Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 346. Setting sail for the battlefield where sins are to be repaid.

The green-skinned animals quickly passed through the wetlands.

Their speed was so great that by the time His Majesty Magni Bronzebeard, who was stationed at Menethil Harbor, received the report, the orcs had already crossed the swamp in the middle of the wetlands. Their vanguard was so close to the Dan'argaz Pass that the rangers who were almost at the edge of the wetlands had no time to stop them.

"Most importantly, they have a troop of wolf riders left at that mountain pass!"

Greave, the high-ranking dwarven ranger captain who rushed to deliver the message, reported to his emperor with great confidence:
“I scouted the area on a gryphon. According to information from our human allies, the wolf riders should be from the Warsong Clan. They are cunningly hiding in the mountains bordering the wetlands and Khaz Modan. Once the main force of the greenskins appeared, they immediately took over the tunnel leading to Thelsamar.”

So cunning!

This was definitely premeditated!

"Didn't they come from Celsama? But why didn't my daughter tell me about it?"

In the castle of Menethil Harbor, Magni Bronzebeard, clad in the armor of the Mountain King, stroked his luxurious and imposing beard with a look of suspicion, and said:
"Given Moira's intelligence, it's impossible that she didn't notice so many greenskins crossing our territory. And it's not just her; the mayor of Thelsamar wrote a few days ago saying that everything there is peaceful, and that the Arathi exiles have already set up camp near Lake Locke. So what exactly is going on?"

Magni was by no means an inexperienced drunkard. As the king who led the Bronzebeard clan to victory in the War of the Three Hammers, Magni was never lacking in wisdom.

He squinted, and after a moment, he slammed his hand on the table and said:
"Someone must be hiding something. There might be a traitor in our country. Those bastards have joined forces with the greens! They've at least reached some kind of tacit agreement."

Ah!
Damn it!

My alliance with the Stormwind Kingdom is based on the Greenskins as our enemies. If the humans discover these underhanded tactics, the Dwarven Kingdom's credibility will collapse in an instant.

We must send someone to Selsama to see what my audacious daughter is up to!

"Your Majesty, please keep your voice down."

Greif was startled, and the patrol commander stepped forward and shouted:
“There are still humans in this castle. If they hear us, it will be terrible. You need to send people over there as soon as possible. At the speed at which the greenskins travel on their dire wolves, they can cross the Danogaz Pass and enter Celsama in a day at most.”

"Well, it's a pity my brother is far away in the Storm Kingdom."

Magni lowered his voice.

But the dwarf's naturally loud voice still made his whispers echo in the command room. He pondered for a moment and said:
“Greev, go and call General Vandal over. Only a general with such distinguished service can take control of Celsama from my daughter in a short time.”

"Ow."

Greif turned to leave, but after a few steps he turned back to the king and said:

“Your Majesty, I discovered something strange during my reconnaissance. When those green-skinned people advanced, the jackals in the wetlands were escorting their supplies.”

"Ok?"

Magni's eyes widened, and he exclaimed:
"The moss-skinned gnolls in the wetlands have never had any contact with the greenskins. How could those beasts help the greenskins transport supplies? And haven't we been carrying out the plan to assassinate the gnoll chieftain and incite them to fight amongst themselves?"
The several gnoll tribes here have been fighting amongst themselves and are now mortal enemies. How could they suddenly unite?

"I do not know either."

The dwarf hunter scratched his head and said:
"But I heard from the local mountain rangers that a goblin merchant ship recently ran aground and sank in the Sunset Swamp. We sent people over to help, but there were not many goblins on board. Instead, there were gnoll corpses in the sunken ship."

They are said to be gnolls from Stormwind Kingdom. I've heard that these savages also serve as servants of the orcs there.

This might also be a Greenskin conspiracy.

Damn!

They've sent their gnoll minions to wreak havoc right under our noses, Your Majesty. Perhaps the Greenskins' next target will be us dwarves.”

“That makes sense, but Selsamar is the top priority right now. Go find General Fandral immediately and have him take my guards there as quickly as possible. By Kazgross, in these turbulent times, let's hope that the terrible thing like Selsamar being taken over by the Greenskins doesn't happen again.”

------

"Your name is Hogg Wolfpie?"

