An Audience With The Dark Lord

Evil magnificence in the most regal splendour abounds here, such that it draws the very living breath from your limbs. A massive throne of solid mithril, burnt black by the Lord of the Ring's immortal flesh, gleams near the rear of the chamber, sillouetted before a monstrous vortex leading to the blackest void, an evil rip in space and time to that place where Morgoth still dwells. Above you, the huge arched ceiling is adorned with great murals depicting the fall of the trees, the destruction of the lamps, and the future fall of the Valar before Sauron's might. The whole of the floor is scored with mighty runes of power and evil, while out the arching portculli one can see all of Middle-earth in amazing detail. The whole room literally pulsates with the energies of the souls of the dead, and yet there is a darkness here which pervades every corner of your heart, dropping you to your knees in dismay and abject submission before Sauron's power! Truly this IS the Lord of all Middle-earth!!!
Contents:
Sauron
Obvious exits:
Out

Ulogarum has arrived.

Sauron turns. "Dulgrist? What is the meaning of this?"

Ulogarum falls to his knees in awe and lets his arms fall at his side

Sauron says, "You disturb my rest, and bring with you a filthy Morian?"

Ulogarum opens his mouth in awe once again, almost drooling as he is paralzized in fron of such power

Sauron says, "SPEAK! My patience may be great, but you tread the line."

Dulgrist shuffles slowly in from the corridor. He stops, shaking and gawking. His black flesh is withered and desiccated from long weeks of travel through the wastes. His amber eyes, wide with fever and fear, go red as they attempt to tear up, but there is no water...

Dulgrist says, "M-masster."

Ulogarum briefly looks at Dulgrist and back at Sauron

Sauron slowly glides back towards his throne, the dim red glow of his presence filling the room. "Speak, slave."

Dulgrist coughs drily, and shakes. He falls heavily to his knees, his stained armor rattling hollowly. "D-dreams, Master. This olog brought his d-dreams to me, Master."

Ulogarum tries to move as little as possible, sweating profusely

Sauron's glow subsides for a moment, as if his gaze is turned inwards in thought. Then, with an almost tangible menace, Ulogarum is bathed in a ghastly red light. "Tell me of these dreams, Olog-hai, if speech is something of which you're capable."

Sauron says, "And pray that thine answer pleases me, or you will be dreaming once more...PERMENANTLY."

Ulogarum mumbles for a second, having lost his speech. After a second he regain some composture and continues.."Master!..it happened when da treatcherous Shaman Gorbeleg died!..den my mind was lifted from great clouds, i see youz land in mezz dream1

Sauron quietly adds, "Dulgrist, your fate is tied in his. If you have bothered me with the idle pratterings of a mad troll, you will be sharing his slumber."

Dulgrist cringes and stares at the ground in despair.

Ulogarum says, "i see da da great Spider be nuthing to youzz great power1..i seez youzz tower in my vision..tell mezz to come here and bring youzz rule to Moria"

Dulgrist croaks, nearly interrupting Ulogarum, "It w-was the Mountain, M-master... the Mountain of Fire. And I f-f-felt your Eye, Lord! I thought..."

Sauron simmers quietly. "Go on."

Ulogarum stops to take his breath and swipe some sweat of his forehead.."So mezz come to give mezz service to youzz great Master...mezz seen da spider is weak to youz power..but i had to come to feel youzz power!..learn from youzz slaves here

Dulgrist goes silent again, caught within his own terror, his blackened and wasted body shaking.

Ulogarum says, "mezz need youzz power to get rid of da Spider an its followers in Moria.."

Ulogarum stops abruptly and tries to swallo in vain

Sauron is quite certain you have need of me, lowly slave, but what use have I of YOU? What hath the might of Mordor to gain from the likes of you???

Ulogarum says, "Gahr!...Mordor far from Moria..da snaga forget who da master is when away from master..i remind dem.."

