Orgrim ordered Varok Saurfang and Fenris to rest and heal. Jubeka brought a troll claiming to be an Amani Warlord.
This hunchbacked, green-skinned creature had well-proportioned muscles and a tall stature, suggesting a strong race.
"You are the trolls? I've seen records of you in the Stormwind archives. You fought humans millennia ago and have been fighting ever since. Perhaps we can cooperate!"
Orgrim was direct. The orcs needed allies. Attacking Stormwind was costly, and he knew of six more human kingdoms to the north. While confident in facing them, he wanted to minimize the Horde's losses.
The troll, Zul'jin, High Warlord of the Forest Trolls, bowed. "Respected Warchief, I'm here to cooperate with the Horde against the humans and high elves!"
"High elves?" Orgrim recalled the new, slender, long-eared guards in Dun Morogh. "Are they powerful?"
"Yes, very powerful." Zul'jin admitted reluctantly, the Amani having once nearly wiped them out. "Since they appeared here, our ancestors fought them! Only the rise of humans put us at a disadvantage!"
"Humans are our enemy. We will form an alliance," Orgrim declared.
"Warchief, thousands of years ago, humans only had numbers until the high elves taught them arcane magic. High elven magic is even more difficult to deal with."
Orgrim was fearless. "We'll charge into their homes and destroy them!"
"With the Horde's help, the high elves lose their allied advantage. We'll destroy the humans and high elves, take the human plains, and you'll reclaim your forests!" Zul'jin's eyes gleamed. Hearing from jungle trolls about the destruction of a southern human kingdom, he sought cooperation.
"Warchief, I agree. The Amani have contacted northern troll clans. 50,000 troops are ready in the Hinterlands!"
50,000 troops! Orgrim needed such support. "I welcome the Forest Trolls to the Horde!"
...
Galen didn't know about Zul'jin's initiative. In the original timeline, Zul'jin only joined after Orgrim rescued him.
"The orcs won't attack here again. Alas!" Galen thought, his hands moving. Tok'kar was aimed at Sylvanas.
Galen didn't blame her. Orgrim was busy capturing Grim Batol and building docks, ignoring Varok Saurfang and Fenris's siege.
He didn't know Galen was farming experience. Human soldiers traded lives for orc kills, resurrecting nightly!
This was absurd. He thought the humans heavily guarded Dun Modr, only feigning a single legion, and that Varok Saurfang was foolishly charging.
But Dragonmaw shamans reported only 10,000 defenders in Dun Morogh, meaning any ambush would be half a legion!
When he reinforced Varok Saurfang and Fenris, Dun Morogh's ranged attacks became fiercer than cannon fire. Three hundred cannons couldn't match four thousand elite rangers.
Varok Saurfang retreated in defeat!
"Galen , how do you know the orcs won't attack again?"
Sylvanas somersaulted, dodging Galen attack, countering his longsword with her short blade, and kicking.
Her lithe figure made Galen eyes gleam. Legs for days!
Beautiful things are often dangerous!
Sylvanas grabbed her longbow mid-air, drawing and firing an arrow.
"Be careful, Galen!"
"Wind Burst!"
Sylvanas's signature move, like a piercing arrow, whistled towards Galen.
Galen didn't use invincibility; they were just sparring.
Sylvanas, seeing the quiet orc camp, invited Galen to a friendly match.
They left their deputies in charge.
Faced with Wind Burst, Galen's eyes flashed, capturing the arrow's core.
"Open!"
His sword struck the arrow, intercepting Wind Burst, which dissipated.
"I lost." Galen examined the newly repaired Trol'kalar, now cracked again. An ordinary weapon couldn't have blocked Wind Burst.
The match ended.
"Trol'kalar is damaged?" Sylvanas knew of the troll-killer.
For her long-lived race, a millennium was like her parents' time; for Galen, it was many generations ago.
"A powerful being destroyed it. My craftsmen barely repaired it. Only recasting can fully restore it!"
"Can I help? Galen, I have connections in Quel'Thalas; perhaps I can find rare materials." Sylvanas offered, acknowledging him as a friend. Compared to decadent high elf nobles, this human prince had valuable qualities.
Most importantly, he was strong. Even in defeat, Sylvanas knew he held back.
"Thank you, Sylvanas. If we defeat the orcs and attack Blackrock Mountain, please help me find a piece of solid black crystal!"