Gollum's Interrogation

IC location: Dol Guldur

From the previous episode: Azashchakka, Snoker and assorted Ashjaki have managed to capture Gollum in the mines of DG, and there has been quarrels between Prakhmog and Azashchakka (what else is new?:)) The scene is the Ashjaki Command Tent, in and outside of it.

A black leather clad orc walks down the path leading down from the mountain, in a quick pace, his boots taking him into the camp, and towards the Ashjaki command tent.

The guards outside the Ashjaki tent stops the BLack-clad Uruk, grunting, "The Teguk ain't seeing anyone !"

Karja slides down the steeper part of the slope, his staff held on guard horizontally as he goes down quickly and without much trouble. He brushes himself off upon reaching more level ground that's too hard to slide on, and stands useing his staff for support like usual. At this he makes his way towards Prakhmog, his quick steps makeing their way to the other.

Karja puts a wielded dagger into his belt freeing his hands from the weapon.

The orc looks up at the guard and sighs, stepping back and sitting down on the dirt. He pulls a scrap of parchment from a pouch on his belt and starts scribbling a note on it.

Two_Dirty_Orcs comes down the side of the mountain.

The orc stands up, looks the piece of parchment over, and sticks the stick of sharpened bone he used to write back in the pouch. Walking up to one of the guards, he stretches his hand towards him, the parchment in his hand, and grunts, "Give this to the Teguk."

The parchment the messenger wrote reads this: "Prakhmog says this: Your Dratul Azashchakka been ordering Prakhmog around. Prakhmog is a Rakarg. You are the Teguk of this fortress, you better keep your troops in line, where they belong."

The Guard looks susupiciously at the note, but takes it eventually, not looking at it. He says, "He'll get it.", then stands watching the Uruk until he's gone. He then diappears briefly into the tent an comes out a bit later without the parchment.

The Two_Dirty_Orcs approach the gaurds to the Ashjaki command tent, orc1"We bear a message," orc2 "From Dratul Azaschakka." Orc1 "For Teguk Ghazhgund's ears only."

The guard outside the tent nods curtly, clearly having orders to let Azas' men through and waves them in.

Two_Dirty_Orcs bow to the gaurds almost in unison while grinning, clearly indulgeing thier priveledge.

Ashjaki Command Tent looks closely at Two_Dirty_Orcs and lets him pass.

Two_Dirty_Orcs enter with heads bowed, thier faces washed of emotion now, orc1 "Master, the creature has been caught..." orc2 "Azashchakka has chosen to take the prisoner into Ashjaki care," orc1 "Rather than let the mistake of the past be duplicated."

Ghazhgund sits at his desk, reading a parchment, a frown upon his face as he scans the text. He says without looking up, "Tell me Azashchakka caught that lil' sneak !"

Ghazhgund nods brielfy, standing up from the chair, "Where has he put the little maggot ?"

Orc1 says, "There is also another matter..."

Ghazhgund frowns again, "What other matter ?" he says irritatedly. "It better not be what I think it is !"

Orc2, "Azashchakka requests your presance within the stronghold..." Orc1, "He feels you can better recuperate there..." Orc2, "And...."

Karja moves away from the Ujakalsak camps, haveing a few seemingly friendly words with a certain few of the uruks there, he grabs a large bag and hurls it over his shoulder, makeing his way southwards, now haveing more of a need for his staff.

Orc1, "Prakhmog is makeing a play to grab power within the citadel..." Orc2, "Azashchakka requests your guidance."

Karja turns away from the needle-like spires of Dol Guldur, heading down the western trail into the dark valley beyond.

Ghazhgund nods, "He does, no ? Well, I have a few words to make with both of them", he says angrily. "But I'll talk to Azashcakka myself. Where is he ?"

Orc1, "He watches the prisoner himself in the Hildo Barracks," Orc2, "He awaits your presance."

Ghazhgund crubles the paper he was reading and tucks it into his belt, then moves out of the tent, his strides long. Now and then he winces as his shoulder pains him, but keeps up his pace.

Ghazhgund comes out from the Ashjaki tent and looks about the camp.

and a quick scene shift to the Barracks of DG, where Azashchakka and Gollum are

Ghazhgund comes into the room, his left arm still hangs in a sling. On his face is a look of clear annoyance and irritation. He spots Azashchakka and nods curtly, "So you found the little critter ?", he growls impatiently.

