Before traveling through time, Robbie made ample preparations.
Having Alliance identity alone is not enough; it's like walking on only one leg.
Despite possessing the Epic Orb of Deception, which allows him to remain an Orcs for an extended period, Robbie doesn't believe magic is reliable.
Robbie used his past life experience as a seasoned cosplayer to create an Orcs disguise with the help of many skilled craftsmen in the Brotherhood.
Orcs are strong and robust, with thick limbs, and are slightly taller than humans, capable of holding an entire human. This disguise is actually a set of plate armor that resembles Orcs skin.
Orcs mostly use axes, with two-handed axes being their favorite. Robbie bought a fine-quality Arcanite Reaper, which was said to be a symbol of a powerful Warrior in that era.
The time when Tirion Fordring was down on his luck in the Plaguelands was only seven or eight years ago.
Unfortunately, in these turbulent times, each version is an insurmountable barrier.
Unfortunately, most adventurers in the Lunarfall have not experienced the Plaguelands, and those who have occasionally passed through the Plaguelands have never seen Comrade Tirion Fordring.
They finally found someone, an experienced adventurer, the Elf hunter Sori Beast Tamer, who had spent a long time in the Plaguelands, but he refused to say anything.
In the end, they only gave Robbie a diary.
"The water in here is deep enough to drown us all," Sori Beast Tamer warned, repeatedly emphasizing, "Don't say this diary is mine."
With the help of the Brotherhood's extensive network, they finally found an adventurer who had supplied Tirion Fordring with White Maggot Meat back then. When the topic of that past was brought up, he stammered and hesitated. When pressed, he finally admitted that he had only completed the first phase of the quest and didn't know anything about what happened after that.
"They must have been tricked," Robbie analyzed, attributing it to the adventurer's pitiful pride.
Unable to gather any useful information, Robbie and Vanessa had no choice but to set off.
Time travel isn't as comfortable as it seems, but it's not as scary as you might imagine either.
In Robbie's view, it was a bit like riding a roller coaster with a high drop, seeing all sorts of bizarre and chaotic time and space, and inevitably feeling a little weak in the legs after landing.
Vanessa, standing to the side, had her eyes closed and swayed slowly, taking a long time to recover.
During her time travel, Vanessa was in a daze the whole time. If Robbie hadn't been there to protect her, she probably would have fallen into some kind of time rift long ago.
It seems that having a guide is really important; it takes a talent to stay alert throughout.
Plaguelands!
Robbie landed on a patch of grass, his feet treading on the innocent blades of grass, and looked at the wildflowers that were secretly blooming nearby, feeling a sense of disbelief.
The book describes the Plaguelands as desolate and bleak, ravaged by Scourge and Plagues, bringing countless deaths and a scene of deathly silence and decay.
Robbie had no idea where he was, and he stood on a high place looking around.
Looking into the distance, it is a lush and verdant landscape, with tall trees and abundant foliage.
The shrubs are growing merrily, large patches of unnamed wildflowers are in full bloom, and small animals occasionally wander among them, all of them appearing to be in good health.
This isn't right.
Shouldn't it be a scene of withered grass covering the ground, wild animals covered in rotting sores, and a pervasive stench of decay?
Robbie took a deep sniff, inhaling the fragrance of earth and the faint scent of flowers.
This is clearly a land with abundant water and lush vegetation.
Robbie wondered if the Infinite Dragonflight had gone to the wrong place or the wrong time, arriving in a period before the Plague.
Vanessa took out a map and spread it on the grass, then took out an exquisite compass, carefully checked the directions, rolled up the map, put away the compass, and said with a radiant smile:
"Everything is going well. This is the Eastern Plaguelands, very close to Darrowshire. Let's go scout ahead first."
"Wait a minute, Commander, don't you think something is wrong here?" Robbie asked doubtfully, "That's not how the Plague Land is described in the book."
"Withered grass dies in a year, and wild beasts infected with the Plague die quickly. Without interference, green covers the earth in just one spring. Without a source of infection, the Plague cannot last long and is easily washed away by rain." Vanessa earnestly berated Robbie:
"Don't believe the nonsense in the book. The author never came here; it's a fictional account based on the Plaguelands of our time."
What... what does this mean?
What time period are we in?
With the fall of the Lich King Arthas, the Scourge almost entirely retreated to Northrend, and the remaining scattered Undead were also wiped out.
With the Scarlet Crusade destroyed and Tyr's Hand occupied by the Knights of the Ebon Blade, the Argent Dawn became the most powerful force in the Plaguelands.
Garrosh Grommash Hellscream needed vast amounts of wood and minerals to forge the Iron Horde, and Sylvanas was not to be outdone, fully arming the Forsaken of Lordaeron.
Robbie seemed to understand something.
Open Sori Beast Tamer's Journal, the best place in the Eastern Plaguelands to gather information, and also the place with the best Order, Timmy Tavern in Darrowshire.
Timmy, sad Timmy? Isn't that a little Ghoul?
The saying goes, "Hearing is believing, seeing is believing."
The sight of greenery in the Plaguelands deeply moved Robbie.
The sense of awe intensifies when you enter Darrowshire.
Rows of neat houses, spotless streets, trees carefully trimmed on both sides of the road, and clear, transparent water from the fountain at the Crossroads where fish swim happily.
