Back at his base, Galen's initial investment of 10,000 gold coins had long since been depleted. In recent days, they had relied almost entirely on the tireless efforts of the base's miners, working in two shifts around the clock, to extract enough gold to maintain a meager surplus.
The Town Hall and Barracks had been operating at full capacity, continuously training new units, while farms were constantly being added to ensure a steady supply of food and adequate housing for the burgeoning population.
The resource bar consistently displayed a dangerously low level of gold, while wood, primarily needed for training Musketeers at this stage, had actually accumulated in significant quantities. This surplus was largely due to Galen's earlier research of "Improved Logging Techniques" at the Lumber Mill, which enabled the farmers to haul back an additional ten units of wood with each trip.
Left with little choice, Galen had been forced to reassign newly trained Peasants to the mines, hoping that sheer numbers would compensate for the lack of more efficient extraction methods.
Finally, on the evening of Fardel's visit, they managed to scrape together enough gold to construct a second Barracks. Galen, his hopes soaring, eagerly deployed the new structure, doubling their training capacity.
A few days after the addition of the second Barracks, the base's population finally surpassed the one-thousand mark.
Galen was still reveling in the achievement of reaching this milestone when another piece of welcome news arrived: the cavalry squadron that King Thoras had promised to dispatch had finally reached Stromgarde.
A double blessing, indeed!
With the arrival of the cavalry squadron, Galen knew that his plans to raise an army were about to become a reality.
Ten days had elapsed since his father had granted his request. During that time, Galen had been diligently engaged in preparatory work. He had used his trained falcons to send messages, recalling Harmon Caven's caravan and the guards who had served as its escorts. He had also instructed the three soldiers who had been left behind to await the caravan's return to gather on the road and rejoin the main party on their journey back to Stromgarde.
Simultaneously, he had tasked Omar with the recruitment of able-bodied citizens within Stromgarde, setting an initial target of four hundred volunteers.
Fardel, too, had been actively engaged, tirelessly canvassing the sons of noble houses who did not stand to inherit their family's titles and lands, persuading them to join Galen's cause.
Galen had also requested seven hundred sets of the kingdom's standard armor and one thousand war robes from Thoras. In addition, he had dipped into his own personal funds to commission the creation of over a thousand crimson linen cloaks from the city's finest tailor.
Everything was proceeding at a breakneck pace, with all the necessary elements in place, save for the crucial catalyst that would officially set the plan in motion.
Galen went to the castle to obtain the formal dispatch order for the cavalry squadron from Thoras. He then proceeded to their temporary garrison to assess the strength and capabilities of this elite force.
The Stromgarde Highland Cavalry Regiment was a source of immense pride for the kingdom. It had been established by Galen's father, King Thoras, during his own youth, and had played a pivotal role in securing Stromgarde's borders. Later, as Thoras ascended to the throne, the regiment absorbed some of the finest warriors from the Royal Guard, further solidifying its position as the elite of the elite within the kingdom's military.
Arriving at the small military encampment adjacent to the castle, Galen observed the cavalry squadron engaged in their daily training. The soldiers were tall and powerfully built, their movements precise and disciplined. The resounding shouts that accompanied their drills echoed through the camp.
According to the information Galen had received from Thoras, this squadron consisted of twenty-four highly skilled warriors, representing one of the most elite units within the entire Highland Cavalry Regiment. Their average strength was at the adept level, a testament to their exceptional training and experience.
Azeroth, Galen knew, was a world uniquely blessed with abundant life and potent energies. The physical capabilities of its inhabitants far surpassed those of ordinary worlds. This was one of the reasons why the Burning Legion had encountered such fierce resistance during their invasion. The strength of a single individual might seem insignificant, but when united, they could become an unstoppable force.
The human civilians of Azeroth typically possessed strength approaching the novice level upon reaching adulthood. Ordinary regular troops could attain high-end novice strength, while those at the adept level were considered among the kingdom's elite.
A force of twenty-four high-end adepts represented a formidable force, a sharp blade capable of cleaving through enemy lines and, if deployed strategically, even altering the course of entire battles. Galen recognized that Thoras was going to great lengths to support him in this endeavor, providing him with more than just a token gesture, despite the kingdom's strained finances.
Thoras had also granted Galen the mining rights, a decision whose wisdom or folly remained to be seen. Yet, the king had refrained from expressing any personal opinions, allowing his son to proceed as he saw fit, observing his growth and potential with a watchful eye.
Galen understood that this was the old king's way of safeguarding the crown prince's prestige, ensuring that his heir would be seen as capable and independent.
The future King Terenas had shown a similar level of forbearance towards his own son, Arthas. Terenas had witnessed Arthas disband the Knights of the Silver Hand in Stratholme, dismiss the loyal Uther, and ultimately carry out the horrific culling of the city's populace. Yet, Terenas had never openly objected to his son's actions, because Arthas was the crown prince, the future of the kingdom. To preserve the prince's authority and ensure a smooth succession, the reigning king often had to turn a blind eye to his heir's mistakes, even when those mistakes bordered on the unforgivable.
