Unseen Domination
The battle for the rule of Raven Rock in Solstheim wasn't one fought with muscle and steel, but with guile and magic. The buildings that comprised the mining city didn't burn, the wells weren't poisoned, the gates weren't locked, and the people were cowering... Yet, The Empire of Halkeginia had already taken its first steps to greater power.
"W-wait! Stop! You cannot do this! House Redoran will not tolerate it!" a voice shouts in the midst of night within Lleril Morvayn's residence, though, no one seems to hear it.
Lleril Morvayn was the First Councillor of Raven Rock, making him the leader of the city with his close friend Adril Arano, the Second Councillor and the one who primarily governs the settlement.
Both Lleril and Adril were currently being held down, the First Councillor by Captain Veleth, a formerly loyal guard to the duo.
Joseph de Gallia standing before them with a mocking smirk, four mages around him giving more neutral expressions, not really caring for anything but the man's protection. "Don't do what? This city is already ours, you're not even really prisoners, but tools, like your friend there." he gestures at Veleth who didn't react, his eyes dull and glassy.
"My kin from the mainland will punish you for this!" Lleril growls while trying to break from his bonds.
Joseph folds his arms and shrugs 'helplesly', "Then you've put me in a bind... Fortunately, you've given us a hostage to keep the peace, I'll thank you later for volunteering. Shove him in the cells." he commands, having Lleril dragged away by guards that used to belong to him.
"H-how are you doing this...? I hired these men! Investigated these men! PAID THESE MEN!" Adril screams out, taken completely aback by the sudden, random situation he'd found himself in.
Joseph chuckles, "You did, but now they work for us. Funny how loyalties change... Which is something I wished to speak with you about..." he pulls out a black stone from his pocket and presents it, the object somehow glowing with black light that darkened everything near it, whispers emanating from it that burrowed into the skin of Adril.
"W-what is that abomination!? No! K-Keep it away from me!" the man shouts in fear as Joseph approaches.
"This is your future, Elf." the former-King states as he pushes it hard against Adril's forehead, the man immediately beginning to scream at the dark, unnatural feeling burrowing it's way into his soul.
"We need you to manage the city while we're conquering. Don't worry, you'll find solace in service soon enough."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
With Raven Rock now under their control, Joseph makes his way back to the Shrine of Miraak that Louise spent most of her time at nowadays.
"Is it done?" the girl asks as soon as Joseph was in hearing distance.
"It is, the last obstacle on this Island is the Skaal village. We captured one of their villagers by the stones don't seem to have any effect on them."
"Unfortunate. They must be quelled, have the men ready for battle, raze it-" she pauses and suddenly looks up at the sky where dark shadows were steadily appearing.
Joseph follows her gaze and gapes, "D-Dragons!?" he mutters, already aware of the large difference between this world's dragons. He looks to Louise, "What should we do? We can't fight all of them, from what I've heard a single one can destroy an army!"
"They aren't here to fight. They wish to negotiate..." she states after closing her eyes for a moment. "Leave if you wish, they will come here and I will speak with them."
...
Joseph looks at her expressionlessly before waving off the guards and mages, deciding that this would be better without the gawking common folk and lesser nobles.
Soon enough one of the around ten or so dragons lands nearby the shrine, stomping over and sticking its head towards Louise and Joseph. "Mu hon hin faan, Miraak, Diist do faal Dovahkiin, grutiik..." (We heard your call, Miraak, First of the Dragonborn, betrayer...) it says, confusing the former-King with its strange, powerful but guttural language, even worse, Louise responds in kind...
Her eyes flash with different colours, one sky blue and one yellow with a slit pupil, not unlike that of the nearby dragon. "Ni grutiik, Zu'u yah wah zahnir lein neben dii rel, vothni Alduin. Nu tol hi nid lingrahiik aam mok, tol tet fosoth nid." (Not betrayer, I seek to preserve the world under my rule, without Alduin. Now that you no longer serve him, that title means nothing.)
...
"You have come for a reason, Geinwodumuz, I assume it is to submit." Louise, or rather, Miraak, simply states.
The dragon's pupils shrink as it glares at the girl, "Zurun, I had thought the First was male, hmph, what is it your people say? Hi los rokmahnu?" (You are roosterless)
"I don't need a cock to tear you all from the sky, you lost against the Last, and now you come crawling to me for protection. I ask again. Will. You. Submit."
...
"Geh, dii drog. Mu fen kiibok." (Yes, my lord. We will follow.)
Louise nods, "Good. Now, Joseph, take the dragons and have them burn the Skall to prove their worth. Also, keep the mainland from discovering anything. Destroy any letters, control the port, restrict the mages. We can't let anyone find us until we are ready."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elsewhere, Surtr was also busying himself. Aware of how lacking Skyrim's current military power was, he ventured out and visited all known Dragon Barrows. Most had already been cleared by Alduin, but there were some buried under people's houses, or more difficult places for a dragon to reach.
Most had no idea what he was doing, and Surtr only explained his actions by saying he was 'Surveying' the land he now ruled. Which was an abject lie considering he bypassed most larger settlements.