At night, Quel'Thalas lay bathed in the Sunwell's energy, and Eversong Woods offered a pleasing sight: golden magical trees, lush green grass, and arcane particles that refreshed the spirit.
I wonder what Alleria will decide. It looks like this battle against the trolls is about to begin, Patrick thought.
In his room, Patrick gathered an arcane orb in his hand as he studied Force Orb. He had modified the spell, making it different from its original form.
When Patrick combined Force Orb with Arcane Mimicry, a "point mass" with a gravitational field was born. Although the field's pull was weak for now, it was gradually taking shape. This was also the first arcane spell Patrick had developed himself in Azeroth.
The arcane scrolls his father had given him before he left had been a tremendous help to Patrick. Arcane Stasis and Forcefield Construction were both important resources that helped him refine his own arcane magic.
Patrick walked onto the balcony and gazed at Life Forest beyond the defensive barrier. The forest was quiet now, so quiet that it felt somewhat frightening. Below, the sentries and guards kept watching Life Forest to prevent a surprise troll attack.
The next day, in the hall of the East Sanctum.
"A mage just reported detecting traces of hex energy in Life Forest. The trolls are conducting sacrificial rites there," Alleria said, glancing at Patrick.
The hall fell silent, and no one answered. Indeed, against the trolls in the forest, holding their fortifications was the best choice, because the elves had no advantage over trolls in the woods.
On the contrary, the forest was the trolls' home ground, where the forest trolls' racial talents could be used to their fullest.
Alleria continued, "Although we have already notified Farstrider Lodge to strengthen its defenses and diverted troops from the Thas'wether's Tower and Surren's Farm areas to reinforce it, in the long run, the trolls of Zeb'Watha will remain a threat to Farstrider Lodge."
Alleria's expression was somewhat grim. She herself knew that abandoning a defensive battle to attack Life Forest offered little chance of victory. If a large troll force lay in ambush there, everyone might perish inside and become offerings the trolls sacrificed to their gods.
"Sitting here waiting to die is hardly how we Quel'dorei do things. We know nothing of the trolls' intentions. Are we supposed to let them carry out their schemes in Life Forest? Quel ' dorei Serrar Shindu nah! (Thalassian: Quel'dorei will slay their enemies with the sword!)" Hawkspear drew his longsword and drove it into the ground as he spoke.
"Actually, General Hawkspear has a point. We should take the initiative and attack." Patrick looked at Hawkspear, then turned to offer his suggestion to Alleria. The female elf's skin, exposed beyond her Ranger's Battle Robe, was very fair and seemed to reflect the light. It looked nothing like the skin of someone who had spent years fighting.
Without waiting for anyone to respond, he continued, "Life Forest is different from other regions. Although one troll tribe controls the south of Life Forest, the west and north are actually under our control. That is why the trolls have spent all these days in the forest watching our movements.
"They need to finish their battle preparations quickly, before we discover them, so they can coordinate an attack with the trolls facing off against Farstrider Lodge, take the lodge in one stroke, then turn their sights on the East Sanctum, Surren's Farm, and the other locations."
Patrick paused, then said, "So what we should do is disrupt their arrangement. Besides, Life Forest is actually close to the East Sanctum. Most of the forest is under our control, and the trolls occupy only a small part. With the East Sanctum at our backs, we can quickly receive reinforcements and supplies later on. Entering the forest to fight is not impossible."
The decision to take the initiative and attack had been made. Alleria and several other elves were discussing the specific battle plan,
as well as their route. Patrick left the hall early to prepare spellcasting materials and Arcane Potions for the operation. This would be Patrick's first time on a battlefield, and he could not help feeling nervous. Finally, the group settled on their route and the time of departure: tomorrow morning.
The commanders left to muster their troops and prepare all kinds of supplies, while the mages prepared to inscribe arcane scrolls and send intelligence to Silvermoon City.
"How confident are you in this tactical decision?" Alleria asked.
"To be honest, I'm not confident. As I said yesterday, this is only a deduction based on the intelligence we currently have. I have no experience fighting trolls. As for my judgment, I believe Marshal Alleria and General Hawkspear are better qualified to comment."
Alleria said nothing more and pondered in silence.
The troops finished assembling. Alleria led them, with Patrick and Hawkspear following behind. The civilians of the East Sanctum began evacuating, leaving only elves capable of fighting who volunteered to stay as soldiers. There were only three mages accompanying the army: Patrick and two Fourth-Circle Mages.
Before their departure, the mage tower had already received Silvermoon City's reply. The council had approved Alleria's orders to mobilize the troops, and the troop movements were already being carried out in succession. All that remained was to confirm the intentions of the Zeb'Watha trolls and resolve the crisis at the East Sanctum.
The troops set out. They passed through Twin Mountain Pass and left the defensive barrier. Arcane particles could still be felt in Life Forest, but the arcane energy was not as pure as it was inside the barrier. The air was tainted with the scent of voodoo and hexes, making the elves, especially the mages, deeply uncomfortable and nauseated.
The journey was quiet, unsettlingly so. They did not see a single troll along the way, only the troll tracks discovered by the rangers. Patrick could not help beginning to doubt, wondering whether his tactics were mistaken.
The troops kept advancing toward northeastern Life Forest. The closer they drew, the more strongly they could sense the stench of hexes, mingled with the smell of troll voodoo in the air. The rangers' deductions from the marks in the forest also confirmed that signs of troll activity increased the farther northeast they went.
The generals no longer hesitated and marched at full speed to northeastern Life Forest, on the southern bank of the Elrendar River.
When the troops discovered the trolls, Hawkspear's Eagle Eye proved a great help. He successfully spotted the trolls busy in the forest, felling trees and making simple rafts. In their midst, several elderly witch doctors fiddled with bottles and jars, dancing strangely around a totem.
As the witch doctors danced, red gas evaporated from the bottles and jars and entered the totem. The priests also began chanting incantations, and the totem released masses of green energy. After some nearby Amani Berserkers and Amani Axe Throwers absorbed this green energy, their muscles swelled dramatically, and the fanatical gleam in their eyes burned even more fiercely.
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