User:Jormungand01/Raids on Durnholde

There now existed a wide swathe of no-mans land in between the river and Thoradin's Wall, which was the site of constant skirmishes. Workers had hurried to rebuild the old fortifications at Durnholde Keep, which the commanders hoped could act to stop any Scourge army advancing either towards the wall or to Aerie Peak. In the south too an encampment was being built around the dwarven stronghold of Dun Garok to house the refugees, who would be able then to escape by sea should the armies of the Alliance be overwhelmed. But before they were completed the line of the river was breached and two large forces moved to destroy the structures and bring a premature end to the resistance.

Fortunately among the defenders were a number of wizards from Dalaran, including several members of the Kirin Tor. They began to weave spells into an impenetrable barrier like the one around their home city, while regular soldiers ambushed the Scourge to give the shield time to be completed. As the undead marched along the coast of the Eastern Strand they suddenly came under attack from the cliffs, with volleys of arrows raining down upon them while warriors charged down the slopes to send them into a rout. Ultimately the undead attacking from that direction were stopped in their tracks, and the great shield around Dun Garok was completed.

Everywhere else though the undead were free to roam the land. The lich Abrakkar set up his base camp at the Nethander Stead and comissioned several plague cauldrons to be set up in the field, and from there began the slow transformation of the Hillsbrad Foorthills into a new Plagueland. However the humans still continued to resist - in the north Jes-Tereth had managed to hold Durnholde Keep and the passes through the surrounding hills, and Thoradin's Wall still stood as an impregnable fortification which no enemy had yet passed, offering shelter to the greater army.

However, were it not for much-needed assistance from the Horde, even these might have fallen. But eventually the Frostwolf Clan felt obliged to set aside their differences with the dwarves, and both peoples without warning came storming down from the mountains to send the Scourge into disarray. They gave the Alliance time to fortify their position, and allowed for the possibility of future sorties to repel any large-scale assault.