The high elf army in South Eversong Woods was on high alert. Kael'thas had received word that Galen and his forces had entered the Quel'Thalas passage, only a day's journey from Tranquillien.
The surrounding high elf villages and towns had been completely evacuated. Fairbreeze Village, Sunstrider Village, and Deatholme were all empty, their populations resettled in the northern forests.
Alliance intelligence indicated that the Horde's red dragon knight forces had grown significantly. To minimize casualties, the evacuation was essential. Councilor Dar'khan played a crucial role, ensuring the evacuation by forcibly removing anyone who stubbornly refused to leave.
South Eversong Woods also bordered troll territories. The Dark troll and Amani trolls posed a constant threat. With the sea to the west, the central route was the only viable path. Kael'thas predicted Orgrim would attack from the central or eastern routes.
Consequently, the high elf army was concentrated in Tranquillien and the Sun Sanctum, locations close enough to support each other.
"Your Highness, a dragonhawk rider scout is missing from the eastern border!" Captain Sharls Vordun of the Firewing Legion reported.
"The orcs must be coming!" Kael'thas declared. "Send scouts to quickly determine the direction of the dragonhawk rider's disappearance!"
"Your Highness, our magical barrier is not easily breached!" the Sunfury Legion Commander retorted, believing Kael'thas was overreacting.
"Wasn't the magical barrier breached just six months ago?" Kael'thas countered, exposing the high elf mage's arrogance.
The Sunfury Legion Commander fell silent. Goldenmist Village was still recovering, and the noble district's manor still bore a massive crater.
The new runestones had only recently been reburied. Despite the Silvermoon Council's efforts to reinforce the border runestones, Kael'thas, having witnessed Gul'dan's power, remained skeptical.
Kael'thas had been increasingly influenced by Galen's ideas, agreeing with many of his concepts.
While the debate about whether the best defense was a good offense continued, Kael'thas agreed that in a nation's gravest hour, only a wall of flesh and blood could ensure its survival.
Since returning to Quel'Thalas, Kael'thas had observed the decadence and lack of ambition among the nobles. Under the Sunwell's radiance, they were eroding the kingdom's foundations like moths in Silvermoon City.
Ignoring the Sunfury Legion Commander's opinion, Kael'thas ordered the entire army to prepare for battle.
Soon, movement from the south confirmed Kael'thas's judgment.
The Horde was approaching!
"The Sundial spies report the southeastern barrier has been breached, and a large number of enemy forces are pouring through!"
"Report, the orc and troll coalition is burning down the southern villages!"
"Report! Three squads of Sundial spies are missing!"
"Report, the orcs' location is unknown!"
Kael'thas's handsome face paled. The Sundial spies, the Sunstrider dynasty's elite, numbered just over a hundred. Losing three squads was a significant blow.
"Order the scouts and spies to narrow their search and focus on the area within twenty kilometers of the Sun Sanctum and Tranquillien!" Kael'thas ordered.
They would have to wait for the enemy to come to them. Expanding the search would lead to more losses, which Kael'thas felt he could not bear.
The Orc army advanced rapidly through the forest. Zul'jin led the trolls, partly due to their familiarity with forest warfare and partly due to their eagerness to slaughter elves.
Unfortunately, they found a dozen empty border villages. Enraged, Zul'jin burned several villages until Orgrim stopped him, urging the trolls to conserve their strength for the battle ahead.
On the third day, the Orc army reached the city!
At the Sun Sanctum, Kael'thas gazed at the dense mass of orcs and trolls outside and felt a chill run down his spine. If they broke through the defenses, the losses would be catastrophic!
"Rosman, transmit this scene to Silvermoon City using the image-capturing mage, and tell the Council to expedite the evacuation of the North Eversong Woods population to Silvermoon City! Hurry!" Even without Kael'thas's urging, the high elves were stunned. The Horde's main force nearly equaled half the population of Quel'Thalas. They could not win alone!
Their only hope was to hold out for reinforcements. Joining forces with the Alliance army would give them a chance.
"Activate the mage towers! Activate the barrier!"
