(There has been so much going on lately, so this was a little late.)
Patrick neither knew nor wanted to know what the Illidari Council's F4 truly thought. Still, before the Dark Portal opened, they had all been top-ranking leaders directly under the royal family, and naturally had a keen grasp of politics and such matters.
Their only flaw was that they were too bound by convention. To put it kindly, they knew only how to follow Quel'Thalas's old institutions, with rigid, stubborn ways of thinking. To put it less kindly, they were shortsighted, lacking the long-term vision expected of leaders.
What Patrick needed to do was smash that little clay figure of "self-assurance" inside them, then personally sculpt them a new one.
For now, Patrick simply needed them to follow his plan. As long as Quel'Thalas's main forces, far away in Outland, could return to Azeroth, his plan would be more than halfway to success. Besides, the Illidari Council's position in the Black Temple was deeply awkward. As double agents, they lived in constant uncertainty despite their high standing.
Moreover, F4 also controlled the Fire / Spell Seal and the Eclipse Burning Legion, the two forces with the greatest combat strength in the entire Black Temple. One focused on intelligence, the other on actual combat, and both were powerful organizations indispensable to the kingdom.
The Illidari Council was shaken upon learning Patrick's intentions, and Loramus and Altruis were no different.
"Lord Illidan, do you really intend to follow that Blood Elf Regent's suggestion?" Loramus had only just arrived in Outland. His impression of Patrick had originally been good, but hearing Patrick's suggestion to Illidan had completely overturned the image he held of him.
Illidan still stood at the Temple Summit, gazing at the distant Twisting Nether. His cold