Watchtower Village

With the covert assistance of Ravenholdt Manor's intelligence agents, news spread rapidly that Southshore was establishing a new settlement, where everyone could receive land and have paladins from the Silver Hand as armed backing. Roderick had swept up all the Northrend refugees living in the 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 leave in disgrace.

At present, nearly all the Northrend refugees in the Hillsbrad region had gathered in Southshore. Some able-bodied laborers worked by the Hillsbrad River, and a small settlement was beginning to take shape. Once the watchtowers were completed and a complete defensive system was in place, reclamation work could begin.

According to the intelligence Antoine had brought back, Tarren Mill had strengthened its surveillance of the southern humans' reclamation efforts. Adrian had also repeatedly discovered traces of Undead activity in the dense woods, but there were no signs that they were gathering troops on a large scale, nor had any large Undead army been seen moving into Tarren Mill.

Everything was normal in the direction of Silverpine Forest as well. The Undead were still consolidating the vast territories of the kingdom they had occupied. North of Hillsbrad, there were Dalaran mages to rely on, making it the safest area here.

Across the entire Greater Hillsbrad Foothills, the Undead had only a small force at Tarren Mill. 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 intermittently. Although the Dwarves held the upper hand, the Frostwolf Orcs continued to resist stubbornly. It seemed the stalemate would continue 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 forces depleted, the Trollbane Family had lost nearly all of the kingdom's territory. Its remaining strength had retreated into Stromgarde, relying on sturdy fortifications to withstand the enemy's attacks. Fortunately, Ogres were wild and difficult to command. The Syndicate also sought to expend as much of the Ogres' strength as possible in brutal street fighting.

With the Syndicate deliberately holding back, the three factions had fallen into a strange balance within Stromgarde. News from farther away was difficult to receive promptly. Instead, Albert occasionally obtained the latest rumors in Dalaran.

"Without outside aid, the Stromgarde Kingdom will probably find it difficult to hold on much longer. After sending out all their elite forces, the Trollbane Family no longer has any high-ranking knights. They cannot even drive out the Syndicate's bandits," Roderick said quietly.

"There are astonishing stores of food, weapons, and equipment in Stromgarde. The 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 thoughts 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 reclamation work begins at Eastwatch Tower, I will 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 wish to see this royal family with such a glorious history destroyed.

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

"Durnholde Keep dispatched 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 have not discovered any other moves for the time being."

"That is strange. I heard the Syndicate has already taken control of quite a few farms in the Arathi Highlands. Most of the territory that belonged 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 calm this time?"

"This... I do not know, sir."

"Don't call yourself subordinate."

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

"Tell me whatever you can. I am rather curious about their origins as well."

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

"Then the Syndicate's actions are understandable. But they steal and rob, and their reputation is utterly foul. We must consider cooperation with such an organization carefully. By the way, Antoine, have you made up your mind? The doors of the Raven Guard Knights will always be open to you." Roderick very much wanted this dependable and steady rogue to join the Raven Guards.

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

Antoine's answer was as unwavering as ever.

Forget it. Talents like him could not be forced. Since both sides could accept the current arrangement, Roderick could only console himself with that thought.

After many days of effort from everyone, the main structure of the watchtowers had been repaired. Dozens of wooden houses had risen from the open ground not far from Nethander Stead. A crude dock had been built beside the gentle Hillsbrad River to facilitate unloading, and diligent farmers had already impatiently 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 these imposing watchtowers, the villagers conveniently referred to the new settlement as Watchtower Village. The name was very fitting.

As the population continued to grow, Watchtower Village now had more than two hundred residents besides the soldiers of the Raven Guard Knights. All the wooden houses were nearly full. Builders and craftsmen continued constructing houses, warehouses, and other facilities. According to Roderick's plans, this place would eventually accommodate more than a thousand people.

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

Some luckier refugees had escaped to Southshore with their entire families. Even then, the pressure of providing rations forced them to cling tightly to the hand of rescue Roderick had extended.

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 groups.

A considerable proportion of the refugees came from former noble families. Those with military training were assigned to infantry units under the Raven Guard Knights. From among the well-educated, some women with families were selected to handle Watchtower Village's basic administrative work. Their shared experiences as Northrend refugees greatly reduced conflicts between them. After all, compared to cruel death, a few arguments among the living were nothing.

This group of refugees completely solved the manpower problem 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 manufacturing and maintaining all farming tools. They then paid a sum of gold and requested at least one-third of Watchtower Village's food production for that year. Roderick gladly agreed to their terms.

With the Dwarves' blacksmith shop, a great deal was saved on weapons and farming tools. This gold also gave Roderick, whose finances were nearly exhausted, a chance to catch his breath. A refugee group of several hundred people, the frenzied purchase 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 period by relying on Albert to apply for a personal loan for mages in Dalaran. Now that reclamation work had begun, although the harvest was still a long way off, the Dwarves' arrival allowed Roderick to keep going. After the autumn harvest, Watchtower Village would be on the right track.