Chapter Summaries

Robbie and Kel'Thuzad broke the Bastion of Pain's barrier with sonic bombs, exposing the incapacitated Orcs and revealing Velen alongside an injured Ner'zhul. Velen sacrificed Draenei captives to summon part of the Dark Star, then escaped with Ner'zhul as Robbie arrived.

• Robbie opened the Bastion of Pain's barrier and sent three sonic bombs inside, shattering it and incapacitating the Orcs.
• Robbie ordered his group to seize the Bastion's valuables, but Hogger returned injured and reported that Velen was protecting Ner'zhul.
• Ner'zhul told Velen that their plan to summon the Dark Star had been disrupted, and Velen urged him to sacrifice the Shadowmoon Clan's ancestral souls instead.
• Velen killed the unconscious Draenei captives on the Platform of the Stars and summoned Ak'ton, a part of the Dark Star.
• Robbie and his companions arrived as Velen and Ner'zhul turned into a ball of light and vanished.

Velen escaped the Bastion of Pain with Ner'zhul after revealing that he had betrayed Yrel’s parents, leaving Yrel furious and disillusioned. Yrel led the rescue of the Draenei prisoners while Robbie’s group returned with treasure and Hogger carried off the Shadowmoon Orb.

• After Robbie’s forces broke the Bastion of Pain’s magical shield, Velen and Ner'zhul appeared before Yrel’s rangers and accused Yrel of betraying the Draenei.
• Velen told Yrel that he had handed her parents to the Shadowmoon Clan to be killed and admitted that he had planned to kill Yrel and her sister before teleporting away with Ner'zhul.
• Shanmiusen advised Yrel to keep Velen’s crimes secret, and Yrel ordered the rangers to stay silent before leading them to rescue the Draenei prisoners.
• Yrel vented her anger by slaughtering helpless Shadowmoon Clan Orcs as the Draenei were rescued.
• Robbie’s wagons returned loaded with treasure, while Hogger gave the Ashran soldiers some jewels and carried away five sacks and the Shadowmoon Orb, which he planned to offer to Prince Anduin.

Robbie and Yrel discovered that Velen had used the Temperament Trial to eliminate gifted Draenei and preserve his rule. At the Lightfall Altar, they found Velen facing a second Ner'zhul while the real Ner'zhul prepared to summon the Dark Star.

• Ashran's cavalry ignored Shanmiusen and raced to loot the fallen Bastion of Pain, while Shanmiusen followed them.
• Adventurers from Lunarfall stripped the Bastion of Pain of its valuables, and Yrel worried about Prophet Velen despite the successful rescue of the captives.
• Robbie followed a Hyacinth Macaw with Yrel into the Eclipsed Moon Cave, where Yrel explained that gifted young Draenei had become shadow creatures during Velen's Temperament Trial.
• Vanessa revealed that the trial was a lie and that Velen had used the Holy Light Edict to control the Draenei, while gifted individuals could resist it.
• Vanessa led Robbie and Yrel to the Lightfall Altar, where they saw Ner'zhul summoning the Dark Star as Velen faced another Ner'zhul.

A crowned Ner'zhul claimed to be the King of the Universe and persuaded Velen to kill the injured Ner'zhul. Just as he promised to help Velen control the Dark Star, Experiment 335 appeared and accused him of being an Evil Spirit.

• A second, crowned Ner'zhul appeared beside the Lightfall Altar and claimed he had conquered worlds and traveled between timelines.
• Velen questioned the crowned Ner'zhul, who proved his identity by revealing that he had secretly poisoned his older brother.
• Velen accepted the crowned Ner'zhul's offer and used Holy Light to destroy the injured Ner'zhul.
• The crowned Ner'zhul promised to help Velen control the Dark Star and reached for the Shadowmoon Clan Staff of Ten Thousand Souls.
• Experiment 335 appeared and warned Velen that the crowned Ner'zhul was an Evil Spirit possessing Ner'zhul.
• The crowned Ner'zhul dismissed Experiment 335's accusation and told Velen to decide what to do.

Experiment 335 exposed King of the Universe Ner'zhul as the Dark Star, but Velen chose to serve the Dark Star and killed the human mage. The Dark Star accepted Velen's submission, though it could not find Experiment 335's soul.

• Experiment 335 used a disgusting slime and a shadow fragment to show that King of the Universe Ner'zhul shared the Dark Star's energy structure.
• King of the Universe Ner'zhul admitted he was the Dark Star and explained how its consciousness had grown inside Ner'zhul after absorbing his memories and negative emotions.
• The Dark Star promised Velen power and revenge if he helped gather souls, and Velen asked how he could trust it.
• Velen rejected Experiment 335's warning, killed him with Holy Light, and knelt before the Dark Star.
• The Dark Star reached for Experiment 335's soul but could not find it.

