How did a Balrog get beneath Moria and when?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Cirdan

1000!?! I imagined 50 at most during the Wars of Beleriand with perhaps many more (a hundred?) being destroyed by the Valar during remotely-earlier conflicts. 1000 or more Balrogs is a ridiculous amount of raw firepower -small wonder that Tolkien considered scaling it back! Perhaps in his earlier conception they were less powerful being slightly above that of trolls?

I agree. Well, maybe not exactly trolls, but definitely not Maiar. If Morgoth corrupted that many, and about the same number remained loyal to Eru/Valar, and some didn't go to Ea at all - HOW MANY DID ERU CREATE?! But then during the War of Wrath Morgoth's forces and the 'good army' filled all of Anfauglith! How many thousands do you suppose there are? But that could be orcs, though...