After executing the treacherous Boar, claiming his soul, and using Screech and Tusk as examples, Galen warned them that loyalty was his highest priority, surpassing even talent and strength.
Galen, however, balanced severity with reward. After the soldiers removed Spire's corpse, Galen distributed a generous amount of sweets and honey, a welcome surprise.
"Tusk, I promised to spare the Bristleback quillboar if you surrendered. I am fulfilling that promise. The seventy thousand Bristleback tribe members in the fortress are yours. However, the Brambleblade territory is not. I have found you a new home."
Having just conquered Bristleback , Galen saw no reason to return it immediately to its former owners. Furthermore, the Bristleback geomancers had damaged the soil nutrients with excessive bramble planting. Galen intended to rectify this.
"Northwest of Bristleback is an oasis called the Forgotten Pool. Lead the Bristleback there and establish a new settlement near the Ghostfog Mountains to the east! Remember to plant fewer brambles, only as needed! And beware the harpies to the north, your old enemies!"
"I understand!"
Galen then addressed Screech, who looked eager. He had been the most enthusiastic about executing the traitorous Bristleback chieftain, his face still reflecting vengeful satisfaction. Galen doubted the efficacy of his warning.
"Screech, your name is rather awkward. From today, you will be called Bob!"
"Thank you, Warchief, for the new name! From now on, I am Bob Thornbristle!" Screech was overjoyed. The name was unimportant compared to gaining control of the Thornback population.
"Very well. Wipe your drool. You will receive your share. Over forty thousand Thornback tribe members will be incorporated into your Razorhide tribe. The Crusaders have ample food. I can feed even your considerable appetite. I ask only for diligent mining, faithful contributions, and unwavering loyalty!"
"Bob will heed the Warchief's teachings and serve him faithfully!"
"Tusk will also!"
"Go, and lead your people to their new home!"
After dismissing Tusk and Bon, Galen checked on Hogger and Nibnob. Their progress pleased him.
Months ago, Hogger had successfully infiltrated the Palemane gnoll tribe. His superior physique and paladin training had dramatically increased his combat prowess. In several battles against the Razorhide, pre-arranged with Bob, Hogger had repeatedly distinguished himself and become the old chieftain's right-hand man. He had also married the chieftain's daughter, reaching the pinnacle of gnoll society.
Galen had largely left Hogger to his own devices, only tasking Gandalf with ensuring his safety and coordinating with Bob. Hogger had proven to be a gnoll prodigy, becoming the White Mane tribe's second-in-command in less than half a year.
"But that's not surprising," Galen mused. "He is Grandpa Hogger, the 'newbie terminator,' with 250,000 kills in 2015, enshrined in the Blizzard Hall of Fame alongside Deathwing and Ragnaros!"
"An achievement earned one kill at a time!" Galen thought. "Who else could compare?"
The naturally gifted Grandpa Hogger had excelled as an undercover agent.
"Not bad," Galen thought. "I'll give Hogger more responsibilities in the future. The capable should be challenged."
Chief Nibnob of the Drywhisker tribe led three thousand elite kobolds, garrisoning the valley north of the Eastern Barrens. The valley was home to hundreds of kobold clans, numbering over a hundred thousand.
The Drywhiskers initially kept a low profile.
When a mid-sized kobold clan, mistaking them for easy prey, tried to seize their stores of grain and candles, the Drywhiskers retaliated fiercely. Nibnob personally skewered the kobold leader with an earth spike.
Nibnob then led the Drywhiskers to annex the population and territory of the defeated clan, continuing to expand. They now occupied one-fifth of the valley, entrenched in the western highlands, the future site of Orgrimmar's Spirit Valley.
Galen considered his subordinates' progress. They had done well, but he wanted them to move faster.
"I'll create some competition," he decided.
Galen contacted Hogger, praising his work and mentioning the kobolds' success in unifying their canyon.
He then contacted Nibnob , offering similar praise and mentioning Hogger's impending ascension to Palemane chieftain.
After ending the calls, Galen put away the magical communication devices. "The stage is set," he thought. "Their performance will determine the outcome."
Soldiers carried boxes of spoils into the town hall. The Bristleback and Thornback tribes were poor. The only valuable items were a few boxes of bloodstone shards, which the Thornback quillboar hadn't even had a chance to use before being scattered by the knights.
After several battles, Galen had earned ten lottery draws, plus these spoils. If converted, they would only be worth 100,000 gold coins, less than the wealth of ten thousand Drywhisker kobolds!
"It's best to have the quillboar mine," Galen decided. "Otherwise, their strength will be wasted."
Galen converted most of the spoils, primarily ores, into gold energy. Bloodstone shards were only useful to quillboar, so turning them into reserve energy was preferable. The upcoming raid on Karazhan would require significant spending, perhaps even summoning kings to defeat Medivh.