Ulogarum says, "and da Balrog has his own idea on da great fight against da cursed pointed ears!...mezz can serve da eye in Moria"

Sauron thinks for a moment, and then begins to laugh. A dreadful sound, like the creaking of sinew upon long-dead bones, it fills the room and shakes you to your very soul.
Sauron says, "Silence, slaves."

Ulogarum close his mouth quickly and almost stops breathing

Dulgrist shudders uncontrollably, and closes his eyes in a tight squint.

Sauron says, "Troll--do you swear to do my bidding, ONLY my bidding? To bring the true glory of the name of Sauron to all in Moria, to lead those who will follow you in triumph, and to crush those who oppose??"

Ulogarum get his scimitar in front of him on the floor and bends down to kiss the floor.."Yes master, i swear!..i swear to serve none but youzz

Dulgrist hisses raggedly, gasping through his fangs. His eyes remain closed, his face locked in a grim mask of terror.

Ulogarum kneels and whole body starts to convulse in fear

Sauron turns his gaze inwards again, and then flares up with a brilliant light. A tendril of flame begins to arc its way across the room, eminating from the center of the evil Maia, coursing towards the supine Troll...

Ulogarum opens his eyes wide and attempt to scream, but it stay in his throat

Sauron cackles in wicked glee as the flame strikes the right arm of Ulogarum, branding an image deep into his flesh...an Eye... Sauron says, "STAND now, Troll, for I find worth in your existance. You shall live."

Ulogarum grinds his teeth from the pain and stumbles flat to the ground gripping his arm

Dulgrist cringes away from Ulogarum and seems to fold somewhat within himself, tightening his eyes more as he seeks to drive the invincible fear away.

Ulogarum get up, trembling and shaking
Ulogarum hold his arm and looks at it in disbelief

Sauron says, "Forget not that brand, for it is a sigil of your meeting with me. Let not others doubt thine words, and let not any stand who oppose them!"

Sauron says, "I have a task for you..."

Ulogarum bows a few times and listens closely

Sauron says, "To PROVE your worth to me..."

Ulogarum mumbles.."yes master...order and i obey..yes master..

Sauron says, "Go back to thine home. There, gather up as many followers as you can. The brand upon thine arm should aid you."
Sauron says, "Amass as strong an army as you can, and then march out of Moria, to the forest where the trees shine like gold."
Sauron says, "DO YOU KNOW THE FOREST OF WHICH I SPEAK?"

Ulogarum nods and almost grovel on the floor.."yes master..da curse Pointed ear forest..wezz be scorching it to da ground

Sauron says, "Yes, that is the forest. However, I have something to help you."

Sauron drops Gift of the Eye.

Ulogarum looks up for a second

Sauron says, "That bag contains a powder...a very magical powder, Ulogarum."

Dulgrist cringes again and slumps still further, his arms sitting limp upon the black floor, his face still twisted and fixed in fear.

Ulogarum looks up, eyes wide open, trembling.."yes master..power..yes

Sauron says, "What you are to do is this: go to those woods which shine like gold, those cursed woods of the evil pointed-ears. They will try to shoot arrows at you from the treetops...but we will not let them. Not with this magic powder."
Sauron says, "Start a fire at the base of the trees. Pour this powder upon it."

Ulogarum nods listening intently..

Sauron says, "Its magic will help you in your fight. You will see much smoke, and all will be convinced of the power of the Almighty Sauron!!!"
Sauron says, "The evil pointed-ears will not be able to stand the smoke, and will be FORCED down out of the trees, where they have to meet with your might face-to-face."
Sauron says, "YOU WILL **CRUSH** them!!"

Ulogarum get on his knees at the mention of crushing.."Yes master i will crush dem in youzz name!..kill dem warriors eat dem children and conquer dem in youz name!..

Sauron says, "Yes, Ulogarum, yes...you will. Or it will be YOUR bones I use in preparation of the NEXT magic powder, for a more worthy warrior."
Sauron says, "Remember this: I do not tolerate failure. You will crush the evil pointed-ears, or you will be destroyed."

