gnome7 posted:

Another option would be to keep the Scourge, but don't make the scourge hostile. Turn everyone into zombies in the depressed way, where they just kinda go through the motions and keep to their schedule and ignore the outside world. And maybe unknowingly adjust their schedules to the Overlord's whims. They won't actively get in the fellowship's way much, so they are free to try all sorts of non-violent solutions, but they aren't going to ever help the fellowship either, or be swayed away from their tasks. And if they're still basically innocent folks, violent solutions come with some ethical considerations.

Basically, make it a quiet takeover instead of a brutal one. Mindless workers instead of mindless warriors.