Aegwynn's expression turned serious. "Galen, Gandalf, I need your help. Medivh is on the verge of falling completely. If his soul is lost, Azeroth will be doomed."
Galen feigned confusion. "How could the Guardian harm Azeroth?"
Aegwynn sighed and recounted her history, beginning with her battle against the demon lord Sargeras. She described discovering his presence, their fierce confrontation, and her sealing of his body near the Broken Isles, where she constructed the Tomb of Sargeras. Later, she met Aran and bore Medivh, but it was all part of Sargeras' plan.
Sargeras had deliberately lost their battle, his dark soul possessing Aegwynn. Unable to corrupt her, he transferred himself to Medivh at birth, seeking an opportunity to corrupt the new Guardian. He eventually succeeded, opening the Dark Portal, bringing the orcs to Azeroth, and attempting to use them to destroy all resistance!
Galen and Gandalf listened intently. Aegwynn's narrative, shaped by her millennia of life and Guardian power, was far more vivid and engaging than any account Galen had encountered before. Suppressing his urge to applaud, Galen finally asked, "Lady Aegwynn, how can we stop Medivh?"
"We must subdue Medivh, control him, and expel the darkness within him!"
Aegwynn omitted the final, desperate option: killing Medivh. Without a host, Sargeras's soul would be forcibly expelled by Azeroth and return to the Twisting Nether.
As a mother, Aegwynn found this solution abhorrent, a last resort.
However, she was prepared. She would eliminate Sargeras's soul and rectify her past error.
She also had a contingency plan: after killing Medivh and expelling Sargeras, she knew a way to resurrect her son, though at a great cost.
"Madam," Gandalf interjected, "Forgive my bluntness, but since you relinquished the Guardian mantle, Medivh is arguably the most powerful mage alive. Even the Sun King, away from the Sunwell, is no match for him. His power transcends legendary mages!"
Gandalf, as Galen's ostensible mentor, voiced what Galen, given his age, could not: mage-level knowledge and taboos.
"Medivh's Guardian power is incomplete. I retained a portion," Aegwynn admitted, her tone suggesting regret.
Aegwynn had kept some of her power, it was true, to maintain her youth. Sargeras, it could be argued, had misjudged human women. Had he exploited this weakness, he might have corrupted Aegwynn directly, bypassing Medivh's birth.
"Lady Aegwynn," Galen said, "Even with an elite team, breaking into Karazhan presents a problem. Medivh is a Stormwind noble, a close friend of King Llane and Lothar, the Lion of Stormwind. Our involvement could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Stormwind and Stromgarde."
Galen wanted Aegwynn to enlist Stormwind's elite. In the original timeline, Lothar had led the Brotherhood of the Horse, joining forces with Khadgar and Garona, to confront Medivh.
Galen preferred not to rely solely on his own forces and Aegwynn. Strong allies were welcome.
He quickly formulated a plan. From Stormwind, they would need Lothar and the Brotherhood of the Horse. From his own side, he would bring Aragorn, Gandalf, and Durin, who had proven his worth in the Northern Barrens war. All three of Galen's Kingslayer Altar heroes were now legendary-tier.
Galen also knew from the Origin Heart map that Chromie had been in Silvermoon City for over a month. He wanted to invite her to Karazhan as well.
Kael'thas should also be involved. The high elves needed to understand the implications of the orcish arrival. Their ancestors, led by Dath'Remar, had served Sargeras ten thousand years ago, a stain on their history, despite their eventual withdrawal.
Galen doubted that his northern neighbors, the proud and stubborn night elves, would participate without a direct threat.
"Demons in the human world? The Guardian possessed by a demon lord?"
The night elves, victors of the Burning Legion's invasion ten thousand years ago, were unlikely to believe that such a powerful being would stoop to possessing a human, even one called the Guardian!
However, Kael'thas's involvement would increase their chances. Galen also had advantages.
He knew Medivh's soul was not destroyed, merely suppressed. By containing most of Sargeras's energy, they could give Medivh an opportunity to intervene.
In the original timeline, Medivh's soul had provided the crucial distraction, allowing Lothar and Khadgar to strike the killing blow!
Galen could also spend money to summon kings. Though restricted by his base level, a level three castle could summon a legendary-peak warrior, a match for Medivh's incomplete Guardian power.
Sargeras was also limited. He was a soul inhabiting Medivh's body, not his own. They would face a Sargeras of, at most, equal strength to Medivh.
"A rare opportunity!" Galen thought. "My chance to strike Sargeras!"
Outside of Azeroth, Sargeras was a Titan, an unstoppable force.
"I will make him regret crossing my path," Galen vowed.
"Lady Aegwynn, we must inform Lothar and King Llane and gain their support. Lothar represents the pinnacle of human combat prowess and is essential to our success!"
Galen agreed, though he could have allowed events to unfold as in the original timeline, with Lothar discovering the truth and leading the raid on Karazhan.