Ulogarum stops in his speech and looks back at the floor
Ulogarum nods many times, rocking back and forth.."yes master..i know i crush them..Ulogarum crush all dapointed ears

Sauron says, "When you are in battle, though, remember the brand I have placed upon you. It is a symbol to all that I am with you...the smoke will be a symbol of my power...my presence will be felt in the hearts of all the True, and you WILL have victory!!!"

Ulogarum keeps rocking back and forth.."Ulogarum remeber..never forget brand..mezz fight and conquer in youzz name..me knows youz power...

Sauron moves backwards. "Dulgrist...you have brought me this knight...do you intend on going with him back to his home?"

Ulogarum turns to dulgrist, tilting his head to the side
Ulogarum moves to get the gift of the dark lord in his bag

Dulgrist looks up slightly, his eyes still closed. "I'll do what you will, Dark Lord!"

Ulogarum takes Gift of the Eye.
Ulogarum suddenly convulses as he takes the bag and remain on the floor
Ulogarum mumbles.."yes master...yes

Sauron thinks for a moment. "How did you happen upon this Knight, Dulgrist?"

Dulgrist draws a ragged breath. He opens his eyes slightly and stares forward into the darkness. "In Ithilien, near our army, Lord... he told me to bring him to Mordor... I refused, but then came the dreams. Th-they were too strong."

Sauron nods. "I have need of you here. You are to lead the knight out of Mordor, and then report back to your duties."
Sauron says, "Ulogarum, I trust you are capable of finding your own way home?"

Ulogarum nods a few times.."yes master..

Dulgrist opens his eyes wider in shock. "Y-" He coughs and goes silent as Sauron speaks again.

Ulogarum buries his finger in his plams not to shake too much

Sauron says, "Good. Dulgrist will see that you make it safely out of Mordor...we wouldn't want any harm to befall you, while you're on so important a task, would we?"
Sauron says, "Dulgrist, you have done well. Ask of me what you will, and it will be granted unto you."
Sauron glares at Dulgrist. "But I remind you, ask wisely..."

Dulgrist still seems dazed, staring, face slack. "Y-yes, Lord... I..."

Ulogarum looks intensly at dulgris, not wanting to be in his shoes...

Sauron says, "SPEAK! My generosity runs thin, as does my patience. I am not a man with time on my hands, I have much to attend to. SPEAK!"
Sauron smiles sweetly..."And I would hate to think that we're delaying our Knight from his very _important_ task, correct?"

Dulgrist says, "Our enemies defy us, Lord... I wish only their destruction. A weapon, perhaps..." his voice begins to trail off, betraying his renewed fear. Then he speaks up again, cringing at the Dark One's beration. "I... a weapon, Lord, something to destroy them!"

Ulogarum says, "yes master..i be on it now.."

Dulgrist closes his eyes again, frustrated, terrified.

Ulogarum makes sure the Lord's gift is well protected in his bag and cluthces it..

Sauron chuckles, at first, and then breaks into a shallow, screeching laughter which fills your ears with despair.

Ulogarum covers his ears quickly and grins in pain..

Dulgrist cringes and bows down reflexively, slumping to the ground in terrified prostration.

Sauron says, "YOU SHALL HAVE IT! Ohhh, yes, you shall have it. In three days time, you will find it. Worry not, it will come to you."

Sauron says, "Now go. I have much to do."
Sauron says, "And Dulgrist--"

Dulgrist begins to shake again, despair overtaking him.

Ulogarum quickly gets up and moves backward, bending down at everystep in front of suaron

Sauron says, "You have won your life this time, barging into my presence such as you did. Do it again, and I shall not be as forgiving."
Sauron says, "Now go. The both of you!!"
Sauron's form flares up, searing heat blasting you in the face.
Sauron says, "GO!!!"

Dulgrist forces himself to move. His head nods, slamming into the obsidian floor, as he pushes himself backward, mail hauberk dragging along the ground.

Ulogarum moves backward until he is at the door, depply bows and moves out
Ulogarum walks out into the corridor.
Ulogarum has left.

Dulgrist stumbles up, and back, and away into the darkness, feet clambering against the floor as he lurches in his flight from doom.