The following day, within the assembly hall of Galen's Port...
"Today, I appoint Omar as Legion Commander of the First Legion, under the Crusader Army!"
"Hennie Marbaugh as Legion Commander of the Second Legion!"
"Fadil Dabire as Legion Commander of the Third Legion!"
Next came Fral and Kimir Galen, who declared themselves commanders of the Fourth and Fifth Legions, respectively. Galen paused meaningfully after their announcements, letting the silence hang.
Below the platform, Varokal shifted anxiously, his face clearly broadcasting his thoughts: What about me?
Seeing Varokal on the verge of a visible pout, Galen resumed.
"I hereby appoint Varokal as Commander of the First Knight Order of the Crusader Army!"
Galen still held Varokal in high regard. With just over three thousand high-ranking knights at his disposal, Galen had allocated four hundred to his legion, leaving the rest—nearly three thousand—to Varokal command.
Though smaller in number compared to Omar's eight-thousand-strong infantry legion, the First Knight Order's combat power was unmatched—especially on the open plains of the Barrens, where cavalry often outperformed foot soldiers. These elite knights rivaled even the mightiest forces of human nations, comparable only to hero units like the Highland Knights of Stromgarde or the Iron Steed Brotherhood of Stormwind.
Yet, none of the other commanders felt any jealousy. They knew their skills in cavalry warfare couldn't match Varokal's.
Of the six legions formed, five would march into battle. The sixth—designated the Second Auxiliary Legion—would remain at Friendship Keep, replacing the Gale Legion, which Galen would now lead personally.
Joining them in this campaign were Gandalf's Tidefury Legion and the Silver Legion. Aragorn, currently in Silvermoon City for a new round of paladin awakenings, would soon join them. His task: lead the Stone Legion and guard Stonetalon Pass against potential centaur incursions.
Together, eight regular infantry legions and one knight order would make up the bulk of Galen's army. This marked the Crusader Army's largest campaign since the founding of the Heart of Origin base.
Later that afternoon, Dezko arrived at the Six Legions' camp, accompanied by Magatha—an elder shaman of legendary rank and one of the tauren's most influential advisors. She would lead the tauren's main force to fortify checkpoints along the Stonetalon Pass.
As expected, Galen had anticipated Magatha's arrival. A staunch supporter of military action among the tauren, she would never miss a campaign against the centaur. With two Grimtotem camps located within Stonetalon, her leadership would ensure coordination between the tauren and the main army.
The newly appointed legion commanders were intrigued by the imposing tauren, many of whom had limbs thicker than Fadil's waist. Galen, as the recognized envoy of An'she among the Sunwalker tribe, was held in high esteem. Dezko had even come to Galen's Port beforehand to study the common tongue from human merchants, allowing for smooth communication. The youthful tauren and human officers bonded quickly.
With preparations complete, it was time to strike camp and advance.
As the legions departed in formation, the camp was vacated. Farmers, already organized in advance, were remotely directed by Galen to occupy the site and begin construction. The flat coastal plain offered easy access for enemy landings—an ideal place for a forward fortress guarding the Northern Barrens.
Galen had long debated the location for his port—this spot or the former site of Ratchet. He had ultimately chosen Ratchet for its proximity to the mouth of Ragefire Chasm. But now, with the port established and the northern expedition underway, Galen was ready to begin construction on a fortress here.
He already had a name in mind:
Barrenhold.
The army advanced westward, toward the ancient Golden Road of the Barrens.
A remnant of the world before the War of the Ancients, this road once connected key settlements in the high elves' Golden Land—thus named the "Golden Road." Galen had once assumed it referred to the wealth of trade, akin to the Silk Road or the Tea Horse Road of ancient China.
Were the high elves all poetic romantics? Galen mused. If it had just been called the Yellow Road, I wouldn't have thought so much about it!
Upon reaching the road, they spotted another force waiting in the distance—the Gale Legion.
