In the parallel world of Draenor, war had indeed broken out.
The Orthodox Horde's iron army rolled out from the border fortresses, advancing simultaneously from Gorgrond and Nagrand to launch a full-scale assault on the Draenei in Talador.
Artillery thundered and thick smoke billowed. The faint friendship and exchanges accumulated between the two races over generations vanished completely at this moment.
Before the Lightforged Judgement Army's main force could arrive, the defensive fortresses along the border with the Orcish Horde quickly fell. With nothing left to stop them, the Orthodox Horde drove straight in, pushing deep into Draenei territory in preparation to crush their blue-skinned neighbors in one stroke.
All the Draenei living in Talador had retreated into the twin cities of Auchindoun and Shattrath, sealing both cities completely and forming an impregnable defensive line through mutual support.
Crystal energy devices covered the city walls and operated around the clock. The purple energy shields they raised kept all enemies outside, while the shells fired by Orcish artillery were intercepted with incredible precision by Energy Rays and detonated in midair.
But such passive defense could never bring victory. Though the Orthodox Horde could not break in, the Draenei could not get out either, and the former had no fear of fighting a war of attrition or a prolonged stalemate.
Shadowmoon Valley had gone on full alert, with heavy forces deployed at the gateway fortress leading into Talador. They would never allow the Orcs to enter their core territory.
A new wave of reinforcements was also being urgently prepared. With Shattrath and Auchindoun under siege, they desperately needed troops and supplies.
Oh, more precisely, the Draenei were not entirely fighting passively. That was merely the Soulbinders' approach. They were unwilling to take the initiative, and even less willing to let the Lightforged