Everyone in Nordberg was gathered in the town square, fenced in like cattle by both minions and the Black Dragon Knight's. Brann stood before the crowd, his mistresses by his side as he made his announcement.
"People of Nordberg! Some of you may recognize me as the Witch-Boy who was sacrificed to the empire when they first arrived. Some of you may remember me from before that as you made it your mission in life to make mine miserable. Most of you are probably afraid that I'm going to kill you. I will not." A collective sigh of relief washed over the entire population.
"Your punishment will be much worse than that!" The newfound relief was replaced with terror again.
"I forgive those of you who fought against me during my conquest, but not those who tried to erect barricades to keep me out of parts of my own town! They will be the first to suffer the fate you all will know!" A small group of Nordbergians was dragged out before Brann, who used the evil presence spell to dominate them. The entire crowd screamed, cried, or looked on in horror as the people they knew were turned into nothing more than mindless slaves.
"Next!" Brann said as he was done converting the trouble makers. One by one, the people of Nordberg were dominated. They cried and begged and tried to bargain for their free will, but every plea went unanswered as Brann simply dominated them all. Only when every man, woman, and child in Nordberg was a drooling mind slave did he get to the actual work.
"I want the elven population moved up here as well. I don't care if everybody has to double bunk."
"Yes, my lord." A knight said as he moved out; Brann then went back to the Netherworld. His direct supervision was no longer necessary.
...
Brann was just finishing up his new daily ritual. Both minion hives had brought beetles and slugs with them when they left the old country. Not only did they provide an if not tasty, then adequate food source, but also lifeforce.
"Master, the minions have finished scouring the lands we control, and have found some artifacts, including two minion stones!"
"Excellent work, Gnarl. Give yourself a treat." Brann moved to meet with his advisory council in the throne room. All of whom were ready to report on the progress of the realm.
"Report." He ordered as he sat down on his throne. Sindra was the first to give her report.
"I am happy to report that the empire troops you captured have been serving us well. We have a firm understanding of basic empire tactics and have even improved our own in the process. We are now putting the lugs to use as drill instructors, a position they seem to prefer." Brann nodded in approval. The next advisor then stepped forward, high priest Marcus.
"The integration of the elven population into the Nordbergian one has proceeded without incident. The conversion of the town into a fortified factory complex is well underway as well."
"And the greenhouses? I remember someone saying that the elves were able to get something edible growing."
"Yes, my Lord. We have just set up the first of those, and the elves are working their magic to get crops growing as we speak." Brann nodded and turned to Grubby, who walked right up after Marcus was done.
"We get done making new shipyards in Hunting Grounds and Nordhaven soon, Masta! We already have plans for ships, both fighting and whaling ones. Also, empire Guys show Grubby how weapons in town work. I make better ones for masters warships!" Grubby then held up schematics for what looked like a modified version of the ballista's in town, but that launched Nordbergian fireworks.
"Excellent work, Grubby!" Brann said as he tossed a dead rat at the minion digger, who ate it on the spot.
"And how are the new laws being implemented?"
"Quite well, sire. What with all of the civilian population being mind-controlled. The free use laws are keeping spirits up as well, I know most of the people in this room would agree." Everyone, well, the men mostly, nodded in agreement. Brannhad decreed that any man or woman of age in the slave population was free for anyone to use sexually. Most minions were exempt from that, except for command minions or members of Brann's horde. Brann nodded as he then moved on with the rest of his day.
"Is that all then?"
"Well, my lord, there is one thing. Nordberg was the heart of empire control in the region, but they still have troops in minor settlements around the frozen north. We will need to take care of them at some point." Brann thought about what to do about that. He knew about the outlying troops but didn't consider them until now.
"Here's what I want to happen. I want a minion rider with one of the empire commander's heads and a demand for surrender to ride out to the outposts. And any who do not send back a reply confirming their submission, then we will head out and conquer them."
"Perfect, my lord. We will do just that." Brann then nodded and got up from his throne, his dominion secure, and under development, the minions were thriving, and the knights were content. All in all, Brann had shit under control.
((Hello everyone, it's your one true king Mrgoblinking7! A thank you to my loyal reader, Coolwowboy, who gave the suggestion that the town be dominated. I will try to give you guys more of a heads up for the next contest. As always, feel free to comment on what you think should happen in the story and I will do my best to please. Have a wonderful life my little goblins!))