With the urgent communication from the Azerothian soul concluded, the assembled leaders of the Alliance ascended to the second floor of the Violet Citadel. This grand chamber, traditionally an open-air forum for the august members of the Kirin Tor Council, was now transformed, poised to host a momentous occasion: the official commencement of the Azeroth Summit.
The hall was arranged in a vast, concentric circle, its only ingress the southern entrance. Galen Remar, accompanied by the highest echelons of the night elf leadership, had already taken their seats of honor. Other esteemed guest representatives of the Alliance, having concluded their free-flowing reception, now gradually filed into the venue, their faces a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
Soon, every seat was occupied. From across the breadth of Azeroth, nearly every sentient race was represented. With the notable exceptions of the insular goblins and the fiercely independent Zandalari trolls, even the myriad sub-races—the savage gnolls, the nomadic centaurs, the diminutive kobolds, the cunning jackals, and the mighty furbolgs—stood as vassals, either of the night elves or the burgeoning empire of Stromgarde.
Galen, the Grand Marshal of the Alliance, and Galen Remar, the High Lord and spokesperson for the night elves, occupied the central seats of power, directly facing the southern entrance. A formidable honor guard, comprised of Stromgarde's Royal Guards in their gleaming red and white plate armor and the agile night elf sentinels, stood at rigid attention on either side of the two most influential figures on Azeroth. Beyond them, numerous mages of the Kirin Tor, their eyes sharp and their arcane energies barely contained, served as additional security at the entrance, attending to each arriving delegation with an air of aloof professionalism. To any outsider, it was abundantly clear that only Lord Galen possessed the authority to command such proud and independent wielders of magic.
Once every delegate was seated, Galen raised a hand, signaling the official commencement of the Azeroth Summit!
Horns blared, their deep, resonant calls echoing through the vaulted chamber. The assembled leaders, their faces a mixture of solemnity and curiosity, waited for the next agenda item. They knew, instinctively, that this summit transcended mere discussions of the recent Cataclysm's aftermath. Such a grand assembly, gathering the very pillars of Azerothian power, bespoke a matter of far greater import. They understood the stakes: if the luminaries gathered here were to vanish, the entire world would undoubtedly plunge into utter chaos.
As the final notes of the horn faded, Galen rose, his imposing figure commanding the attention of every soul in the hall. His voice, clear and resonant, filled the chamber: "Brothers and sisters of the Alliance, friends of the night elves, I extend my deepest gratitude for your presence! In these trying times, you have chosen to gather here, united in purpose."
"I declare this meeting officially open! Let all whispers cease!"
Immediately, the murmurs died down. Delegation representatives straightened in their seats, their expressions turning serious, awaiting the formal agenda.
"We have many critical issues to address," Galen continued, his gaze sweeping across the now-silent hall. "Not long ago, the Black Dragon Mother unleashed her madness, provoking chaos across both the eastern and western continents. Her actions not only inflicted grievous damage upon many nations but also tore apart the very land of Azeroth itself."
"Here, I stand on behalf of the Alliance to declare our unwavering commitment: we will dedicate every resource to aid your nations in their recovery."
"But before we formally delve into those pressing matters, I have a proposal of paramount importance to announce—a proposal that necessitates the presence and attention of every significant member of this assembly!"
A collective intake of breath rippled through the hall. Here it comes! Every expression turned grave, every eye fixed on Galen.
Galen, true to form, eschewed lengthy preamble. He moved directly to the heart of the matter.
"Today," he announced, his voice ringing with conviction, "someone wishes to become a full member of our Alliance, to join us in strengthening the bonds that unite us, and to bolster the collective power of our Alliance…"
A sharp intake of breath, a collective hiss, echoed through the chamber. The delegates, seasoned politicians and strategists, were no fools. Their gazes immediately shifted, converging upon the night elf high lord seated beside Galen; Galen Remar himself!
