Worship, lord, serve: this was the life of the dragon priests. In the metheric era, long before the first incarnation of the Nerevarine, the plot of Jagar Tharn, or the Oblivion Crisis, there were dragons, and their servants; man. The Dragons ruled with their divine birthright, and their priests imposed their will.
Among the dozens of Dragon Priests, there was one who carved himself a niche in the memories of all dragons, even if history forgot him. His name, was Miraak. He stayed in their memories as the one Priest that defied their will, and the one priest who ruled over dragons. But he was not always the power hungry, arrogant, and cruel man. Once, he was a happy servant of the dragons, and saw no fault in their rule.
But times change, as do men. And the power of the Dragonborn, is not one to be taken lightly.