The Sun Sanctum was located on a ley line node. The elves built the Sanctum there for cultivation. Over a dozen mage towers stood there, capable of drawing on the Sunwell's power to form a defensive barrier.
After Zul'jin's initial probing attack with hundreds of spears, Orgrim realized conventional methods wouldn't work. He also feared being attacked from multiple sides.
The high elves' scorched-earth tactics were even more thorough than the humans' in Hillsbrad. They had moved everything of value.
Orgrim was frustrated. His goal was to capture Silvermoon City and then conquer Lordaeron, but the elves' defenses were formidable.
"Tell the Dragonmaw clan warriors to use the red dragons to destroy the elves' barrier!" Orgrim ordered, resorting to his most powerful weapon.
Nearly a hundred red dragons took to the sky, including dozens of adults. For the Horde's victory, Zuluhed committed a massive force of adult and young red dragons, a force capable of destroying a nation!
The buildings outside the Sun Sanctum's mage tower barrier were instantly turned into molten slag by the dragons' fiery breath.
The once dark blue southern forest turned crimson under the dragons' flames!
"Tell the Dragonhawk Riders to engage the Red Dragons and prevent them from attacking the barrier, or it won't hold!" Rossman yelled, struggling to maintain the Mage Tower's energy output under the Red Dragons' assault.
Unbeknownst to him, the Red Dragons were intentionally holding back.
To dragons, humans were mere mortals. While they resented being forced into mortal conflicts, they would still kill to protect their queen.
High Elves, however, were different. They were distant kin, an offshoot of the Night Elves. Ten thousand years ago, the Five-Colored Dragons and Night Elves had fought the Burning Legion together, forging a bond of friendship.
The elves owed their extended lifespans partly to Red Dragon Queen Alexstrasza. Consequently, on the advice of her consort, Tarannastrasz, the Red Dragons weakened their fiery breath against the elves.
Their attacks were a mix of dragon phlegm and saliva, but even this strained Rossman. "Quel'Thalas, we need help!"
Two Archmages joined him, stabilizing the Mage Tower's barrier.
Meanwhile, the Dragonhawk Riders took to the skies!
A dozen adult Red Dragons were Legendary rank or higher, and the Ancient Dragon Tarannastrasz was as old as the Dragon Aspects. The Dragonhawk Riders couldn't hope to defeat them. Kael'thas intended for them to harass the dragons, while the Mage Towers provided the main offensive power.
Above the Sunspire, Dragonhawks and Red Dragons clashed, briefly darkening the sky.
The Dragonhawk Riders weaved through the Red Dragons' weakened breath attacks, avoiding the adults and targeting the smaller, artificially bred dragons.
On the ground, the Mage Towers concentrated their arcane fire.
It was a chaotic aerial battle. Dark shapes fell from the sky, mostly Dragonhawk corpses. The Dragonhawk knights, equipped with magic-resistant gear similar to spellbreakers, survived the diluted dragon fire. Though badly burned, they were saved by ground-based elven mages who cast Slow Fall.
Dragonhawks could be bred to replace losses, but experienced knights were irreplaceable. Their survival mitigated the High Elves' losses.
The Dragonhawk Riders' harassment and the Mage Towers' anti-air fire proved effective, shooting down many weaker Red Dragon whelps.
"Tell the Dragonhawk troops to change tactics! Prioritize attacking the Orcish knights on the Red Dragons' backs!" the Dragonhawk leader ordered, noticing the Red Dragons' subtle weaknesses.
The Red Dragons often unintentionally exposed their riders. The Dragonhawk leader realized the dragons' intentions and adapted their strategy.
Though the Dragonmaw clan had a tradition of taming flying mounts on Draenor, Red Dragons were not beasts. They lacked a true bond with their riders, especially since they were coerced. The Red Dragon Knights were essentially a fragile alliance.
The Red Dragon Knights relied on the dragons' raw power and fiery breath. The Orcs on their backs acted primarily as overseers.
The new tactics worked. Killing the Dragonmaw Orcs caused the freed Red Dragons to flee to the southern mountains.
While the aerial battle raged, Orgrim directed peons on the ground to cut down trees and build siege engines. Once the Red Dragons breached the barrier, the ground forces would attack!
