In Silverpine Forest, a large orc force of over ten thousand was resting.
The three orcs at the head were strong, with a strange mix of brown and green skin.
They could be identified by their weapons: Orgrim Doomhammer, carrying the black warhammer; Grom Hellscream, wielding the huge battle axe; and the Firebrand Chieftain, Dal Threeblood, with a machete-like fire blade.
"Warchief, the internment camps in Silverpine Forest have all been liberated, and camps one through five in the Hillsbrad region have also fallen. Now, only camps six through ten around Durnholde in the east and the camp inside Stromgarde remain!"
Grom Hellscream was filled with fervor. The Warsong clan and the Firebrand clan had been exiled to the Eastern Kingdoms for over a decade. In these ten years, he had fought, endured, and even cooperated with the Blackhand brothers on Blackrock Mountain.
Only they knew the hardships they had faced. The Warsong clan and the Firebrand clan had also suffered significant non-combat attrition. The two clans had dwindled from the eight thousand warriors who broke through the encirclement back then to only five thousand combat-ready soldiers now.
In the most difficult moments, Orgrim stepped forward, trying to rebuild the Horde. Hellscream chose to secretly head north, answering his call.
"There are still the internment camps within Stromgarde's territory…" Orgrim was silent for a moment.
He had always felt a strange sensation about Stromgarde, as if it were a huge black hole that would swallow him, Grom Hellscream, and the newly formed Horde!
"Let's attack Durnholde!"
Hellscream, who had been stifled for ten years, felt that his axe was already eager for blood. There was no one worth fighting in Silverpine Forest and Western Plaguelands!
"No! Let me think about it!" Orgrim flatly rejected the orcish war god's suggestion.
"Why, Warchief!" Hellscream was displeased. "As long as we capture Durnholde Keep, the surrounding internment camps can be liberated effortlessly!"
"Now that we have gathered over ten thousand members of our race, and if we rescue the people of Stromgarde, the resurgence of the Horde is just around the corner."
The tens of thousands of people Hellscream was referring to were not all from the original invasion of Azeroth. A large portion of them were orcs born in Azeroth. The older ones were already sixteen or seventeen years old, and their physical fitness was comparable to that of adult humans.
The orcs who invaded Azeroth back then were all young and strong members of the clans, mostly around twenty years old. However, because there were not enough warriors in their twenties, those orc teenagers would choose to drink a cup of demon blood and use fel energy to accelerate their growth.
Blackhand the Warchief's two sons, Rend and Maim, were like that, which is why they always seemed to lack intelligence.
Among these orcs were both men and women. Female orcs were also good warriors. Later, because male orcs in the internment camps died in large numbers due to overwork, the male-to-female ratio among the orc prisoners was surprisingly not that disparate.
In order to increase the number of orcs and meet the current production needs, the internment camps lifted the segregation rules, and the orcs reproduced in Azeroth.
"No, the children are innocent," Orgrim refused to conscript child soldiers.
"And I always felt that Stromgarde had a lot to hide during the war!"
"What?" Hellscream was conscripted by Orgrim from Draenor in the later stages of the war. At that time, the Horde was already showing signs of defeat, and Hellscream only experienced the Battle of Blackrock Mountain. He did not fight Galen in the Landing at Hillsbrad, the Hinterlands Ambush, or the South Songwood Forest Battle, so it was normal that he didn't know much about the Stromgarde army.
"Their soldiers! Excessively elite!" Dal Threeblood helped Orgrim answer this question. "Not only are they elite, but they are also fearless, it feels… it feels like they were all cut from the same cloth!"
"How is that possible? Humans, like us orcs, reproduce and give birth to offspring!"
Hellscream did not believe it. The same cloth? Did you think they all had the same parents?
However, seeing that Orgrim also agreed, Hellscream no longer retorted.
"Not only that, but I also discovered that their so-called General Galen did not give his all during the war."
Hellscream was already annoyed. What was wrong with you guys? Why were you always boosting others' morale and undermining your own?
Hellscream slammed Gorehowl on the ground and said impatiently, "What do you say we do next!"
Orgrim was about to speak when several scouts he had sent out returned. Orgrim hoped to hear if there were any new discoveries before deciding on the next plan.
"Warchief, the third squad of wolf riders searching for food on the Hillsbrad farms has gone missing. A force from Lordaeron has moved into the farm!"
"Warchief, the Blackrock… Blacktooth clan led by Rend and Maim is under attack by the Lordaeron army. The two sides are evenly matched. But… your subordinate discovered that there are warlocks hidden in their clan, and they are using human civilians for sacrifices!"
Bang!
Upon hearing this news, Orgrim punched the giant tree next to him hard, and a crack appeared on the tree opposite the fist!
Grom Hellscream and Dal Threeblood's eyes narrowed!
The Warchief's strength had improved again!
"What about you? What news did you bring?" Suppressing his anger, Orgrim planned to continue listening to the scout's news.
"According to news from the north, Eitrigg has appeared in the Western Plaguelands. He was captured by humans and is about to be sent to Stratholme for trial!"
At this time, Hellscream and the Firebrand Blademaster were excited. Orcish warriors respected each other, and Eitrigg was an old brother they admired. Most of the orcish chieftains had received his favor in one way or another, so the news of him was very exciting.
"Warchief!"
"Let's go north, Warchief!"
At this time, Hellscream didn't mention liberating the Stromgarde internment camp anymore. Rescuing Eitrigg was more important!
Orgrim was also very excited at this time. The Blackrock clan, which was once full of talent, was now short of people. The Saurfang brothers, Jubei'thos, and Eitrigg were all missing. Now that he had news of Eitrigg, it was indeed encouraging.
"We cannot mobilize all of our forces. The Lordaeron Kingdom's army has average combat power, but the Knights of the Silver Hand are not easy to deal with."
Orgrim pondered for a moment, then said, "Dal, lead the elite blademasters to sneak into Lordaeron and find an opportunity to rescue Eitrigg!"
"Grom, lead the warriors of the Warsong clan to investigate the whereabouts of the wolf riders, and destroy that human army if necessary."
"As for me, I will go and punish the Rend brothers who are contacting the demons again!"