It's all the well-intentioned concern of a loving father, Galen thought, a wave of gratitude washing over him.
Galen was deeply moved by Thoras's unwavering support. He silently vowed to his father that he would not disappoint him, that he would dedicate himself to the revitalization of Stromgarde and the restoration of its former glory.
As Galen entered the military camp, the soldiers immediately recognized the crown prince. The cavalry regiment, after all, served as part of the Royal Guard, and its members were intimately familiar with the royal family.
"Your Highness," the squadron leader, a tall, imposing figure at the front of the formation, greeted Galen with a crisp salute. The rest of the squadron echoed his greeting in unison, their voices ringing with respect and discipline.
Galen approached the squadron leader, recognizing him as a familiar face. It was Amor, the commander of the Palace Guard and the adjutant of the Highland Cavalry Regiment. Amor could be considered Galen's half-mentor, one of the individuals, besides Thoras himself, who had played a significant role in his martial training.
"Teacher Amor," Galen exclaimed, his surprise evident, "why are you here?"
"Your Highness," Amor replied, his expression resolute, "I am now the captain of this squadron. His Majesty has reassigned us here to serve as your personal guard and the core of your new force."
"But you are the adjutant of the entire cavalry regiment! Your place is on the border, where your leadership is needed! How can you be assigned to my small, as-yet-unformed unit? This is a terrible waste of your talents! I will speak to my father and request that he transfer you back to the cavalry regiment immediately."
"That will not be necessary, Your Highness," Amor said, his voice firm. "I have already been relieved of my duties on the border by His Majesty. My presence here is by my own choice, and I am honored to serve you directly."
After listening to Amor's explanation, Galen learned the reason behind his unexpected assignment. It turned out that the squadron before him had been at the center of the recent, widely discussed conflict between the Stromgarde cavalry regiment and the forces of the Kingdom of Alterac.
King Thoras, as both the ruler of Stromgarde and the commander of the Highland Cavalry Regiment, would often bring a portion of his forces back to the capital when he was in Stromgarde to attend to matters of state. The remaining troops on the border were left under Amor's command.
It was this squadron that had encountered the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Alterac while patrolling the border. Both sides had accused the other of encroaching on their territory, and the escalating tensions had eventually erupted into a skirmish, escalating until reinforcements from both sides arrived.
To prevent the conflict from escalating into a full-blown war, General Hath of Alterac and Amor had reluctantly agreed to a ceasefire, exchanging a perfunctory handshake before retreating to their respective camps.
Thoras, however, had been furious upon hearing of the incident. In addition to the aggravation of having to negotiate with the detested Aiden Perenolde, the primary source of his ire stemmed from the fact that his forces had not emerged victorious. The cavalry regiment was renowned for its strength and skill, but in this instance, only a single squadron had been involved, facing a much larger contingent from Alterac. The engagement had been fought with restraint, neither side seeking a decisive victory, and the cavalry squadron had been hampered by the need to avoid inflicting excessive casualties. They had managed to subdue most of the enemy troops, but the lack of a clear victory had left a bitter taste in Thoras's mouth.
Galen, witnessing his father's displeasure, could only offer a sympathetic pat on Amor's shoulder. He understood the king's frustration, fueled by his long-standing animosity towards Aiden Perenolde. There was little he could do to intercede on Amor's behalf.
He informed Amor that he planned to hold a formal ceremony to establish his new army on the drill grounds of the castle in five days' time. He also intended to use the occasion to stage a small-scale military parade for the citizens of Stromgarde, showcasing the strength of his new command.
The five-day delay was primarily due to the fact that Archmage Gandalf was currently leading a force of three hundred base-trained combat units towards Stromgarde. Given the Archmage's lack of precise knowledge of the terrain and his inability to cast group teleportation spells, coupled with the absence of warhorses for his troops, their journey would take approximately twice as long as Amor's.
Gandalf's contingent consisted of two hundred infantrymen and one hundred Musketeers, all trained to an adept level of proficiency. Their arrival would undoubtedly make a striking impression on the assembled spectators.
The base also retained a reserve force of over one hundred infantrymen and forty Musketeers. Furthermore, in times of need, Galen could swiftly transform up to six hundred Peasants into militia through the Town Hall's summoning ability, ensuring the security of Stromgarde was never compromised.
Returning to his study, Galen found a piece of parchment lying on his desk, covered in several rows of hastily scribbled notes. These were the army designations he had been contemplating over the past few days, and now, he needed to select the one that resonated most strongly with him, the one that would become the official name of his new command.
His gaze swept over the options, his thoughts drawn to the distinctive crimson hues that defined Stromgarde's military tradition: the red robes worn by its soldiers, the red trim adorning their armor, and the pervasive red color scheme that dominated the kingdom's architecture and the design of his own burgeoning base.
Finally, with a decisive gesture, Galen tapped the parchment lightly with his index finger, then heavily circled two of the words with a pen, marking them as his final choice.
"Scarlet Flame."