Early morning mist shrouded Baradin Bay, a sea fog. Southshore's residents and dockworkers were just beginning their day.
Then, tall masts appeared on the horizon, far outnumbering Southshore's usual traffic.
"Over a thousand transport ships! It's like moving an entire kingdom!" the dockworkers exclaimed.
This was Galen's fleet, evacuating Stormwind's civilians to the northern kingdoms. 100,000 had disembarked in Kul Tiras, and another 100,000 were heading east.
These 100,000 were devout followers of the Holy Light, from Stormwind's Cathedral District. They were bound for Faldir Bay in Stromgarde, disembarking at the capital and traveling overland to Minas Tirith!
The remaining 400,000 passengers would land at Southshore, to be temporarily settled in the Hillsbrad region.
Duke Bolvar Fordragon led these 600,000 refugees. Stormwind's citizens never imagined they'd return to their homeland as refugees.
These 600,000 were primarily those who had fled to Stormwind after the fall of Elwynn Forest. Over 200,000 of Stormwind's million citizens had died or been injured in recent wars. Besides those Galen had transported, hundreds of thousands more had fled into the Redridge Mountains.
Lothar, with Galen's Scarlet Crusade and a reserve legion, defended Stormwind with only 50,000 regular troops.
Some nobles remained, unable to evacuate in time. Lothar, with absolute authority, prioritized Galen's fleet at the Stormwind docks.
Once Galen's ships left, those nobles who refused to stand with Lothar hastily loaded their family fortunes onto private merchant ships, trying to minimize their losses.
Galen capitalized on this. His SI:7 agents secretly bought up property from fleeing nobles at rock-bottom prices. These nobles, desperate to escape, sold their ancestral holdings for whatever they could get.
I'm so embarrassed, Galen thought. Soon, half of Stormwind's trading district will be mine!
Profiting from a national crisis is certainly efficient, Galen mused. He resolved to acquire as much farmland and property as possible from Hillsbrad's nobles during the war, and to "absorb" nearly 800,000 people from the region!
An opportunity to get rich!
Lothar kept only a few loyal nobles by his side, such as Duke Greyson Shadowbreaker and the new Duke Aelred Ebonlock. The old Duke Eberlock, safely returned from Karazhan, had surprisingly passed the title to his son.
Stormwind's fall was inevitable. Although Orgrim had become Warchief, his prestige was still somewhat lacking. He needed a major victory. What could be greater than capturing the capital of the human kingdom that had defied the orcs for years?
While some nobles stayed to fight with their private armies, young acting 'King' Varian was disheartened by the sight of most nobles scrambling to escape.
(Llane is in a coma)
"Uncle Lothar, aren't nobles supposed to protect their land and people?" Varian asked from Stormwind Keep. "Why are they running?"
"Prince Varian, some nobles will always fail their duty," Lothar replied. "They've become decadent and cowardly, clinging to their wealth. But we also have honorable, brave, and selfless nobles!"
Lothar thought of Bolvar, Aelred, Windsor, and Gavinrad - the future of Stormwind. He and Llane were old. He hoped to defeat the orcs before he died. The future belonged to Varian and these young men!
"Like Brother Galen?" Varian, fourteen, looked up to the seventeen-year-old Galen, his only peer. Even Derek Proudmoore, guarding the docks, was over twenty.
Lothar smiled at the admiration in Varian's eyes.
Indeed, Galen's achievements were remarkable for his age: a seventeen-year-old Legendary warrior, a Grand Duke, commanding significant forces and territory. Lothar had never seen anyone quite like him.
"Speaking of Galen, despite his occasional tricks and teasing, he's reliable when it matters."
"Varian, you must learn from Galen and become an excellent prince, an excellent king!" Lothar said, looking towards Varian's future.
Standing nearby, Gandalf quietly touched his communication device, hoping the prince hadn't heard Lothar's assessment.His ego would grow three sizes if he did.
Far to the north, Galen frowned. He only heard the phrases "tricks and teasing." The rest was muffled by Gandalf, leaving him annoyed.
So that's what you think of me, Lothar? Badmouthing me to Varian! How am I supposed to build a relationship with the future king?
Galen was furious.
He decided to target Stormwind's fleeing nobles.
Galen, leading eighty battleships and twenty merchant ships, was hiding in the bays of Dun Morogh. A timid naga woman stood beside him.
Taking advantage of the relative peace, Galen had subdued the Spineclaw naga tribe of Baradin Bay. His water elemental army, combined with his powerful ships and cannons, forced the 5,000-strong tribe to submit.
The naga woman was their new priestess, Sashja. Her predecessor had been killed by a cannon volley for refusing to surrender.
"Sashja, have the scouts been sent out?"
Galen's sudden question made the priestess tremble. "Master, Zola is monitoring all sea routes north of Stormwind with the naga thugs. There will be no problems!"
"Very good! Minions! Change the flag!"
"From today on, we are the Bloodsail Buccaneers!"