True to their unspoken prediction, under the intense scrutiny of the attendees, Galen Remar rose gracefully, stepping to stand a respectful half-step behind Galen.
"I am Galen Remar, the chosen representative of the night elves," the night elf high lord declared, his voice clear and resonant, carrying to every corner of the vast hall. "Before all the brothers and sisters of Azeroth, we, the night elves, along with our steadfast centaur and furbolg brethren, formally request to join the Alliance…"
A stunned silence descended upon the chamber, broken only by the faint echo of Galen Remar's words. Below the stage, Broll Bearmantle and Maiev Shadowsong, their expressions carefully neutral, scanned the faces of the surrounding representatives, meticulously observing their reactions.
Soon, the whispers began, a low hum that quickly escalated into a heated murmur of discussion.
The implications were staggering. In the collective consciousness of Azeroth's peoples, the night elves were the undisputed overlords of Kalimdor. While Stromgarde had indeed quietly established a presence in the central regions of Kalimdor years ago, even forging an alliance with the tauren of Mulgore, the night elves remained a formidable power. They controlled vast swathes of northern and southern Kalimdor, their strength bolstered by tens of thousands of years of accumulated history and power. Even the gradually rising Alliance could, at best, only contend with them on equal terms.
Many high-ranking officials of various races had even harbored quiet predictions of an eventual war between the Alliance and the night elves.
Now, the night elves sought to join the Alliance!
"Oh my gods!" a delegate gasped, barely audible. "Are we dreaming?!"
If this came to pass, if the night elves followed the Pandaren Empire into the Alliance, then the Alliance would truly rule the entirety of Azeroth!
The thought sent a thrill through many. What a magnificent prospect! Some of the great nobles were already mentally calculating the favorable tariffs that would now apply to their caravans trading with the night elves.
Queen Calia Menethil of Lordaeron, a respected member of the Alliance, was the first to rise, her voice clear and strong. "The people of Lordaeron wholeheartedly welcome the night elves, and their tauren and furbolg brethren, into the Alliance!"
With Lordaeron's endorsement, the other kingdoms immediately followed suit. "We too extend our warmest welcome to our night elf friends!" a neat chorus of agreement echoed through the venue. These affirmations were met with a thunderous applause from all sides of the hall. Delegates cheered and applauded, celebrating this momentous occasion. Some messengers and their delegation members even offered respectful bows and gestures of camaraderie to Broll and Maiev.
Soon, Galen regained control of the agenda, his voice cutting through the celebratory din. "Members of the Alliance, the benefits that the night elves' joining can bring to us are self-evident. With the inclusion of these brothers and sisters, our Alliance will be even stronger, and we shall fear no evil!"
"However, to better coordinate our internal Alliance, I propose that our grand coalition be formally renamed the Grand Alliance of Azeroth to the outside world, and internally, we shall form an Alliance Council to coordinate all internal affairs!"
Galen's words were met with a fresh wave of approval. In the subsequent election of council members, Galen himself was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Grand Alliance Council, his leadership unchallenged.
Following this, in addition to the heads of each country being elected as councilors, a permanent representative to be stationed at the Alliance headquarters was also chosen.
Among the night elves, Galen Remar was appointed as a Councilor of the Grand Alliance of Azeroth, while Maiev Shadowsong became the Representative stationed at the Alliance headquarters. Broll Bearmantle, as a mere disciple of Malfurion, lacked the necessary seniority and qualifications for such a prominent role, and could only observe his faction's political influence being subtly marginalized.
The summit then proceeded to discuss a series of crucial measures, summarizing the devastating losses inflicted by the recent Cataclysm. A comprehensive disaster relief and land restoration plan was meticulously formulated, outlining the immense task of rebuilding Azeroth.
At this critical juncture, a figure suddenly burst into the venue, a Wildhammer dwarf, his face grim and his eyes wide with urgency!
Galen recognized him instantly.
It was Stormcaller Mylra, the Stormcaller of the Earthen Ring!