The turmoil in Northrend concluded with Loken's frantic flight back to Ulduar.
Having lost their most vital sleeping ground outside of Utgarde Keep, the Vrykul suffered heavy losses, and their war potential was significantly diminished. They had no choice but to retreat to the Skorn line to regroup.
To avoid pushing too hard and forcing the Dragonflayer Vrykul to wake all their sleeping kin in desperation, Andreas did not order Nawaz to advance further after capturing Voldrun and the ruins of Gjalerbron.
Using the area between Wintergrasp and Lake Indu'le as a dividing line, the Night Elf forces re-established their frontline military camps. The Second Naval Fleet also took the opportunity to build a new port near the Chel'met Coast at the mouth of the Wintergrasp River.
The arcane golems stockpiled over the years had suffered heavy losses, and the Night Elf Republic needed time to replenish its combat power. Both sides tacitly ceased provocations, silently retreating to their homes to lick their wounds.
The northern Zul'Drak front also fell silent following the Trolls' retreat. The cunning Drakkari Trolls, seeing no chance to take advantage of the situation, retreated behind their sturdy walls once more, bringing an end to the conflict in eastern Northrend.
With the vast mineral and herbal resources provided by Wintergrasp and the Sholazar Basin, the Night Elf Republic's recovery speed would undoubtedly be faster than that of the Vrykul.
However, under the pressure of facing enemies on two fronts, Andreas was unwilling to rashly provoke further conflict.
If the Vrykul were like ferocious tigers, the Drakkari Trolls were like venomous snakes waiting in the shadows; a single moment of carelessness could lead to a bite from their fangs—one that could be fatal.
Formally entering Howling Fjord, Andreas ordered the Second Fleet to send scout ships along the coastline to survey the area, particularly the west coast near Venture Bay, to ensure the shipping lanes remained clear.
With the Northrend campaign concluded, Thorim led his kin away from the Storm Peaks and, with Malygos's help, arrived in Tirisfal Glades.
Utilizing the ruins left behind by the High Elves after their departure, the Frost Vrykul who worshipped Thorim temporarily settled near the Tomb of Tyr.
Thorim initially wanted to enter Tyr's tomb to pay his respects, but sensing the dark aura radiating from within, he eventually abandoned the idea upon Andreas's persuasion.
Upon learning that the humans living in Tirisfal Glades were descendants of Tyr's followers, Thorim provided them with some subtle assistance out of guilt for his old friend.
The humans of Tirisfal recently noticed that the arrogance of the Forest Trolls had subsided considerably, and no large-scale attacks on their settlements had occurred for quite some time.
Under Thorim's restraint, the matriarchal Frost Vrykul lived very low-profile lives. Occasionally, human males brave enough to explore the area would be kept by them for breeding purposes to ensure the continuation of their race.
Over time, a terrifying legend began to circulate in Tirisfal Glades: any male who approached the western part of the forest would be snatched away and eaten by witches.
In reality, that wasn't the case at all. As long as one didn't consider the size difference or the daily "labor" involved, those captured humans actually lived quite comfortably.
A life surrounded by beauties is not something everyone gets to enjoy.
Accompained by Andreas, Thorim made multiple trips to the Badlands to explore. However, without Mechagnomes or Earthen to open the fully sealed Uldaman vaults from the inside, Thorim remained unable to enter.
"Forget it. I'll come back to check every once in a while," Thorim sighed softly as he looked out over the barren, desolate Great Plains. "Given Loken's pursuit, it was only natural for Archaedas and Ironaya to seal Uldaman completely."
The fleeing Archaedas never imagined he would have reinforcements. Once Uldaman was constructed, he sealed the vaults entirely.
The two had not forgotten their hatred for Tyr. Day after day, they studied the Discs of Norgannon within the vaults, pondering how to reveal Loken's hypocritical nature to the other Keepers.
During this process, Archaedas and Ironaya discovered a terrible truth: the Curse of Flesh, cast by the Old Gods upon the Titan-forged, was still active.
The accompanying Earthen and Mechagnomes began to be affected, their bodies of iron and stone gradually transforming into flesh.
To curb the Curse of Flesh, the two sealed all the mutated Titan-forged within the vaults and entered a state of semi-slumber themselves, leaving only a few loyal Mechagnomes to maintain the facility's operations.
When Andreas and Thorim reached the Badlands, the vaults beneath the earth were precisely in this stage.
Thorim ultimately decided to check back once every 200 years. He then returned to Tirisfal Glades to continue his vigil outside Tyr's tomb.
The dark energy leaking from the tomb would gradually affect the creatures near the glades, causing them to unconsciously develop increasingly strong negative emotions.
Filled with guilt toward Tyr, Thorim was determined to stay and suppress Zakajz's leaking power, ensuring that the descendants of Tyr's followers could develop their civilization normally.
...
In the blink of an eye, another thousand years passed. The time was now around 2,900 years before the Dark Portal.
During his long watch, Thorim had entered a state of semi-hibernation. According to reports from the Frost Vrykul, he had sat eyes closed beside the Silver Hand for over 300 years without moving.
During this period, the Night Elf Republic had fully replenished its lost arcane golems and even implemented some minor upgrades.
The situation in Northrend remained unchanged for the time being, with neither the Vrykul nor the Trolls intending to launch an offensive. Andreas gradually turned his attention toward the Broken Isles.
The number of Night Elves exiled from Suramar was increasing. Having lived under the nourishment of the Nightwell for thousands of years, these elves now looked quite different from their kin in the outside world.
Their skin tone had grown darker, and under the influence of magical power, glowing arcane patterns began to appear on their bodies.
Years ago, Andreas had instructed Ilsana Ravencrest to set up lookouts outside the Suramar barrier. However, the Lord of Black Rook Hold was very slow to react, only beginning to accept the poor exiles within the last 2,000 years.
Being constantly exposed to the arcane magic of the Nightwell, even the civilians of Suramar had developed a magic addiction—one far more severe than that of the Highborne in Black Rook Hold.
These exiled kin called themselves the Nightborne. Once removed from the nourishment of their magic source, they could hardly survive independently.
In the early years, almost all Nightborne scattered around the outskirts of Suramar turned into mindless Withered. By the time Ilsana discovered them, it was often too late.
"Speak."
Looking with a headache at the Druid kneeling in the council chamber, Andreas tapped the table and asked, "Why did you plant a World Tree without the permission of the Cenarion Circle?"
The bearded, green-haired Druid looked somewhat intimidated to be facing the national leader, but he spoke firmly, "It was to save those poor souls consumed by magic addiction. Furthermore, what I planted was not a World Tree, but a magical tree I named Arcan'dor."
"Druid Farodin, mind your words!"
Tyrande rebuked him harshly. "The exiled Nightborne were supposed to go to Lorlathil or Black Rook Hold to start new lives. Your foolish act of planting a magic tree in secret has ruined their lives!"
"Look!"
Tyrande clapped her hands, and two Sentinels of the Temple of Elune led in a strange, multi-legged creature.
The creature's upper body still resembled a Nightborne, but its lower half had transformed into that of a spider.
"This is the mutated creature resulting from your 'masterpiece'! A Fal'dorei spider-person! Do you have anything left to say in your defense?!"