The Bronze Dragonflight was leaderless after the Bronze Dragon Aspect's disappearance. Many signs suggested the Aspect's vanishing was tied to the power of time, leading to suspicion within the Legion. They remained confined to the Temporal Sanctum.
Chromie was unconcerned. As the Aspect's favorite, she possessed great power and talent. Personally tutored by the Aspect, she navigated the timeways as easily as others ate.
She had tried to reach the end of her own timestream, but it seemed endless.
This was peculiar. Other Chromies from alternate timelines had reached their own timelines' ends, only to witness despair and darkness.
Some saw the Dragon Soul, the end of dragonkind, where the Black Dragon Aspect slaughtered the other flights, triggering the Cataclysm and the world's destruction.
Others witnessed the Scourge overrun the land, turning all life into undead.
Still others saw corrupted Titan Keepers, with the Old Gods ruling Azeroth, plunging the world into misery.
This was why Chromie favored gnomes: their enthusiasm, liveliness, and love of life. She often assumed their form to maintain her optimism after witnessing such devastation countless times.
In these doomed worlds, the last Titan Keepers invariably activated the Origin Forge in Uldum, annihilating all life to cleanse the darkness and allow the world to re-evolve.
In such a scenario, the Bronze Dragonflight, even those hidden in the timeways, would be purged.
But this Chromie couldn't reach the end of time. What did it mean? It suggested this timeline had a bright future, untouched by such cataclysms, where the Titans wouldn't resort to the Origin Forge.
This realization elated the Chromies who had witnessed the end of the world. They urged this timeline's Chromie to discover the reason for this hope.
Chromie found the answer: Galen Trollbane, the Prince of Stromgarde!
In most timelines, Galen committed patricide at twenty, attempting to seize Stromgarde. Ogres breached the capital, the people scattered, Galen was assassinated by the Horde, resurrected as undead, and finally slain by the new Four Horsemen within Stromgarde.
But in this timeline, Galen was diligent and eager to learn from youth, sharing a loving relationship with his father. He gained power early, becoming Grand Duke of Tol Barad at fourteen—a feat the ordinary Galens of other timelines couldn't match.
Chromie had spent a year in Dalaran. Only after hearing of the Stromgarde 'twins' achievements did she realize Galen's importance and begin tracking him.
His group teleportation made him elusive. She finally encountered him in the Swamp of Sorrows and planned to use her "sticky candy" tactic to stay close and observe him. But he slipped away the next day!
"How vexing!"
"Minas Tirith, huh? Then I'll go there and wait. He can run from me, but not from his own city!"
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Galen and Gandalf were already at the level three castle in Minas Tirith. The previous night, when Chromie had missed the banquet, Galen had rejoiced. "Finally, I've escaped her!"
He gave Gandalf a knowing look, hastily wrote a letter to Chromie, and departed overnight.
"Group teleportation: fast, convenient, and essential!"
Upon returning to Minas Tirith, he located families with newborns among the city's farmers and selected suitable women to raise Go'el.
Then, he converted a farm closest to the city center from wheat to livestock.
After settling Go'el, Galen inspected Minas Tirith, halting soldier training in the barracks and other military buildings to make them appear ordinary, ensuring Chromie wouldn't notice anything unusual.
Next, Galen visited the Whiskerhide Warren and met with the kobold leader, Flintzag.
Flintzag rushed to Galen, hugging his leg. "Master, Flintzag missed you so much! You've finally returned!"
If not for the snot and tears on his plate armor, Galen would have doubted the kobold geomancer's dramatic display.
"Get up, stop crying. I have a task for you, with a great reward upon completion!"
Ninbob dog-like face lit up. "Master, just give the order! I'll do it perfectly!"
Kobolds may resemble dogs, but they aren't descended from them. Still, they share canine traits: once they choose a master, they're fiercely loyal.
Galen had always provided the Whiskerhide tribe with ample food, clothing, and candles, ensuring their loyalty. In this abundant environment, their numbers had doubled.
"I need you to gather five thousand warriors for a task!"
"I have my eye on a valley with many kobolds. I want you to bring them under my wing, providing food, candles, and soldiers as needed. Can you do it, Flint?"
Hogger: Master, I'm going alone, and he gets five thousand troops? Do you not love me anymore?
"No problem, Master!"
Nibnob was eager to serve. He didn't consider the difficulty or his capabilities; he'd act first and figure it out later. He saw himself as Galen's most loyal follower.
"Master, I have a request. Could you provide some of your soldiers' long-range weapons?"
"The musketeers' weapons? They require training. How about this: you select five hundred warriors, and I'll arrange for instructors. In two weeks, I'll send you off!"
Galen decided to bolster Nibnob's forces and train five hundred kobold musketeers.
With Durotan's assassination, Gul'dan had eliminated a major threat. No one publicly opposed him. After half a year, the orc clans scattered across Draenor had gathered in Tanaan Jungle, ready to cross the Dark Portal to Azeroth.