Exhausted, Orgrim looked at the local gnoll chieftain who had come to "seek refuge" with suspicion. He blinked and said:
"You gnoll, how dare you use the chieftain's surname of the Thunder God Clan? If Fenris hears about this, he will surely kill you!"

“I am Chief Fenris’s war apprentice! And the gnoll chosen by the Black Wolf God.”

Hogg, dressed in a suit of stolen dwarven armor, snorted unhappily and said loudly:
"If it weren't for the Black Wolf God's decree, I wouldn't have brought the clan I just conquered to help you. Here, we stole these provisions from the dwarves on our way. Take them and get out of here!"

Hogg pointed rather bluntly to the location of Danogaz Pass and said:
“Your mess here has already attracted the attention of the dwarves. Those guys have powerful muskets, and I don’t want to be targeted by them. At least until I unify the wetland gnolls, I don’t want the dwarves to see me as a major threat.”

The good news is that the local gnolls are incredibly weak and have been lured into fighting each other by the dwarves.

Damn it!

They're so weak and still not united. Aren't they just waiting for me, the Great King, to conquer them and then establish a great gnoll kingdom in the wetlands?

Ah, I've even chosen my capital. I'm going to establish my kingdom in Grim Batol, which has been abandoned by the dwarves!

The Black Wolf God is very satisfied with my plan; I will become its most valiant chosen god.

"Hey, you gnoll have quite the kingly air about you."

Orgrim was amused by Hogger's "grand plan".

He stopped the Korkaron guards around him from killing the audacious gnoll and ordered the others to accept the provisions and herbs that Hogg had brought.

The high chief stared at Hogg with a look of "rare find," and after a moment, he said to Hogg:
"The Wetlands are the territory of the Bronzebeard Dwarves. Although I have never been to Grim Batol, I know that it is the old city of the Wildhammer Dwarves, and it is of great significance to them."

If you establish your rule in that city, expect to be brutally beaten by the two dwarven clans working together.

Listen to me, Hogg Wolfskin, your ambitions are great, but your plans are inadequate. The gnolls of the wetlands can be used by you, but you cannot stay here for long. Humanity will soon launch a northward expedition.

do you know?

The demons have taken over their kingdom in the north, and the wetlands are the only road to the northern frontier. If you stay here, you'll be wiped out by Lothar's army.

But I know a place that would be perfect for you to establish your kingdom there.

Black Swamp!

Orgrim said to Hogg:

Do you know how we orcs came to Azeroth?

"Uh."

Hogg rolled its eyes, nodded, and said:
“I’ve talked to some of you, and I know you’re sitting in a city that fell from the sky, but I think you’re bragging! How could a city possibly fly? If your city could fly, how come it’s ended up being chased and beaten by humans?”

"Fenris Wolfskin and Zul'jid are both dead. Your attack on Elwynn Forest has failed, and you've dragged me down with you!"

"Yes, our city is hidden in the deepest valley of the Black Swamp. It is a powerful city, filled with the supplies I have prepared for the war."

Orgrim took out a map made of animal hide and pointed to the location of their fortress, saying to Hogg:

"I originally planned to take all those supplies to Kalimdor, but if you're willing to take over the city, I can leave the city and the supplies to you."

Most importantly, not all greenskins will leave this world with us. There will always be some warlike madmen who choose to stay for various reasons, but they will eventually be killed by humans if they fight alone. As the chieftain, I have to find a home for my foolish people.

So, Hogg, if you have the ability, you can recruit any of those belligerent greenskins you want.

"Ow?"

Hogg was tempted.

It had never been to the Black Swamp, but it knew that it was the largest swamp on the Eastern Continent, several times larger than the Wetlands, and that even at their most powerful, the humans of the Stormwind Kingdom had never conquered the Black Swamp.

If the orcs really did have a city there, then it would indeed be a suitable place for the gnolls to establish a nation.

Most importantly, as the chieftain just said, the humans are about to begin their northern expedition. This means that the powerful Anduin Lothar will focus his attention on the north. Demons are not so easily driven out; it will take them many years to conquer the northern frontier. This means that Hogger and his gnoll kingdom will have valuable time to develop.

But Hogger, being a chosen one whose consciousness had been awakened by the Black Wolf God, squinted at Orgrim and said:

"So, what's the price?"

"Take your people here and come with us to Kalimdor!"

