Aiden's arrogant mockery of Lothar provoked a glare from Llane and ignited Lothar's anger, causing a palpable pressure to fill the room.
Bang!
Thoras reacted even more forcefully than Lothar, slamming his great axe onto the table!
Unfortunately, Terenas, the host, intervened, cutting short the brewing confrontation.
"Enough! Aiden, I will not tolerate such insults directed at my guest!"
Thoras felt a twinge of regret at Terenas's interruption. He'd relished the opportunity to deliver a beating, knowing the other kings would find it hard to criticize him.
Nevertheless, Thoras wasn't about to let Aiden off easily. "Aiden, you need to discipline your spies. Stormwind's citizens are sheltering on your land, yet you remain ignorant of Lothar's identity. Your incompetence is truly astounding!"
"You...!"
Aiden's face cycled through shades of green and white. Seeing the knowing looks on the other kings' faces, he held his tongue. Clearly, he was missing crucial information.
At that moment, Terenas interjected with a smile. "Lothar is no stranger. He is a descendant of the Arathi bloodline, an heir to a noble lineage."
"My ancestors ventured south, establishing new territories, but we still honor our ancient pacts with the north. That is why I have come seeking aid!" Lothar explained.
Most of the kings remained composed, revealing their prior knowledge of Lothar's identity. This was largely due to Galen's efforts, though he had overlooked the Kingdom of Alterac.
Aiden, realizing he had been publicly humiliated, felt a surge of impotent rage. He resolved to return home and unleash his fury on his intelligence chief.
"If that is the case," Aiden said stiffly, "I require time to consider how best to address this... orcish threat."
Having lost face, Aiden could only offer this weak response. Ever the opportunist, he sensed the other kings' alignment with Stormwind and sought a way to shift his allegiance.
At this point, Galen stepped forward, adding insult to injury. "Time is of the essence. The orcs are already besieging Ironforge in the Dun Morogh mountains. The dwarves' messengers have crossed the Thandol Span and will reach Lordaeron within days."
Thoras beamed at Galen. Well done!
"The kings are in conference. What right do you have to interrupt?" Aiden sputtered.
"I am Galen Trollbane, the current Duke of Tol Barad, a paladin, and a high mage. I believe I am qualified to participate in this meeting!" Galen declared.
"Furthermore, I must inform you that the orcs possess the capability to build ships. Their assault on the north could come not only by land, but also by sea!"
Lothar's revelation, a key reason why Kul Tiras and Gilneas hadn't questioned his motives, underscored the gravity of the situation. Once the orcs had a substantial fleet, the island of Kul Tiras and the southern coasts of Gilneas would be vulnerable.
"Then we must dispatch scouts immediately to ascertain whether they are constructing vessels!" Genn urged.
"I believe they will advance north by land and build ships in the wetlands west of Balor's eastern coast," Daelin offered, his familiarity with the Eastern Kingdoms' coastline evident. "From there, they could strike north across the Thandol Span or sail across Balor, saving considerable time."
Daelin's assessment sent a chill through the room.
The Kul Tiras navy could defend Borealus, but it was utterly incapable of patrolling the extensive coastlines of Hillsbrad, Gilneas, and Silverpine Forest.
The dungeons of Kul Tiras and Gilneas held orcish prisoners. The kings had witnessed the raw power of these common orc warriors. Even elite human soldiers required a two-to-one advantage to reliably subdue them. The thought of a massive orcish horde pouring into their lands, wreaking havoc and slaughter, was terrifying.
Dalaran, a nation of mages, maintained only a small contingent of troops for frontline defense. The orcs' combat prowess made it clear that Dalaran's army was no match. Should the orcs approach, the mage-lords would be forced to flee.
Only Terenas remained outwardly calm, his kingdom's central location offering a buffer. He failed to foresee that treachery from within would expose Lordaeron to the full brunt of the orcish onslaught.
The orcish threat was now paramount. The kings were forced to confront the reality of a large-scale invasion, and Lothar seized the moment to propose a formal alliance.
Galen's earlier actions had primed the northern kingdoms, making the orcish menace undeniable and smoothing the path for the alliance's formation. The human kings unanimously agreed to unite.
The meeting then shifted to the practicalities of forming the alliance: sending invitations to the high elves and awaiting the arrival of the Ironforge delegation.
Meanwhile, Thoras, having thoroughly "fleeced" his son, sought a seat for the Thorium Brotherhood among the kings.
Despite the successful formation of the alliance, undercurrents of self-interest persisted. Only Stormwind, Stromgarde, and Kul Tiras seemed genuinely committed to the war effort.
Stormwind's survival hinged on defeating the orcs and reclaiming their homeland. Kul Tiras, a maritime power, faced the brunt of any naval assault, and Stromgarde stood as the first line of defense against a land invasion. The other kingdoms, however, were less enthusiastic about the expense and bloodshed of war.
Galen withdrew from the ensuing haggling over contributions, troop deployments, and leadership. He found such political maneuvering distasteful and tedious. As he wasn't a king, he left these matters to his father.
His mission to facilitate the alliance was complete. He could now operate from behind the alliance's shield, seizing opportunities and amassing power. Once his strength surpassed that of the allied kingdoms, leadership would naturally fall to him.
He mused that while figures like Yue Buqun and Zuo Lengchan schemed for dominance, he, Galen, would achieve it through superior power.
However, an unexpected complication arose.
Kael'thas contacted Galen with troubling news.
The Silvermoon Council of the High Elf Kingdom refused to honor the ancient pact, declined to aid the descendants of Thoradin's bloodline, and rejected the alliance.
Even the Sun King was unable to sway the councilors!
Heh!
Utter arrogance.Time for plan B.