The Dark Star’s summoning failed when the Shadowmoon Clan Staff of Ten Thousand Souls shattered, and he accused Velen of sabotaging the ritual. As the Dark Star’s last command trapped Velen in a demonic claw, Yrel’s attack interrupted his spellcasting, leaving Velen to die.

• The Dark Star praised Velen and ordered him to guard the Lightfall Altar while he prepared to summon the Dark Star.
• Robbie stopped Yrel from intervening, and the Shadowmoon Clan Staff of Ten Thousand Souls shattered, badly damaging the Dark Star’s form.
• The Dark Star accused Velen of switching the staff, then briefly trusted him when Velen offered to repair his form with the Holy Light.
• Vanessa startled Yrel, whose cry convinced the Dark Star that Velen was still deceiving him; the Dark Star summoned a black claw to seize Velen.
• Velen began breaking free of the claw, but Yrel’s Hoof of Justice interrupted his spellcasting, and the claw crushed him as he recalled Argus and his old friends.

Sargeras revealed Argus’s ancient history to Velen, Kil'jaeden, and Archimonde, explaining that the Eredar had been shaped to fight the Old Gods and that Argus’s World Soul was hatching prematurely. He left them facing the greater danger behind the sealed starry sky as he began to explain what was most terrifying.

• Sargeras appeared before Velen, Kil'jaeden, and Archimonde and identified himself as the creator of the Eredar.
• Sargeras explained that he had empowered the primitive Eredar, who eventually eradicated the Old Gods and imprisoned the demons.
• Sargeras said he had intended for the Eredar to explore the stars and lead the demon army against worlds corrupted by the Old Gods.
• Kil'jaeden asked who had sealed the starry sky, and Sargeras said enemies in the Void had forced Argus’s World Soul to hatch early, closing the spatial rifts and returning the Eredar fleets.
• Sargeras warned that Argus was nearing its birth and might be destroyed along with the Eredar, then said that was not the most terrifying part.

Sargeras explained the danger posed by Argus’s World Soul and recruited the Eredar, but Velen later fled with followers and became the leader of the Draenei. After Velen died and Yrel recast his treachery as a sacrifice, Robbie and Vanessa prepared to summon and control the Dark Star.

• Sargeras warned Velen, Archimonde, and Kil'jaeden that Argus’s World Soul threatened their race, and the three Eredar leaders accepted his bargain.
• The Eredar built Antorus, the Burning Throne, to control Argus’s World Soul, while Velen received a revelation and escaped with followers who became the Draenei.
• The Naaru aided Velen, and he reshaped the Draenei into a people who relied on the Holy Light while secretly serving the Void Lords’ plans.
• As Velen died, Yrel portrayed him as a hero who had saved the Draenei, and Velen realized his downfall stemmed from a connection between two Timelines and the opening of the Dark Portal.
• Robbie and Vanessa watched Yrel’s performance, then Vanessa took out the Shadowmoon Staff of Ten Thousand Souls and nine Naaru Shards to prepare for the Dark Star’s summoning.

Vanessa summoned the Eredar Twins to help control the Dark Star, relying on their past success with the fallen Naaru M'uru. After eating the offering, the sisters recognized the dark pillar and Maelstrom and realized the group was in trouble.

• Yrel mourned theatrically beside the Lightfall Altar while Robbie discovered her hidden image crystal.
• Vanessa explained that the Eredar Twins had controlled M'uru and could be summoned for a price.
• Vanessa and Robbie built a crude altar, and Yrel eagerly joined them after admitting her image crystal was used up.
• Vanessa summoned the Eredar Twins with a jar of braised beef, which Sacrolash and Alythess devoured.
• Sacrolash noticed the dark pillar of light and the Maelstrom and said the scene reminded her of M'uru.

Vanessa rejected the Eredar Twins’ offer to control the Dark Star and chose to seek Naaru K’ara’s purification, hoping to gain her friendship and magical knowledge. The twins claimed the Burning Legion had once tried to heal M’uru, but said Prophet Velen and the Army of the Light had stopped them.

• Queen Sacrolash connected the Shadowmoon Clan Staff of Ten Thousand Souls to the Dark Star and said K’ara had been poisoned by consuming Draenei souls.
• Queen Sacrolash offered Vanessa a choice between purifying K’ara and controlling the Dark Star, warning that controlling it could kill her.
• Robbie reminded Vanessa that she could defeat Medivh with the music box plan and argued that K’ara’s magical knowledge would be a safer source of strength.
• Vanessa declined to control the Dark Star and questioned why the Eredar Twins would help restore a Naaru opposed to the Burning Legion.
• Queen Sacrolash explained that the Legion fought the Void Lords and wanted to understand the Army of the Light’s motives.
• High Warlock Alythess claimed Prophet Velen and the Army of the Light had prevented the twins from healing M’uru.

