The Arathi Highlands slumbered under a dimly lit sky, the moon a solitary beacon in the gray darkness, its light accompanied by a scattering of distant stars.
The small company made camp in a secluded grove nestled near the foothills of the Alterac Mountains. Beside the crackling campfire, Galen sat lost in thought, his chin resting on his hand, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames but his mind already miles away.
Three of his guards busied themselves erecting tents for the night's rest. Varokal, accompanied by the remaining two, had ventured into the surrounding woods to hunt, while Omar meticulously patrolled the camp's perimeter, setting up rudimentary warning traps against any nocturnal wanderers.
Having secured their surroundings, Omar returned to find Galen still absorbed in his contemplations by the fire. "Your Highness," he inquired, his voice respectful, "what occupies your thoughts?"
For five years, Omar and Varokal had been Galen's steadfast companions. Their loyalty was unwavering, their admiration for the diligent prince profound. Galen often engaged them in sparring matches, forging a bond of camaraderie that transcended their ranks.
"I am considering our next steps," Galen replied, his gaze flicking up from the flames. "We have been here for two days, and the immediate vicinity holds no significant threats beyond the Highland Raptors. I intend for us to remain here for two more days, after which I wish to observe the outskirts of the Witherbark Village to the north."
In truth, Galen's mind was already set on a more immediate action. Tonight, under the cloak of darkness, he intended to slip away from his guards and finally summon the Origin Core base. He could no longer contain his impatience.
Following the base's activation, he would then discreetly assess the frequency of Tumbering Stone troll patrols in this valley, determining its suitability as a clandestine location.
Should the risk of discovery prove too high, he would enlist Danath's assistance, orchestrating a diversion at Go'shek Farm to draw the Tumbering Stone trolls' attention away from his activities.
"Your Highness," Omar interjected, his brow furrowed with concern, "venturing near the Witherbark Village is fraught with peril. We risk encountering troll hunting parties. It is too dangerous." Their small company of eight was no match for a concerted troll warband.
"Do not fret, Omar," Galen reassured him. "I have no intention of encroaching upon their territory. I merely wish to examine the abandoned mines to the east."
The mines Galen referred to were once royal holdings, later abandoned due to their exposed location, far from the kingdom's defenses and perilously close to the trolls' influence. In the years to come, these forgotten shafts would be claimed by the ogres of the Boulderfist clan, becoming known as Boulderfist Hall.
Omar's apprehension eased slightly. He and Varokal had both served in the militia stationed at Go'shek Farm before joining Galen's personal guard. They had encountered troll scouts in the southeastern reaches of the Arathi Highlands on numerous occasions and possessed a solid understanding of the eastern part of the kingdom.
Hearing Galen's intention to remain near the abandoned mines, Omar surmised that the prince merely wished to explore the old tunnels. The likelihood of encountering trolls there was relatively low, and with proper caution, the risk to their safety would be minimal.
Just then, Varokal returned from the hunt, the other two guards trailing behind him. They carried a freshly killed Highland Raptor, while Varokal proudly held a captured falcon.
Both creatures were common sights in the Arathi Highlands. The falcon, a symbol of courage and resilience, had been adopted as the emblem of Stromgarde, its image emblazoned on the army's battle standards.
After a satisfying meal under the watchful eyes of the gathering night, midnight drew near. Galen, feigning concern for Omar and Varokal's recent exertions, instructed them to take an early rest. Omar's traps were set, and Varokal's scouting during the hunt had revealed no signs of large predators nearby. With the night watch duly assigned, the two guards retreated to their tent.
Galen waited patiently for an hour, the silence of the night deepening around him. Then, with deliberate care, he produced a scroll from within his tunic and silently tore it open in the direction of Omar and Varokal's tent. It was a soundproof scroll, a rare acquisition in a kingdom with few mages. Omar and Varokal, both seasoned warriors, should remain blissfully unaware of the subtle magical fluctuations.
With the soundproof barrier in place, Galen melted into the shadows between the tents, quietly slipping out of the encampment while the two unsuspecting guards on watch remained oblivious.
Once a safe distance from the camp, Galen broke into a swift run, heading south with unwavering determination.
Arriving at a shallow depression he had noted earlier in the day, roughly an hour's journey from the cliff overlooking the strait, Galen reached the base of the mountain. He focused his inner eye, and the Origin Core shimmered into existence within his mind, radiating a soft blue light. Silently, he issued the command: "Summon base."
He had rehearsed this moment countless times in his thoughts. As the command echoed within him, his perspective began to rise, the terrain within a five-thousand-yard radius centered on his position unfolding before his mental gaze.
He had even tested this ability within the palace walls, able to perceive the distant Arathor Tower, five kilometers away, from the confines of his chambers.
At the center of his expanded vision floated a sphere of light. With a mental nudge, he guided this light sphere across the landscape, carefully avoiding the trees and rocky outcrops until the 100x100 grid beneath it glowed a vibrant green. "Deploy base," he whispered, the words carrying the weight of his ambition.
A brilliant flash of light erupted in the open space before him, accompanied by a crisp, mechanical voice that echoed within the confines of his mind:
Origin Base construction started
Host race detected as Vrykul descendant
Host gene extracted
Race selected: Human
Host memory scanned
Architectural style selected
Town Hall generation started
As the synthesized voice faded, Galen slowly opened his physical eyes, his face alight with elation. "Town Hall," he breathed, the word a potent trigger for a flood of memories from his previous life, of strategic planning and resource management.
He watched with bated breath as the intense light before him gradually subsided, revealing a building with a distinctive red roof and white walls. To the left stood a tall clock tower, its silhouette stark against the night sky. A low stone wall, roughly a meter in height, encircled the perimeter of the structure.
The architectural style bore a striking resemblance to the familiar buildings of Stromgarde.
"Town Hall construction complete. Please check, host." The mechanical voice echoed in his mind once more.
Galen strode purposefully towards the newly formed structure, stepping over the low stone wall and onto a paved pathway that led to the building's entrance. He entered the hall, his senses taking in the familiar yet alien space.
The interior consisted of a main hall and two adjoining rooms. The layout of the hall mirrored the council chamber of Stromgarde, with a commanding desk at the far end and a large square table surrounded by a dozen chairs in the center.
Two doors opened on either side of the hall. Galen moved to inspect them. One led to an empty room lined with shelves, clearly intended for storage. The other room, however, pulsed with a soft light emanating from a sphere suspended in its center. This, Galen instinctively knew, was the core of the entire operation.
He stepped inside, and the moment he crossed the threshold, he felt his consciousness subtly interface with the luminous sphere.
Town Hall: Can train Peasant and receive collected resources. Can be upgraded to Main City to unlock more new buildings and units. Provides 12 units of food.
Command 1: Train Peasant, a basic worker unit that can collect gold and wood, as well as build and repair buildings, and can be turned into a Militia.
Command 2: Upgrade to Main City, unlocked, requires the construction of Barracks.
Command 3: Alarm Bell, issues an alarm to summon nearby Peasants back to the hall for refuge.
A wave of exhilaration washed over Galen. This was it. This was the key. With sufficient resources, he could indeed forge an army, a force capable of reshaping the destiny of his kingdom and crushing any opposition. The possibilities stretched before him, vast and exhilarating.