However, Galen wanted to participate, both for reputation and profit.
The spoils of this battle could include Karazhan's treasures, magical texts, arcane creations, and the Guardian's own powerful artifacts. But Galen had his eye on the greatest prize:
Medivh's spirit, the current human Guardian and Astral Mage!
"My greatsword is eager," he thought.
"I will go to Stormwind to persuade Llane and Lothar. My presence will lend credence to the claim that Medivh has fallen," Aegwynn agreed.
She was unaware that this "Thorben" already had designs on her son, and in the most extreme way.
"Very well, madam. We have matters to conclude in the Northern Barrens. Let us meet in Stormwind City in three days. Do you require coordinates?"
The centaurs and quilboar remained a threat. Galen needed to make arrangements before departing, especially given their teleportation abilities.
"I will go to Stormwind City to see Llane first. We'll meet there in three days. Do you need a spatial coordinate?"
"No need, madam. Please take these." Galen produced the items. "This is a positioning beacon for a teleportation scroll, allowing us to quickly locate you. This is a magic video communicator for constant contact."
Galen presented the video communicator, unused for years due to Gandalf's reluctance to serve as a signal relay.
Galen realized Aegwynn could be an ideal relay station. Though she had passed much of her power to Medivh, she retained legendary strength. Instead of allowing her to remain in seclusion until she became Jaina's advisor, he would try to secure her service now.
Aegwynn accepted the items, transformed into a raven, and vanished into the night sky.
"I should have invited her to stay for dinner," Galen mused. "She was the human Guardian for millennia and should have connections with various Azerothian races."
"Duke, you've grown!" Gandalf teased.
Gandalf rarely teased Galen, who usually directed his jests at him. Now, Gandalf had an opportunity to retaliate!
"Gandalf, when Aegwynn was an apprentice, the Arathor Empire hadn't even fallen. She's thousands of years old, even older than my family's first ancestor!"
Galen saw an opportunity.
"Gandalf, our forces need a veteran representative to liaise with the long-lived races, like the old elf king and the dragonflights. She must know them."
A cunning glint appeared in Galen's eyes.
"Gandalf! The important task of securing Aegwynn falls to you. You're getting old and lonely, aren't you? Seeing others marry and have children, you must weep into your pillow! Aegwynn is still beautiful. Why not ask her to be your partner and gain a great son-in-law for free!"
"Prince! You! I...!"
Gandalf was taken aback by Galen's suggestion.
"Isn't it a good idea? I can prepare small gifts for your next meeting!"
"You can't win, Gandalf!"
"I refuse!"
"I refuse your refusal!"
"I would rather fight with a sword and staff than obey!"
"Hmm?"
Galen was suddenly energized.
Galen produced his backpack and a pile of imitation famous swords: Sword of Many Colors, Headless Horseman's Sword, Black Dragonflight Rune Sword, Azshara's Claw, and Flame Strike!
"Choose!"
"Your Highness, this old man has osteoporosis and cannot dual-wield!"
"Hahahaha!"
Galen laughed at Gandalf's expression.
Having agreed to Aegwynn's request, Galen needed to resolve the situation in the Northern Barrens and free Aragorn and Durin. He planned to leave Amor, the most experienced person under his command besides a few heroes, in charge of Kalimdor.
The next day, the quillboar captured at Razor Hill were brought to the Crusader Fortress, bringing the total number there to nearly seventy thousand.
These were only from the Bristleback tribe. The Bristleback tribe's betrayal had led Galen to order the capture of the entire tribe, who were also to be brought to the Crusader Fortress.
The battle at Camp Taurajo, Varrokal's charge and Dezco, had resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of quillboar, with three to four thousand remaining. The Crusader Fortress would soon hold at least one hundred thousand quillboar.
Most were women and children, with only about half being adult warriors, making them relatively easy to manage. However, their sheer numbers posed a problem that needed immediate resolution.
Galen summoned the Razorhide Chieftain and the surrendered Bristleback to the Crusader Fortress walls.
They both stood behind Galen.
"Do you see your tribesmen? I have treated them well, feeding them and ensuring they do not go hungry. You should understand that I am not a tyrant. Serve me well, and I will not mistreat you or use you as cannon fodder!"
"We will be loyal to you until death!" they pledged. Resistance was futile.
"I will tentatively trust your future performance. I will grant you the power to govern yourselves. This is my benevolence, but do not mistake it for weakness!"
"Bring him up!"
Infantry escorted the former chieftain, Fangtooth, onto the city wall.
"Spare me, master! Don't kill me!" Fangtooth begged.
"If you knew this would happen, you wouldn't have betrayed me! Do not mistake my kindness for weakness! Execute him!"
"No!"
"Traitors will never be forgiven. It is a core Crusader principle! Whoever violates it, dies!"
The hand rose, and the knife fell.
The pig's head landed on the ground!