Throughout history, there have been instances where mages wielded powerful magic to influence wars, but in most cases, magic was used on small-scale battlefields or to inflict damage on individuals.
The last time magic drastically altered the course of an entire war was when humans and high elves joined forces during the Troll Wars, summoning heavenly fire to annihilate the Amani Troll Empire.
The last large-scale event where magic determined the fate of a city happened centuries ago when the ancestors of the Wildhammer dwarves abandoned Grim Batol due to a magical curse.
Since then, the Eastern Kingdoms had not seen another major war, and mages had not been deployed in large numbers for warfare.
Until now…
Under Alaric's design, the terrifying power of magic was once again displayed before everyone's eyes:
A city, completely obliterated within minutes by the power of magic.
However, for rulers and generals, the true significance of Alaric burying Jintha'Alor with Earthquake was not just in its devastating aftermath.
In terms of sheer magical impact, the effect of Alaric's Earthquake was far from comparable to the previous two historical instances.
Yet, for these rulers and generals, this was different.
Because this spell was cast with shocking ease.
It did not require a vast assembly of mages, nor an enormous amount of casting materials.
All that was needed was a precise calculation, fewer than ten mages, and a few simple materials to unleash it anywhere.
The heavenly fire of the Troll Wars and the curse of Grim Batol, though terrifying, were rare occurrences that rulers could not count on.
But Alaric's precise calculations and efficient use of magic, leveraging low-cost spells to create devastating effects, were what truly earned their admiration and praise.
From a certain perspective, war is a contest of wealth and resources. The greatest talent is the one who can achieve the most with the least expenditure—whether in politics, military strategy, or commerce.
By now, Alaric had undoubtedly earned the title of military strategist within the Alliance.
And not just any strategist—one proficient in the art of magical warfare.
In Azeroth, mages were akin to scientists on Earth. They were more inclined to pursue arcane knowledge and enhance their magical abilities rather than chase worldly power and prestige.
As a result, most mages distanced themselves from mundane society and political affairs.
They could speak fluently about the Arcane, alchemy, mathematics, natural sciences, astronomy, linguistics, and archaeology.
But when it came to military, politics, or economics, most were clueless—such matters simply did not align with their pursuits.
Of course, there were exceptions—mages who saw magic as a mere tool for gaining power. These mages often became adventurers, explorers, or mercenaries.
However, such mages were rare, and they seldom reached great heights. Their magic was often limited to utility spells meant for personal survival rather than grand-scale warfare.
In true Western fantasy worlds, including Dungeons & Dragons, mages rarely became mercenaries or adventurers.
Low-level mages were too frail for such endeavors, while high-level mages were too scarce and difficult to train.
Most of them hailed from noble families or prestigious academies, enjoying wealth and privilege that spared them from the need to take risks.
In other words, for a mage to become a military strategist like Alaric, he would either need the longevity of the high elves to study such diverse knowledge or be an unparalleled genius.
In Warcraft's original history, such individuals did exist.
The former were often high elves or night elves, while the latter included figures like the future Jaina Proudmoore, a so-called "Chosen One."
Unbeknownst to Alaric, his status within the Alliance had already risen significantly.
At this moment, he did not immediately send troops to search the ruins after casting Earthquake but instead unleashed another Earthquake on the remains of Jintha'Alor.
This time, he did not collaborate with others or use his full power, resulting in a much weaker effect.
But that was precisely his intention.
When other mages curiously inquired, he explained:
"Before sending people into the ruins, we must ensure their relative safety. If unstable structures collapse while our troops are inside, it could be disastrous.
By using Earthquake once more, I can trigger any structurally weak areas to collapse in a controlled manner. If nothing collapses, then the area is safe."
This cautious and meticulous approach further elevated his reputation in the eyes of others.
Sure enough, after the second Earthquake, several partially buried buildings crumbled, and a few piles of rubble, possibly hollow beneath, collapsed as well.
Only after eliminating all safety hazards did the Alliance army enter Jintha'Alor.
While landslides and mudflows had seemed spectacular from afar, the soldiers only truly understood the destruction magic had wrought upon this city once they entered its ruins.
Among the shattered remnants, they frequently found troll limbs protruding from the debris. Some of these limbs still twitched due to the trolls' formidable vitality.
But most were lifeless corpses buried beneath the rubble.
The Alliance spent an entire day searching Jintha'Alor, finding only a few dozen survivors who had miraculously escaped the catastrophe.
However, despite being physically unharmed, most of these trolls had gone mad.
The sudden destruction of their city and the complete annihilation of their people had been an unbearable blow.
With the total extermination of the Witherbark tribe confirmed, Alaric's orchestrated campaign against the trolls of Zul'Aman and the Hinterlands had finally come to an end.
This war not only eradicated the Amani trolls, who had troubled the Alliance for over a thousand years, removing a potential threat to the upcoming Orc Wars, but also freed Quel'Thalas's military forces and strengthened the ties between humans and high elves.
Furthermore, it expanded the territories of Aerie Peak, Lordaeron, and Quel'Thalas, serving as a valuable joint training exercise for the three races—humans, elves, and dwarves.
For the Alliance, this war held immense significance and had achieved its goals in full.
As the mastermind behind it all, Archmage Alaric now held not only the status of a mage but also considerable influence as a military strategist and political figure within the Alliance.
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