Sentinel hill had changed in the short few months since Marcus Moonbrook announced that Stormwind was no longer the power in Westfall.
With the Help of Macus' Harvest golems in every detachment of the Westfall brigade, they had found themselves easily pushing out the Defias from every camp, stronghold, and mine they had come across.
They made more progress in seeing the land restored to its people in two months than Stormwind had in fifteen years.
With the slow but steady restoration of the farmland to the people who had once owned it the light grumbles of those who didn't trust the necromancer who had come to avenge his home had all but disappeared.
Still, many wondered, what was next? could they really call themselves a people, a nation, but with so few was that really true?
One thousand soldiers and militia men made up the "army" of Westfall, and perhaps four thousand citizens now that transients were migrating from Elywnn
It was when the refugees from Duskwood came into Westfall that the people realised that not only had things changed, but they had changed enough for them to truly become a nation.
Even now, thousands travled from their homes and villages in Duskwood, escorted by Watchmen and Harvest-golems in hope of lands and homes that were not in a state of constant peril.
With the Defias all but wiped out, and the Gnolls quickly becoming isolated as the only threat, it was true, Westfall was safer.
They constant stream of people arriving to Sentinel hill marked a change. The farmland that had not been completely destroyed by the Defias, and salted so it could never be tended to again was already being divided.
Thousands of acres of fertile land was constantly being selected for those trying to make a home for themselves, before deeds of ownership were distributed.
And who was it that saved these people? Stormwind? The Alliance? No.
It was one of them, another son of Westfall who had been hurt by the Defias, by the inaction of their protectors.
A necromancer, a dark wizard, but a champion of the people. When Marcus of Moonbrook returned from the ruins of his old home it was to the cheers of the thousands he had saved.
The savior of Westfall arrived, waving to the people as if he was an old friend, holding in one hand a massive, rusted axe.
Just like the head of Edwin Vancleef just a few months earlier, he tossed it to the feet of the people, calling out just once to the crowd. "The Riverpaw leaders axe, my gift to the people."
The crowd roared as once again a necromancer, a creature to be feared, brought them the remains of a foe who had plagued the land.
Marcus strode through the crowd, it's people moving to allow him through, and walked into the Sentinel Tower.
Inside the tower, Gryan Stoutmantel discussed with several commanders and Lord Ebonlocke on the particulars of Westfall's geography, and how it would be distributed.
Gryan looked up from the meeting, his eyes lighting up as he recognized me. "Marcus! A pleasure to see you What brings you to Sentinel hill?"
I looked over the group he stood with for a moment, before looking back to him with a smirk. "Change my friend, change."
"Just two days ago I led the Riverpaw tribe into a trap, and wiped them off the face of Azeroth. Whatever remains of the Gnoll's will be scattered remnants, just like the Defias."
The mans smile broke into a full grown grin. "Wonderful, with the Gnolls crippled as you say they are we should be able to handle any remnants with the forces we have on hand."
I nodded. "Indeed. With Hogger gone we can bring our focus to seeing the people protected, and the land restored. Perhaps even as something greater than what it once was."
"Perhaps we could all get some rest for a change." several people in the room chuckled.
Now for the real reason I was here.
"With the land safer than it's ever been, I think it's time we officially made our intentions known. From what I've heard Stormwind has sent several letters asking on the health in the region, and congratulating us for our victory over the Defias."
"It won't be long before they begin asking why we started tearing apart Duskwood for it's lumber without their permission, and when we can go back to letting them siphon off our wealth to fight off the Horde."
Instead of defending us. It went unsaid, but I knew what they were thinking.
"I plan to head to Stormwind with Stoutmantel and Ebonlocke with an escort of their choosing. We tell Stormwind we serve them no longer, and that this land belongs to the people now."
The people in the room nodded, some grunting out their agreement.
One of the lietenants in the back leaned forward on his chair. "It's time we told them to fuck off, but what of defending ourselves? They might not take it sitting down."
I laughed. "Like they didn't take the Defias sitting down? They don't have the army to enforce rule over us, and even if they did they would lose the support of the people that still call themselves citizens to that country."
I shook my head. "They might bluster at us, but they can't do anything about it. As for defence, I'm sure youre all aware we have little to worry about from land attacks by most of the other threats in the land.
Many of them muttered their agreements.
It was true, Westfall and Duskwood were both bordered by steep mountains between Stranglethorn and Deadwind, which both already had little in the way of threats against the forces we have at out disposal.
"It's an attack by sea we have to worry about. We have little in the way of a Navy, and if the Horde decided to attack us they could bombard our lands from the oceans. we may be able to put something together soon however."
Gryan Stoutmantel tilted his head, before his eyes widened. "Marcus, you may be a genius."
Damned right. "We will soon be receiving an influx of lumber from Duskwood, and between the Gold we have on hand and whatever we might manage from the mines we can make our own ships."
"Even if Stormwind refuses to trade after we secede officially, the Steamwheedle Cartel would be more than happy to provide mercenaries and supplies."
I picked up a mans flagon of mead, downing what was left of its contents in one go before I spoke again.
"Like the lieutenant said. It's time we told Stormwind to fuck off."