The supply wagon creaked to a halt before the welcoming facade of the small town's inn.
With the practiced efficiency of long travel, Omar, aided by a helpful stablehand from the inn, maneuvered the wagon into the sheltered enclosure behind the building. Meanwhile, Varokal, ever the pragmatist, guided the five guards with injuries towards the town's modest church, their hopes resting on the healing touch of the resident priest.
Seeing his own limbs thankfully unscathed, Galen addressed the innkeeper, his tone carrying the quiet authority of his station. He requested the three finest rooms the establishment had to offer, along with a hearty meal sufficient for eight weary travelers. Without further deliberation, he selected the central room for his own temporary sanctuary.
Stepping inside, Galen noted the small but functional study area. He settled into the chair, the smooth surface of the writing desk cool beneath his fingertips. Drawing forth a piece of crisp parchment and a well-inked quill, he began to compose a letter.
To Danath,
My beloved cousin. During my recent journey south through the Arathi Highlands, my guards and I encountered a war party of trolls, a threat we swiftly and decisively eliminated.
In the aftermath, I discovered a significant quantity of spider venom sacs in their possession. As a member of the esteemed Trollbane family, I have no doubt you are familiar with the uses of such venom, particularly that collected by the Revantusk tribe, as detailed in the royal library's archives.
The troll war party we faced was led by both a master warrior and a witch doctor of peak mastery, a level of power that places them amongst the ruling elite of their kind.
With the trolls' annual Day of Sacrifice fast approaching, I harbor a strong suspicion that the Revantusk tribe is planning some significant undertaking. I urge you to remain vigilant and bolster defenses against potential troll attacks on our settlements, aimed at seizing civilians for their gruesome live sacrifices.
Though this particular journey was brief, the intense engagements against trolls of considerable skill have proven invaluable in honing my own abilities.
I am currently taking respite in the town of Three Forks. Following this brief interlude, I intend to return to Stromgarde and implore Father to grant me the authority to raise my own army. As a Trollbane, my deepest aspiration is to soon join the ranks of our military, to uphold the honor of our family name, and to safeguard our people.
With deepest respect,
Galen
With the final flourish of his quill, Galen released a slow, contemplative breath. He carefully rolled the parchment, securing it with a leather strap. Selecting a stick of sealing wax, he warmed it gently over the flickering candlelight, allowing it to soften before applying a generous drop to the parchment's seam. Finally, he removed his signet ring, the weight of the Trollbane family crest familiar in his hand, and pressed it firmly into the cooling wax.
His missive complete, Galen leaned back in the sturdy wooden chair, closing his eyes in a moment of quiet respite. After a brief interlude, his thoughts drifted inwards, his consciousness reaching out to connect with the silent hum of the Origin Core, his mental gaze sweeping over his burgeoning base.
Under the cloak of night, the base pulsed with a vibrant energy. Since their departure at noon, eight or nine hours had elapsed, and the base's population had noticeably expanded. The newly trained farmers were already diligently carrying out tasks under Cliff's efficient direction.
Galen observed that the farmers' labor was broadly categorized into four distinct roles.
The first was the constant tending of the magic wheat fields. Each farmer was permanently stationed at a single farm, responsible for harvesting the mature wheat and then processing it in the farm's integrated small mill. Galen's near-daily mental surveillance provided him with a solid understanding of this automated cycle.
Upon a farm's construction, it was immediately provided with a yield of mature magic wheat. The assigned farmer would commence harvesting, followed by the sowing of new seeds, daily watering and tending, and the removal of any pests. The soil's inherent, inexhaustible fertility eliminated the need for fertilization. Periodically, the farmer would utilize the farm's small mill to process the harvested grain. After a ten-day growth cycle, the wheat would reach maturity, and the cycle would begin anew.
The second category was the straightforward task of construction. Farmers selected by Galen for this purpose would temporarily cease their current duties to prioritize the erection of new buildings, returning to their previous tasks once construction was complete and they were idle once more.
These first two categories operated largely autonomously, outside of Cliff's direct command. The remaining two labor divisions were mining and logging. Currently, thanks to Galen's initial investment, gold reserves were plentiful, while wood remained a more precious commodity, resulting in a greater number of lumberjacks than miners.
