The assembled dignitaries cast sidelong glances at Danath, their faces betraying varying degrees of amusement and disdain. Yet, beneath the veneer of polite society, a similar thought simmered in their own minds: a discreet inquiry to Galen after the evening's festivities might prove… beneficial.
Galen, oblivious to the silent auctioning of his favor, produced a dark, obsidian gem. A palpable aura of shadow emanated from the peculiar crystal, a darkness far more potent than the residual taint of the Scourge. A ripple of unease spread through the banquet hall as many powerful individuals turned their attention towards Galen's group, their senses alerted to the potent energy. However, upon recognizing the figures surrounding the gem – Grand Marshal Galen of the Alliance, his steadfast adjutant Turalyon, the revered Grand Master of the Silver Hand Uther, and the stalwart adjutant Saidan Dathrohan – a formidable assembly of paladins radiating the Light, their concern subsided, and they returned to their conversations.
"After the liberation of Lordaeron," Galen explained, holding the gem aloft, "Queen Calia discovered this crystal, pulsating with potent dark energy, deep within the royal palace."
He continued, his voice resonating with a hint of excitement, "With specialized purification techniques to cleanse its shadow taint, a transformation of its inherent attributes, and the addition of rare and precious materials, we can forge a weapon that will rival even the Ashbringer in its power!"
When Calia had entrusted this gem to him, a realization had struck Galen. This had to be the core of the legendary Holy Light's Wrath staff, a weapon of immense power destined to be forged in future conflicts. Whispers and fragmented records offered conflicting origins: some claimed it was a remnant of the scepters wielded by the first generation of death knights, while others suggested it was a creation of the Lich Kel'Thuzad himself, formed by his spectral hand. Regardless of its true genesis, Galen knew that once its dark energies were transmuted, the gem held the potential to become a formidable healing weapon, deeply attuned to the Holy Light.
Danath's eyes gleamed with avarice, while Turalyon and Uther exchanged perplexed glances. The Queen, possessing such a potent artifact, had chosen to bestow it upon Galen… The implications were intriguing.
Galen, however, remained unfazed by their unspoken inquiries. His mind was already racing, weighing the possibilities. Should he adhere to the original design, forging the Holy Light's Wrath staff, or should he deviate, crafting a Holy Light's Wrath warhammer instead? The rigid class restrictions of a game held no sway in reality. Paladins on the battlefield offered a more versatile presence than priests, their self-preservation capabilities far superior. Furthermore, Galen recalled the volatile nature of the divine fire contained within the gem, requiring immense strength and unwavering control to harness its full potential.
With a decisive nod to himself, Galen tossed the dark gem to Uther. The Grand Master's original warhammer, a symbol of his authority and a conduit for his Light, had been shattered by the malevolent Frostmourne. He had since wielded the standard weapons of the Silver Hand, an undeniable diminishment of his power and, by extension, the strength of the entire order.
Uther's expression shifted from surprise to profound delight. While a few onlookers harbored a fleeting pang of regret, none dared voice their objections. In terms of raw power and unwavering devotion to the Light, Uther stood second only to Galen himself.
"My brothers," Galen declared, his voice ringing with renewed purpose, "Northrend is the ancestral domain of the Titan Watchers, a repository of the very secrets of humanity's origins. Strom'kar, the Warbreaker, is the sacred heirloom of our human ancestors. With such a bounty awaiting us, do we truly fret over finding suitable weapons for ourselves?"
His simple words ignited a spark of adventurous spirit in the younger generation, a response that pleased Galen immensely. Lordaeron had been reclaimed, and the lingering undead in the city's underbelly posed no real threat. The sheer power of the Holy Light he had unleashed that day would negate their shadowy strength. Stripped of their numerical advantage, they were nothing more than lambs awaiting the slaughter.
The Crusade, with Galen's strategic guidance, would spearhead the Alliance's encroachment upon Northrend from the Howling Fjord, while the combined forces of the night elves and tauren, under the leadership of Thranduil, Tosedrin, and Magatha, would advance from the Borean Tundra, a coordinated two-pronged assault. The Alliance's interest in developing Northrend was multifaceted: revenge fueled the ambitions of the upper echelons, while the common folk yearned for a chance to rebuild their shattered lives.