The Great Chief said:

"You are also the chosen one of the Black Wolf God, Hogg. You know about the great hunting war between the Black Wolf God and the White Wolf God. You and your people have an obligation to participate in it. We are going to Molten Light Town in the Wasteland to take a ship to another continent. You and your warriors can come with us."

Kalimdor also has powerful gnoll clans, which you can easily conquer there, and then after the war, take a ship directly back to the Black Marsh to establish your kingdom.

We're about to leave this world, Chief Hogg, but our contract with the goblins at the venture capital firm still has several years left. I can transfer it to you, and then you'll have the goblins providing you with all sorts of resources.

What a beautiful thing this is!

Hogg remained silent.

Even if it was smart, it was still just a gnoll. Orgrim had given it too much information, and it needed to think about it. So it took out its "handkerchief" to wet it and wipe its head to calm itself down. But as soon as it took out the handkerchief, Orgrim grabbed its wrist.

During Hogg's counterattack, the High Chieftain snatched the pelt from its hands. He unfolded it and examined it. Although it was filthy from Hogg's actions, he could still see half of the Frostwolf Clan's emblem on it.

"Where did you get this animal hide?"

Orgrim shouted sternly:
"This is a swaddling cloth for a child! You damned gnoll, you harmed Durotan's child? You deserve to die!"

Seeing the chieftain's fury, the loyal Kor'kron immediately stepped forward and easily disarmed the gnolls. As Hogg had said, the local gnolls were indeed weak; they had little chance of fighting back against the powerful greenskins.

However, Hogg realized that Orgrim had misunderstood and quickly told Orgrim about how he had obtained the animal hide.

The chieftain looked at Hogg, who had a "sincere" expression, with suspicion. After realizing that the guy might not be lying, he sighed, washed the tattered animal skin clean in the water next to him, and put it in his pocket.

他 说:

"So, my nephew Guil has returned to his father's arms?"

"I don't know, but I did send it out."

Hogger wagged his tail somewhat uneasily and said:

"Maybe he went back, but that little guy is a bit strange. I saw the river 'protecting' him all the way, and he was drifting on the river at an abnormally fast speed."

"Hmph, that child is a born son of Draenor, isn't it normal for him to be protected by the elements?"

Orgrim's mood improved. He looked Hogg up and down, shook his head, and said:

"Alright, for the sake of this matter, I won't trick you anymore. Forget what you just said. I originally planned to use you and your gnolls as cannon fodder for us. Now, you can find your own way to survive."

But I wasn't lying either.

You can't stay in the wetlands; that's suicide.

"No, I'll go to Kalimdor with you."

Hogger howled a few times and said:

“Although you are a liar, your plan is excellent. I also believe that the Black Swamp is more suitable for the development of my gnoll kingdom. The Black Wolf God has given me a terrible command.”

It looked distressed and sighed, saying:

"The Black Wolf God wants me to go to a place called 'Dragon Islands' to conquer a gnoll kingdom that has existed for thousands of years. I can't do it on my own. I need a powerful force."

I can bring the gnolls from the Wetlands to Kalimdor to serve as cannon fodder for you, but I have one condition!

The gnoll chieftain stared at Orgrim and said:

“I need you to teach me how to truly lead my pack. The knowledge I’ve gained from Fenris and Zulushid isn’t enough to take me any further, but you seem like a formidable fellow.”

I want to learn from you for a while!
I also desperately need the support of the goblins; at the very least, I need a fleet capable of launching expeditions across the ocean.

"Alright, now go and gather your men. I'll give you one day. How many gnolls you can recruit depends on your ability."

Orgrim waved his hand, and Kor'kron released Hogg's follower, then watched as the strange gnoll turned and rode off on a ferocious swamp tiger into the mud.

"Great Chieftain, is this gnoll worth wasting a day on?"

Nazgrell said weakly in a low voice:
"Didn't you say we had to get to Meltlight Town right away?"

“We need a vassal army, and the gnolls of the wetlands are the most suitable cannon fodder. This Hogg Wolfline is also a very powerful chieftain.”

Big Hammer waved his hand and said:

"The Black Wolf God's presence here signifies its need, and we have an obligation to leave a powerful hunting pack for the Black Wolf God in this world before we leave Azeroth."

It has helped us a lot, and we should give back.

In addition, the soldiers also need a day to rest, and the changes in the situation on the Celsama side are not a problem.