Six new Footmen had also emerged from the barracks, bolstering the patrol teams. The two squads that had diligently patrolled during the day were now resting within the barracks, preparing to rotate back into duty for the night watch.
Shifting his mental focus, Galen turned his attention to the other side of the base. A thrill of anticipation coursed through him as he perceived that the Altar of Kings was finally complete. This magnificent structure held the potential to summon heroes, individuals capable of achieving legendary power, bringing much-needed leadership to his growing forces.
Altar of Kings: Can summon new heroes and resurrect fallen heroes. Can provide the host with powerful strength.
Galen recalled the building's description from its initial deployment. Summoning and resurrecting heroes was a concept directly translated from his past gaming experience – the potential to call upon the Archmage, Paladin, Bloodmage, and Mountain King. But the final phrase, "Can provide the host with powerful strength," remained an intriguing enigma.
With the Altar of Kings now finished, he could finally delve into its mysteries.
The Altar stood as a testament to grand design, constructed entirely of gleaming white marble. It resembled a tiered platform, with dozens of colossal stone steps leading upwards. At its summit stood a majestic statue of a warrior, a greatsword held firmly in both hands, flanked by two imposing Roman columns on each side, like silent sentinels.
Galen marveled at how the Origin Core had manifested such a structure from 1800 units of gold and 500 units of wood. Asking is this the power of God, he mused, accepting the inexplicable nature of its creation.
Focusing his mind on the Altar of Kings, he mentally connected to the Origin Core's subsystem within. The altar's interface shimmered into existence, displaying two prominent portraits.
Archmage
Hero Type: Intelligence Hero, proficient in Frost Magic
Talent Skills: Blizzard, Water Elemental, Brilliance Aura, Mass Teleport
Hero Upgrade: Master-Legendary Tier (Based on Host Strength)
Summon Time: Five Days
Paladin
Hero Type: Strength Hero, devout user of Holy Light
Talent Skills: Holy Light, Divine Shield, Devotion Aura, Resurrection
Hero Upgrade: Master-Legendary Tier (Based on Host Strength)
Summon Time: Five Days
These two figures formed the initial interface of the Altar of Kings. Despite the limited selection, Galen felt a surge of excitement.
His anticipation grew even more intense as he discovered a second page to the Altar's interface. His earlier intuition that the Altar's function extended beyond mere hero summoning had been correct.
Awesome!
With a thrill of discovery, he navigated to the second interface. Two distinct skills were displayed, and he immediately focused his mental energy upon them.
Power of Kings: Absorb the soul power of powerful creatures, with a certain chance to transform into the altar's heroic spirit.
The Road of Kings:
Passive
You can have one-thousandth of the power bonus of your subjects.
Requirement: Rule a city with a population of over ten thousand, you will become a king (Level 2 Main City Unlock)
Summoning of the King:
Instant.
As a king, you can summon the power of every powerful being that has appeared on your planet to possess you
Duration: 120 seconds (can be extended)
Consumption: Unit Gold, Unit Wood
Incredible! These three skills on the second page felt like an unexpected windfall, a lottery ticket to power that sent a jolt of exhilaration through Galen.
The first skill, "Power of Kings," seemed designed to expand the Altar's roster of available heroes over time.
The passive ability, "The Road of Kings," was self-explanatory. The more subjects under his rule, the greater his own power would become. The only uncertainty lay in the definition of "subjects" – did it refer solely to the base's trained population, or did it encompass the native inhabitants of Azeroth, perhaps even intelligent races beyond humans? Only future experimentation would reveal the answer.
In Galen's estimation, the third skill, "Summoning of the King," bordered on a cheat code.
"Powerful beings that have appeared on your planet, Azeroth!" This was a world touched by the Titans, a world whose very core was the nascent Titan itself! Even disregarding Azeroth and the Titans themselves, there were the formidable Titan Keepers: Odin, Raden, Tyr, and others of immense power.
Then there were the ancient Wild Gods and the elemental might of the Four Elemental Lords, all possessing strength far surpassing that of mere heroes.
Compared to the potential to channel the power of such entities, the cost of ten thousand units of gold and ten thousand units of wood seemed laughably insignificant.