Robbie silently compared the two places in his mind; the environment of Lakeshire couldn't compare to this place.
The inhabitants of Darrowshire are mainly the Undead, coming and going in a bustling manner, dressed in brightly colored clothes, yet neatly made. Apart from being extremely Anjing, they are no different from human towns, observing outsiders with clean eyes.
This feeling is so strange.
Vanessa pulled her cloak tighter, concealing her delicate features, and whispered a reminder to Robbie:
"Don't claim to be Paladin, and certainly don't display Holy Light."
"I know, the Undead hate Holy Light."
"No." Vanessa's lips curled into a mocking smile. "These Undead are originally inhabitants of Lordaeron; they simply dislike the Order of the Silver Hand."
Do the Order of the Silver Hand have a grudge against the people of Lordaeron?
Ordinary Undead seem unable to speak; they have their own way of communicating, but they can understand human language. Led by a little Undead girl, Robbie found Timmy Tavern.
"Little sister, what's your name?" Vanessa handed the little Undead a copper coin.
The Undead girl wrote three words on the ground.
Pamela.
Is this Little Sister Pamela?
Watching the carefree, hopping little Undead, Robbie felt his worldview being turned upside down once again.
I did the Little Sister Pamela quest back then and was incredibly moved, but who knew the truth was like this.
A large sign stands at the entrance of Timmy Tavern.
Orcs and Hoggers are not permitted to enter.
"Dalaran Mages and the Silver Hand, get out of here."
"High Elves and Argent Dawn, please voluntarily go to the kitchen to serve as ingredients."
Well, Comrade Hogger has once again been caught in the crossfire.
The Undead of the dead in Darrowshire displayed clear-cut likes and dislikes, though it was not entirely understandable.
Robbie and Vanessa entered Timmy Tavern and were immediately struck by its vibrant atmosphere. Darrowshire was so Anjing, like a dead city, except for the adventurers gathered in the tavern, creating a lively scene.
A drunken Dwarf talked loudly, a little Gnome jumped onto the table to argue with the Dwarf, Night Elf quietly filled his stomach with composure, and Tauren won an arm-wrestling match and laughed heartily.
This place isn't just home to the Alliance and Horde adventurers; there are also Gnolls, bearmen, Murlocs, and even an Ogre.
Robbie ordered a glass of Morning Dew Wine as usual, while Vanessa simply asked for a glass of water.
"You seem to particularly like Morning Dew Wine," Vanessa asked with a smile.
Robbie chuckled and said, "It's not because I like it. Morning Dew Wine is the most common liquor; almost every tavern has it, and the brewing method is similar. I'm familiar with the taste of Morning Dew Wine, just like I'm familiar with my own hands. If something's been added, I can taste it in one sip."
"And what about you, Commander? Why do you only drink Fresh Water?" Robbie countered.
"Alcohol affects Stealth player's attack speed," Vanessa replied.
The two fell silent, observing the adventurers around them.
Much of the information was heard, rather than obtained through investigation.
The Dwarf boasted that he had found a good piece of ore and sold it to the Scarlet Crusade.
The Gnome said that the firearms he made were very popular with a certain officer of Tyr's Hand.
Tauren and a Troll were discussing the righteousness of the Argent Dawn.
Some Gnolls are providing bones for the Scourge.
Through the adventurers' conversations, Robbie roughly divided the power dynamics of the Eastern and Western Plaguelands.
The Scourge in Stratholme is the strongest, providing refuge to Undead villages and towns such as Andorhal, Darrowshire, and Corin's Crossing.
The Scholomance, controlled by the Cult of the Damned, is also quite powerful, but it keeps a low profile and focuses primarily on academic research.
The Argent Dawn welcomes adventurers from the Alliance and the Horde, but clearly favors the Horde, showing less enthusiasm for conquering Scourge Undead and more interest in amassing wealth.
The Scarlet Crusade in Tyr's Hand and Hearthglen only provide protection for the Alliance, belong to the Alliance, and fight against the Horde and the Scourge Undead.
Only in the Scarlet Enclave of Stratholme, the Scarlet Crusade led by Dathrohan, has been fighting against the Alliance, the Horde, and the Scourge Undead, constantly battling the Stratholme Scourge led by Baron Rivendare.
This is more like it should be.
In games, the Scarlet Crusade is an organization that opposes both the living and the dead. Such an organization simply cannot exist; where would it get its weapons? Where would its logistical supplies come from?
Soon, Robbie heard some useful information.
At Marris Stead, a group of the Alliance and Horde adventurers are killing white maggots, bats, and cursed hounds—who knows what they're doing!
Eastern Plaguelands, Marris Stead, Nathanos – Territory of the Blightcaller.
Nathanos the Blightcaller was a formidable figure, a ranger-lord in life who became a hero of the Horde after his death, a champion of the Dark Lady Sylvanas.
In the territory of the Blightcaller, it's more appropriate to be Orcs.
Robbie and Vanessa left Darrowshire and headed to Marris Stead.
On the way, Robbie changed into Orcs disguise, while Vanessa refused to show herself and remained invisible.
"Hey, handsome Orcs, wanna drink some milk?"
Near Marris Stead, Robbie encountered a voluptuous Tauren woman.