"In the Oblivion Crisis, we stood with your Empire! House Telvanni was instrumental in closing the Oblivion gates across the eastern provinces. After the Red Year, we still stood with your Empire! We even supported you against the Aldmeri Dominion!"
A raucous array of protests and cries echoed through the council chamber of the White-Gold Tower in the Imperial City. Several representatives of the Great Houses of Morrowind and their delegates were openly challenging the members of the Elder Council; every seat in the circular hall was full besides one. The seat of the King of Morrowind.
Lord High Chancellor Recius Terin listened with growing unease as the Elder Council bickered amongst itself while the Dunmer representatives hurled their challenges like daggers to a board. He was an honourable Imperial, with deep brown hair edged with silver bound back in a ponytail. For the past three years the councillors had looked to his green eyes for advice and leadership. He had effectively ran the Empire himself due to the absence of an Emperor, Titus Mede II having been assassinated whilst visiting Skyrim but leaving no offspring to take the crown.
"Calm yourselves, or the royal guard will make you!" His grizzled voice reverberated around the hall, instantly getting the attention and silencing all who were present. He locked eyes with the lead Dunmer representative. The elf's robes suggested he personally represented House Redoran, the leading Dunmer House of Morrowind.
"The Empire has been stretched thin, Serus Lenith. You know fine well that we have had to deal with the Dominion and the Thalmor, not to mention the Dragon Crisis and the Civil War in Skyrim!"
Lenith's face contorted with furious anger and his croaked voice lowered to a sinister growl that could be heard by everyone.
"Do not patronise me, High Councillor. After the Red Year, Morrowind and Vvardenfell were crippled. And what did the Empire do? Nothing. Argonia invaded from our southern borders, even destroyed our capital, and I ask again, what did the Empire do? The Imperial Legion withdrew. You left our people to die before the armies of Black Marsh!"
The council replied in uproar yet again; some councillors shouting at the Dunmer in various attempts to save themselves from the challenge, others looked at their colleagues with anxiety and hope of reprieve from the verbal onslaught.
Lenith stepped forward and spat in the centre of the hall.
"This Empire makes me sick! We support you in everything and now we get nothing in return!" he straightened, a dark glare shrouded the elf's crimson eyes, "The Empire is a shadow of its former self. It seems Elsweyr and Valenwood saved themselves when they joined the Dominion. If only we hadn't been so blind to your weakness…"
The High Councillor's eyes widened as the elves all threw down various amulets, talismans, rings and sigils that all bore the mark of the dragon-in-the-diamond and several similarly-clad Dunmer stepped forward. Telvanni wizards. In unison, they raised their arms as a vortex of orange light wrapped around the fallen objects, lifting them high in the air. One by one, the objects bound together into a ball and were then set ablaze, the mixture of silver and gold melting into a pool on the council floor. Their act of treachery at an end, Lenith turned his back on Recius Terin.
"Count this, High Councillor, as the official secession of the Great Houses. Morrowind will have nothing to do with your weakening Empire any longer!"
With that, the Dunmer delegation marched out of the council chamber as the councillors stared after them, mouths agape in bewilderment at what had just happened. Several minutes passed as each of them let their minds processed the last act of Imperial Morrowind. A lone councillor cleared his throat abruptly and slowly got to his feet, his eyes scanning back and forth as all attention turned to him.
"The- the D-Dominion is an even greater threat now the Dark Elves are no longer with us." Quickly, he seemed to find his courage to speak more clearly, "We have informants who say that the Thalmor is mustering its forces in Valenwood and Elsweyr. I have also heard that they're trying to gain the aid of the Argonians."
Another councillor spoke in return, "Control of the provinces is slipping, High Councillor. The Aldmeri Dominion has been planning a second Great War since the White-Gold Concordat. It's obvious that the loss of control and problems like the Skyrim Civil War were their doing."
The High Councillor sat with his hands clasped together just in front of his face as listened to the words of the Elder Council. The secession of the Dunmer would be a heavy blow to the Empire, more so than it had been with the Bosmer and Khajiit. An uneasy feeling crept into his stomach as a sudden realisation slipped into his mind. Recius looked up and cleared his throat.
"The Thalmor have always been steering us towards the knife in their plans. However, unlike the Khajiit and Bosmer, the Dunmer have left of their own accord. What if the Thalmor didn't anticipate their secession?"
"Or what if they join the Dominion?", retorted another councillor.
Quiet murmuring rose up across the chamber. The High Councillor raised a hand, summoning silence, "Either way, the loss of the Dunmer, as alarming and breaking it is, may provide us either with a minor advantage or a major disadvantage. We will have to maintain eyes on the Great Houses to see where their relations lie..."
