After the Siege of Orgrimmar, Zaela had rounded up all the survivors of her side and made a break for southern Kalimdor. They were currently in Tanaris struggling to survive. A group of human pirates had joined them for the time as they were in a mutually beneficial alliance. The Zaela's band gave the pirates workers and soldiers while the pirates gave the band supplies. The band could easily take everything for itself, but Zaela was tired of fighting for the time being and, even though they are human, Zaela found herself liking the captain of the group. A burly man by the name of Captain Adrian Longbarrow. He was a powerful warrior and a stoic leader. Zaela was becoming friends with the captain.
All in all their coalition was about two thousand strong. With twelve hundred being orcs, five hundred humans, two hundred goblins, and a hundred or so ogres. There were only about six ships, but one was a big galleon that was able to to carry about seven hundred of them, so they could all fit on the fleet, but some of the ships were needing big repairs others were only minor repair. They were going to be here for atleast another week repairing the ships. The band was getting restless and the pirates were made they couldn't just leave on the ships that were seaworthy and leave the band behind. The pirate that had brought that up was found chopped in two the next morning. That incident almost caused a riot, but her and Captain Adrian put it down. So for now there uneasy peace lasted within the makeshift holdfasts walls. Zaela was in her tent making plans when Adrian came in.
"Warlord, we must plan what is to happen after we repair the ships." said the captain in a Lordaeronian accent.
"What of it?" growled Zaela. She didn't want to have this conversation. She had enough goblins to pilot the boats. One wrong word from Adrian, even with her begrudging respect for him, and she would and could kill him and all the humans. Adrian heard the anger in her voice and laughed his dry laugh.
"You think I was going to say something bad. No Zaela. My band would like to join you. I know your group hates everything human, but I feel like my boys could prove themselves to you orcs." Zaela was surprised. She didn't think this would happen. She had a plan for this however. Orcs respect only strength. The humans must prove their strength.
"Captain. To join us you must prove yourselves equal to us orcs." The captain stood stoically as ever and replied in his deep voice.
"How do we do that, Warlord?" Zaela grinned a dark smile.
"I have a idea." Either way I win.
The morning was cold as the sands stirred in the coming light. Zaela had been up for a few hours preparing for today's events. today would mark a day of proving. The humans would have an all out melee with Zaela's top five hundred fighters. She would be leading her fighters in the melee and Adrian would be leading his. It was to be a bloody day, but hopeful they would prove themselves capable. Zaela had made a big circle in the sand outside of the encampment. She and some others put wooden posts in the ground. All fighters must stay in the circle during the fight.
Zaela was standing by the circle when she saw the pirates start to walk towards the area. Zaela turned to one of her fighters and told her to gather the rest. At the beginning of the line of pirates Zaela saw Adrian leading his men. They were all decked out for battle. Most had some sort of leather jerkin for protection. Others had a steel breastplate, but that was all for armor except some here and there pieces of other parts. Adrian wore a studded leather jerkin with a steel half cap and engraved steel vambraces. His greying raven hair was tied by a red silk ribbon into a tail that fell out of the cap and down to the middle of his back. On his left hip there was a curved cutlass and on his left hand was a small metal buckler. The other pirates were armed similarly, with rapiers and cutlasses. Some had half spears one had a trident.
"Warlord Zaela, We have come to prove our valor in this fighting pit." declared Adrian with a gesture at the circle. Behind the pirates came Zaela's fighters. The orc fighters look brutal. Some were in heavy black plate armor. Others only in a loincloth. They wielded small and big axes. Two had giant mauls. Ten had small mauls. One had only had a pair of two long hooks on his gauntlets and only a loincloth on with a pair of wrapped boots. The human pirates looked terrified except Adrian who smiled uncharastically. "Are you ready, Warlord?"
"Yes, Lets begin!" yelled Zaela who had a hungry smile on her lips. Zaela herself was in her black plate armor with her sharp double headed axe. The orcs went to one side with Zaela in front. The humans to the other side with Adrian in front. "Blow the horn!"
As the horn blew the two sides charged at each other. A chorus of war cries went up as the sound of battle commenced. At the beginning the orcs had caused a massive blow to the humans as they crashed into them. The rules were to try to land only non mortal blows, but as the two sides crashed Zaela could hear the screams of dying humans and orcs. Adrian had taken down a big brute of a orc, Drakken, and fell at least two others until Zaela lost sight of him. Zaela had cut down a few humans, but killed none. All in all the melee only lasted five minutes until only five humans were left standing and twenty orcs. The circle was cleared by the few who weren't fighting. The wounded were being treated. The dead were being buried.
Among the five humans stood Adrian with his face bloody. There was a dent in his helm and his jerkin was slashed down the middle, but other than that he was fine. The other humans were breathing heavy and the remaining orcs were ready to pounce on their victims, but Zaela called it to an end. Perhaps they have proven themselves. As all the remaining fighters sat. Others brought them water and food. One brought a bench for Zaela to stand on while she talked to everybody.
"Adrian of the Sandstone pirates you and your men have fought bravely and while you lost nobody can doubt your strength. While I hate your kind these few have proven themselves. We will join together." yelled Zaela to be heard by everyone present. Adrian stood up then and took off his cap.
"Warlord Zaela. I swear to you my everlasting loyalty to you and you heirs for as long as they live. You have the fealty of my men as well. We all join your band." The other humans stood at this time and kneeled and all professed some kind of loyalty or fealty to her. This is good. Another five hundred men and a small fleet. I just need to find where to go. Zaela needed a safe place where they could grow in strength.
After the melee and the joining of the two groups. There was a celebration going on in the encampment. As both sides came together in drink and contest, but most importantly they were getting used to each other. Which was good. There didn't need to be a mutiny on the ships. Zaela was in her tent with Adrian trying to plan for the future. The first thing was they needed someplace for a base. This encampment would run out of food soon. They needed to sail before that, but where to sail.
"How about this island off of pandaria?" asked Adrian.
"It could work. What is there?" questioned Zaela.
"Mostly just jungle, but there are a couple pygmy tribes that we could get to join us. As well as a old troll witch, but nevermind her, she hates all visitors. We can kill her once we land, but it's a big island we could easily camp there for a few months while we plan what else to do."
Zaela nodded her agreement. She turned to the map. Zaela was at a loss where to find more to join her. Her end plan was to eventually gain enough fighters to take the Blasted Lands and the Swamp of Sorrows. I really should just travel there. I know the Horde garrison in Dreadmaul hold would join me, but I don't know about Stonard. Adrian left then. Probably because Zaela grew quite. First go to the island Adrian mentioned. Then on to the Blasted Lands.
Zaela continued to look at the map until she spotted Darkshore. There was a tribe of trolls there that had followed Garrosh into war. Maybe the few that are left would join her. If I could get one of my mages to them he could teleport them here. Zaela called for a messenger telling them to get a mage. Within ten minutes there was a call outside Zaela's tent announcing that Gruktag the mage was there. Zaela told him the plan and he almost instantly teleported out saying he would be back with any that wanted to join. Zaela was happy her plans were finally paying off. Her army was growing and there was hope for her to make her own claim onto this world.