Chapter 377: The Fall of the High Elves - Part 1

War.

Every war births its own peculiarities, be it inventions, tactics, or something else entirely.

A nation with ample strategic depth can rely on its vast lands, retreating when necessary, granting the rear ample time and space to regroup and amass strength for a counter-offensive.

Smaller nations, however...

Once their core strength is decimated, their annihilation can be but days away.

Quel'Thalas, neither vast nor minuscule, spans roughly the Eversong Woods and half of the Ghostlands in the future. At its peak, it's about a third the size of the Kingdom of Lordaeron. (In the Ghostlands, a significant portion is troll territory, controlled by the Amani troll tribe of Zul'Aman.)

Despite its limited territorial depth, Quel'Thalas rejected human aid, opting instead for a war of attrition. Duke was utterly baffled by this strategy.

Rubbing his temples, Duke murmured, "Perhaps it's best if Alleria abandons this notion..."

After sharing his analysis with Alleria, she immediately rushed to Kael'thas.

"Your Highness! Do you truly intend to face the Horde on the plains?" Alleria, a seasoned strategist, knew that the towering Arcane Golems and even mightier Mountain Giants were ill-suited for jungle warfare.

"Is there an issue, General Windrunner?" Kael'thas replied with a gracious smile.

"Your Highness! We cannot engage the Horde head-on! The high elves lack a robust vanguard. While the Arcane Golems are formidable and the Mountain Giants powerful, their numbers are too few. If our vanguard is breached, our mages and rangers will be hunted down by the Horde like ducks," Alleria argued passionately. Having been with Duke for so long, she was well-versed in the horrors of facing the Horde on open ground.

In truth, during the battles at Southshore and the Southshore Coast, humans relied heavily on fortified defenses to curb the Horde's mobility and ferocity, achieving a favorable casualty exchange rate.

And now, Kael'thas wishes to challenge the Horde on the plains?

Alleria believed that not just Kael'thas, but the entire high elven hierarchy, had gone mad.

"Mind your tone, General Windrunner. In times of war, such pessimism is unwelcome," a towering warrior beside the prince interjected.

"You are..." Alleria recognized the insignia on his chest plate, denoting his rank as a baron.

"Baron Sagunar, a loyal follower of His Highness."

Ah, one of Kael'thas's staunch supporters.

Despite his prolonged stay in Dalaran, Kael'thas had managed to rally a group of loyalists, albeit of lower rank.

Alleria, unimpressed, retorted, "I'm not being pessimistic. I'm merely stating the power disparity between us and the Horde, as an elf who has truly faced them in battle."

"Understood? And how many of these orcs have you slain?" Sagunar sneered.

Alleria's eyes narrowed, "The Alliance has certified 1,388 orc kills to my name."

Certified kills were one thing, but the uncertified...

In an age that revered heroes, one's kill count was a badge of honor.

Sagunar finally acknowledged her prowess, recalling that the fierce and noble ranger before him was a renowned hero from the Troll Wars.

At that moment, Kael'thas intervened.

He pondered briefly, "I understand your concerns, General. We'll proceed with the battle as planned, but we'll choose the plains south of the Eastern Temple as our battleground. The Windrunner rangers will provide cover."

Kael'thas gestured towards the Windrunner's defensive position, which was right by the Eastern Temple.

It was evident that Kael'thas, having been suppressed by the council for years, had mastered the art of compromise. Perhaps this distanced him from the realm of heroes, but it was undeniably in line with the political climate of Quel'Thalas. A smooth-talking politician often fared better than an uncompromising hero.

Choosing a battleground under their defensive line ensured that even in the worst-case scenario, the army could retreat under the protection of the temple's robust magical defenses.

Alleria shuddered but chose not to argue further. Kael'thas had made a concession, averting the worst possible outcome. And relocating the heavily battered ranger forces to the second line was a decision no one could fault.

Surrounded by the prince's sycophants singing praises of his wisdom, Alleria felt a wave of nausea. She saluted and left.

The next day.

From atop a high hill, overlooking the forests and elven villages set ablaze, Orgrim Doomhammer felt a rare sense of satisfaction. He asked his lieutenant, "The scouts report that those long-eared fools plan to face us on the plains?"

Zuluhed, the chieftain of the Dragonmaw clan, nodded, "Yes, they probably believe that their damned magic can decimate us before we breach their vanguard."

Orgrim sneered, "Fine. Let's not waste our brave orc warriors on their magic. Especially when we have a choice. Let Gul'dan's new toys lead the charge."

The Second Dark Portal War, a drastically altered Battle of Quel'Thalas, officially commenced on June 2nd.

The distinct horn of the high elves echoed.

While the Horde's horns were raw and bold, and the Alliance's were valiant and heroic, the elves'... well, they sounded like trumpets played as flutes, complete with keys producing varied notes.

The elven army, upon which the Sunstrider dynasty placed great hopes, emerged from a lush green forest. The entire Horde formation was laid bare before these elves, who hadn't seen real combat in nearly three millennia.

The elves scoffed. The Horde's formation seemed too scattered, resembling a gathering of beggars.