Orgrim led the remnants of his army, evading Lothar's pursuit and successfully boarding the ships left at the Isle of Penance.
To avoid Admiral Daelin's fleet, they were forced to navigate the treacherous seas, following the western coast of the Bay of Baradin, sailing counterclockwise past the eastern shores of Gilneas.
Ultimately, the Alliance navy discovered the Horde fleet. Realizing they were outmatched at sea, Orgrim ordered the ships abandoned and landed in the northern Khaz Modan mountains, pushing onward to the Wetlands base camp.
But misfortune compounded misfortune. Upon reaching the Wetlands, Orgrim received news that almost broke his resolve.
"What?! Grim Batol has fallen to the humans?!" The Warchief was incredulous.
"According to the Dragonmaw clan survivors, it was a combined force of humans and dwarves," Fenthralis, Orgrim's appointed commander in the Wetlands, confirmed.
"Damn it! The Dragonmaw filth! What of their dragons?!" Orgrim raged. He had hoped to use the Dragonmaw clan's red dragon knights to regain aerial superiority, but his first line of defense was gone.
Fenthralis remained silent, fearing Orgrim's wrath. His own efforts in the Wetlands had been lackluster. He had focused on securing logistics and probing the defenses of the Thandol Span, but his forces were insufficient to make any headway.
However, even the mighty Orgrim had been driven back by the humans, so Fenthralis's lack of progress was somewhat understandable. At least he still held the Wetlands, which was better than the Dragonmaw clan, who had lost their base.
"Warchief, we broke through once; we can break through again. We still have many great warriors in the Burning Steppes and Elwynn Forest!" Fenthralis suggested.
Orgrim calmed himself. He detected a note of defeat in the Blackrock chieftain's voice, which deeply troubled him. When had his warriors lost their indomitable spirit?
He couldn't dwell on it. The humans were already planning a counter-offensive in the south, and the port in the northwest Wetlands was indefensible. Orgrim had witnessed the devastating power of the human warships' artillery, which could obliterate the port's defenses in a few volleys.
"Assemble the army! We are leaving the Wetlands to join the Bleeding Hollow clan!" Orgrim announced, the decision weighing heavily on him.
"Abandon the Wetlands? We've held this port for two years! Our camps are all over the Wetlands!" Rend Blackhand of the Blacktooth Grin tribe protested.
"Our forces are stretched too thin. The Wetlands' strategic position is poor. We don't control the bridge to the north. The Alliance navy in the northwest bay is too strong. And Grim Batol has fallen to the east! To the south, the gnomes and dwarves still resist us underground! So, Rend, do you suggest we defend the Wetlands to the death?"
With each sentence, Orgrim watched the expression on the son of the former Warchief darken.
"I want to lead our warriors to victory, not to a meaningless slaughter!" Orgrim roared, silencing the dissent. The orcs still had a chance, and he wouldn't allow disloyalty to undermine their unity.
"If you believe it's necessary to remain, then for the glory of the Horde, stay here and harass the human army, attacking them from the rear!" Orgrim fixed Rend with a piercing gaze, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I will lead the main force south to join Kilrogg."
"If you cannot hold out, retreat south and find us."
This was the best plan Orgrim could devise. The veteran chieftain of the Bleeding Hollow clan, Kilrogg, was a reliable warrior. He had left the Bleeding Hollow clan in the Dun Morogh mountains not only to contain the dwarves within Ironforge but also to secure a source of weapons and supplies.
Logistics would be available there. If Orgrim could reach the south and establish a new stronghold near Blackrock Spire, he could continue the fight, though it would be far more challenging.
"I will stay with the Blacktooth Grin tribe!" Rend declared, choosing to defy Orgrim's orders. Blackhand's son harbored his own ambitions. He also resented Orgrim for killing his father. This was his chance to break free of the Doomhammer's control.
"As you wish! The warships here are yours. If you cannot hold the Wetlands, sail south to Stormwind Harbor. I will be waiting for you at Blackrock Spire! Prove yourself, and I will return the Blackrock clan to your command!"
Orgrim believed he had played his hand well. He had removed a potential threat from his main force, left behind a force to delay the Alliance advance, and created a pretext for Rend to join him later.
Finally, Orgrim rallied his forces. Orc morale was low, and he needed to reignite their fighting spirit.
"I understand that we have suffered setbacks, and our numbers have dwindled. Gul'dan's betrayal has cost us dearly. The human kingdoms were almost within our grasp, but we cannot yield. We are orcs, a mighty Horde! We will make this world tremble again and bow before us!"
While Orgrim rallied his troops in the Wetlands, the traitor Gul'dan had been at sea for over a month. Lacking skilled navigators, they struggled to maintain their course. The journey was arduous.
Fortunately, Gul'dan had a vague sense of the Tomb of Sargeras's location. Though storms and waves repeatedly pushed them off course, he managed to correct their direction.
Gul'dan's betrayal marked a turning point in the war. It was a crushing blow to Orgrim and deprived the Horde of its spellcasters, forcing orcish soldiers into costly frontal assaults. It also sowed the seeds of defeat, causing Orgrim to abandon victory and be hunted by the Alliance.
Unbeknownst to Gul'dan, a fleet followed his at a distance, their tall warships bearing red sails. Bloodsails!