The chain of events

comfortable confinement, captivation by means of wealth

to rattle a chain, to knock at the door, to jerk the door chain

a kind of pearl chain

join the dots, establish the linkage, discover the clues

beam cracking, beam or roof beam cracking (which is seems to be ominous)

extremely hard

chain, fetters

adamant, rude

shackled, fettered, related, kin

a series, a train

bound in chains, fastened in chains, (figuratively) fettered, prisoner

pull the chain (for stopping a train)