Faced with Tian Sang's persuasion, Zul'jin temporarily set aside his small sense of guilt. He chose not to explain the defeat to the common folk; he had no way to explain it anyway, since he had accepted Orgrim's invitation and sent the Forest Trolls into battle.
Though they received no explanation, the Troll commoners remained silent. They feared Zul'jin's brutal rule, but there was also a bigger problem facing them: the winter food shortage. Faced with that crisis and Zul'jin's threats, they cast off their despair and waited for him to find a solution.
On Tian Sang's advice, Zul'jin began making arrangements to retrieve the ships hidden in a strait deep in the Thalas Mountains. They had been used by the Forest Trolls to sail to Zandalar. They weren't suited for naval warfare, but they would do well enough for fishing.
Trolls were a fishing, hunting, and gathering people by nature, and they had plenty of experience sailing. Armed with cast nets and spears, they soon hauled in large quantities of fish, temporarily easing Zul'Aman's food shortage.
"Fishing has temporarily solved our food crisis, but because of our defeat, the Alliance will surely attack if they discover our fishing boats. So we can't rely on our catch alone." Tian Sang sat upright beside the fire, his gaze sweeping over the Witch Doctor priests and senior hunters beside him before settling on the silent Zul'jin.
"We need a more reliable way to deal with whatever might happen."
"It seems you already have a plan." Zul'jin gazed at the youth sitting ramrod straight, a flicker passing through his left eye.
"Yes. Your insight is sharp. I mean to propose reforms." Tian Sang looked at Zul'jin, then dipped his head slightly to avoid his gaze. He broached the subject without hesitation. The others' expressions varied, but their reactions were hardly unexpected. Lostro, among them, looked faintly rueful.
"Go on." Zul'jin raised his remaining right hand.
"I'm proposing reforms, yet none of you seem surprised. That's right—my mentor, Kal'ma, has always wanted to reform the barbaric customs of our people, including cannibalism and blood sacrifice." Tian Sang looked at them, paused briefly, then continued.
"I've always held the same view."
"So what will you use to convince us?" asked the Witch Doctor, whose two tusks curved upward past his bald head. White war paint marked his dark green chin and face.
"This war." Tian Sang looked at the Witch Doctor with the upward-curving tusks and nodded slightly. Malacrass was Zul'jin's most trusted and powerful priest, known as the Hex Lord.
"Though we lost this war, we didn't come away empty-handed. We saw the Alliance of the Pale Ones, humans, and Dwarves, and we made allies of the Orcs from another world. We learned a great deal, about ourselves and our enemies alike." Tian Sang spoke passionately to the group, explaining why reform was necessary.
"Zul'Aman's warriors are brave enough, but we have too few of them. Our empire was once glorious, but our people are divided. We have the Loa's protection, yet we lack enough food to prepare for war, and our weapons and armor aren't good enough. These things kept us from gaining the upper hand in battle."
"We need reform. We must abandon the evils of cannibalism and blood sacrifice, which will free up our people for other work. We also need allies, and we need to learn—from both our enemies and our allies. We must study their technology and strategies: smithing, agriculture, military affairs, and systems of governance. This knowledge can help us wash away the shame of today's defeat in the next war."
At Tian Sang's words, the chiefs, both great and small, fell into thought. Deep down, many of them didn't consider cannibalism and blood sacrifice evil customs, but they couldn't find anything to say in rebuttal. Some even felt that Tian Sang had a little bit of a point.
Learning from allies and enemies was necessary, but how should they go about it? And could they even learn from them? The Witch Doctor priests and senior hunters turned their eyes to Zul'jin. In Zul'Aman, he was the ultimate decision-maker.
"Son of Kal'ma, you're more persuasive than your mentor. Though we lost this war, we gained a great deal. We must build on what we've gained and wash away every last bit of our disgrace as soon as possible." Zul'jin's left eye shifted. Then he looked up at Tian Sang before turning his gaze to the others present.
"I've decided that Zul'Aman must undergo reform. From this day onward, cannibalism and the sacrifice of our own people are forbidden. Anyone who disobeys this order will become food for the Raptors."
"Zul'jin, this decision of yours heralds victory." Tian Sang watched Zul'jin make his decision and praised him without batting an eye.
"Zul'Aman will surely be victorious! For the glory of Zul'jin!" Dakkalai, a Headhunter utterly loyal to Zul'jin, roared, unwilling to be outdone.
"For the glory of Zul'jin!" After Tian Sang and Dakkalai had spoken, the other Witch Doctor priests and senior hunters chimed in.
"Besides the ban, Malacrass and Zul'ra, I order you to select suitable people to go to Zandalar to study when spring comes. Gaza, I want you to become my scout and find out what you can about the Alliance and the Horde..." Zul'jin issued a series of further orders.
Zandalar. As Tian Sang listened to Zul'jin, his gaze shifted slightly. Zul'jin was somewhat old-fashioned in his thinking. When it came to learning, he hadn't chosen the nearby Orcs; he'd chosen Zandalar.
There was nothing wrong with that, really. As the birthplace of Troll civilization, Zandalar certainly had much to offer. But Zul'jin had included himself in the group going to study, which was a rather unusual choice. Tian Sang pondered this silently.
"All right, those are all my orders. You may leave. Zul'ra, stay." After issuing a series of orders, Zul'jin dismissed everyone but one. Tian Sang's body stiffened slightly at the words, but he stayed where he was, waiting for everyone else to leave so he could face Zul'jin alone.
"Kal'ma was captured along with me, Dakkalai, and Malacrass by the Pale Ones. They tortured us to take revenge, and took my right eye. I bit through my left arm and escaped." Zul'jin touched the empty socket of his right eye, hatred showing in his left.
"What happened to Kal'ma?" Tian Sang looked at Zul'jin and pondered. There was no denying that the Elves had gone too far, though the Horde had started it, so he could understand their actions to some extent. But none of that mattered. What mattered was that his mentor hadn't returned to Zul'Aman.
"I'm sorry. He was too old. If we'd taken him with us..." Zul'jin couldn't quite meet Tian Sang's eyes. To make their escape, they had abandoned Kal'ma.
"Damn those Pale Ones!" Tian Sang looked at Zul'jin, his thoughts turning over. He let his expression darken. Zul'jin and the others had actually left an old man behind.
"This was my fault..." Zul'jin looked at Tian Sang's grim expression, feeling guilty.
"No, this was all the Pale Ones' fault. If they hadn't taken our forest, we wouldn't have had to fight this war at all." Tian Sang looked up at Zul'jin, letting his anger show in his steady gaze.
"Then go to Zandalar and study their advanced techniques. I'll appoint you as Zul'Aman's Exarch!" Zul'jin saw the anger in Tian Sang's eyes and let his own gaze settle as he spoke words of encouragement.
"Thank you for giving me this chance to fulfill Kal'ma's hope, Zul'jin." Tian Sang looked at Zul'jin, then lowered his eyes again. This Troll Highlord was someone he would have to fight for, no matter what.
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