The two dirty Orcs bow and leave the barracks once Ghazhgund arrives. The place is conspicuously empty, "Master," Azashchakka says. He sits on the far end of the room in a dark chair faceing the wall. Something wrapped in chains struggles before him. Azashchakka is Rigid as he sits backwards on the chair, his head resting on his arms which are folded on the chair back.

Ghazhgund looks down upon the chained figure. "I take he won't get away this time ?"

Gollum makes no movement as the orcs come in. He continues to sit limply, as if his flight had sapped all his strength.

Ghazhgund reaches out a huge, clawe hand and lifts Gollum's chin with one of the sharp claws so he has to face Ghazhgund. "Didn't you like our company, little rabbit ?", he growls menacingly.

Azashchakka says simply, "He is here, and he will stay."

Gollum's eyes flick open and he glares, but still remains silent and with drawn, the fight taken out of him.

Ghazhgund's features grow taunt as Gollum remains silent. He takes Gollum's chin between two claws and pinch hard, saying, "Speak to me, Maggot. I've got a few questions for you !"

Gollum spits on the orc: a gob of foul yellow flem. The creature's eyes light up with hatred. "Foul orcs!" he snaps.

Ghazhgund looks over to Azashchakka, "The head snuffler made a short report to me and he said some interesting things I'd like to know more about." He then turns his maenacing stare back to the chained figure as he spits and slowly wipes the phlegm of his face, growling, "You'll pay for that later. Doubly, if you don't answer me now ! Who is the Precious you keep talking of? Is he the one that sent you, that you think will protect you? You said that if he was here you'd get away."

Gollum jumps forward as the orc mentions Precious, ratting and straining against the chains that tightly bind him. "Precious!" he splutters. "The Precious is mine! It was stolen! My birthday present. The thief! The filthy little thief!" Gollum sinks back down, the light in his eyes dimmer as he mutters to himself. "It's ours and we wantss it. We hates it forever."

Ghazhgund hmms, and scratches his chin, "Precious is a thing ? Why would you talk so much of things ? I guess you have stolen your fair share of things, little rabbit. Why so upset over one thing ? Now, again, why re you here ?!", he says in a harsh voice, although his tone is a bit more reflective now.

You say, "And why do you think the Precious could help you get out of here?"

Gollum glares angrily at the orc. "It's ourss, my love. And we wantss it. But it is losst! Losst! You can't have it!" he screeches suddenly, and it is almost as if he is not talking to the orc at all, but someone behind him.

On the wall of the barracks is a huge, lidless, red eye, BTW

Gollum grumbles and refuses to speak, his thin lip curled into a sneer. "Preciousss," he hisses under his breath.

Ghazhgund looks puzzled for a second and looks behind him to where Gollum was looking. He spots the mark of the Ashjaki with the Red Eye and scimitar and suddenly picks Gollum. Despite the heavy chains he lifts the creature easily and carries him over to the far wall, making him face the Eye, "Are you denying the Eye anything?", he hisses. "We are the Eye's favoured and what we want we take. Again, what is that precious thing. How precious is it ?", he says as he holds Gollum up in front of the Eye.

Ghazhgund seems to have forgotten his earlier question about who sent Gollum, his mind having picked up a hint of something that might be valuable.

Azashchakka stands passivly by with his arms folded over his chest.

Gollum tries to shield his face from the Eye, closing his own dark orbs tightly. "Ach! Sss! No no, the Eye sees all! He watches uss, yes!" The creature tries to lifts its arms over its face, but the chains hold.

Azashchakka paces behind Gollum and Ghazhgund, looking at the situation with amusement.

Ghazhgund turns Gollum aroudn again, still holding the tiny frame of his suspended two feet above the floor. The Teguk uses his right arm only, but appears to have no trouble holding the creature. "What is this treasure, then, little rabbit ?", he growls, peering intently upon the globes that pass for eyes. "And where is it ? You know, if someone stole it from you, we might help you get it back..." His tone is a bit milder now.

Ghazhgund puts Gollum down upon a bench by a wall now, moving back a few steps.

Gollum licks his lips, then bites at the chain on one wrist before giving up and looking at the orc. "It wass my birthday present," he snarls. "My precious."