Kael'thas knew he had to delay the Orcish advance until Galen arrived.
"Liadrin! Alexos! Prepare yourselves and lead the Skychaser Knights to disrupt the Orcs' siege construction! The Sunfury Legion will provide ranged support!" Kael'thas ordered, deploying his newly formed elite unit.
The Skychaser Knights were composed of the Sunstrider royal family's guards. After Kael'thas and Galen agreed to cooperate, Kael'thas selected the personnel, and Galen conducted their Light baptism at the Cathedral of Holy Light in Silvermoon City!
Galen's instincts were correct. The Sunstrider Royal Guard had unwavering loyalty and faith in the Sun King, resulting in a high Light conversion rate. The reorganized Skychaser Knights numbered over a hundred High Elf Holy Light Knights. If the High Elves weren't so few, this order would rival the number of Light converts in Arathi!
Liadrin, one of Galen's first apprentices, was destined for greatness in the Light.
As a High Elf Holy Light Archbishop's apprentice and one of the first paladins, Kael'thas appointed her as the order's commander!
Under the command of Liadrin and her deputy, Alexos, the hundred new Holy Light Knights and over two hundred elite elven knights mounted their warhorses and charged out of the Sunspire's magical barrier.
The elves' charge was dramatic. The thunder of over three hundred warhorses drew Orgrim's attention!
"Hormuk, Murton Krak, lead your Blackrock wolf riders to flank and destroy this unit! Show these arrogant elves the Horde's power!" Orgrim ordered, sending out the elite Blackrock wolf riders. The peons' work could not be interrupted; every second was precious.
"Warchief! We want to fight too!" Zul'jin interjected. The trolls were growing increasingly bloodthirsty. Zul'jin struggled to contain their bloodlust.
Orgrim glanced at his increasingly frenzied allies. An army blinded by revenge made him uneasy. They could be useful, or they could turn on the Orcs!
"Let your people go! You will be the main force, and the wolf riders will support you on the flanks!" Orgrim agreed. It was better to unleash their bloodlust on the High Elves!
"No problem, I'll keep an eye on them!" Zul'jin grinned.
"Nalorak, take the Amani War Bear Riders and kill those long-eared knights!"
Within Silvermoon City, on Sunstrider Isle!
"Bang! Our nation is under invasion! And you're still debating why the Ban'dinoriel Barrier isn't functioning!" King Anasterian Sunstrider slammed his hand on the table, his millennia-old patience finally exhausted. The Silvermoon Councilors fell silent.
"But, Your Majesty, the Ban'dinoriel has protected Quel'Thalas for thousands of years without issue. These two invasions within six months suggest a conspiracy against the Quel'dorei!" argued the Councilor from the Dawnseeker family, a ninth level Archmage who had personally overseen the barrier's last major upgrade.
"Does the barrier's protection mean we Quel'dorei have forgotten how to fight? Have you seen the magical images from the front lines?" Lirath Windrunner, mother of the Windrunner sisters, interjected, her patience wearing thin.
"Our nation is invaded, and our people are panicking. Our priority is to drive out the invaders, regardless of any potential trap!" the Sun King declared. "A conspiracy is only a conspiracy because the perpetrators lack the strength for open warfare. Before Quel'Thalas's absolute power, they are nothing more than sewer rats!"
Belovael, the most influential Councilor after the Sun King, stepped forward. Understanding the gravity of the situation, he sought to bridge the gap between the King and the Councilors.
"Our immediate concern is evacuating the populace from northern Eversong Woods," Belovael stated firmly. "Depending on the front-line situation, we may need to retreat to Silvermoon City." He knew the number of invaders from his Archmage disciple, Rommath, at the front, and wanted to prepare for the worst. Silvermoon City was the nation's most fortified bastion, protected by an impenetrable barrier.
The most respected Councilor nodded, and after a moment of hesitation, the others agreed.
"So be it. Belovael, you will oversee the evacuation!" the Sun King commanded, then added calmly, "Quel'Thalas is now in a state of total war! Mobilize the Eclipse, Firewing, and Flamehawk legions! Deploy them to the front lines immediately!"
