30

The icy wind swept through the northern mountains, carrying with it the smell of snow and rusted iron. In the fortress of black stone known as **Kragthar'Dun**, the leaders of the orc tribes gathered under the vaulted roof of the Great Hall. The torches burned with a reddish light, casting dancing shadows on the walls carved with ancient runes. The atmosphere was charged with tension, and the distant howling of wolves echoed in the distance, as if they sensed that something terrible was about to happen.

In the center of the hall, **Chief Grommash**, an orc with grayish skin and scars crossing his bare torso, slammed the ground with his war mace. The metallic sound reverberated throughout the room, demanding silence.

"Listen!" roared Grommash, his voice deep as thunder. "The sky bleeds, the earth trembles, and the stars seem to fade. This is not the work of the gods or beasts. Something else is happening."

The other chiefs murmured among themselves, some nodding, others frowning. Since the tremors began, the orcs had been uneasy. Their shamans had tried to interpret the omens, but the visions were confusing, fragmented. The only thing clear was that something powerful and dangerous had awakened.

"What do you suggest, Grommash?" asked **Shaman Throkka**, an elder with hair as white as snow and eyes that glowed with a supernatural gleam. Her voice was calm but carried authority. "Do you think this is the work of Eldoria?"

Grommash growled, his fangs gleaming under the torchlight. "Who else could it be? Humans have always been greedy, seeking to expand their power. This must be one of their failed experiments."

"Not so fast," interrupted Throkka, raising a wrinkled hand. "I have consulted with the spirits, and they tell me that this energy… does not come from Eldoria. It is something older. Something even humans do not understand."

A young warrior named **Kragthar** stepped forward, his eyes glowing with fury. "Then we must strike first! If the humans are involved, we must hit them before they do the same to us."

Throkka shook her head, her expression severe. "Acting without knowledge is the greatest stupidity. We must investigate before making any hasty decisions."

"But we've already lost time!" replied Kragthar, pounding his chest with his fist. "If we wait longer, they might use whatever is causing this against us."

The hall erupted into heated arguments. Some leaders supported Grommash and Kragthar, calling for war. Others, more cautious, backed Throkka, arguing that they needed more information before acting.

Finally, Grommash raised a hand, imposing silence. "Let's hear Throkka. What do you suggest, elder?"

Throkka closed her eyes for a moment, as if listening to invisible voices. Then, she spoke calmly but firmly. "We must send an emissary to Eldoria. A small, stealthy group that can move undetected. We need to know what the humans are doing, if they are involved in this."

"An emissary?" Kragthar snorted, incredulous. "Why not just attack and solve the problem?"

"Because," replied Throkka, looking him directly in the eyes, "if this is not the work of humans, then we face a much greater threat. A threat that could destroy us all."

An uncomfortable silence filled the hall. The orc leaders exchanged glances, weighing Throkka's words. Finally, Grommash nodded slowly.

"So be it," he said. "We will prepare a group of scouts. But if we discover that the humans are responsible…" His voice hardened, full of warning. "Then there will be no mercy."

Throkka bowed her head in respect, but her thoughts were elsewhere. While the others discussed the details of the plan, she looked toward the horizon, where the sky was still stained crimson. She knew that something big was coming, something that would change the fate of all races. And though she couldn't see it clearly, she felt that the origin of it all was closer than anyone imagined.