The Hinterlands is a region of dense deciduous forests, filled with ancient oaks and maples. Many of the trees are old, creating a perpetual twilight where their towering canopies block out the sun. Ancient roots and vines cover the landscape, and rushing rivers flow over beds of pebbles.
Zul'jin had gathered a massive troll army here, uniting forces from the large Vilebranch and Deadwood Clan, as well as smaller tribes like the Viletooth and Rotting Moss. His goal was to avenge the Amani trolls' past defeats.
Zul'jin amassed an army of 50,000 trolls and a host of tamed beasts, including lynxes, giant bears, dragonhawks, and thunderhawks. This was one of the largest trollish war parties in recent centuries.
Zul'jin was preoccupied with a single question: how to persuade his Orcish allies to shift their attack towards Quel'Thalas.
"Zul'jin, I will not argue with you in this forest any longer about heading north or west. The humans will soon send a large army into these lands. We must decide quickly!" Orgrim declared. After breaking through human strongholds, Orgrim had joined forces with the trolls, but the urgency in his heart only grew stronger.
The time for vengeance was approaching. While going north would lead to the high elf borders, Orgrim wanted to turn west, towards Lordaeron.
"Chieftain," Zul'jin proposed, "perhaps we can divide our forces."
"One force will remain in the Hinterlands to confuse the humans, seek opportunities to attack Aerie Peak, or strike eastward into human territory. The forest is troll territory. The Vilebranch and Deadwood clans have bases here, making it easy to conceal our numbers from the humans."
"Meanwhile," Zul'jin continued, "my people in Zul'Aman are prepared. With 100,000 brave Orcs, we can crush the high elves. After taking their capital, we can join forces from the north and east to attack the human royal city."
Zul'jin then detailed the weaknesses of Quel'Thalas to Orgrim, emphasizing their lack of strong defensive lines. He argued that once the Orcish warriors breached those lines, the rest would be a massacre.
"Zul'jin, you have convinced me," Orgrim conceded. "Let the Orcs fulfill their alliance and help you defeat the high elves and reclaim your forest."
Orgrim saw this as a strategic retreat. Zul'jin's plan was tempting, and the alliance between humans and high elves seemed fragile. It was worth the risk.
Although Orgrim wanted to attack Lordaeron, he knew their new allies wouldn't agree.
Zul'jin, the high warlord of the Amani trolls, was also an old fox. In terms of scheming and political maneuvering, he was no less cunning than Orgrim. His alliance with the Orcs was based on his own calculations; the two races weren't of one mind, but merely united for mutual benefit and to achieve victory.
A broken ship has three thousand nails, and even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, Orgrim thought. Despite being weakened by the high elves and the former human empire, the Amani trolls, though divided into self-governing tribes, still possessed some power.
Zul'jin's elite warriors alone gave Orgrim pause. Diplomacy required strength, and the trolls were valuable allies. This was not the time for a rift; it was better to have an ally than another enemy. Besides, the Orcs had no interest in the forest.
But once we win this war and control this continent, Orgrim thought, we will cut down your forests sooner or later.
"Varok!" Orgrim called to his most trusted lieutenant.
"Chieftain, you called?" Varok Saurfang responded quickly.
"I will lead half the tribe and our troll allies north. You will hold the line here for a while."
"The voodo priest of the Vilebranch Tribe and the Chieftain of the Deadwood Tribe will assist you in establishing a foothold in the Hinterlands until we return from the north," Zul'jin added, demonstrating his sincerity and showcasing the strength of the northern trolls.
"The dwarf fortress in the northwest is related to the Bronzebeard dwarves of Ironforge," Zul'jin warned. "If you want the red dragon knights to have free rein in the skies, you should eliminate them. They are the only race on this continent capable of taming griffons!"
Zul'jin's words reminded Orgrim of the gryphon riders who had harassed the Dragonmaw clan's red dragons, making a lasting impression.
"I will leave Zul'dare's tribe with you, Varok," Orgrim decided, opting not to take the red dragons north. The dragons were not fully under the Dragonmaw's control and harbored rebellious thoughts. The further they were from Grim Batol, the harder it would be for the Dragonmaw knights to control them.
According to Zul'dare, more and more adult red dragons were arriving to rescue their queen, Alexstrasza, only to fall before the Demon Soul's golden disc.
Zul'dare was intensifying his efforts to control these dragons with the Demon Soul, hoping to soon have a devastating air force.
To keep this trump card secret, Orgrim had to keep the Dragonmaw clan hidden deep within Grim Batol, waiting for the opportune moment.
Saurfang's forces would include the Dragonmaw clan's red dragon knights, half of the Blackrock clan's elite, and warriors from smaller clans, supported by the Vilebranch and Deadwood tribes.
Orgrim himself would lead the other half of the Blackrock elite, Zul'jin's 50,000-strong army, the Death Knight Corps, ogres, and Gul'dan.
Orgrim kept Gul'dan under constant watch, except during his encounter with the human mage Kel'Thuzad.
The presence of the hundreds of thousands of Orcs and trolls in the Hinterlands terrified the Wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak.
Aerie Peak, like Ironforge and the former Grim Batol, was a mountain city founded by the Wildhammer royal family after they moved north following the War of the Three Hammers.
The mountain surrounding Aerie Peak was carved into the shape of an eagle, with the eagle's head serving as the gryphon-taming area, hence the name Aerie Peak.
Lord Kurdran Wildhammer and a small team of gryphon knights landed inside Aerie Peak. His cousin, Falstad Wildhammer, also a gryphon knight, rushed forward to meet him.
"Kurdran! What's the situation?" Falstad asked anxiously.