The Second Empire of Azeroth

Stratholme was established hundreds of years ago. Besides its military function, it is also the granary of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, producing the vast majority of Lordaeron's grain.

However, Stratholme is too far from Lordaeron, so after the Kingdom of Alterac betrayed the Alliance, Terenas seized Brill and the surrounding farms from the Barov family through cunning and coercion. Even so, it still didn't solve Lordaeron's grain problem, and they still needed to purchase large quantities from Stratholme.

This created conditions for the Cult of the Damned to unleash the Scourge plague and became an incentive for Arthas's fall.

However, the current Stratholme is still the second largest city in Lordaeron and a bridgehead against the trolls.

The Church of the Holy Light is very well developed here, with a cathedral in the city and the Chapel of the Holy Light, where priests are buried, outside the city.

Thanks to Stratholme having the most priests in the human kingdom, Alonsus Faol chose this place to conduct the ceremony for the first generation of paladins. Even after many days, the Holy Light still lingered in the sky above Stratholme, showing how grand the ceremony was.

Hundreds of gryphons landed outside Stratholme, and Baron Rivendare hurried over from the city.

Rivendare is not a human surname but comes from the elves. The Rivendare family has always been the link between Lordaeron and the high elves, so there is a high elf outpost near Stratholme's east gate, and a ranger lord is stationed there to help Stratholme resist the trolls of Zul'Aman.

"Respected General Windrunner, welcome to Stratholme."

Roger raised an eyebrow slightly. Baron Rivendare is a bit of a bootlicker!

Aurelia seemed used to it and wasn't surprised at all. She introduced Baron Rivendare: "This is Major Rogers Keisham, Sir Lothar's staff officer, and this is General Kurdran Wildhammer of Aerie Peak."

"General Kurdran!" Baron Rivendare greeted Kurdran, then looked at Roger, "Young man, I've heard of you."

Roger said with a smile, "I've long admired you as well, Baron."

"Is that so?" Baron Rivendare maintained a dignified smile, but it was clear that he was just being polite and didn't really welcome Roger.

Roger didn't mind. After all, Baron Rivendare was one of the oldest nobles in Lordaeron, so it was expected that he would have a poor impression of him.

However, this doesn't affect Roger's official business.

"Baron, are the troops ready?"

"Of course!" Baron Rivendare said meaningfully, "I have gathered a thousand warriors, ready to depart at any time."

"That's good!"

Aurelia saw that the two didn't hit it off, so she didn't say much. She had experienced too much intrigue among the nobles. Roger and Baron Rivendare's few words were harmless.

But the next day, she witnessed Baron Rivendare's shamelessness.

A thousand recruits stood on the military training ground. These were the troops that Baron Rivendare had sent to Roger.

"I'm sorry, Stratholme's army was sent to Lordaeron long ago. These soldiers are already the most elite soldiers in Stratholme." Baron Rivendare lied through his teeth, as if he couldn't see the veterans on the city walls.

Aurelia looked at him coldly, "It seems that the Baron doesn't care about the friendship of the elves."

Baron Rivendare pleaded, "General Windrunner, Stratholme really can't find any better soldiers."

"Forget it!" Roger stopped Aurelia, who was about to lose her temper. He had already seen that Baron Rivendare had planned this. His disregard for the relationship with the elves must be based on something.

Looking at the holy light surrounding Baron Rivendare's sword, Roger guessed that Baron Rivendare's reliance might be the paladins. From the map, it can be seen that if Stratholme wants to intercept the trolls of Zul'Aman, they only need to unite with the Mograine family of Tyr's Hand. Both he and Mograine are paladin lords, and Stratholme has many priests, so they can form a powerful paladin army to resist the trolls. If the number of paladins reaches a certain level, even taking Zul'Aman wouldn't be difficult.

Roger let Aurelia go ahead to scout whether the orcs had reached Zul'Aman.

Then he and Kurdran led the army to Quel'Thalas.

Not far after leaving the Eastwall Gate, a small team of rangers was waiting for them.

"This is Lord Hawksbill!" Aurelia's adjutant introduced the leading ranger to Roger, who was the Ranger-General due to a translation error in the 60s.

"Major Rogers, according to the General's orders, I will follow your command!" Hawksbill looked at Roger curiously. The person who could be recognized by the proud Windrunner should have some special qualities. However, apart from feeling a trace of intimacy, Roger seemed no different from other humans.

"These self-righteous elves, do they really think we need them? Isolated and unable to see the big picture, don't they know that humans are the masters of this world?"

Saying that, he picked up the invitation on the table, which was an invitation to a banquet for Stratholme noble officers, and in the host column was written: Othmar Garithos.

"Tell the son of Baron Garithos that I will attend the gathering."

This son of a baron is an arrogant fellow who often spreads human supremacist remarks in the army. Although Baron Rivendare doesn't completely agree with his remarks, it doesn't prevent him from wooing the Garithos family. Baron Garithos is a cunning fellow with strong connections in Lordaeron and even Dalaran.

It was because of the support of the Garithos family that he dared to give Roger a thousand recruits. Even if Lothar investigated, he wouldn't do anything to him.

As for the friendship of the elves, Baron Rivendare scoffed. For so many years, it was because of this so-called friendship that the nobles of Lordaeron despised the Rivendare family as the elves' lackeys. In the past, Stratholme's military theory was weak, and they needed the elves' assistance. Now that there are paladins, it is no problem to deal with the trolls. How could he still be the elves' "lackey"?