Kurdran arranged for his dwarves to clean the battlefield, handling the bodies of fallen comrades and Orcs to prevent a potential plague.
Galen had his adjutants assist the Wildhammer dwarves. The army included specialized corpse disposal squads, already collecting the fallen soldiers with assistance from many other soldiers.
Aragorn, Galen's "exclusive angel sister," was assigned to the task of resurrection. Galen cited the presence of too many onlookers as a reason for not participating directly.
After these arrangements, Kurdran and Falstad led Galen and the others north, into the Wildhammer dwarf town of Aerie Peak, located beneath the mountain of the same name.
Most Wildhammer dwarves lived here, at the foot of the giant eagle statue that gave the town its name. Since the contamination of Grim Batol by dark magic after the War of the Three Hammers, the Wildhammers had changed their way of life.
Witnessing the horrors in Grim Batol, their ancestors began building homes on high mountains, abandoning the practice of delving deep into the earth.
This shift in ideology led them to embrace nature and partner with griffons, giving rise to their shamanistic traditions and a separation from Ironforge.
During the journey, Kurdran and Galen engaged in friendly conversation. The Highlord seemed to have a strong affinity for Galen, a familiarity that Galen found puzzling.
Galen knew that Kurdran was considered young by dwarven standards and had only recently inherited the position of Highlord from Maz Drachrip.
Kurdran openly shared his family history: "Galen, when the Alliance envoy first came, I wanted to join, but that stubborn old Maz and a group of minor clan chiefs opposed it!"
Falstad, nearby, looked helpless, concerned about Kurdran revealing too much. "Please excuse my brother, Prince Galen."
"It's alright, Falstad. Please, just call me Galen," Galen replied, wondering if Kurdran had ulterior motives, while acknowledging the more capable Falstad.
"Would you mind introducing us to the city, Falstad?" Galen asked, curious about the Wildhammer capital.
In his previous life, Galen remembered Aerie Peak mainly for its large griffin statue. In reality, it was just a cave used to house griffins, store eggs, and raise cubs, along with a few houses and an inn.
The Aerie Peak Galen saw now was a prosperous city with at least 100,000 residents.
"Aerie Peak is our most important and populous city. Our ancestor, Khardros, led most of our people here, but some were unwilling to go north and settled in the eastern highlands. You should be quite familiar with them, Galen."
Falstad was more discreet than Kurdran, avoiding sensitive topics. The Flamebeard, Cuspiven, Sandmar, and Dunwald settlements in the Northeron Highlands were largely independent of Aerie Peak.
Galen understood the unspoken tensions and had his own plans regarding the Flamebeard and Sandmar tribes, known for their griffin taming and shamanistic traditions respectively.
Kurdran interjected, "Aerie Peak is our main commercial and agricultural center. We can sustain hundreds of thousands of people by hunting in the forest, but it's not enough for our griffin partners, so we've learned to grow crops at the mountain's base, like you humans."
"Mostly to grow grain for mead or graped for wine, hahaha!" Kurdran added, looking at Galen expectantly.
Ah, that's what this is about, Galen realized.
Galen finally understood Kurdran's enthusiasm. His reputation for fine wine, earned while cultivating favor with the Firebeard tribe in Northeron, had spread throughout the Wildhammer community.
"Hahaha, Kurdran, speaking of fine wine, I'm already eager for a taste. Let's find a place to have a few drinks!" Galen suggested.
"Galen, you are a true friend! Hahaha!" Kurdran was delighted. He hadn't had a proper drink in days, with the Orcish and Trollish armies at their borders. Falstad closely guarded their supplies, and Kurdran, mindful of his duties, had only allowed himself small sips.
Dwarves only befriend those who can drink!
Galen was clearly such a friend!
Kurdran had expected the Alliance commander to be an elderly man, but Galen was a welcome surprise. And when Galen produced several barrels of fine wine from his backpack, Kurdran was even more convinced.
Inside the lord's hall, Kurdran invited them to sit, and the guards prepared food. Galen took the initiative, opening a barrel of Hamerfall Ale, a specialty of his territory and now the largest producer of alcoholic beverages in Lordaeron.
Thanks to the base farm, Hamerfall had become Stromgarde's most productive grain-producing town, surpassing the original Dabyrie, Northford, and Go'shek Farms.
The abundant grain supported Hamerfall's 100,000 residents, who enjoyed a higher standard of living than in the royal capital. Wineries and bakeries flourished, and Hamerfall Ale was popular among their dwarven allies for its quality and affordability.
"Galen! To our friendship, cheers!"
"For the Alliance! Cheers!"