The campaign in question was a large-scale operation led by the Stromgarde Accord, with the primary objective of assisting survivors from the recent Dalaran attacks and striking at the heart of the Nerubian menace. According to Valenwood, the mission was straightforward in its goal: to bring aid to the victims and crush the enemy. Yet, as his tale unfolded, it became clear that the path was anything but simple.
The leadership of this campaign, a mixture of Stromgarde's finest and an Archmage of Dalaran named Acheleus Moonblaze, formed a strong foundation. Valenwood spoke highly of Moonblaze, recalling a night where the Archmage shared a bottle of prized Dalaran red with him—an act of camaraderie in the face of looming uncertainty.
Their journey took them first to the coast of the Isle of Dorn, where over 100 soldiers disembarked. From there, they made their way to the village of Freywood, setting up camp and encountering their Earthen allies, with whom they would march side by side.
As Valenwood recounted the key events, I could sense the tension mounting. The first major engagement came at the Cinderbrew Meadery, where a Nerubian incursion was repelled. Their next stop, Dornogal, the Earthen capital, marked a brief respite before they descended into the Coreway—a seemingly endless shaft leading to a vast underground world known as the Ringing Deeps and from there, towards Hallowfall.
It was here that the darkness of Beledar first revealed its insidious nature. Beledar, as the locals called it, was a colossal crystal embedded in the cavern’s ceiling. Though its golden light usually bathed the underground in warmth, it had the terrifying ability to shift into darkness, empowering their enemies and sowing fear among their own ranks.
Amid these challenges, Valenwood's forces encountered another strange foe—the Kobyss, a creature he likened to an apex predator,
"if a murloc were crossed with a worgen." These horrific monsters preyed on the minds of the soldiers, using illusions to trap and ambush them.
"It was the dark shift of Beledar that made them stronger," Valenwood explained, describing how the crystal's darkness seemed to animate the very shadows around them.
A Glimpse of Madness
The campaign took a bizarre turn at the beach near Hallowfall, where a group of Kirin Tor magi worked to stabilize rampant arcane energy that had turned the local crab population into teleporting nuisances. What started as a humorous sight quickly turned deadly as Valenwood and his team found themselves dodging not only arcane-infused crabs but their own poly-morphed comrades—transformed into sheep, cats, and birds by unstable magic.
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“I was a sheep for a few minutes,” Valenwood admitted, sheepishly (pun intended),
“and it took me all day to get the taste of grass out of my mouth.”
Amid this chaos, they were attacked by a faction known as the Order of Night—Arathi loyalists who had abandoned the light of Beledar for its shadow. A void monstrosity was summoned, towering over the battlefield, feeding on the darkness of Beledar. Valenwood and his troops fought fiercely, with priests lending divine blessings to empower their mundane weapons against the shadowy foe. Though the battle was won, it left a mental scar on many of the men who faced the horrors of the void.
Mereldar: A City of Light, A Wall of Flame
Their next stop was Mereldar, a city founded by a lost Arathi expedition. Valenwood spoke in awe of the city’s beauty—a vast cathedral and symbols of faith everywhere, all glowing in the golden light of Beledar’s flame. But this holy city, too, was under threat.
At the Veneration Grounds, sacred flames that kept the darkness at bay were under siege by the Kobyss, now twisted by necromantic magic. The assault was brutal, but the worst was yet to come.
The final battle at the Aegis Wall was one of the most desperate. The Nerubians, relentless in their siege, attacked with overwhelming numbers. Among them were colossal Siege Lords—giant beetles armored in thick chitin and equipped with scythe-like appendages. These creatures tore through the ranks, tossing soldiers from the walls with terrifying ease. The sacred flame that protected the wall flickered as the Siege Lords advanced, but through sheer determination and teamwork, Valenwood’s forces managed to slay the monstrous attackers, though not without heavy losses.
A Battle of Minds and Spirits
In our conversation, it became evident that the battles themselves were not the only challenge. Being underground for weeks, with no sunlight or fresh air, weighed heavily on the men and women of the campaign. The darkness of Beledar, both literal and metaphorical, pressed in on their minds, creating a sense of suffocation.
“It wasn’t just the void creatures,” Valenwood explained.
“Being underground, disconnected from the world above, took a toll on our minds. Time itself seemed to blur.”
Despite these challenges, Valenwood was proud to report that desertion was never an issue.
“We banded together,” he said,
“sharing meals, stories, and moments of levity when we could. It was the only way to keep the darkness at bay.”
Victory at a Cost
After weeks of grueling battles, Stromgarde Accord's campaign finally achieved its goal. The Nerubians were pushed back, the sacred flames rekindled, and the survivors from the Dalaran attacks were secured. But the cost had been great. Many soldiers returned home physically and mentally scarred by the horrors they had witnessed underground.
As we finished our coffee, Valenwood reflected on the campaign.
“It was a victory,” he said,
“but it came at a cost that can’t always be measured by the battlefield. The darkness we faced down there… it will linger in our minds for a long time.”
Final Thoughts
Captain Victor Valenwood’s tale is one of heroism, unity, and resilience in the face of unimaginable darkness. As the forces of Azeroth continue to battle threats from both above and below, it is men like Valenwood who stand as a beacon of hope. The Isle of Dorn may be at peace for now, but as long as the crystal of Beledar continues its eerie cycle, one must wonder how long that peace will last.