Since the opening of the route from Stormspire to Northrend, the Second Naval Fleet stationed at Stormspire was the first to head north, arriving at the southern coast of Dragonblight.
Upon reaching Northrend, the Second Fleet did not initiate military action immediately. Instead, following Andreas's orders, they focused first on establishing good relations with the local Tuskarr.
The Tuskarr are a species native to Northrend, extremely cold-resistant, surviving on sea fish, and typically living in glacial regions near the coasts.
There was a Tuskarr village on the southern coast of Dragonblight, which the locals called Moa'ki Harbor.
Individually, the Tuskarr were not formidable combatants, but as indigenous inhabitants of Dragonblight who frequently ventured into the sea for fishing, they possessed an intimate knowledge of the nearby waters.
The Tuskarr knew exactly where the hidden reefs were and which areas were blocked by impassable icebergs.
Although Andreas had long known that Venture Bay was a natural deep-water harbor, as the name implied, any passing vessel could easily collide with the numerous icebergs and reefs surrounding it if they weren't careful.
It took the Night Elves several years of consistent kindness to eventually earn the trust and recognition of the Tuskarr. In return, the Tuskarr truthfully shared detailed maritime information regarding the waters between Moa'ki and their fellow villages in Howling Fjord.
With this vital intelligence, the Second Fleet was now confident enough to sail into the naturally fortified Venture Bay. Upon receiving Andreas's command, Fleet Commander Conservey immediately led the fleet eastward.
However, the Sentinel force led by General Summer Moon encountered trouble before the fleet could even arrive.
The Vrykul village of Vordrassil, located to the east of Venture Bay, discovered this group of sudden strangers. The highly aggressive Vrykul quickly organized their forces to launch an attack on the yet-to-be-completed outpost at Venture Bay.
Vordrassil happened to be situated right at the junction of Howling Fjord and the Grizzly Hills, not far from Gjalerbron, the resting place of the Dragonflayer Vrykul clan.
For many years, Vordrassil had served as a frontline sentry for the Vrykul's expansion into the Grizzly Hills. Countless battles had been fought between the Furbolgs and the Vrykul near Vordrassil, with neither side able to gain a decisive upper hand.
General Summer Moon's flanking force consisted of only about 10,000 soldiers, primarily Sentinels. In contrast, Vordrassil, as a major frontline outpost, was home to over 200,000 Vrykul.
The Vrykul lived a primitive and savage lifestyle, possessed formidable combat strength, and were a fiercely militant people. Among those 200,000 residents, there were at least 50,000 soldiers capable of taking the field. Faced with Captain Summer Moon's forces, they held an absolute numerical advantage.
Construction at Venture Bay had only just begun; the defensive fortifications were still rudimentary, and it would take time for the Second Fleet to arrive from the distant southwest of Dragonblight.
General Summer Moon had to rely on her ten thousand troops to hold off the Vrykul's assault. This was a critical test that would determine whether the Night Elves could secure a foothold on the essential path to Howling Fjord.
Meanwhile, on the negotiation table at the Drak'Tharon Keep front, an agreement was finally, arduously reached.
After much... persuasion from Celeste, the Drakkari Trolls were finally convinced that the Furbolgs' goal was the Loa gods they worshipped. This discovery sent the Drakkari leadership in Gundrak into an immediate uproar.
Since the dawn of troll civilization, they had shared an inseparable bond with the Loa.
The Loa required the resources and faith offered by the trolls, while the trolls needed the various special abilities granted by the Loa to conquer the wild world and their enemies. The two sides had long ago formed a steadfast alliance.
The Drakkari Empire worshipped seven Loa: Sseratus the Snake, Quetz'lun the Wind Serpent, Akali the Rhino, Mam'toth the Mammoth, Rhunok the Arctic Bear, Har'koa the Snow Leopard, and Saronja the Wind Serpent.
Among these seven Loas, the altars of Sseratus, Quetz'lun, Har'koa, Mam'toth, and Rhunok were scattered across Zul'Drak, while the remaining two were enshrined within the capital, Gundrak.
Har'koa the Snow Leopard, who had been targeted by the Furbolgs, lived at the junction of the second and third tiers of Zul'Drak, with a significant number of faithful followers guarding her altar.
However, no matter how many followers there were, it would be difficult to withstand an invasion by the Furbolg army. Without knowing the enemy's true intent, the Drakkari Trolls—lacking specific defensive preparations—might have actually lost their Loa to a single surprise strike.
After receiving this critical information from Celeste, the Drakkari ambassador received instructions from Gundrak to agree to a temporary alliance with the Night Elves against the Furbolgs.
However, they demanded that the Night Elves return the occupied outer districts of Zul'Drak and Drak'Tharon Keep. This request was, of course, met with a stern refusal from Celeste.
"These territories were won through the struggle of blood and fire. There is no such thing as 'returning' them. If you want them back, try taking them by force. But for now... you had better worry about your own backyard first."
Although the Drakkari Trolls were infuriated by Celeste's hardened stance, the Night Elves currently held the bigger fist. Facing a two-front war, the trolls truly lacked the confidence to break off relations and were forced to swallow their pride for the time being.
In Gundrak, Overlord Drakuru of the Drakkari listened to the envoy's report and said with a grim face, "Agree to their terms for now. We will settle the score with the Night Elves slowly after the Furbolg crisis is resolved."
With the temporary alliance formed—each side harboring its own schemes—the Drakkari Trolls, having temporarily eliminated their worries about the rear, mobilized their entire military force toward Har'koa's altar. While solidifying their defenses, they remained ready to counterattack at any moment.
The massive troop movements of the Drakkari Trolls were quite obvious, and the Furbolgs naturally noticed the shift in their defensive focus.
The current Great Chieftain leading the Furbolg clans was named Graythroat. It was he who had lobbied across the various clans, convincing them to agree to resurrect Ursol by sacrificing a Loa.
The trolls' precise and planned mobilization caused a wave of tension among the Furbolgs, as well as a great deal of frustration.
Great Chieftain Graythroat was deeply confused: "How did they suddenly guess our target? Weren't they completely unprepared before?"
A Furbolg with reddish fur asked, "Great Chieftain, since the trolls are prepared, should we consider changing our target?"
Graythroat considered it for a moment but ultimately shook his head. "We can't change it. The only suitable targets near the Grizzly Hills are Har'koa and Quetz'lun. Since the Drakkari have strengthened Har'koa's defenses, Quetz'lun is likely the same."
"The other Loas are too far away from us. As time passes, the voices of opposition within the clans are growing stronger. To achieve the great mission of resurrecting Ursol as quickly as possible, we have no choice but to launch a direct assault."
...
"A direct assault?"
Andreas looked with some surprise at the intelligence Prysim had just delivered. "They're going that hard? It seems there isn't total internal consensus among the Furbolgs regarding the sacrifice and resurrection ritual."
According to the continuous intelligence provided by Malfurion, Ursoc had increased his efforts in the Emerald Dream to persuade and appeal to the Furbolg clans loyal to him, even using some threatening language.
Although many Furbolgs still stubbornly believed they were acting for the good of the two demigods, some couldn't help but reflect on whether their "good intentions"—which ignored the opinions of Ursoc and Ursol—were truly correct.
"The Furbolgs are desperate for a victory to suppress internal conflict, and the trolls are enraged that the Furbolgs dared to scheme against the Loas they worship."
Celeste, who had just returned from the front lines, lamented, "The great war is right before our eyes. I wonder who will seize the initiative."
"Hehe~"
Andreas said with a smile, "Of course, it will be us, the Night Elves."