The dawn broke over Eversong Forest, casting a pale light on the ominous shadows that stretched across the land. Less than a day after returning to Silvermoon City from the Western Sanctum, the drums of war echoed through the trees, signaling the beginning of a fierce and relentless assault.
Orc soldiers, hardened by countless battles, surged forward in a tide of steel and fury, determined to breach the defenses of Silvermoon City. As the first wave of orcs crossed the outskirts of Eversong Forest, fires blazed along the horizon, illuminating the dark sky with the flickering glow of destruction.
The walls of Silvermoon City, once gleaming with the magic and beauty of elven craftsmanship, now bore the scars of battle. Ballistae and arcane wards flared to life, casting shimmering shields to hold back the relentless tide. Even with the timely arrival of the Alliance army, the battle continued even fiercer.
The chaos of war raged unabated. Red dragons, newly mastered by the Dragonmaw clan, arrived like fiery titans from the skies, turning the tide of battle with devastating ease.
Their majestic mounts, now fully trained and synchronized with their riders, unleashed torrents of dragonfire that incinerated the dwarven gryphon riders and tore through the ranks of the Alliance with relentless fury. The air shimmered with the heat of the flames, and the earth trembled beneath the onslaught.
Meanwhile, across Quel'Thalas, the destruction was equally ruthless. The Horde's relentless assault ravaged the lush forests of Eversong Woods, igniting a massive firestorm that billowed smoke skyward, blotting out the sun and casting the land into shadow.
Harnessing the energies of the Sunwell, the high elven sorcerers summoned a colossal, shimmering shield around Silvermoon. This arcane barrier was infused with the very essence of their civilization's strength, transforming it from a tool of creation into a mighty fortress.
The Horde forces, including the formidable dragons, hammered against this divine defense, but the shield held firm. No matter how fiercely the Horde attacked, the Sunwell's barrier refused to falter, repelling the fiery assaults and protecting the city's inhabitants from annihilation.
Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer's frustration grew with each failed attempt. His original goal had been the swift fall of Lordaeron's capital, but the prolonged siege of Silvermoon threatened to delay his campaign.
The longer they lingered, the more the strategic advantage slipped away. His gaze hardened as he made the difficult decision: to abandon the siege and march south through the treacherous Alterac Mountains, aiming for human lands and the crucial city of Lordaeron.
Yet, not all were willing to accept this retreat. Zul'jin and the Amani trolls, fiercely devoted to their cause, refused to abandon Silvermoon. Their vow was clear—they would continue the assault until every high elf city was reduced to ruin.
Their unwavering resolve forced Doomhammer to leave the trolls behind, despite their value in battle and their crucial role in the campaign.
In the shadows of these events, Gul'dan observed with calculating interest. His dark schemes had long been in motion, and now he saw an opportunity.
Approaching Doomhammer, Gul'dan proposed a bold plan: his Stormreaver clan was close to breaching the elves' magical shield, and if they remained behind to focus on this task, they could ensure the destruction of Quel'Thalas before rejoining the main Horde forces.
His plan was to carve a path through the defenses alone, then return with the Amani in tow, promising to deliver a devastating blow to the high elves that the rest of the Horde could not achieve in time.
The days that followed were a whirlwind of treachery and shifting loyalties. Doomhammer, focused on the imminent assault on Capital City, remained unaware of the dark machinations unfolding within his ranks.
The Dragonmaw clan, ever cautious of Gul'dan's growing influence, kept their watchful eyes on the warlock, aware that his ambitions extended far beyond the immediate campaign.
Their decision to leave Silvermoon's siege was driven by a mixture of prudence and a growing suspicion that Gul'dan's true intentions might threaten the entire Horde.
Meanwhile, Gul'dan's true plans unfurled in secret. A few days after Doomhammer's departure, he convened his most trusted allies—Cho'gall and the Twilight's Hammer—in a hidden lair. With a sinister smile, Gul'dan revealed his masterstroke: he intended to abandon the Horde's current campaign and instead seek out the legendary Tomb of Sargeras.
There, he promised, they would unlock powers so immense that the very fabric of reality would bend to their will. As Gul'dan's influence spread, many spies embedded within his ranks were already turning their loyalties.
Once loyal to the Horde, they now served only his dark ambitions. The treacherous warlock's web of deception grew tighter with each passing day, as he manipulated those around him to serve his secret agenda.
Far from this web of treachery, the Amani trolls remained committed to their relentless siege of Silvermoon. Uninterested in Gul'dan's promises of power, they continued their brutal assault on the high elves, determined to see their mission through.
The Dragonmaw clan, wary of Gul'dan's growing influence and the threat it posed, chose caution over confrontation. They decided to depart quietly, warning the rest of the Horde of Gul'dan's betrayal, even as they watched his forces begin their silent march southward.
The siege of Silvermoon was ultimately lost. The high elves fought valiantly, but without the support of the Horde and with Gul'dan's forces heading away from the city, the Amani trolls found themselves increasingly isolated.
After a fierce and bloody confrontation, Zul'Aman was besieged and eventually overrun. Zul'jin himself was captured by a group of rangers led by Halduron Brightwing, narrowly escaping death but forced into hiding, his mind filled with rage and plans for revenge.
Thalorien did not pursue the Horde, and the elven army was unable to pursue the orcs. However, he still dispatched dragonhawk riders to assist the Alliance army against the orcish horde.
Of course, Leylin was also involved in this battle; he and Alleria mounted their dragonhawks and swiftly headed for the Ghostlands. Watching the orcs retreating from Eversong Forest, Leylin had a feeling they were repeating their old tricks.
They used the Alliance army's reinforcements to Silvermoon City to quickly move south and attack the human kingdoms. Their retreat route was clear; it didn't seem like the retreat of a defeated horde, but rather like they were executing a previous plan.
As the shadows lengthened over Quel'Thalas, the true danger loomed on the horizon. Gul'dan's treacherous plans threatened not only the Horde but the entire world, as he set his sights on the Tomb of Sargeras. a place of unimaginable dark power that could reshape the fate of Azeroth itself.