bejorn, the skin changer.

[00:11:55]He was captivated by Gandalf's recounting of their story. And after going outside to confirm that it was true, he would be extremely amused.

[00:12:04]I hurried home as fast as I could to see if you were safe and to offer you any help that I could. I will think more highly of dwarves after this. Killed the great goblin. Killed the great goblin.

[00:12:17]He chuckled fiercely to himself.

[00:12:22]And it is the descendants of Bejorn in the fellowship of the ring who provide our only hint about what happened to Goblin Town in the days that followed.

[00:12:32]Because it is said that Grim Bejorn, the old Bejorn's son, and his Bejornings would keep the high pass open for travelers, undoubtedly to protect against things like goblins on the way.

[00:12:46]However, their need to do so also tells us that the goblins still survived and were highly active under the northern region of the Misty Mountains. And indeed, when the time came for the Fellowship of the Ring to embark on their great journey, they would choose a path further to the south, avoiding the pass above Goblin Town and the lurking perils east of the Misty Mountains.

[00:13:14]The death of the great goblin may have sparked a bloody great war and reshaped the landscape of the north, but it did not entirely eradicate the evil forces beneath the Misty Mountains. Like rotten tree roots clinging deep into the earth, the cruel civilization of Goblin Town, continued to exist, silently lurking and forging chains in the dark for decades afterward. A threat so immense that it forced the fellowship of the ring to alter the course of their journey. This event leaves us with a chilling reminder. In Tolken's world, the light may swing its sword to win a battle, but the darkness always knows how to hide and wait.

[00:14:01]As always, I want to send a huge thank you to all my supporters on YouTube who have helped sustain this channel. Thank you so much for watching and see you next time on the Mythos Archive.