Feralas is a valley region surrounded by mountains. During the era of the Night Empire, this was the distant southern frontier, and relatively few Night Elves lived here. Yet, hidden within these desolate, uninhabited wilds was one of the six great metropolises of the Night Empire: the Secret City, Eldre'Thalas.
Queen Azshara had built Eldre'Thalas to preserve the Night Empire's most precious Arcane knowledge. To prevent it from falling into the hands of rival factions, she commanded a Governor named Tortheldrin to garrison the site. Upon receiving his orders, Tortheldrin established a secret organization known as the Shen'dralar. They swore to guard Eldre'Thalas for generations, ensuring the city's secrets remained closed to all outsiders.
Few within the Night Empire knew the true purpose behind Azshara's construction of this frontier city; even Malfurion believed it was merely a "nail" driven into the border by the Queen to stabilize the frontier.
The three Cogs of the expedition anchored steadily at a large island in western Feralas. Andreas didn't bother coming up with a new name, choosing to use the one from his memory: Sardor Isle.
Before the Great Sundering, Sardor Isle had been part of Eldre'Thalas's outer districts; the ruins of buildings in the typical Night Elf style still remained scattered across the island. South of this island, another even larger island could be seen in the distance, but Andreas and his team had no immediate use for it, so they simply established an outpost on Sardor Isle.
Eldre'Thalas had once covered an immense area, its scale spanning the north-south corridor in the center of the Feralas valley. However, when Andreas personally led the Marine Corps ashore, what met their eyes were vast ruins reclaimed by the primordial forest.
The southern district of Eldre'Thalas was completely abandoned. Along the way, the Marines were repeatedly attacked by Furbolgs and Gnolls blocking the path. Easily dispersing these ragtag groups, the elite force of one thousand, led by Andreas, arrived at the gates of the core Northern District—the entrance to the complex known in later generations as Dire Maul.
Although Eldre'Thalas in this era had abandoned its southern outer districts, the heavy marble gates surrounding the core urban area remained tightly shut, keeping the city's secrets locked within. There were no signs of the gates opening, and not a single Night Elf could be seen in the vicinity.
Andreas ordered the Marines to set up a temporary camp on a low slope before the gates. He arranged for the accompanying Druids of the Talon to scout the city from the air without leaving a trace.
...
"As I thought."
After listening to the scouts' report, Andreas nodded thoughtfully. There were no traces of active defensive magic circles within the main districts of Eldre'Thalas. Lacking a source of magic, the Shen'dralar were no longer able to maintain them.
"Linus."
"Present."
At Andreas's call, a well-dressed Highborne Arcanist stepped forward.
"You will lead the Highborne among the Marines to pay a visit to Eldre'Thalas. Try to see if you can persuade Prince Tortheldrin to reach a cooperation with us. I will accompany you, disguised as a follower."
"Yes, but..." Seeing Linus hesitate, Andreas encouraged him to continue.
Steeling himself, Linus asked hesitantly, "What if they refuse to see us? As far as I know, the members of the Shen'dralar are mostly scholars obsessed with research. As long as they have a suitable research environment, their willingness to communicate with the outside world is quite low."
Andreas smiled meaningfully. "You said it yourself: as long as they have a suitable research environment. With the Well of Eternity destroyed and the Highborne having lost their source of magic, do you really believe these Shen'dralar still have a 'relaxed' research environment?"
"Besides..." A strange light flashed in Andreas's eyes. "I am very curious how the Shen'dralar have survived over two hundred years of magic addiction. The feeling of withdrawal... you should know it well, Linus."
"Yes..."
Recalling the weakness and intense irritability he felt after the war when the Well was destroyed, Linus couldn't help but shudder. Projecting his own experiences onto others, he did not believe the Shen'dralar could resist magic addiction for over 200 years through sheer willpower.
...
Linus had originally been a Moon Guard protecting Zin-Azshari, born into a prominent Highborne family named Starscar. Due to the Cataclysm, the Starscar family estate in Zin-Azshari had sunk into the sea; only Linus, who had been forcibly conscripted to the Well of Eternity to expand the portal, managed to escape.
Unlike some of the Highborne in Astranaar who were content to drift along, Linus possessed a strong drive for progress. This was the primary reason he was willing to follow Andreas out of the stagnant Astranaar to build a more vibrant new power.
Picking out the few Highborne among the Marines, with Linus as the leader, the group used Blink to bypass the heavy gates and enter the core urban area of Eldre'Thalas.
Located at the outermost perimeter of Eldre'Thalas was the Edre'thar district, which served as the gateway walkway. However, this area was now as abandoned as the gates. Linus and the others, filled with doubt and confusion, arrived at the civilian district at the end of the walkway.
Continuing toward the increasingly clear sound of cheering, the group saw a massive arena. A large number of citizens sat in the stands outside the arena, waving flags and shouting. From Andreas's current vantage point, they couldn't see the situation inside the lower-ground arena.
There were finally guards at the entrance leading from the Edre'thar district to the civilian area. The distracted guards stood in two rows, most of their attention focused toward the arena; they didn't even notice the arrival of Linus and his group.
Linus frowned deeply. So careless. Is this truly Eldre'Thalas, the city hailed as the Guardian of Mysteries?
"Ahem!"
Deliberately coughing loudly, Linus finally drew the guards' attention. The lead Night Elf, clad in armor, looked at this small squad of fewer than a hundred people with confusion. The ornate silk robes they wore and their noble aura clearly spoke of their status.
Not daring to slight them, one of the gate guards saluted respectfully. "Greetings to the noble Highborne. May I ask what important business brings you all the way to Eldre'Thalas?"
...
With Linus—who was well-versed in Highborne social etiquette—handling the pleasantries, Andreas and the others smoothly entered the core districts.
Eldre'Thalas in this era, due to the lack of magic, had begun to show subtle signs of decay. However, the leader of the city had not yet reached the peak of madness where he would slaughter his own people. With a population of 1.3 million, Eldre'Thalas appeared to maintain at least a surface-level prosperity.
Guided by a Highborne escort, the group was brought into the Court District in northern Eldre'Thalas. Within an exquisite palace built of snow-white marble, Andreas finally met the Lord of this Secret City.
The Governor of Eldre'Thalas: Prince Tortheldrin.