Ghazhgund snorts, "And somebody stole it ?" He shakes his head, as if in sympathy, "Now that's too bad. Are you hungry, little rabbit", he asks suddenly, a strange light shining fron his eyes now.

Ghazhgund looks to Azashchakka, "Send for some food for this poor wretch, Dratul"; he says, his voice surprisingly mild. The mildness does not fit at all with the grotesque exterior of the orc.

Gollum opens his mouth then shuts it. He swallows dryly. "Very hungry, yess. Hunger we possess and an empty belly." He eyes the orc suspiciously. "Nice orc, it is," he says carefully. "We'll eat, yes," he says, "Unless there is wicked poison in it, yes." He licks his lips.

Azashchakka claps his hands twice. Two dirty Orcs appear almost instantly. "Bring food," Azashchakka says simply. The Orcs bow and head off.

Ghazhgund nods, "We nice. The Ashjaki are nice Uruks." He turns to a small Snaga coming in through the door with some dried meat and hard, dark bread. "Now eat and tell me about the thief that stole your precious. And of the precious." The gleam in his eyes is unmistakeably one of greed, and the strange smirk on his face is way our of place for an Uruk, but he doesn't seem to notice himself, too obsessed with his clever scheme. The Snaga puts the food within reach of Gollum, but stays away from the creature.

Azashchakka nods as the food is provided. He continues to look on with interest.

Gollum takes a piece of bread off the wood and holds it up to his nose and sniffs it. Satisfied it isn't poisoned, he swallows it ravenously with snaps of his sharp pointed teeth. He moves onto the meat, ignoring the orc's questioning as he eats, his eyes darting about the room suspiciously as he chews and swallows. He finishes, licking the crumbs off his fingers and the bench he sits on. Then and only then he looks back up. "Why does the orc want to know about Precious, we wants to know?" he asks craftily.

Ghazhgund looks at Gollum, seemingly patiently while the creature eats, "I think you can help me out with something, little rabbit. But to help me I have to let you go. And, well, you see, I'm not sure I can trust you well enough so that you come back once you've done what I want you to do. Therefore, I figured the Ashjaki could hunt down the thief for you and get back whatever your precious is. If we were to have the precious here, I think you would come back to us with what I want. Now, what do you think of that ?" the orc is clearly very pleased with himself after this train of thought.

Gollum cackles loudly, a rasping sound. "O ho! Sss sss ss," his laughs come out like hisses. "You cannot have my Precious. O no, He won't let you. The Eye will see you. Always looking, always peeping. And it is lost, stolen! We have searched and searched. We've walked far, down the river and over many lands. It is losst! What does it have in its pocketses? Wasn't a fair question! It's ours!" The creature gibbers on, cursing and hissing in its lament. "We won't! Don't look at us!" he cries out.

Ghazhgund hmms, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Is this precious something that belongs to the Eye?", he says, his eyes clearly gleaming now.

Azashchakka walks to Ghazhgund's side... awaiting aknowledgement.

Gollum says no more, his eyelids lowering, only the slight sss of his breath comes from him.

Ghazhgund awaits Gollum's answer and growls irritatedly as Gollum does not answer. He looks at

Azashchakka as the Uruk walks up to him, then motions with his head for them to step away from the creature, out of hearing range. Lowering his voice, he says, "WHat do you make out of that, Dratul? This rabbit has been moaning about that Precious thing ever since we caught him. I don't understand half of it, but, well, what if that was something the Eye wanted ? DOn't you think the Masters would reward us for telling them ? *If* that thing can be relied upon." He keeps his voice low so Gollum won't hear what he says.

Azashchakka rasps in his rough voice, "I do not like this at all. What could this precious the vile creature speaks of be? I do not relish the idea of sending our lads off into danger. And just why is he so fearfull that the eye will find his prescious? Why? I have said before, and I will repeat... this is a matter that is best given to..." He stops closeing his eyes before he says the dark word, "The Nazgul."

If Gollum overhears, he doesn't indicate it, sitting still and silent.