"Now that we have joined the Alliance, let us not conceal our strength. Let the humans know that even after thousands of years, the high elves remain strong! We are still the premier magical kingdom!"
In that moment, the aged Sun King recaptured the fire of his youth, reminiscent of his bold decision three thousand years prior to defy popular opinion and ally with the humans against the still-powerful Amani Empire.
Driven by the desire to win the war, enhance his son Kael'thas's military reputation, and secure his path to the throne, the Sun King abandoned his previous conciliatory policies, unsettling the Councilors.
He was, after all, a Sunstrider, a descendant of Dath'Remar, and the blood of a conqueror flowed in his veins.
On the roads of Quel'Thalas, Galen and Turalyon led their respective knightly orders, scouts ranging ahead to prevent ambushes.
Galen lamented the elves' barriers and xenophobia. He couldn't infiltrate Eversong Woods, leaving him with a blank strategic map. Am I supposed to probe the bushes with my face? he thought.
Forced to rely on conventional tactics, Galen acknowledged Turalyon's superior skill in this area. However, he concealed his awareness, entrusting the reconnaissance to Turalyon to maintain his image.
After passing through the elven national gate, though, Galen recalled the human scouts.
Inside the forest, the rangers were the undisputed experts.
Moreover, plumes of smoke rose in the distance, indicating that at least a small town was ablaze.
Galen suspected Orgrim would attempt to ambush reinforcements.
"The Art of War says, 'Do not enter a forest lightly. If you must, scout it thoroughly.'"
(Varus give me back my legions!!)
While Galen had fabricated the latter part, Turalyon nodded in agreement.
Several thousand Farstrider rangers were dispatched to scout and eliminate Horde scouts and informants.
Sylvanas and Alleria personally led these missions, eager to avenge the destruction of their homeland.
That night, the Farstriders returned with hundreds of troll heads and some orc scouts.
The proximity of the orc and troll scouts suggested a nearby force, prompting Galen and his men to proceed with greater caution. Fortunately, the Farstriders' expertise allowed them to control the flow of information, effectively blinding the enemy.
While Galen and Turalyon advanced, they contacted Aragorn in the Hinterlands.
Without the aid of the Wildhammer dwarves and elves, the farmers at Quel'Danil Lodge swiftly constructed fortifications, including numerous arrow towers erected overnight. Varok Saurfang was forced to retreat, stymied by their rapid construction and formidable defenses.
During this time, Kurdran visited Quel'Danil Lodge. Impressed by the Silver Legion Brigade's defensive capabilities after witnessing several battles, he ceased worrying about Aerie Peak and led the main force of Wildhammer gryphon riders north.
After Kurdran's departure, Galen secretly teleported the Gale and Scarlet Legions, along with six thousand gryphon riders, to Quel'Danil Lodge—a strategic maneuver made possible by his acquisition of the gryphon riders.
Galen's plan was to swiftly clear the Orcs and trolls from the Hinterlands while attention was focused on the north, and to install a new troll proxy in the region.
The next morning, Alleria and Sylvanas rejoined the main force.
"The Sunwell lies ahead. If we move quickly, we can reach it by noon! The ambush in our rear has been neutralized, so it won't delay us, at least for now!"
The Farstriders' efforts had cleared the path for a rapid advance. Orgrim's plan had failed.
"The road ahead is clear!"
Galen was pleased.
"All troops!"
"Charge!"
"Morningstar Knights! Charge!"
Liadrin led the charge, the elven knights surging forward.
Zul'jin grinned. He remembered the high elves' knights as one of their most potent weapons. Today, he would shatter that myth! The Amani War Bear Riders were unstoppable!
The Amani War Bears, descendants of the troll Loa, the great bear god, combined with the strongest troll warriors, were known as Warbringers. They were Zul'jin's elite, and he was confident.
The massive war bears and their riders stood nearly five meters tall, dwarfing the slender high elves, who, even on their two-meter warhorses, reached only three meters. In every aspect, the troll knights seemed superior. Slaughtering these elves would be easy, right?
The result was devastating for the trolls. The War Bear Riders, arrogant and dismissive, were smashed by the Holy Light-infused Morningstar Knights. The front ranks of knights and bears were obliterated, coughing up blood and collapsing. Then, the elves plunged into the troll formation.