Although the Kingdom of Lordaeron had been restored and the immediate undead threat eliminated, vast swathes of fertile land in the core regions – Eastweald, Westweald, and even parts of Tirisfal Glades – remained tainted by the lingering plague. For the countless displaced families, rebuilding their homes was not merely a desire, but a necessity. Northrend, with its untamed wilderness, offered the land they desperately needed.
The allure of new territories, coupled with the protection of the Alliance's formidable military might, had drawn not only tens of thousands of desperate refugees but also a significant number of courageous nobles eager to stake their claim in the northern expansion. The once-isolated Howling Fjord was rapidly transforming into a melting pot of ambition and opportunity.
The development of the Borean Tundra was spearheaded by Thranduil, representing the Crusade, in a united front with Tosedrin of Eldre'Thalas and Magatha of Thunder Bluff. As for Galen himself, or rather, "Galen'Remar," his public persona was, for the time being, deceased, a strategic maneuver awaiting the opportune moment for a dramatic "resurrection."
However, as the Alliance armies prepared to embark north, Galen found his departure delayed by the unexpected intervention of Gandalf.
"Are you telling me," Galen questioned Gandalf, his voice laced with disbelief and a hint of irritation, "that the newly appointed Kirin Tor councilor, Ansirem Runeweaver, has outright refused to consider the Skyhold as the new location for Dalaran?"
Nearly a year had passed since the devastating destruction of Dalaran. The issue of its relocation had become a contentious debate among the surviving mages. Some advocated for rebuilding near the familiar shores of Lake Lordamere, while others, swayed by Gandalf's visionary proposal, championed the ambitious Sky City plan – a mobile fortress that would soar through the heavens, immune to ground-based destruction. The allure of such a secure haven was strong, and many mages supported the idea. However, the stubbornly traditional Ansirem Runeweaver remained unconvinced. He clung to the belief that Dalaran's downfall was solely due to the inadequacy of its protective shield and had initiated clandestine research into bolstering its defenses.
"Can't you… persuade this mage to see things our way?" Galen inquired, a hint of his characteristic pragmatism in his tone. Gandalf had been a loyal follower since the inception of the Origin Heart. Had he not absorbed any of Galen's… persuasive techniques? A little "re-education" might swiftly lead to a unanimous vote in favor of the Skyhold.
"Ansirem is considered the spiritual successor to Antonidas," Gandalf explained patiently, "surrounded by a cadre of mages loyal to the Antonidas lineage. They have gathered in the ruins of Dalaran, deeply engrossed in their studies of enhanced protective shields, and remain largely isolated."
Ruins of Dalaran? Researching large magic shields? A nagging sense of déjà vu prickled at Galen's memory. He racked his brain, sifting through past recollections, and then, the connection clicked. Ansirem Runeweaver! In the original timeline, after Archimonde's devastating assault on Dalaran, this highly skilled archmage had indeed erected a massive energy shield to safeguard the city's ruins, diligently caring for the remaining three thousand survivors.
Now, thanks to Galen's intervention, while Dalaran had still fallen and Antonidas had perished in battle, Gandalf's swift group teleportation had miraculously saved eighty percent of Dalaran's mages. However, while Antonidas had bequeathed the title of Kirin Tor Speaker to Gandalf before his death, that decision was largely influenced by Gandalf's backing from Stromgarde and Galen. Antonidas had hoped for a swift rebuilding of Dalaran with their considerable resources. The mages under his command, however, did not necessarily extend that same loyalty to Gandalf simply by virtue of his title. The native mages of Azeroth, Galen grudgingly admitted, possessed a certain creative spark and independent thinking that the rigorously trained mages of the Origin Heart often lacked. Otherwise, he would have long since dismissed their stubborn resistance.
"It seems," Galen mused, a cunning glint in his eyes, "that we must employ… other methods of persuasion with this archmage." He recalled a key piece of information: Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver had a daughter who had been estranged from him for several years. The archmage, Galen remembered, was fiercely devoted to his daughter. If he could somehow enlist her aid… he was confident Ansirem would swiftly become a staunch supporter of Galen's plans.
"Gandalf," Galen instructed, his tone decisive, "seek out Elder Karl of the Hidden Blade. Instruct him to journey to Booty Bay and conduct a thorough search of the pirate underworld for a female pirate known as Caitlin 'Razor.''