Forsaken

"From your voice, I hear only deep hatred and resentment. Tell me, what does your queen use to maintain her loyalty?" Thrall abruptly rose, looking down at the female Undead before him.

In the past, Thrall would have been overjoyed if someone had volunteered to join the Horde, as it would have proven the Horde's influence and its image was no longer negative. But in the current situation, he felt only deep dread towards the Undead he saw; such a life should never have existed in the world.

"The Queen swears to you!" Kozwen knelt down on one knee.

"Take your people and leave Orgrimmar before I decide to wipe you out," Thrall coldly refused and banished Kozwen.

"We will await your reply." Kozwen stood up with her head down, then slowly retreated from the tent. When she encountered Zul'ra, she saw Zul'ra nod at her, so she politely nodded in return before leaving.

"SangLS looked at the Trolls nodding to Kozwen and stood up. After Kozwen left the hall, he asked a question."

"Aren't you going back to Ashenvale?"

"I saw them and stopped." Zul'ra watched Kozwen's somewhat hunched figure disappear, without trying to hide her condition.

"What, do you have a different opinion?" Thrall was slightly surprised; Zul'ra was trying to plead for the Forsaken.

"To be precise, I don't have any particular ideas. I just want to see how you deal with it and what the final fate of those guys will be!" Zul'ra shook his head. He didn't want to concern himself with whether the Forsaken could join the Horde.

"What does this mean?" Thrall was somewhat confused. Was this support for the Horde accepting the Forsaken, or opposition to accepting them?

"It's nothing, I'm not leaving for now anyway. Are you really determined not to take those guys in?" Zul'ra didn't explain much to Thrall, but instead asked him.

"Of course not, didn't you feel it?" Thrall shook his head decisively and asked Zul'ra if she felt it.

"Of course I feel it. In fact, there's no need to feel it at all. They are no longer alive, but they are not dead either. Being in this state between life and death, being stared at with strange eyes, their bodies are filled with resentment." Zul'ra shook her head. The Forsaken —the name itself is a tragedy.

"That's why I won't let them into the Horde; they're an unstable group." Thrall nodded in agreement, seeing that Zul'ra was aware of the Forsaken's unusual behavior, and explained his thoughts.

"No need to explain to me, Thrall. I've already said I won't comment on them. But conversely, they've come here to pledge their allegiance to you, so they're probably prepared to be rejected. Furthermore, they might also be pledging their loyalty to the Alliance." Zul'ra rejected Thrall's explanation, expressing her own stance and offering her analysis.

"What methods do you think they can use to influence my decision?" Thrall frowned as he listened to Zul'ra's analysis. Would the Alliance absorb those Forsaken? And what would those Undead try to use to influence him?

"I don't know." Zul'ra shook her head. The Forsaken joining the Horde was actually advantageous. Putting aside their own strength, there was also the connection between Queen Sylvanas of the Forsaken and the Blood Elves. It could be said that if the Forsaken joined the Horde, the Blood Elves would be secure.

On one hand, there is an advantage, but on the other hand, there is a disadvantage. The Forsaken are inherently different; they are neither living nor dead, but living Undead filled with coldness and resentment. Accepting them would certainly damage the Horde's recently improved image.

Zul'ra did not comment on whether the Horde should accept the Forsaken, but simply gave Thrall some analysis and then silently watched how things unfolded.

Soon, the Forsaken began to influence Thrall's decisions. They sent envoys to many factions, seeking their help, but most factions, like Thrall, resolutely refused, except for Shu'halo.

Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem, Elder Council member Benna Icehoof, and Grimtotem's Granny Magatha arrived in Orgrimmar to persuade the Warchief.

Not only Thrall, Zul'ra was temporarily staying in Orgrimmar, was also approached by Hamuul Runetotem, who was trying to persuade her to stay.

"We can give them a chance; they deserve a chance to be redeemed." Hamuul Runetotem, as Shu'halo and as Archdruid, had his compassion amplified infinitely when he saw the Forsaken.

"We can find a way to cure their illness."

"I cannot deny their evil nature, but they can still be redeemed."

"In fact, Hamuul Runetotem, can you listen to me for once?" Zul'ra looked at the incessantly talking Archdruid and forcefully stopped him, giving him a chance to speak.

"Of course, of course." Hamuul Runetotem felt a little embarrassed when he saw the Trolls's upward gaze, and quickly gestured for him to speak.

"In fact, I think if you want to help the Forsaken, you shouldn't look at them with pity." Zul'ra pursed her lips.

"And then!" Hamuul Runetotem glanced sideways, abandoning his sympathetic look towards the Forsaken. What could they possibly see? A hideous Undead?

"They are a race, and every race desires to reproduce. What do you think they can do to perpetuate their race?" Zul'ra asked Hamuul Runetotem, who seemed confused.

"This..." Hamuul Runetotem felt his heart freeze. The Forsaken's race was destined not to be able to make love like them. They came from the dead, so their race's continuation would also be death.

"Their existence is, in a sense, the opposite of all life. Although they are also part of life, and all life will die, all life yearns for warmth, while their lives are left with only coldness." Zul'ra shook his head and sighed. He also sympathized with the Forsaken, living as if abandoned by the world, not wanting to be forgotten. But how many things in this world long to not be forgotten!

"..." All of Hamuul Runetotem's words caught in his throat, and after a long while, he finally tried to speak.

"Perhaps we can offer them some assistance, and also impose some constraints on them!"

"Stop a race from multiplying, Hamuul Runetotem, what price do you think we should pay?" Zul'ra asked. What would the Forsaken think if they were prevented from reproducing? How would they overcome the obstacles later? If war were to break out in the future, what would be the point of accepting them now?

"... What can we do?" Hamuul Runetotem asked after a long silence.

"I don't want to do anything, I just want to wait for the outcome. If the Warchief decides to accept them, I'll work with you. If the Warchief doesn't accept them, then we can only let them fend for themselves." Zul'ra's tone was somewhat heavy; this choice was too cruel for the Forsaken.

"... I will continue to work hard." Hamuul Runetotem was silent for a few seconds, then spoke firmly. He couldn't be as indifferent as Zul'ra.

"Go! My friend, I wish you success." Zul'ra looked at the determined old ox, not denying his efforts, just as he could not deny the existence of the Forsaken.

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