The long-lived elves had a high tolerance for error. Even those who chose the wrong path in youth had ample time to change or acquire new skills.
Liadrin was such an elf. Adopted by High Priest Vandellor, she became a Holy Light priest. But the murder of her parents by trolls fueled her mastery of combat.
Galen, who personally conducted her Holy Light ritual, was essentially her paladin mentor. He recalled that Liadrin's core beliefs were retribution and judgment. That potent Holy Light, akin to sun god power, had propelled her from a high-level priest to a Legendary warrior!
This is too much! Is she the main character? Galen thought.
Let's review: Parents killed by trolls (villains) in childhood, raised by Archbishop Vandellor (the mentor), inherits an earldom (wealthy). This is a classic hero origin story. With her affinity for the Light, unwavering faith, and combat skills, becoming a paladin was her awakening. Liadrin was destined for greatness.
The Amani Warbringers, however, were not weak. Veterans of the Amani Empire's glory days, they rallied and besieged the Morningstar Knights.
The sheer number of trolls put immense pressure on the elves. Fortunately, Liadrin and Alexos were exceptional warriors, and the high elf mage corps provided ranged support, allowing them to hold their ground.
Just then, Kael'thas spotted two more orc units: Blackrock wolf riders!
"Quickly, deploy the arcane golem units to contain the Blackrock riders, and support them with our warriors!" Kael'thas ordered. Orgrim was reinforcing his attack, and he had to intervene. The Morningstar Knights' first battle had to be a victory.
So far, Kael'thas had been forced to rely on the royal family's forces. The new Morningstar Knights and the arcane golems were the foundations of the monarchy. The power of the council families remained untapped.
This had left Kael'thas desperately short of warriors, forcing him to commit the Morningstar Knights prematurely. This is not how knights should be used! he thought.
Anger simmered within him. Are the honest always exploited?
Having witnessed Gul'dan's power and the orcish threat years prior, Kael'thas had constantly warned his father, sending captured orcish prisoners to Silvermoon City.
This had some effect. The Sun King and Archmage Belovir sensed a faint demonic taint on the orcs, confirming their suspicions of demonic influence. This realization prompted Belo'vir to support the Sun King's evacuation plan.
The rest of the council, however, had resisted all war preparations, claiming the threat was distant and unnecessary defense spending was wasteful. They believed the magical barriers were impenetrable. Their primary concern was protecting their own interests and preventing the royal family from gaining popular support through the war!
Galen was right. The council is a malignant tumor, stifling progress and change! They reject anything new, their descendants wallowing in luxury, blind to the enemy at their gates!
Kael'thas struggled to reconcile this with the image of the proud, courageous, and pioneering high elves of old.
He also felt a deep resentment. A prince spent a century in "exile" in Dalaran, all to prepare him to rule!
Kael'thas vowed that the day he ascended the throne, the council would be swept aside.
Meanwhile, hundreds of arcane golems lumbered forward. These magical constructs were the elves' substitute for frontline troops, expensive but necessary to compensate for their lack of manpower. The flesh-and-blood wolf riders were no match for the golems' powerful charge.
But the wolf riders quickly adapted. They seemed experienced in fighting these slow-witted golems, which attacked according to rigid programs.
The wolf riders deployed nets made of thick ropes, designed to capture powerful prey like gronn, ogres, and thunder lizards.
Trapped, the arcane golems struggled, only tightening the restraints. The arcane golem force, just deployed, suffered a setback, losing dozens of its number!
Kael'thas's defensive battle was faltering!
"Die!" Liadrin roared, deflecting Nalorak's battleaxe with her shield. Her warblade flashed down, aiming for the troll general's throat.
Nalorak was no ordinary foe. As the bear spirit, one of Zul'jin's four great generals, he was renowned for his immense strength. Blocking the warblade with a claw fist made from bear spirit-shed claws, he proved his resilience.
"In the name of the Sun! Punish the enemy before me!"
Realizing the troll's strength, Liadrin unleashed a paladin's ultimate move!
"Judgment!!"