Galen's total assets exceeded 500,000 gold coins, accumulated from early spoils, grain sales, weapon and equipment trade, farm profits, and Garrosh Port taxes. He felt he had more liquid funds than his kingdom-owning father.
He kept 100,000 gold coins in reserve, entrusting the rest to Harmmon Kaven, his logistics and business director. With his expanding operations, Galen needed professional financial management.
Galen then conducted a ten-draw lottery, with disappointing results. His luck seemed to have run out.
Most of the prizes were magical equipment, but since establishing the Goblin Shop, Galen had already equipped his generals with Boots of Speed, Noble Rings, and Amulets of Life. New magical equipment was not a priority.
A few valuable items did appear: two Resurrection Crosses, a Book of Life, and a Red Dragon Egg!
Galen carefully kept the Resurrection Crosses, relieved that he could now adventure without fear. While heroes could be resurrected at the Kings' Altar, Galen was unsure about his own survival. He had avoided testing the limits, fearing permanent death.
With the Resurrection Crosses, he could finally relax. He regretted not having the Orcs' Storm Altar, which could summon a Tauren Chieftain with a resurrection skill.
The Red Dragon Egg and Book of Life were stored for later use.
Galen then made several military deployments. Omar's First Legion, combined with the Thunder Legion, was stationed at the mouth of the Anger River, tasked with building city walls.
Varrokal's cavalry regiment and the Second Auxiliary Legion went to the Southern Barrens, accompanied by Cliff's construction legion, to build Triumph Fortress near the Muddy Mire crossroads. The name commemorated the Crusaders' and Tauren's victory over the 80,000 Death Head quillboar.
Fadell led the Third Legion to Honor Hold to support Aragorn. Flar and Durin's Fourth and Fifth Legions were stationed at the Crusader Fortress, also tasked with completing its walls.
Hennie led the Second Legion north to garrison the Ashenvale Mountains, which separated Ashenvale's lush forests (home to the demigod Cenarius) from the Barrens' desolate desert. The Horde had invaded Ashenvale for its timber, essential for Orgrimmar's construction.
Hennie's destination was the southern exit of a ten-kilometer canyon through the Ashenvale Mountains, intended to become a future trading post with the night elves.
These arrangements secured the Northern Barrens.
Galen considered the Spring of Life from the lottery. He planned to use its waters to transform the Barrens into a verdant land, making it his personal garden, armory, and source of minerals and soldiers.
"Eggs should not be placed in one basket," Galen reasoned. "If the timeline is ruined and the orcs defeat the Human Alliance, I will still have a province of land and resources, and the means to correct it."
The Sludge Fen in the northwest contained oil, Thorns Ridge awaited mining, the Six Army Castle was incomplete, and the Wailing Caverns remained unexplored. These projects would have to wait.
Three days later, Galen received Aegwynn's message, summoning him to Stormwind City.
Galen, Gandalf, Aragorn, and Durin used a Return Scroll to reach Stormwind City's teleportation tower in the Mage District.
"Good day, Ms. Aegwynn, good day, Uncle Lothar!" Galen greeted them. After their responses, he asked, "Could you provide the coordinates for this tower? I have some friends who wish to join us."
Lothar nodded, directing a court mage to assist. Lothar was unfamiliar with magical matters.
The first to arrive was Chromie, who accepted Galen's invitation and used a Return Scroll provided by the Dark Division.
As Chromie materialized, Aegwynn exclaimed in surprise.
"Chromie, it's you?"
Aegwynn activated her magic shield and summoned her staff, prepared for a confrontation.
"Oh, dear Aegwynn, you're here too. Aren't you happy to see me? I'm so cute!" Chromie blinked innocently.
"Silence, Chromie! Had I known you were Galen's 'helper,' I would have disrupted the teleportation and stranded you in the space tunnel!" Aegwynn lowered her staff, though her shield remained active, and glanced at Galen with a hint of reproach.
"What? You know each other?" Galen feigned innocence. "Chromie is a little friend I met while investigating the orcs, a powerful priest. I thought we could use her assistance."
"You call her a priest! Do you even know who she is..."
"Aegwynn! Come, come, come, let's reminisce in the back! Reminisce!" Chromie interrupted, preventing the revelation of her identity, her tone strained.
"They seem to have a complicated relationship," Galen observed.
"Gandalf, contact Kael'thas and give them the coordinates!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
As Gandalf used the communication device, a new portal opened, and three high elves emerged.
"Long time no see, Galen!"
"Long time no see, Kael!"
The two princes embraced. Then, introductions followed.
"This is Gandalf, you've met him. This is Durin, the Mountain King of the Dark Iron Dwarves! This is Aragorn, a paladin. If you offer me suitable compensation, I can help your high elves develop a new melee class."
A tall high elf in ornate mage robes, standing behind Kael'thas, expressed surprise. "A new melee class? I'm intrigued!"