Tiber sat in his throne, his head in his hands, can't take over like this, can't take over like this, can't take over like this, can't take over like this, can't take over like this. It had been half a year since the sacking of the imperial city, and there was no sign of the imperial army attempting to take it back. All of Tamriel was reunited a thousand years ago, courtesy of the Imperial-Thalmor truce. The Thalmors and Imperials melded into one another, the ruling classes had remained mostly elf, but they had taken the human word Empire to make humans more accepting. Words. Power. Can't take over like this. Can't take over like this. Too long. Waited too long. Too long. Waited too long. No armies are coming. The Imperial city has fallen and no one is coming to take it back. Too long. Waited too long. No information from outside, everyone is cut off from the empire. Spies are presumed dead. Too long. Too long, waiting too long. Too long. Should go out and conquer. No, would leave city vulnerable, that's what they're waiting for. Waiting too long. My empire. My empire. My empire.
Albert watched Tiber, concerned as the sun sank from the sky. His condition had been worsening. He was physically well, but his mental state was degrading. Albert's eyes glazed over. Light returned to his eyes, "Tiber, my love, a great army on the horizon." Albert said.
Tiber perked up, a large grin on his face, "Good, I was worried we were getting rusty with this sedentary life style!" in truth they had trained harder in the past six months than ever, order of the Emperor, "Well then, where are they coming from?"
"All over sir. It appears as if they have assembled in a ring around us and they are closing in."
"That's amazing! They must have most if not all of the imperial army, tell me, how are they advancing, and how well are they equipped?" Tiber asked.
Albert's eyes glazed over and he shut them, "The front lines... All elves... Nothing inside..." Albert said softly. He bit his lip, looking over all their equipment, "Sir... Daedra..."
Tiber smirked, "I should have known they wouldn't stay out of the fight!" he laughed, "This won't be easy!"
"All of their equipment is daedric... Not the metal... Artifacts... All have powerful enchantments bestowed upon them by Daedric lords... All wielding Ebony blades... All wearing Masque's of Clavicus Vile... And Ebony Mail... There are men, orcs and beast folk in back and..." Albert's eyes snapped open and began to glow.
"So... You are watching us Tiber Septim, look upon our army and tremble. We sold the Elves to Molag Bal, for the Thalmor would not willingly allow us to make a pact with the Daedra to take back our city. We have all pledged our souls to the Daedra in exchange for this power. Molag Bal was willing to give all of us power in exchange for the Elves. We have many vampires. Hircine has given us Lycans. You have seen the armor of our legions which the Daedra gave us at discount."
"You realize they're not doing this for your souls, right, they want to watch me. Watch my ambition." Tiber smiled, "I won't disappoint."
"Very well. And with that, the war begins." Albert came back.
"What happened?" He asked, "I felt my control lost because I left down my guard."
"They revealed their weakness." Tiber said softly, "Albert, you have the ability to imitate sunlight, correct?"
"It's very draining, but I can send a ball of energy up in the air that imitates sunlight, it burns for a month, and I need to rest for a whole day after." He said softly.
"Well then..." Tiber stood, his grin growing, "Let's go up to the roof then." Tiber led him up the stairs to the top of White-gold tower, "Work your magic." Tiber ordered.
Albert clenched his fist, threw it up in the air, and opened his hand. A blast of blinding white light exploded forth and flew into the air. Albert fell over and Tiber caught him. Tiber took him down to his room and laid him down.
"Psij! Come with me to the top of the tower, we have something to tell the people!" Tiber said laughing loudly. They climbed to the top of the tower together, "Projection!" Tiber demanded. Tiber's face was projected over every lamp-post in the city, "People of the Imperial city! I am Tiber Septim! Your armies have come to take the city back, let's have a look at them, shall we." Taking Tiber's cue, Psij projected a view of the armies, "Oh, what's this? They are clothed in Daedric artifacts..." Tiber tutted, "They have forsaken the divines, and what's more... The Elves didn't go with it... So they were sold to Molag Bal, a mindless army. Let us see what Molag Bal gave them in return..." The projection went to those in the East, who were in the shade until the artificial sun came out, various men and beastfolk were writhing in pain from the artificial sun, "Oh dear me... Vampires... They sold the members of the Thalmor to turn themselves into Monsters..." Tiber motioned that the projection should show his face again, "You may not feel I am your legitimate ruler, I did kill the royal family, and a large number of the Imperial Legion guards within the city... But, no royal family left, and the men who come to take back the city from me, armed with Daedric weapons, turning themselves into monsters, at the head of a slave army... Are these your saviors? Are these the men who you want guarding your children? Are these the men who you want at your gates, defending your city, while terrible men beat at the door? Because this is what they do in desperation, they sell out to the Daedra. They pay the price with the blood of others, the blood of those who didn't want any part of it, and their own blood. I doubt you want either of us. But I will give you this. Side with me as the lesser of two evils, not a single one of your men will die in the assault of the city. I will release the Imperial Legion who surrendered as the keepers of the peace within, and march my army outside the city to wait for the armies of the enemy." Tiber looked at Psij meaningfully until he stopped projecting. Tiber smiled, "Well, we have our workd cut out for us, don't we?"