After the formation of the new continent of Kalimdor, because the World Tree Nordrassil was planted atop the sacred Mount Hyjal, the activities of the Night Elves were primarily concentrated in the northern reaches of the continent, clustered around the World Tree.
Even Moonshadow's Rest under Andreas's command had, at most, only ventured into the Barrens to lure Kodo beasts. The areas scouted by the Druids of the Talon were also mainly focused on the northern continent.
In recent years, the northern part of the continent had become increasingly restless. Certain creatures that had remained dormant since the end of the War of the Ancients finally began to lose their composure.
At Shandris' request, Andreas dispatched a group of scouts to Felwood Forest, attempting to locate the lair of the twisted creatures attacking the region—the Satyrs.
Satyrs are eerie beings that exist somewhere between demons and mortals. Originally, they were all Highborne of the Night Empire; Queen Azshara's chief advisor, Xavius, was the source of the Satyr curse. After being killed for the first time by Malfurion, Xavius, driven by a desire for revenge, willingly accepted the infusion of Sargeras's Fel energy, altering his life form to be resurrected.
Thus, the semi-demonic race of Satyrs was born. Tempted by Xavius, many Highborne who worshipped the Burning Legion's power followed suit. After the Burning Legion was expelled from Azeroth, the Satyrs—possessing characteristics of half-indigenous creatures—were not banished from the world like other demons, but instead went into hiding to await their opportunity.
The sporadic attacks on Felwood Forest over 200 years ago were their doing. During these two centuries, because Shandris' Sentinel forces were stationed there long-term, the Satyrs' covert operations were severely restricted, until they finally began to reveal themselves recently.
The anomalies in Felwood Forest occupied much of Andreas's energy, directly slowing his progress in exploring southern Kalimdor. However, because the naval shipyard had produced the first type of purely sail-powered vessel, Andreas took the opportunity to proceed with his planned agenda: heading south.
If they advanced by land, the large numbers of Wyverns and ferocious wildlife inhabiting the Stonetalon Mountains would pose a significant obstacle to the exploration team. These issues did not exist by sea. As long as they remained vigilant against the Naga and Murlocs frequenting the coast, coastal navigation posed no difficulty for the well-trained navy of Moonshadow's Rest.
The newly formed Marine Corps included various branches such as Arcanists, Rangers, Druids, Warriors, and Priests. These highly trained elites landed on the western coast of Mashan'she and immediately established a forward base. After establishing contact with the local Tauren, the Arcanists used teleportation magic to send first-hand data back to the rear.
"Mashan'she..."
Andreas tilted his head back in thought.
Is that the original name of Desolace? Come to think of it, the Kalimdor Tauren did indeed live in Desolace for a long time before the Centaurs destroyed their homeland.
The name Mashan'she was given by the Tauren in their own language, which translated to "The Embrace of the Earth Mother." At this time, Mashan'she was still a lush and fertile grassland. The Tauren of the Woodhoof clan lived scattered across the region, leading a leisurely nomadic life.
During the growth of the new World Tree, Shaladrassil, in Val'sharah, Cenarius had gradually overcome his post-war guilt and resumed his wanderings through the wilderness. The Tauren of the Woodhoof clan remained on the Kalimdor continent primarily to stay close to Cenarius, hoping for more of his guidance.
The mild-mannered and scholarly Cenarius naturally did not refuse their overtures. In recent years, he would occasionally travel to Mashan'she to live with the Tauren, guiding them to embrace the path of nature.
Due to the Tauren's own devout faith in the Earth Mother, their way of embracing nature differed from that of the Night Elves. Combining their beliefs and customs, the Tauren worked to refine the tenets of primitive Shamanism. The Shaman—a new combat profession relying on spirits to communicate with the elements—gradually moved from a primitive state toward maturity.
Because of Tyrande's isolationist foreign policy, the Tauren had had little contact with the Night Elves for many years since the end of the War of the Ancients. Tauren are short-lived; they do not possess the blessing of immortality like the Night Elves. The veterans who participated in the war had long since passed away, but their glorious experiences and sightings were recorded by the older generation on totem poles, passed down from one generation to the next.
Andreas' primary goal in sending the fleet south was not just for the region now known as Mashan'she; contacting the Tauren was merely one part of his plan.
Today, the Kalimdor Tauren still looked to the Woodhoof clan as their sovereign, but thanks to the nourishment of the fertile pastures of Mashan'she, many medium and small clans under the Woodhoof banner had gained excellent opportunities for development. The peace-loving and mild-tempered Tauren rarely experienced internal strife; at least, when Andreas met with the High Chieftain of the Woodhoof clan, he could see the harmonious atmosphere among them.
"Lord Moonshadow, it is a great honor to meet you. I have read of your heroic deeds in the totem records left by our ancestors."
The current High Chieftain of the Kalimdor Tauren, Brokenhorn Woodhoof, warmly welcomed Andreas's arrival. The High Chieftain was aptly named; his left horn was broken in the middle, though it was unclear if this was congenital or the result of an injury.
Andreas politely returned the gesture. "High Chieftain Woodhoof, I thank you for your warm assistance to the expeditionary force."
The final destination of the expedition was the Feralas Valley further south of Mashan'she, with the ultimate objective being the secret Night Elf city located in central Feralas—Eldre'Thalas.
However, having come a long way from the western coast of Ashenvale, Andreas did not intend to foolishly charge straight for his goal. There were other matters to attend to along the way. One was to win over the Kalimdor Tauren and establish a good cooperative relationship with this honest and highly capable race.
Despite the Tauren's mild temperament, Andreas—having personally experienced the War of the Ancients—knew very well what kind of combat power these honest folk could unleash if their lives were threatened.
The land area of Mashan'she was vast. The north-central part consisted of flat, endless grasslands where the Tauren primarily resided. Naga attacks occasionally occurred near the western coastline; the peace-loving Tauren were unwilling to engage in unnecessary disputes with the Naga and had proactively abandoned the territory near the coast.
The coastal areas the Tauren did not want were, however, important transit ports for Moonshadow's Rest, which possessed a navy. Andreas politely consulted Chieftain Brokenhorn for his opinion and received the High Chieftain's cheerful permission.
The western coastline of Mashan'she was handed over to the forces under Andreas's command to operate. The Tauren could use this maritime trade route to exchange for the goods they needed from the Night Elves, and the Night Elves gained an important transit port in Mashan'she. It was a win-win deal.
Having reached an agreement with High Chieftain Brokenhorn, the expeditionary force rested briefly before continuing south by ship. The subsequent liaison work was handed over by Andreas to the administrative officials led by Maclay.
According to the map of Kalimdor in Andreas's memory, after leaving the Tauren-inhabited Mashan'she, only one region suitable for establishing a coastal base remained along the entire western coast of Kalimdor—Feralas.
And this was precisely the final destination of the Moonshadow's Rest expedition's southward exploration.