As Alaric's army continued its scorched-earth campaign across the Arathi Highlands,raiding, burning, and pillaging,the Horde's settlements fell one by one. Yet despite repeated efforts, Saurfang's forces were unable to pin down or capture their elusive target. This forced Orgrim to confront a sobering reality: he had to take action.
It had become painfully clear that the Horde's infantry, even with superior numbers, could not outmaneuver or outflank an Alliance force that understood Arathi's terrain better and moved with far greater mobility.
Veteran warlord Varok Saurfang had indeed tried to use various settlements as bait to lure Alaric into ambushes. But thanks to the ever-vigilant gryphon riders patrolling the skies, Alaric was always able to detect something amiss ahead of time,he never once fell into Saurfang's traps.
Eventually, Orgrim made up his mind. He realized that without a strong, mobile cavalry force, they would never eliminate this growing threat. Even if the Horde claimed nominal control of the Arathi Highlands, they couldn't actually hold it,unless they split their forces to garrison every village and fortress heavily. But such dispersion would only delay, perhaps indefinitely, their ultimate goal of breaching Stromgarde Keep.
Left with no better option, Orgrim decided to risk offending the chieftains of various clans. He pulled together nearly half of the orc clans' wolf riders and formed a cavalry legion five thousand strong. This force, he placed under Saurfang's command, with one mission: crush Alaric's army.
Though orcs were never known for strict discipline, and these wolf riders,drawn from different clans,were even more unruly than usual, Saurfang knew that sheer numbers were now on his side. His opponent would finally have nowhere to run.
To set the trap, Saurfang chose to risk sacrificing one of the Horde's key agricultural outposts,Bo'thgol,as bait. If it meant wiping out the enemy cavalry in one stroke, it would be worth it.
He intentionally left an opening in the Horde's pursuit routes and stationed the wolf riders in ambush not within Bo'thgol, but ten miles beyond it,just outside the typical reconnaissance range of gryphon scouts.
Unlike infantry, cavalry could cover greater distances quickly. This meant his ambushers could afford to wait farther from the bait and still arrive on time,further reducing the risk of early detection.
On Alaric's side, he had also noticed the "gap" in the Horde's blockade,a suspicious vulnerability that made the normally well-defended Bo'thgol look like a neglected target. If they struck fast, the Horde wouldn't have time to respond. The settlement would fall.
However, Alaric also knew Saurfang well. This seasoned warrior wasn't some rash, reckless brute prone to careless mistakes. He was a cool-headed, cunning commander. The opening at Bo'thgol looked too convenient.
Alaric raised this exact concern during a strategy meeting with his commanders.
"So you're saying we should just give up this target?" Kurdran asked, visibly disappointed.
"Of course not," Alaric shook his head. "When something looks this obvious, how can we not take it? If we bring Bo'thgol down, the Horde's agricultural effort in Arathi is as good as crippled. That'll put massive pressure on their logistics. As for a possible ambush... when have they ever managed to catch us?"
"Well, yes, that's been true so far," said Alleria, though she looked uneasy, staring at Alaric's confident face. "But what if this time they have cavalry too?"
"Orcish cavalry? The only cavalry they have are their wolf riders," Alaric replied, a sneer forming at the corner of his lips. "If we follow the tactics I've laid out, their wolf riders won't be a threat."
"As long as you're sure," Alleria sighed, visibly relaxing.
Liadrin patted the chestplate of her armor and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Lady Alleria. If anything unexpected happens, my paladins will ensure the commander and your safety."
"And what about me? And my gryphon riders? What happens to us?" Kurdran protested.
"That's a strange question," Liadrin shot him a sideways look. "You've got wings. You fly. What danger could possibly threaten you?"
With the plan settled, Alaric decisively led his forces through the gap in the Horde's lines, heading straight for Bo'thgol. His swift decision-making even caught Saurfang off guard,the ambushers were almost too late to take position.
After a day and night of forced march, Alaric's army reached the outer edge of Bo'thgol by dawn on the third day.
The camp was defended by fewer than a thousand troops,its main purpose was agricultural production and supply storage.
Inside, nearly ten thousand orc laborers toiled, mimicking human agricultural practices: sowing wheat, growing vegetables, raising pigs, cows, and sheep,preparing sustenance for the Horde's future war efforts.
To keep the ambush a secret, Saurfang had deliberately withheld information from Bo'thgol's defenders. The small clan garrisoned there still naïvely believed the Horde's protection held strong.
Upon arriving, perhaps suspecting a trap, Alaric chose not to attack immediately. Instead, he hid his forces in a nearby forest, letting them rest and recuperate for half a day.
When night fell, he led his troops to silently encircle Bo'thgol.
Moments later, the night was split by a thunderous battle cry outside Bo'thgol.
A few synchronized volleys from Alaric's forces sent the defenders into panic. The orc laborers scattered in every direction. The Alliance soldiers seized the moment and stormed the settlement, cutting down those who couldn't flee in time. They then began collecting supplies,grain, livestock, anything that could feed an army.
But just as the troops were rejoicing over their easy plunder, Kurdran rushed to Alaric with grim news.
"The Horde's ambush is here,nearly five thousand wolf riders."
Alaric reacted immediately. He ordered all troops to regroup and abandon everything they had gathered,except the most essential rations. Then he gave the order to torch the camp. Nothing must be left for the Horde.
The wolf riders, fast as they were, could not beat fire. By the time Saurfang arrived at Bo'thgol with his cavalry, all he saw was a roaring inferno lighting up the sky.
"Damn it, we still failed to hold this place," one of his lieutenants cursed bitterly.
"At least this time, we'll make them pay," Saurfang said grimly, eyes fixed on the roughly thousand cavalry still bearing the Alliance's colors ahead. "We'll show them the fury of the Horde."