Ghazhgund growls deep in his throat, "Damn, Dratul", he says in the same low voice, "DO you really think I'd send my lads off on a chase for something I don't know what is ? I want that thing to tell me what that Precious thing is, but he won't tell us anything as long as he thinks we're going to take it from him. It could be valuable. But, I think you're right. Let the Nazgul have a chat with this one. He won't be able to resist one of the Nine. "

Gollum's eyes close and open to slits again slowly, as if digesting this information. A small shudder runs through the thing's tiny body, ratting the chains on its arms and ankles for a brief moment.

sorry about the next part, but I thought it was kinda neat :)

Ghazhgund says, "p azashchakka=I still say we kill him right here and now. *That* will make people notice what we did. Otherwise we'll be just another footnote in history..."

Gollum says, "p admins=Heeeeellllpppp!"

End of OOC fun :)

Azashchakka nods and backs away. "We will see..."

Ghazhgund nods to Aza, "Make sure he stays in one place this time. If he gets out again, it'll be your hide ! Now, I have another matter to discuss with you after you've arranged for his security. In my quarters." Ne nods to the Commander's quarters.

Azashchakka claps twice. The same dirty uruks apear. "Place him in chains. The two of you will watch him day and night. Make sure he does not escape. And do NOT unserestimate him. He is full of tricks. Feed and care for him as needed, but do not allow even the barest opportunity for his escape."

Azashchakka nods to Ghazhgund and moves to follow him into his chambers.

Ghazhgund takes his place in the chair on the dais, resting his right arm on the armrest of it. He sighs, "I hope that little sneak is worth it. If he turns out be to nothing of value, and I send him to the Nazgul, my head will leave my shoulders quick enough. I need to think before I alert the Master. In the meantime, I've received a message from Prakhmog. He claims you won't respond to his orders and pointed out the chain of command. WHat has happened, Dratul ?"

Azashchakka walks through the long hallway behind Ghazhgund, "Master." He says flatly.

Azashchakka says, "The one called Prakhmog... he attempts to usurp the power of the Ashjaki in Dol Guldur...."

Azashchakka says, "Today as we were chaseing the little runt through the halls he tried to bar me from entering the mines..." he pauses for a moment becomeing outraged, "MY MINES!""

Ghazhgund hmms, "Well, I won't have any of that, that's for sure. What proof do you have of that ?"

Azashchakka scowls... "There was an elderly Ujak with him..."

Azashchakka's eyes narrow... "And the Uruk who was found killed in the prisons..."

Azashchakka says, "I am not casting any blame here...."

Azashchakka says, "But the uruk WAS ashjaki... in the prisons that Prakhmog has much influence in..."

Azashchakka says, "Could it not be possible that the gaurd was killed and the prisoner let to escape to disgrace the Ashjaki? It seems odd to me that the little runt can escape the prison unnoticed... prakhmog's prison."

Ghazhgund growls angrily, "He tried to stop you from going into the mines ? Did he give you any reasons for that ?"

Azashchakka's eyes move about shiftily...

Azashchakka says, "He said it was his command and that I should obey it... of course I would not. Dol Guldur is Ashjaki territory, and the Ashjaki command moreinfluence here than a single uruk."

Azashchakka says, "It seems obvious that he wanted the creature to illude us..."

Azashchakka says, "Prevent me from entering the mines, deprive the Orcs of leadership, prevent us from takeing the creature..."

Ghazhgund hmms, "I want to talk to this Prakhmog." He leans over to tone of the Guards and gives a short command. The guard scurries off quickly.

Ghazhgund taps his fingers on the armrest as the Orc scurries off. "Understand one thing, Dratul. At the moment I need Prakhmog and have to humour him some. That may change anytime soon, but I'll fix things for now. But try and stay away from squabbling with him for a few weeks until I have resolved a few things. Then things will change drastically around here." He smiles grimly, his ugly eyes peering at Azashchakka

Azashchakka says, "He is as nothing to me."

Azashchakka says, "Neither will I see him or come into contact with him. The concept of Prakhmog is dead within my actions."

Ghazhgund nods, boring his eyes into Azashchakka, "I understand. But you *will* see him shortly. I've sent for him, and you are my SiC, supposed to deal with Ashjaki and DG matters when I'm not around. Therefore we need to clear up a few things. Never forget your allegiance is to the well-being of the Ashjaki. I don't !"

Azashchakka nods, "Only when absolutely necessary will he enter my thoughts. Otherwise... otherwise he is dead to me."

And so ends this chapter in the ever-continuing saga of schemes and battles in DG