Although the area was surrounded by mountains on three sides, making it an easily defensible stronghold, Alaric had no intention of launching a direct assault.
Instead, he would turn the city's geographical advantage into a deathtrap for the Witherbark Trolls.
All he needed to do was have the Alliance construct a barrier outside it, sealing off the only exit route.
Given the terrain, he only needed to block one side to completely trap the Witherbark Trolls inside.
Once this was done, the very land that had once protected them would become their tomb. The trolls would face two choices: either launch a desperate assault against the well-prepared Alliance forces or remain trapped within it and await their inevitable demise.
If they chose the first option, the Alliance, holding the defensive advantage, would easily repel their assault.
Even a simple wooden fortification would be sufficient to hold back the weakened trolls, bleeding them dry against the barricade.
If they chose the latter, they would face starvation. Cities do not produce food, and the place housed not only warriors but also the elderly, women, and children.
Though trolls were known for their cannibalistic tendencies and might sustain themselves for a while, extinction would be inevitable.
However, this strategy ultimately remained a mere hypothesis.
The problem was time.
With the looming threat of the Orcs, Alaric couldn't afford to implement this plan. If the trolls decided to hole up instead of breaking through, they could endure for at least six months or more.
By then, the Orcs would have already launched their invasion.
If the frontlines faltered, allowing the Orcs to breach the coastal defenses and the Thandol Span, they would push into Lordaeron. The Hinterlands, left vulnerable, would then become a prime target.
In such a scenario, the Alliance forces besieging it would be caught in a two-front war. The blockade would inevitably collapse, and the Orcs—desperate for allies—would surely aid the trolls.
Alaric could not tolerate such a high risk of failure. He had to find another way.
Fortunately, given the terrain around the area, alternative strategies were not difficult to devise.
Upon arriving at the outskirts of the place, Alaric did not immediately order an assault. Instead, he had his forces secure every exit, ensuring that not a single troll could escape.
He then took to the skies on a gryphon, accompanied by several mages, to conduct an aerial survey of the region. The group was escorted by none other than Kurdran Wildhammer himself.
Following Alaric's command, the gryphons climbed higher and higher until they overlooked the area and the surrounding mountain range.
They had ascended several hundred meters into the air. Though the howling winds at this altitude sent chills through everyone, Alaric remained unfazed. He instructed the gryphons to slow their flight, circling the area while he meticulously observed the terrain.
Floating beside him was a thick notebook. As he moved, a quill scribbled across its pages of its own accord, sketching the topography of surrounding place and the surrounding mountains in stunning detail.
The mages around him couldn't help but feel envious.
While basic telekinetic magic was common, and spells like "Mage Hand" could perform delicate manipulations, the level of precision Alaric exhibited—dictating notes and sketches purely through thought—was beyond ordinary mages.
At the very least, these High Elven mages had never seen such magic before. In their eyes, this ability to dramatically reduce workload must be one of Alaric's unique techniques.
Still, they didn't dwell too long on their admiration. They had tasks of their own.
Mapping the entire region required more than just a few sketches.
Alaric instructed them to conduct thorough surveys, not only charting the mountains but also analyzing their geological composition and searching for any hidden caves or weaknesses.
Though these tasks seemed unrelated to warfare, the mages obeyed without question.
After all, Alaric had already led them to several major victories—wiping out the Amani trolls and decimating most of the troll tribes in the Hinterlands. The Witherbark Trolls were merely remnants, struggling to survive.
His achievements had earned him unquestionable authority. More importantly, his cunning strategy of inciting internal strife among the Hinterland trolls had been nothing short of masterful.
Given his track record, his unusual requests were likely part of yet another grand plan.
As accomplished scholars, the High Elven mages possessed extensive knowledge of mathematics and surveying techniques. Some among them were also well-versed in geology and mineralogy—fields essential for both magical research and alchemy, given their reliance on rare minerals.
Thus, for these intellectual elites, assisting Alaric with mapping was a trivial task.
They spent an entire day soaring over the place, frequently landing on nearby peaks for closer examination.
Meanwhile, the Witherbark Trolls below were left in a state of paranoia and unease.
Lacking any aerial capabilities, they were entirely at the mercy of the Alliance's airborne forces. The sight of Alaric's team meticulously surveying their surroundings only fueled their fears.
But Alaric cared little for the anxieties of these caged beasts.
Once the data collection was complete, he returned to camp with a stack of maps, cross-sectional diagrams, and geological analyses.
Immersed in calculations, he ignored even the enticing distractions posed by Alleria and Sylvanas.
By dawn the next day, he had gathered all the mages for a briefing.
Without preamble, he laid out his plan.
"I intend to use Earthquake spells to destabilize the mountains around it, burying the city beneath rock and rubble."
The mages exchanged surprised glances, stunned by the audacity of the plan. Yet, as they thought it over, they realized it was entirely feasible.
"However," one mage interjected, "a standard Earthquake spell wouldn't have nearly enough power. It can collapse ordinary buildings, but even fortified walls remain largely unaffected."
"I've taken that into account," Alaric nodded. "That's why we'll be casting in unison—I'll need all of your assistance."
"We would be honored," replied an older mage, before raising another concern.
"But Earthquake spells are notoriously unpredictable. How can we ensure the collapse happens exactly as we intend?
What if the mountains cave in the wrong direction?"
Alaric smiled. He had already anticipated this question.
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