The town hall, barracks, lumber mill, farm, Altar of Kings, workshop, and gryphon roost were all constructed along the shores of the Heart River's lake. The barracks served as the primary training ground for the town's defensive knights, while the workshop and gryphon roost were dedicated to training the forces of the Solazar base. Galen envisioned this place as an airbase. He saw no need for walls, a clear indication of his disregard for the Oracle crocolisks and the Frenzyheart wolvar.
However, that very night, Galen's plans were disrupted.
Under the cover of darkness, a large number of crocolisks emerged from the northern river, launching an attack on the construction workers. The workers swiftly retreated, and a swift counter-charge by the stationed Tirisfal Guardians resulted in the deaths of nearly a thousand crocolisks. After this initial skirmish, the crocolisks made no further advances.
Then, in the darkest hours before dawn, a group of wolvar soldiers, comparable in size to kobolds, charged out of the dense southeastern forest. However, they failed to even breach the patrols established by Thaddius, and were quickly routed by the Royal Guards and knight captains.
Galen, roused from Alleria's bed early that morning, felt a surge of irritation. Being woken up twice in one night was not his idea of a pleasant start to the day. He summoned the high-ranking officers of the Tirisfal Guardians.
Kicking at the crocolisk corpses littering the riverbank – remnants of the previous night's battle that had yet to be cleared – Galen couldn't help but find them aesthetically displeasing. The murlocs of the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor were far more appealing… And then there were the piles of wolvar corpses outside the camp, making Galen and his forces resemble a gang of wildlife poachers.
"Gavril, have you located their gathering places?" Galen inquired.
Gavril, Thaddius's younger brother and adjutant, assisting Thaddius in managing the Tirisfal Guardians, replied, "Highlord, our scouts followed the fleeing crocolisks and wolvar and have pinpointed their lairs."
Gavril produced a map of Solazar Basin, indicating the northeast and southeast of the Heart River. "The attackers were the crocolisks from the Oracle village in Rainwhisper Gulch, to our northeast, and the wolvar from Frenzyheart Hill."
"Their defenses consist solely of wooden fences to deter beasts. The crocolisks in Rainwhisper Gulch are estimated to number around ten thousand, and the Frenzyheart number around eight thousand. As for their combat prowess, you witnessed it firsthand. Last night, three ten-man patrol teams routed them…"
However, Rainwhisper Gulch and Frenzyheart Hill were merely two of their strongholds. Throughout Solazar Basin, these two races were far more numerous. Even so, the adjutant of the Tirisfal Guardians conveyed a sense of disdain.
Gavril was content with his current position. After joining the Scarlet Crusade, the once-dwindling Tirisfal Guardians organization had been bolstered by Galen's most elite troops, along with high-ranking knights, intermediate-level mages, and priests. Using the remaining forty paladins of the Tirisfal Guardians as a core, the Tirisfal Guardians Legion was formed. Initially, they intended to instill the legion with the spirit of tomb guardians, but Aragorn's awakening of Tyr's soul after obtaining the Silver Hand warhammer had shifted their focus. Thaddius and Gavril believed they had fulfilled their original mission, and it was now their duty to follow Tyr and fight for the Scarlet Crusade!
Galen acknowledged the overall weakness of these two races but was surprised by their sheer numbers. "Gather the troops. Thaddius, Gavril, each of you will lead a thousand men to subdue the Oracle and Frenzyheart. Deliver a message to their leaders: submit, or face extermination!"
"Yes, Highlord!"
With Thaddius and Gavril leading their forces on this campaign, Galen alternated between the Heart River base and the Pillar of Origin, awaiting the restoration of Solazar Basin's defense system, while also exploring the basin's diverse regions with the Windrunner sisters. He continued his search for the elusive spirit beast, but their efforts remained fruitless.
Half a month later, upon their return to the Heart River base, they found that Thaddius and Gavril had successfully pacified the crocolisks and wolvar. Their tribal leaders were brought before Galen.
Oracle Soodow, Mistcaller Soogan, and Thundercaller Soomeet represented the Lingfin, Mistwhisper, and Rainwhisper clans of crocolisks residing in Solazar Basin. High Shaman Rakjak and Elder Harkek led the Frenzyheart wolvar, who had originally occupied Frenzyheart Hill and Katarik Hold, steadily gaining dominance over the crocolisks. However, their ill-advised attack on Galen's base had nullified their advantages, effectively resetting their position.
"Speak!" Galen's piercing gaze fell upon the five trembling figures before him. The crocolisks were barely as tall as Galen's thigh, while the wolvar reached only his waist. "Why did you attack my base?"
The three crocolisks and two wolvar exchanged bewildered glances, resembling stray animals caught stealing food.
Galen, realizing their lack of comprehension, repeated his question using soul whispers.
"Respected strong one, we attacked because you occupied Heart River Lake and monopolized the largest water source! We were wrong, we surrender!" Oracle Soodow stammered, his sharp teeth clicking.
For the native inhabitants, Galen's occupation of the central lake was an act of aggression, mirroring the wolvar's actions. Given the wolvar's unprovoked attack, the crocolisks' dissatisfaction and subsequent attack were understandable.
"And you?" Galen's tone turned menacing as he addressed the two wolvar.
"Guh… guh… guh!" The two wolvar, only of high-level strength, huddled together, their teeth chattering in fear.
Hiss! I intended to punish them and then offer a reward, but it seems I was too harsh and scared them witless!
"Alright!" Galen relented, withdrawing his aura of power. He had demonstrated his strength and the might of his army. Now, it was time for the reward.
"We of the Scarlet Crusade are not unreasonable. We counterattacked because you attacked us first!" You attacked first, so we counterattacked. It's your fault you lost, so you have no right to complain. The three crocolisks and two wolvar swallowed nervously, nodding in agreement with Galen's statement.
"From now on, Solazar Basin will be under our control. You will be vassal races of our Scarlet Crusade. The Heart River will serve as the boundary. The wolvar will reside in the south, and the crocolisks in the north. Neither side shall cross the border. If anyone mistreats you, come to me!"
The three crocolisks considered the proposition. Avoiding extermination was a positive outcome, and the northern territory was larger than the southern one, making the terms acceptable.
The wolvar also weighed their options. These humans were too powerful to challenge. Retaining the southern territory was a victory in itself, and they too indicated their acceptance.