It is said that the Dark Lord has many spies and servants in his service. During the war of the Last Alliance, records tell that for every creature on the Alliance's side there was a counterpart on the side of the enemy's - except for the elves, whose race was not divided. And now, in the third age, it is no different. As Sauron grows stronger, his allies grow bolder and he sends forth from the black tower those servants whose job it is to sow distrust amongst the peoples of Middle Earth, to persuade them to join the Dark Lord and to help find the One.

His closest envoy, the lieutenant of Barad-dûr, the Mouth of Sauron, stays always within the walls of the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Dúath. But there are others, lesser envoys of Sauron too, and one of them is Zurmog, whose real name is forgotten. Like his master, he is of Numenorean descent, and his strongest weapon is his voice. It is not surprising that the name he bears is blackspeech for 'Sly Voice'. Zurmog serves directly under the Mouth of Sauron, as a herald to Barad-dûr for the lands far to the West.

Riding his beast of burden, he now travels to the lands in the West to do his master's bidding. His journey brings him from Rohan, as far as Forochel. Not too long ago, a first of such black envoys was sent to Erebor to speak with Dain Ironfoot:

[...] a horseman in the night, who called Dáin to his gate.
The Lord Sauron the Great, so he said, wished for our friendship. Rings he would give for it, such as he gave of old. And he asked
urgently concerning hobbits, of what kind they were, and where they dwelt. “For Sauron knows,” said he, “that one of these was known to you on a time.”

‘At this we were greatly troubled, and we gave no answer. And then his fell voice was lowered, and he would have sweetened it if he could.
“As a small token only of your friendship Sauron asks this,” he said: “that you should find this thief,” such was his word,
“and get from him, willing or no, a little ring, the least of rings, that once he stole. It is but a trifle that Sauron fancies,
and an earnest of your good will. Find it, and three rings that the Dwarf sires possessed of old shall be returned to you,
and the realm of Moria shall be yours for ever. Find only news of the thief, whether he still lives and where, and you shall have great
reward and lasting friendship from the Lord. Refuse, and things will not seem so well. Do you refuse?”

‘At that his breath came like the hiss of snakes, and all who stood by shuddered, but Dáin said:
“I say neither yea nor nay. I must consider this message and what it means under its fair cloak.”

‘”Consider well, but not too long,” said he.

‘”The time of my thought is my own to spend,” answered Dáin.

‘”For the present,” said he, and rode into the darkness. [...]

Excerpt from the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Sauron sends out these envoys not to acquire the ring, for that is a task he only entrusts upon the Nâzgul, the greatest of his servants. But they do need to gather information on its whereabouts and this is where Zurmog comes in. He is one of a few messengers of misfortune that ride into Eriador to find signs of the ring and to spread lies and deceit wherever they can. This is all you need to know when you cross Zurmog's path. Be wary of his words, for they have persuaded others before.

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