Watchtower Village

Watchtower Village

With the covert assistance of Ravenholdt Manor's intelligence agents, news quickly spread that Southshore was establishing a new settlement, where everyone could receive land and have paladins from the Silver Hand as armed protection. Roderick had swept up all the Northrend refugees living in Jade Mine and Hillsbrad, so it was no wonder the other side reacted so fiercely. Knowing he was in the wrong, Roderick did not dare put on the airs of a paladin and could only slink away at the time.

Nearly all the Northrend refugees in the Hillsbrad region had now gathered in Southshore. Some able-bodied workers labored by the Hillsbrad River, and a small settlement was about to take shape. Once the watchtowers were completed and a full defensive system was in place, cultivation could begin.

According to the intelligence Antoine had brought back, Tarren Mill had stepped up its surveillance of the southern humans' reclamation efforts. Adrian had also discovered traces of Undead activity in the dense forest several times. However, there were no signs of large-scale troop concentrations, nor had any large Undead armies been found moving into Tarren Mill.

Everything was normal in the direction of Silverpine Forest as well. The Undead were still digesting the vast swathes of kingdom territory they had occupied. North of Hillsbrad, Dalaran's mages provided support, making it the safest area around.

Across the entire Greater Hillsbrad Foothills, the Undead forces consisted only of Tarren Mill's small contingent, like a nail driven deep into human territory. It left Roderick feeling as though he had a bone stuck in his throat.

In the Alterac Mountains, the Stormpike Clan was still locked in a standoff with the Orc Frostwolf Forces. The two sides fought and made peace by turns. Although the Dwarves held the upper hand, the Frostwolf Orcs continued to resist stubbornly. The confrontation looked set to drag on for a long time.

The Stromgarde Kingdom in the Arathi Highlands had already fallen into endless chaos. The Syndicate had joined forces with some Ogres and attacked Stromgarde.

With its troops depleted, the Trollbane Family had lost nearly all of its kingdom's territory. Its remaining forces had withdrawn into Stromgarde, relying on sturdy fortifications to resist the enemy's attacks. Fortunately, Ogres were wild and difficult to command. The Syndicate also sought to wear down the Ogres' strength in brutal street fighting.

With the Syndicate deliberately holding back, the three factions fell into a strange balance within Stromgarde. News from more distant places was difficult to obtain in time, while Albert occasionally received the latest rumors in Dalaran.

"Without outside aid, the Stromgarde Kingdom probably won't be able to hold on much longer. After sending out all its elite forces, the Trollbane Family no longer has any high-ranking knights. They can't even drive out the Syndicate bandits," Roderick said quietly.

"Stromgarde has astonishing reserves of food, weapons, and equipment. Its militia, working with a small number of regular troops and relying on the fortress, can still hold out for a long time," Antoine voiced his opinion as well.

"Defending a fortress without outside aid is like a soldier leaping into the air to attack after leaving the ground. It cannot last. Once the reclamation work at Eastwatch Tower begins, I'll find a way to support the Trollbane Family." The Trollbane Family had made enormous sacrifices for the cause of the human Alliance, and Roderick did not want to see this royal family with such a glorious history destroyed.

"How are things at Durnholde Keep? Has the Syndicate made no response to our reclamation efforts?"

"Durnholde Keep sent a force to assist the Syndicate's main army in attacking Stromgarde. They also appeared by the Hillsbrad River to investigate our work, but we haven't found any other movements for the time being."

"That's strange. I heard the Syndicate has already taken control of quite a few farms in the Arathi Highlands. Most of the territory belonging to the Stromgarde Kingdom has been taken over by the Syndicate. And the Syndicate is especially fond of underhanded methods like assassination and kidnapping. Why are they being so quiet this time?"

"This... I don't know, sir."

"Don't call yourself a subordinate.

You know I don't like that sort of thing. Do you people at Ravenholdt Manor have any inside information on those Syndicate thieves and bandits?" "We do have some, but we don't know anything particularly confidential."

"Just tell me whatever you can. I'm curious about their origins too."

"The Syndicate was established by nobles of the Alterac Kingdom after it fell. Because of Alterac Kingdom's betrayal back then, once the Orc invasion failed, the Alterac Kingdom was destroyed as well. There are rumors that the Syndicate's leader is the prince who disappeared back then. The Syndicate's main goal is to rebuild their kingdom, but no one knows the truth."

"That makes the Syndicate's actions easier to understand. But they steal and rob, and their reputation is utterly foul. We must be cautious when dealing with an organization like that. By the way, Antoine, have you made up your mind? The doors of the Dark Raven Knights will always be open to you." Roderick very much wanted this reliable and steady rogue to join the Dark Raven Knights.

"That would violate the organization's creed. I am still a member of Ravenholdt."

Antoine's answer was as unwavering as ever.

Forget it. A talent like this could not be forced. Both sides could accept the current arrangement, so Roderick could only console himself with that.

After days of effort from everyone, the main structure of the watchtowers had been repaired. Dozens of wooden houses had sprung up in the open land not far from Nethander Stead. A crude dock had been built along the gentle bank of the Hillsbrad River to make unloading easier, and hardworking farmers had already begun clearing and burning the land in preparation for the coming reclamation work.

Carriages traveled constantly between the newly established Watchtower Village and Southshore every day. Because of those imposing watchtowers, the villagers conveniently called the new settlement Watchtower Village. The name suited it well.

As the population continued to grow, Watchtower Village now had more than two hundred residents besides the soldiers of the Dark Raven Knights. Every wooden house was nearly full. Construction workers and craftsmen continued building houses, warehouses, and various other facilities. According to Roderick's plans, the place would eventually accommodate more than a thousand people.

Nearly all the refugees who managed to escape to the Hillsbrad region were strong young men. Elderly people, children, and women who were not strong enough rarely survived prolonged hunger, harsh conditions, and pursuit by Ghouls. Many refugees in Watchtower Village had experienced the tragedy of watching their entire families die on the road. These people were also the best recruitment pool for Roderick's Dark Raven Knights.

Some luckier refugees had escaped to Southshore with their entire families. Even so, the pressure of providing rations made them cling desperately to the hand Roderick extended in rescue.

Women, children, and the elderly could remain in the better conditions of Southshore, while adult men and some youths unwilling to be outdone joined Roderick's reclamation efforts in batches.

A considerable number of the refugees came from former noble families. Those with military training were assigned to infantry units under the Dark Raven Knights. Among the well-educated, some women with families were selected to handle Watchtower Village's basic administration. Their shared experiences as Northrend refugees greatly reduced conflicts among them. Compared with cruel death, a few arguments between living people hardly counted as a problem.

This group of refugees completely solved the manpower issue that had worried Roderick the most. Through Lieutenant Thalmar, the Stormpike Clan also expressed its willingness to deepen cooperation with Watchtower Village.

The Dwarves later established a blacksmith shop in Watchtower Village, responsible for making and repairing all farming tools. They then paid a sum of gold coins in exchange for at least one-third of Watchtower Village's grain harvest that year. Roderick gladly agreed to their terms.

With the Dwarves' blacksmith shop, a large amount of spending on weapons and farming tools was saved. The gold coins also gave Roderick, whose finances were nearly exhausted, some breathing room. A refugee population of several hundred, frantic purchases of lumber and stone, and the cost of hiring large numbers of construction workers—food consumption alone was now an enormous daily expense.

Previously, they had only survived their poorest days by relying on Albert to secure a personal loan from the mages in Dalaran. Now that reclamation had begun, the harvest was still a long way off, but the Dwarves' arrival allowed Roderick to keep going. After the autumn harvest, Watchtower Village would be on the right track.