Under Galen's orders, the Gale Legion had come to reinforce the main force, while the Second Auxiliary Legion took over their garrison duties at Friendship Keep. Galen's reasoning was sound: the Gale Legion had seen numerous battles in the past year—fighting quilboar rebellions and repelling threats from the north. They were veterans, tried and tested.
Rather than train fresh recruits in battle, Galen preferred to use experienced legions like the Gale to sharpen the army's edge further. Over time, with more base soldiers under his command, Galen envisioned a structure of main battle legions, auxiliary garrison legions, and reserve units.
The first five legions—Omar's included—were considered second-tier, still proving themselves. But one day, Galen hoped they would become legends of their own.
The main battle legions would be the tip of the spear.
The auxiliaries, like those stationed at Red Cloud Mesa and Friendship Keep, would secure key locations.
The reserves would replenish frontline units as needed.
With the second legion rejoining the main force, they continued marching forward. Their next stop: the Oasis of Sweltering Sands, one of the Barrens' three great oases.
Located southwest of Stranglethorn Vale, the oasis was just a day's ride by warhorse. Galen had selected it as the first major supply point due to its abundant water and resources.
Meanwhile, Galen's Vogul ogres had settled down in Sweetwater Oasis, enjoying a peaceful and plentiful life. With no natural predators, they dominated the region, hunting giraffes, lions, striders, and even quillboar that wandered too close. Their numbers had doubled in a year.
Ten miles south of Sweetwater Oasis, Galen's forces made camp beneath a cold, clear night sky.
Turok, chieftain of the Vogul ogres, arrived with his Blackrock clan wife and a small orc child. Behind them, four ogres carried a collection of prey—thunder lizards, zebras, lions, and raptors.
A tribute? Galen wondered. Feels more like a royal visit than a delivery!
A heavy thud echoed as a thunder lizard carcass was dropped before him.
Thunder lizards were massive, lightning-breathing beasts—similar in shape to kodos but far more aggressive. With their size and elemental power, they were the apex predators of the Barrens.
Galen's mind raced. If kodos could be tamed, why not thunder lizards?
The idea was already forming: equip King Durin's Thunder Legion with these beasts as mounts. Imagine them charging into battle, unleashing lightning before impact—a shock-and-awe tactic like no other.
Later, Galen turned to Dezco. "Have the tauren ever tried taming thunder lizards?"
Dezco paused, reminiscing. "The Runetotem druids once tried. They used calming spells, but the lightning within these creatures disrupted the magic. Eventually, we discovered the kodo and abandoned the project."
"So, they're that hard to tame?" Galen muttered.
Dezco nodded. "They're elementally unstable. But maybe the shamans could help—they speak with the elements. Perhaps they can find a way."
That gave Galen another idea—mages. While shamans commune with elements, mages control them. He would task Gandalf with researching thunder lizards at once.
"I'll have Gandalf look into this," Galen said.
Dezco blinked. "Galen, wouldn't kodos be easier? We can teach you how to raise them!"
Galen smirked. Children pick favorites—I'll take both.
Kodo knights on the left, thunder knights on the right, paladins in the center—let even the demons tremble!
At that moment, Omar and the other commanders arrived to discuss strategy. Galen had ordered them to gather once their legions had finished setting up camp.
Dezco turned his attention away from his thunder lizard worries. Time for war council.
Galen nodded, and a cloaked scout from the Dark Division stepped forward to report:
"Our intelligence indicates the Bristleback tribe is a major quillboar force in the eastern Barrens. Razorfen Kraul, our target, is just one splinter group."
Galen had been stunned when he first received this intelligence: over 200,000 quillboar in the east, and nearly 100,000 at Razorfen Kraul alone.
However, not all news was grim.
The eastern Barrens weren't entirely under Bristleback control. The tribe faced threats from rival factions, which kept their full attention divided. Still, reinforcements couldn't be ruled out.
"The Dark Division recommends blocking the Angerflow River, cutting off any chance for Razorfen Kraul to receive aid from the east."