Loa are the revered animal spirits of the troll races, often understood as animals who have evolved into spiritual entities.
Drawing upon fragmented memories from his previous life, Galen recalled a pantheon of these Loa, numbering over a dozen, with the powerful demigod Rezan as a prominent figure among them.
The Witherbark Tribe specifically venerated the spider god Shadra, an animal Loa associated with the power of venom. Their religious practices involved annual offerings of numerous sacrifices to appease Shadra.
Following these sacrifices, it was believed that Shadra would manifest and imbue the trolls' collected spider venom with divine blessings, transforming it into a potent holy medicine. This concoction, imbued with a trace of the Spider God's power, enhanced the combat prowess of its users.
For generations, the Witherbark trolls had relied on these potions to bolster their strength in their ongoing conflicts against Stromgarde. Conversely, the Trollbane royal family had diligently amassed considerable knowledge regarding both the holy medicine and the spider Loa.
Galen correctly surmised that the potion the witch doctor had consumed was indeed this holy medicine.
The troll raiding party they had ambushed had clearly been tasked with gathering sacrificial offerings, explaining the significant quantity of spider venom sacs they possessed.
While Galen himself had no immediate use for the venom sacs, he recognized their potential value. His caravan could transport them to Dalaran for sale, providing much-needed funds for the base's future resource demands. He couldn't afford to waste such readily available spoils.
"Secure the spider venom sacs carefully and ensure they are transferred to the caravan upon our return," Galen instructed Omar. "Burn the troll corpses, but collect their heads. These will serve as war merits. Upon our return to Stromgarde, I will petition my father to exchange them for appropriate rewards, and you will all receive your due share. Prepare yourselves; we will now return to our original camp."
Galen directed the two wounded soldiers to settle into the baggage cart. Then, with Varokal's assistance, he began the brutal work of dismantling the troll camp's crude tents, gathering the materials into a central pile for burning. Once Omar and the others had moved the troll corpses to the pyre, a roaring fire engulfed the encampment.
In truth, Galen could have simply left the troll remains; the scavenging packs of Highland wolves and raptors would have likely disposed of them by the following day.
However, Galen had specific plans for the area around the future Boulderfist Hall. Having claimed this territory for his own, a thorough cleanup felt prudent.
Back at their original campsite, after securing the baggage carts, Omar and Varokal established a watch schedule for the remaining hours before dawn, allowing the other soldiers to rest. Seeing these arrangements in place, Galen retired to his tent without further concern.
Shedding his armor and gear, he lay down on his blanket, allowing his body to finally relax.
From the initial discovery of the troll tracks in the evening, through the tense hours of stalking and the brutal assault on the camp, to their eventual return, the entire ordeal had felt incredibly protracted. His mind had been locked in a state of intense focus, leaving him more drained than a full day of rigorous training.
His eyelids heavy, he projected his mental awareness towards the base's location. The Altar of Kings was still under construction, its progress not even halfway complete.
The Peasants logging around the base were likely the most recent recruits. The others, having toiled throughout the day, would have returned to the farm for rest. Galen also noted six Footmen diligently patrolling the perimeter of the burgeoning settlement.
Based on the estimated 90-minute training time for a Footman, he calculated that it was likely between two and three o'clock in the morning.
He issued mental commands to fill the training queues of both the Town Hall and the Barracks to capacity, and then added a few more Farms to the construction queue.
With these orders given, Galen finally closed his eyes and drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
He awoke the next day to bright sunlight streaming through the tent flaps. Stepping outside, he saw the sun already high in the sky, indicating it was nearing noon.
Varokal was already tending a whole raptor roasting over the crackling bonfire.
Seeing Galen emerge, Varokal turned and greeted him. "Your Highness, the barbecue is almost ready. I was just about to wake you. The water for washing is beside your tent."
"I'll wash up first. Call everyone over to eat together; I have an announcement to make afterward."
Galen turned back to his tent, retrieved his tooth powder and toothbrush, and performed his morning ablutions. The familiar routine left him feeling refreshed, a habit ingrained from his previous life. Despite the wilderness, basic hygiene was paramount for Galen, and he made it a point to bathe daily whenever possible.
Sitting by the bonfire, he saw everyone assembled, himself being the last to arrive.
The aroma of the roasting raptor filled the air. Galen addressed his guards. "Last night, we fought a good fight, a fierce battle, and we successfully eliminated that band of trolls."
His gaze swept over them, lingering on the two with bandaged arms. "You saved me last night. Thank you all. I apologize for my recklessness; fortunately, no brothers died because of my mistakes. I will be more mindful of my safety in the future. You will be well-rewarded upon our return to Stromgarde."
"Your Highness, it was our duty," one of the guards replied, his voice sincere. "You have no need for guilt. We are loyal to you and willing to give everything for you."
Galen offered no further words, but his heart swelled with gratitude. The newest among them had served him for over four years, while Omar and Varokal had been his steadfast companions since he was six.
Seeing the raptor cooked to perfection, Varokal sprinkled it with seasoning before carving off the tenderloin and presenting it to Galen – his favorite part. Then, the rest of the roasted bird was shared among them.
The savory aroma of the tenderloin made Galen's stomach rumble. He blew on the steaming meat and took a bite, savoring the taste.
"After lunch," Galen announced, "we will pack up and head back. We'll travel north first to the nearest town to rest, and then proceed to Stromgarde."
This was the announcement he had intended to make. Their small group of eight had been reduced to six effective fighters, with two suffering from broken arms. Despite the makeshift treatment, further strenuous activity would only exacerbate their injuries.
Furthermore, having eliminated a band of trolls, the possibility of encountering others remained. Their reduced combat strength would leave them vulnerable.
Adding to this, the spoils from the troll camp, combined with the raw materials his team had gathered previously, filled several carts, creating a substantial baggage train.
Choosing a town over the nearest village was deliberate. Only larger settlements were likely to have churches and resident priests.
Thus, Galen had decided to return to the relative safety of Stromgarde's sphere of influence. The primary reasons were to allow the wounded to rest and receive proper medical attention from a priest, and to sell the perishable raw materials they had collected.
"Your Highness, our current location is approximately 100 kilometers from the nearest Royal Road," Varokal replied, his knowledge of the region extensive thanks to Galen's mapping assignments. "If we depart soon, we should reach the nearest town by nightfall."
"Excellent. I've grown tired of hunting. Let's depart after we finish eating."
A hearty meal followed.
Varokal had always believed the prince's excursions were simply for experiencing wilderness survival and hunting.
This area had once been a mining region for the kingdom, but it was abandoned due to troll incursions and had since become largely deserted.
Removed from human activity, it had become a haven for wildlife, with numerous raptor packs, wolf packs, Highland wild goats, and wild horses roaming the landscape.
Galen's explorations of the environment and terrain, his seemingly aimless wanderings through the highland mountains and forests, had led his guards to believe he was merely indulging a newfound curiosity about the outside world.
Little did they know that during this time, their prince had already laid the foundation for a future that would see humanity rise to prominence in this world – the construction of his secret base.