Galen estimated Gul'dan would launch a full-scale attack on Stormwind within two months. Time was running out.
Galen had learned from Gavinrad and Varian that Medivh's condition was deteriorating.
He guessed that Medivh's use of the Wall of Lightning had drained his magical reserves, weakening his ability to suppress the dark power within.
At the New Year's Kingdom banquet, Medivh had appeared strange, no longer kind and wise, but sharp-eyed and aggressive, as if a different person.
"Is Sargeras in control? Is that even a question?" Galen thought. "The dark titan is fully suppressing Medivh."
The hourglass Medivh had given King Llane had turned ominous black, and the black sand was flowing backward. Medivh had said Stormwind would prosper as long as the golden sand flowed downward.
"The sand is dwindling. Doesn't this foreshadow Stormwind's decline?"
Varian had also mentioned that Lothar had instinctively reached for his sword upon seeing Medivh, like a threatened cat.
Lothar had voiced his concerns to Llane, but the king, trusting Medivh, had dismissed them.
Hearing this, Galen regretted that Stormwind had missed an opportunity to avert disaster due to Llane's indecisiveness.
Galen prepared a two-pronged strategy, acting simultaneously in the Southern and Northern Barrens to expedite the war effort.
He recalled Durin, commander of the Thunder Legion, and the Hill Guard he had subdued in Searing Gorge, led by Rendaen, the Hill Lord of Blackrock Mountain. This force comprised over five thousand Dark Iron dwarves and some members of the Thorium Brotherhood.
He also planned to deploy the Scarlet Flame Legion, his earliest creation, currently stationed at Helm's Valley under Amor's command.
With the departure of the Crimson Flame and Thunder Legions, Galen would have only twenty thousand troops left in the Eastern Kingdoms, scattered across nearly ten bases, leaving the region vulnerable.
However, the Northern Continent was peaceful, and any attack on Galen's territory would have to pass through Stromgarde, mitigating the risk.
The establishment of Galen's Port had alerted Kul Tiras merchants to the Stromgarde prince's colonization efforts. With war looming, Galen decided to suspend cautious development.
His wisps were gathering lumber sustainably, and he needed to secure the mineral-rich Barrens.
The deployment of the Scarlet Flame Legion was also strategic. His forces in Kalimdor were substantial, and expanding Arathi territory in his name would benefit Stromgarde.
It was time to inform his father of his achievements. He had intended to send a gryphon troop to celebrate, but circumstances had changed.
To quickly resolve the Quillboar problem in Stranglethorn Vale, Galen sent the Crimson Flame and Thunder Legions via mass teleportation, targeting the north of Stranglethorn Vale, near Henne's Second Legion.
Galen and Gandalf led Rendaen's Hill Guard to the Crusader Fortress, which was under construction.
By the time the Crimson Flame and Thunder Legions arrived, Galen had surrounded Stranglethorn Vale, poised to eliminate the Bristleback tribe.
To the north were Henne's Second Legion and the newly arrived Crimson Flame and Thunder Legions.
The Crusader Fortress in the southwest housed Omar's First Legion, Fadir's Third Legion, Galen's Gale Legion, Gandalf's Tide of Fury Legion, and now five thousand Hill Guards.
To the south were Varrokal's Knights, the Dezco Kodo Beast Knights, and the Fourth and Fifth Legions, clearing village strongholds.
With nine regular legions, two knight orders, and the Dark Iron dwarf guard, Galen's forces in the area exceeded eighty thousand.
When Amor and Rendaen arrived at the Crusader Fortress, they were astonished.
The fortress walls were barely under construction. Galen planned a massive city-fortress, with a continuous foundation and the presence of four legions, making the crossroads impressive.
A recent skirmish had occurred on the outskirts, where a Quillboar force attempted to disrupt construction but was repelled by Omar.
"Your Highness, is this what you call a colony?" Amor asked, surveying the area.
"Indeed. A city is already built on the eastern coast, and this fortress will be the center, connecting everything. Once it's complete, our forces can project power to the southeast and northwest, serving as a hub for trade and travel!"
"But Your Highness, it looks barren, far inferior to the Wetlands and Hinterlands!" Amor observed the red desert, towering mountains, and scorched yellow grasslands, puzzled.
The Wetlands, south of the Arathi Highlands, were accessible via the Thandol Span. They contained a few Ironforge dwarf strongholds, with vast unclaimed lands to the north.
The Hinterlands, north of Stromgarde, were separated by the Alterac Mountains, but a tunnel dug by the Wildhammer dwarves near Northeron Farm provided access. Except for the western Wildhammer territory, the east was controlled by the Witherbark and Revantusk trolls.
Galen understood Amor's question: why develop a distant, barren land instead of nearby territories?
Amor, like most humans, was unfamiliar with intercontinental travel.
Even mighty Lordaeron wouldn't establish a strong navy until twenty years later, relying on Kul Tiras.
Unfortunately, that fleet would be destroyed in Northrend.