After Mograine left Durnholde Keep with his two completely "persuaded" deputies, Archmage Antonidas looked at Aiden: "You asked me before, when forging an artifact, whether some strong will would give it some new attributes—"
"The answer is yes." Antonidas looked at Kayle, "In fact, Ms. Kayle's sword has been given a strong will. She can answer this question."
Aiden looked at Kayle in surprise, and she nodded slightly.
"So, is this a universal law?" he asked.
"It should be."
Aiden thought of the legendary swords in Chinese history, weren't they also endowed with strong wills? Thinking about it, it really is so.
"Then, what kind of environment did your prophet see this artifact against the Scourge being forged in, in the future timeline?"
Aiden recalled the forging process of the "Ashbringer": At that time, the Scourge had already destroyed Stratholme—or rather, Prince Arthas's massacre destroyed it. Mograine, who had fought against the undead, returned to Southshore and convened a meeting. He invited his close friend Fordring and his deputies, including High Priest Ethanlien, Paladin Abbendis, and Fairbanks.
It was in the inn in Southshore that he took out the Rezeb Crystal and proposed the theory that "the other side of the Light is Shadow." Then Abbendis, Fairbanks, and Tirion Fordring, three powerful paladins, attacked the Shadow Crystal with Holy Light together. After the crystal devoured enough Holy Light power, it sublimated into a "Divine Source" full of pure power.
Then Mograine sent the crystal to Magni Bronzebeard, the King of Ironforge, the strongest blacksmith of the time, and asked him to forge it into a weapon.
The initial forging did not go smoothly, but when Magni Bronzebeard was shocked to hear that his brother Muradin had died at the hands of the undead, the king, filled with grief and hatred for the Scourge, finally integrated his strong will and successfully created the most powerful artifact against the undead—Ashbringer!
After that, Mograine became famous with this artifact. Any Scourge was vulnerable in front of it. After being infused with Holy Light, every time Mograine wielded the weapon, the undead in front of him were turned to ashes in patches.
Aiden said in a deep voice: "The King of Ironforge forged this weapon under the drive of grief and anger."
Rhonin said: "I have met Magni Bronzebeard, the King of Ironforge. He is an optimistic and benevolent elder. What could make him grieve and be angry must be an extremely sad thing."
"Then we must prevent it from happening." Antonidas said.
"That's why we're here," Aiden replied.
"Just right, Krasus is also here, let's talk about the essence of life!"
"Please invite him in quickly!"
Then Jaina invited Krasus into the conference room.
This archmage with the appearance of a high elf greeted everyone and said: "I am willing to do something to stop the Scourge."
"That's great news." Antonidas looked at his old partner encouragingly.
"There's still one person missing." Rhonin said, thinking of Vereesa, who had saved the Red Dragon Queen with him. He hadn't seen her for three months, and now he could hardly suppress his longing.
Aiden smiled and said: "The one you are talking about is now in Stratholme, leading a team of high elf volunteer troops to help us fight the Lich King!"
Rhonin's eyes lit up, revealing a happy smile: "This is even better news!"
Krasus decided to strike a blow at his student, pretending to be serious and asked: "But do you know where Queen Alexstrasza is?"
Everyone looked at Aiden.
"Ah, right, how could I forget that there is such an all-knowing person!" Krasus patted his forehead.
Aiden winked at him: "Don't joke, my archmage, didn't I tell you already?"
Antonidas said in astonishment: "When? I don't know."
"Just now, I conveyed it through telepathy," Aiden said seriously.
Krasus smiled wryly. Now he was completely sure that Aiden did know that his true identity was a red dragon, no, he probably even knew that he was the consort of the Red Dragon Queen Alexstrasza, right?
"Then let's set off as soon as possible and strive to obtain the essence of life as soon as possible to experiment with a solution to the plague," Krasus said.
"Agreed."
"You are going to Northrend." Aiden thought of the previous negotiations with the orcs, "It just so happens that another team is also going, I think you can partner up."
"Who?" Rhonin asked.
"Orcs."
Everyone's eyes widened, as if trying to verify whether Aiden was joking.
… …
Tirion Fordring returned to the Lordaeron throne to report the results of this mission to Terenas.
The old king dismissed everyone and listened to this secret report alone. He propped his chin and stared at the paladin: "So, His Excellency Aiden has helped us a lot again?"
