Once the Frostwolf Clan and the Dire Wolf Force had wiped out all the Vilebranch Trolls on the flat stretch of beach east of the Hinterlands, they could follow the narrow trail up into the region's heartland and rendezvous with Bear Iron Fist and Steel Torrent. The only requirement was to eliminate as many Vilebranch Trolls on the Seaside Plain as possible, because once the fighting began, that plain would become the main stockpile for supplies supporting the assault on Jintha'Alor.
According to reconnaissance, the total number of Trolls living on the Seaside Plain was fairly small, and there was usually little Vilebranch activity there. The concern was that, upon hearing cannon fire, the Vilebranch Trolls in the Hinterlands' heartland might leave Jintha'Alor or their other settlements and seize the junction at the top of the trail first. They could then attack from above and disrupt the Air Force while it built a makeshift Dragonhawk Launch Platform. Otherwise, there were no major problems.
Yu Lin Bloodhawk glanced at the detailed terrain map and immediately understood. A rugged mountain range separated the Seaside Plain from the main region of the Hinterlands. The Seaside Plain lay very low, while the main region stood much higher. The difference in elevation was enormous.
The side of the range facing the Seaside Plain consisted of sheer cliffs, far too steep to climb from below or descend from above. The slopes facing the Hinterlands' heartland, however, were comparatively gentle. To reach the main region from the Seaside Plain, they would have to take the winding, treacherous Small Mountain Road through the hills to the south.
The foot of the Small Mountain Road lay in one of the few hilly stretches on the Seaside Plain, while its upper end opened into the Hinterlands' heartland. But the difference