The Alliance nations carved up Howling Fjord, with the Stormwind Kingdom, Kul Tiras, and Gilneas claiming new territories along the western shores of Daggercap Bay. Aside from Galen's northern holdings, reserved for the Vrykul, Lordaeron expanded to encompass Valgarde, Kul Tiras seized Dragon's Fall, the Stormwind Kingdom obtained Halgrind, and Gilneas took control of Shield Hill. To the east, Niflevar became a high elven settlement, while the dwarves unearthed numerous mysterious ancient ruins in the south, driving out the entrenched Drakkari and establishing Explorer's League outposts. Galen retained Howling Harbor in the vast Giant Plains and coastal lowlands of the eastern shore, while the remaining land was granted to his father to further expand the territory of Stromgarde. And Danath was appointed by his father as the Governor of Northland Stromgarde.
Galen donned a close-fitting dragonhide jacket and emerged from the town hall with a disgruntled expression, promptly delivering a playful punch to Danath's chest.
"Hey! My dear cousin, do you have any idea how infuriating it is to be dragged from such blissful slumber at the crack of dawn!" Damn it, that was an epic dreamscape, and you actually yanked me back to reality.
Danath chuckled, unfazed, and simply rubbed his chest, teasingly retorting, "Hehe, I see you couldn't bear to part with those two beauties!" A knowing grin spread across his face, and he gave Galen an exaggerated thumbs up. "Windrunners, no less! Two of them! Even among the high elves, who are renowned for their spellcasters, the women of the Windrunner family are exceptional. Only Liadrin, Lana'thel, and Solarian can compare in their generation; the rest, like the Dawnblade, Firewing, and Sunstrider ladies, pale in comparison. Later, as Stromgarde and the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas grew closer, I heard countless high elves lamenting your acquisition of their two most exquisite blossoms."
"Galen, you really need to put in more effort! My son is already five years old!" Danath raised his eyebrows, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
The mention of his five-year-old nephew elicited a grimace from Galen. Because of Danath's early fatherhood, most families in Stromgarde had followed suit, urging their children to begin rigorous training from the tender age of five, all in the pursuit of cultivating excellent heirs… While the Light Church in Minas Tirith has remarkable healing capabilities, you can't just push children like that.
"Danath, let the children be children for a while. Wait until Liam is ten years old and his body is more developed, then send him to the Paladin Academy for further training."
"But… that's how we grew up!" Danath began to protest.
"Danath," Galen interjected, his tone firm, "our struggles were for revenge and the revitalization of the Trollbane line, the restoration of Stromgarde. Now we stand as influential figures within the Alliance, expanding our territories in Northrend, and even the trolls have submitted to my authority." Galen reflected on his past vows, considering which remained unfulfilled. "While Azeroth still faces numerous crises, are we not still here to confront them? Children have responsibilities to bear, but not yet. You are pushing my little nephew too hard; be careful or your wife doesn't punish you by banishing you to the study!"
Faced with Galen's teasing, Danath's cheeks flushed slightly. He playfully hooked his arm around Galen's neck and steered him towards the barracks. "Galen, I've noticed that Sylvanas and Alleria, your two sisters-in-law, are also incredibly powerful individuals. How did you manage to make them so… gentle?"
"Hehe, you want to know?" Galen smirked.
"Absolutely!"
"Then I shall enlighten you…"
The Trollbane brothers walked towards the barracks, arms linked, a familiar camaraderie reminiscent of their childhood days more than a decade prior.
Ymiron's arrival this time was to deliver a report to Galen. In addition to the awakening of the Dragonflayer clan Vrykul under his command, other clans that had splintered from the ancient Vrykul kingdom had begun to reunite. Ymiron possessed an ancient horn. When he sounded it, all Vrykul clans in Northrend descended from the ancient Vrykul kingdom would heed his call! After Galen subdued Ymiron, he naturally wouldn't let such a valuable opportunity slip away. The Lightforged ranks within the Cathedral were not as full as he desired. This was the perfect solution: Lightforged Vrykul!
"Ymiron reports to the Highlord!" The towering Ymiron had been waiting in the barracks' council hall for some time. Sensing someone entering, he turned, a respectful expression visible on the face concealed within his heavy horned helmet.
"Ymiron, how is the task I entrusted to you progressing?" Addressing his follower, Galen adopted a less formal demeanor, casually selecting a chair beside the long table and settling into it. However, the chairs were designed for humans, leaving Ymiron to remain standing.
"I have awakened all the Vrykul army slumbering in Aelleberon and gathered the remnants defeated by your forces." Ymiron gazed at Galen with awe. Times had indeed changed. While the Vrykul could still be considered a formidable land-based army, they had fallen significantly behind.
"Currently, the Dragonflayer clan still numbers over 40,000 brave warriors and 70,000 elderly, infirm, women, and children." A pang of sorrow resonated within Ymiron. The once mighty ancient Vrykul had dwindled to such a small population under his leadership! He had learned through the Crusader's intelligence network that those clansmen who had broken away and followed the Titan Guardian Tyr south long ago were faring much better in Northrend. Some had even begun to evolve into shorter humans, and this faction was the most aggressive, even returning to conquer their ancestral clans. Others had sought Odin's protection, calling themselves the Mistcaller clan and establishing Hederashal, a city on the Broken Isles larger and more majestic than Utgarde Keep. Ymiron shook his head slightly, dispelling these distracting thoughts. "When I sounded the Horn of Ancient Oaths, only a small number of clans chose to respond."
Galen nodded. This outcome was within his expectations. The Kvaldir clan had been cursed by Helya and transformed into pirates. Now, the Alliance fleet had repeatedly scoured the Borean Tundra, finally joining forces with the Tuskarr to slay their leader, Hrkkgar. The Ymirheim Vrykul, led by Wulfang, had long been exposed to Saronite, cursed by an unknown energy that made them more brutal and robust, exceedingly bloodthirsty and warlike. Furthermore, their gathering place was within Icecrown Glacier, and the Lich King, never one to pass up a valuable source of troops, had long since subjugated them, currently exploiting them to mine Saronite and train Scourge soldiers for his fortress. Therefore, it was already a positive sign that even a few smaller Vrykul clans had responded to Ymiron's sounding of the Horn of the Ancient Vrykul Kingdom!