"Yes."
"Sending the orcs to the Barrens of Northrend not only solves the potential threat of their population and wins over the Kingdom of Stromgarde, but also forces these orcs to fight the undead for their future survival. What a great multi-faceted plan!" Terenas nodded in admiration. "It seems I have always underestimated the political wisdom of this Lord of Valoran. He is a truly brilliant man!"
Of course, this was not something Fordring could respond to. So he quietly awaited the king's instructions.
"Now that Kel'Thuzad has been found, we must completely eliminate him according to Aiden's plan so that we can safely launch the Northern Expedition." Terenas tapped his forehead. "Let me think, the defense zone near Alterac—that's under the jurisdiction of General Garithos of the Southern Army, right?"
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"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then the army in Garithos's hands, plus the Silver Hand led by Mograine, the mages of Dalaran, and Aiden's powerful heroes, all of these combined are more than enough to eliminate Kel'Thuzad and his two or three thousand evil minions. It seems I don't need to send additional reinforcements." Terenas muttered to himself, then waved his hand, "Alright, that's it. Let Garithos' people follow the command of Alliance General Aiden, representing our Lordaeron, to wipe out Kel'Thuzad!"
The full name of the General of the Southern Army mentioned by Terenas is Othmar Garithos. He is a veteran who participated in the Second War and made great contributions. Now he has accumulated merits and been promoted to the position of General, nominally in charge of the command of the Lordaeron army south of Lake Lordamere, including the Fortress of Fenris Isle, the vicinity of Dalaran, the Alterac Mountains, and the entire Hillsbrad Foothills. Even Aiden's current territory of Durnholde and Tarren Mill used to be under his jurisdiction.
However, in reality, Hillsbrad Foothills is no longer Garithos's concern.
The area around Southshore is under the jurisdiction of Highlord Mograine, and the rest is Aiden's territory.
Although Mograine's military rank is not as high as Garithos's, and he should theoretically be his subordinate, the composition of the Lordaeron army is quite special: it is divided into two parts: the regular army and the Silver Hand.
The regular army undoubtedly belongs to the Kingdom of Lordaeron and is only loyal to the King. The Silver Hand, however, is a clergy legion that is nominally loyal to King Terenas, but in reality, it is a self-contained system that upholds the light and justice of the entire Alliance.
Therefore, as the commander of the regular army, Garithos has no right to command Mograine.
Garithos received the order from King Terenas to have his troops accept the command of Valoran's Commander, Alliance General Aiden. He had no objection to this.
Although in terms of military rank, he is also a General, the weight of the two is completely different. Garithos is just a General of Lordaeron; outside of Lordaeron, he is nothing. But Aiden represents the entire Alliance; as long as he is within the Alliance, he enjoys the treatment that a General should have and can command the armies of other countries in the Alliance.
However, what followed made this General of the Southern Army unhappy: Aiden sent a letter stating that because he himself was not good at military command, the Valoran troops would be under the command of Alexandros Mograine, Highlord of Southshore and Commander of the Silver Hand.
What was the implication of this?
Garithos thought, didn't this imply that he should also listen to Mograine's command! After all, Aiden, this upright Alliance General, had entrusted his troops to Mograine.
What was this all about?
Originally, Mograine's military rank was lower than his, so it was fine that he was not under his command, but now he, a General, had to listen to the instructions of a Lieutenant General?
Garithos only had two words in his heart: unconvinced!
Of course, Aiden didn't think so much. He simply told Garithos that Mograine would command his troops, without requiring Garithos's troops to be under his command as well. He had expressed his intention during the meeting in Durnholde: to have the highest-ranking person in the war zone, other than himself, command the specific battles.
Clearly, General Garithos had failed to grasp this point.
Mobilizing troops was not something that could be done overnight. In these few days, Aiden had Vayne and Quinn closely monitor the movements of the Scourge at the Broken Ridge, waiting for an opportunity. At the same time, he had the thieves of Ravenholdt Manor keep a close watch on the Syndicate's progress in collecting herbs for Kel'Thuzad.
On this day, an assassin from Ravenholdt Manor brought Aiden the news he had been most eager to hear: during the Syndicate's transaction with the Scourge, the Lich Kel'Thuzad had appeared!