The dwarven soldiers from that area were all transferred to the wetlands, and the warriors of the Badlands Fortress were also taken by Princess Moira Bronzebeard to assassinate Emperor Thaurissan. Even if the dwarven king realized what was happening, what could he do?

Even the best general can't accomplish anything without soldiers under his command.

My plan has a purpose at every step, and so far, everything is proceeding according to plan. You all go and rest; we'll set off in a day.

The chieftain stood up and walked along the muddy swamp toward the temporary camp next to him.

He saw Grom Hellscream sitting alone by a rock in the swamp, watching the water flow, and didn't disturb him. Perhaps Grom needed some time to calm down; after all, he had just seen his child.

"But why are you coming with us?"

Orgrim looked back at the swamp bushes behind him, where Blackpawn was sitting and drinking heavily, his terrifying oak axe beside him, and Varok Saurfang was lying next to him, fast asleep from exhaustion.

“You are the executioner chosen by Draenor, Broxigar. You should be following the Vigilantes.”

The Great Chief said:

"Don't you need to go back to Draenor?"

"It is precisely because I am the executioner, Orgrim, that I must go with you to Kalimdor."

Brox said in a hoarse voice:

"I am the eye and the claw of Draenor. The death of Manonos the Destroyer lessened its hatred, but only the death of the Defiler can satisfy its hatred."

And you!
You rebellious sons of Draenor are about to embark on a journey of exile through the stars. I must come on behalf of Mother World to see you off. Don't worry, I've already spoken with Diakum beforehand, and my private actions have been approved by him.

However, Orgrim, you did not drink the demon blood, you are not a greenskin!

So you need to take some time to think about what your fate will be after the other greenskins find their way into exile.

This question made Orgrim clench his fists, but then he grinned, shrugged, and turned to leave with Doomhammer on his back.

He doesn't want to think about this complicated problem right now.

But some people always have to endure the test of wisdom. For example, General Fandral Stormpike, who arrived in Thelsamar at top speed, was completely stunned after hearing the mayor's description.

"You're saying Princess Amora Bronzebeard led the elite troops of the Badlands fortress to assassinate the Dark Iron King? Holy crap! How could this girl be so reckless? Does she think she's the Queen of the Mountains?"

General Vandal's vision went black, and he jumped up and down, cursing:

"How dare she cooperate with the Greenskins! This is practically putting King Magni and the entire Ironforge on the fire! Damn it! If the humans find out about this, the entire Bronzebeard Dwarf race will be utterly disgraced!"

"But you must admit, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, General."

Mayor Elon Blunt Nose, somewhat embarrassed and timid, handed a jug of wine to the fierce general before him, and whispered:

"How many years has the hatred between humans and greenskins lasted? Our grudge against the Dark Iron bastards has lasted for hundreds of years. If Your Highness can really kill or capture that bastard Thaurissan, our reconquest of Searing Gorge and Blackrock Mountain will be much easier."

Most importantly, the princess analyzed it for me.

Look, the human empire is about to be rebuilt, but our dwarven Khaz Modan region is awkwardly stuck within the human empire's territory. Perhaps Marshal Lothar's promises are trustworthy, but will the human emperor after him really allow this complicated situation?
We must seize this opportunity to unify the dwarf kingdom! Only in this way can we prepare for any eventuality.

"Humph."

General Vandal Ramo did not bother to answer.

However, his lack of rebuttal made Mayor Bluntnose realize that the general, in the current situation, had no choice but to approve of this risky operation. More importantly, the pile of black iron scum heads in the Valley of the Kings pleased the meritorious General Fandral.

Several of his relatives died in the War of the Three Hammers, all killed by the Dark Iron dwarves.

"The truth of this matter must never be revealed!"

Fandral Rema took a sip of his drink and said in a deep voice:

"Even if we allow the greens to withdraw from our territory, they can't do it so openly! Gather the patrolmen, get the steam tanks running, and when they come over, fire a few shots and cannons into the air, then fight them to make a show of it. We absolutely cannot let the humans find any fault with us."

Sigh, that Moira is really audacious!

Her relationship with the king was already strained; this commotion is really going to cause trouble.

"But General"

The blunt-nosed mayor looked around and whispered:

"If Her Highness can truly achieve such a valiant feat, even if His Majesty the King is unwilling, the Princess will still obtain the right of succession. At that time, she will be our monarch."

(End of this chapter)