The Holy Light warhammer startled Nalorak. He instinctively blocked with his claw fist, but the hammer's force numbed his arm!
"Troll scum!" Liadrin pressed her advantage, activating Avenging Wrath!
Wings of Holy Light erupted behind her, bathing her in a radiant glow.
"Hammer of Justice!"
Liadrin's strategy was simple: control, then burst. Her instructors at Minas Tirith assured her this combo would handle most enemies.
Caught off guard, Nalorak failed to notice the Holy Light hammer materialize above him. It crashed down, stunning him.
Dazed and disoriented, the troll general's defenses crumbled. He endured Crusader Strike, Judgment, Blade of Justice, and finally, as he recovered, Liadrin delivered a Templar's Verdict!
Nalorak awoke to searing pain in his chest, blood flowing freely. He had weathered a barrage of powerful attacks. Only his strength and the bear spirit's blessing had kept him alive.
Fighting a paladin for the first time, the troll, unfamiliar with Holy Light magic, was at a severe disadvantage. These Holy Light attacks were instantaneous, requiring no chanting, making them even more dangerous than magic!
Nalorak shook his head, trying to clear his senses. The elven woman's warblade descended again!
His claw fist blocked the blade, and his right hand charged, gripping the battleaxe for a sweeping strike!
Bang!
The force sent Liadrin flying off her warhorse!
Nalorak grinned. He knew the power of that attack. Even Zul'jin preferred to dodge it. Surviving a direct hit was impossible.
This long-eared elf is finished! he thought, turning to engage the other elven leader, Alexstrasza. Suddenly, he saw the elf rise, enveloped in an oval of golden light!
Liadrin felt a surge of relief. Thank the Light, paladins have Divine Shield. This was her most trusted Holy Light spell. Her Minas Tirith instructors, taught by Lord Galen himself, could even control where the barrier appeared: front, side, or back! And its duration was unmatched!
"Judgment!"
In Nalorak's stunned silence, the Holy Light hammer struck his chest again, a searing, agonizing blow.
Enraged, Nalorak roared and leaped off his giant bear. Before landing, his body transformed, muscles bulging, and black hair sprouting across his skin!
A massive black bear stood in the center of the battlefield. The Skychaser Knights and even the Amani War Bear Riders recoiled in fear.
Charge!
The giant bear lunged, using all four limbs, towards Liadrin. Her Divine Shield faded, leaving her no time to dodge. She raised her large shield, bracing for the impact.
The giant bear slammed a paw against the shield, sending Liadrin flying.
As the bear prepared to press its attack, Skychaser Knight Adjutant Alexstrasza Windrunner pulled her warhorse's reins, intercepting the giant bear!
The battle for Sunwell Plateau raged fiercely, with fighting in the sky and on the ground. The plateau's protective shield, battered for a day and night, seemed on the verge of collapse!
"For the Alliance! Charge!"
A roar erupted from the Horde army's southwest flank. A red and white tide of knights surged from the forest. Galen's and Turalyon's forces had arrived!
The Horde's left flank, composed of trolls, was caught completely off guard. Galen and Turalyon led their paladins, empowered by a speed aura, in a devastating charge.
The two knight orders, like unstoppable locomotives, smashed into the trolls. The trolls, focused on the Sunwell Plateau, were obliterated, coughing up blood and trampled under hooves.
Orgrim frantically ordered his generals to rally the defenses. He could not allow the left flank to collapse, or the entire battle would be lost!
But even worse news arrived.
Following Galen and Turalyon, Kurdran Wildhammer's gryphon legion descended!
The gryphons' piercing cries made Zul'jin's expression twist in horror.
As chieftain of the clan that enslaved the red dragons, he knew their weakness. The arrival of a large gryphon force was a disaster!
Orgrim stared at the reinforcements in disbelief.
He had left ambushes! How had he received no warning? What was Gazrilla doing! He had given him ten thousand warriors, and he couldn't even defend their rear!
Kurdran led over a thousand gryphon knights directly towards the red dragons above Sunwell Plateau. The red dragons were surrounded!
Despite their strength, the red dragons were outnumbered. Each dragon faced a swarm of gryphon knights and dragonhawk riders!
The tide of battle was turning!