Robbie and Vanessa hired the Eredar Twins to purify Naaru K'ara, and their ritual removed the corruption while revealing a mysterious cluster of black particles that only Robbie could see and control. As the twins diverted the surrounding shadow energy toward Karazhan, the Naaru Shards flew from Vanessa's pack, leaving the ritual's danger unresolved.

• Alythess and Sacrolash revealed that M'uru had died as part of a secret agreement with the Army of the Light, and Yrel questioned why his death had been necessary.
• Vanessa negotiated a deal with the Eredar Twins to purify Naaru K'ara, and Robbie, Vanessa, and Yrel stood guard as the twins began their ritual.
• Sacrolash summoned and controlled the Dark Star while Alythess used Fel Fire to draw the corruption out of K'ara.
• Robbie saw the expelled black particles gather into a sphere beside him and discovered that they followed his gaze and responded to his thoughts.
• After removing K'ara's corruption, the twins began channeling the surrounding shadow energy toward Karazhan, and Alythess said they meant to keep Medivh occupied.
• Sacrolash sensed danger, and the eight Naaru Shards from the Argent Crusade flew out of Vanessa's pack.

Robbie and the others confronted Experiment 003, a Shadow Naaru hiding inside the slime, who revealed her history and her role in the scheme involving Tirion Fordring. Experiment 003 tried to escape under stealth, but Robbie tracked her with the mysterious black particles, and Vanessa struck her as she became visible.

• The eight Naaru Shards reformed into a small Shadow Naaru that absorbed the shadow energy around the Lightfall Altar.
• Robbie noticed the surviving slime and struck it, causing a point of light to enter the small Naaru and reveal Experiment 003.
• Experiment 003 recounted her reincarnations, her connection to Tirion Fordring, and her plan for revenge.
• Experiment 003 vanished into stealth and tried to flee while the Eredar Twins and Yrel prepared defensive magic.
• Robbie followed the black particles and hit Experiment 003 with a Holy Light hammer, then Vanessa's dagger struck her and forced her to become visible.

Robbie and his allies captured Test Subject 003, freed Naaru K'ara, and learned that the Army of the Light claimed to preserve cosmic balance. Meanwhile, Prince Anduin raged over Tirion Fordring’s missing Shadow Naaru, as his advisers quietly singled out a stranger as the next sacrificial victim.

• Test Subject 003 revealed that Tirion Fordring had sent her to become Prince Anduin’s right hand, but Robbie and Vanessa decided to imprison her for observation.
• Queen Sacrolash arranged for the Eredar Twins to bind Test Subject 003, then the twins, Robbie, and Yrel helped restore Naaru K'ara’s radiance.
• Naaru K'ara told the Eredar Twins that the Army of the Light fought to maintain balance between light and shadow, and the sisters left disappointed by her answer.
• Naaru K'ara and Yrel departed for Karabor Temple, while Robbie escorted Test Subject 003 back to the stronghold under Vanessa’s Shadow Veil.
• Prince Anduin smashed a goblet and demanded to know where Tirion Fordring’s promised Shadow Naaru was, as Udir and General Shanmiusen identified a strange man as a likely sacrificial victim.

Prince Anduin vented his frustration on Experiment 335, who revealed what he knew about Jaina and criticized Anduin for lacking courage. Experiment 335 was led away by the guards, while Anduin was left with unsettling revelations about the people around him.

• Anduin demanded that Experiment 335 explain how he had lost the Dark Star and Shadow Naaru, then threatened to kill him.
• Experiment 335 mocked Anduin and described how Jaina had ignored his warning about Theramore and was later killed after seeking revenge on Orgrimmar.
• Anduin admitted he knew the current Jaina had replaced the original and reflected on how powerful leaders pursued their own interests.
• Experiment 335 urged Anduin to find the courage to fight rather than live worse than a slime.
• Experiment 335 was taken out of the secret palace by guards, privately wondering whether Anduin had met the same fate as Jaina.

Prince Anduin agreed to consider cooperating with the Iron Horde to gain power in Gorgrond, but Grand Duke Alpha proposed using him to disguise an explosive ship bound for Karabor Temple. Anduin balked at the plan’s danger and threat to his reputation, leaving his loyalty and safety in doubt.

• Prince Anduin lamented his failures to Grand Duke Alpha, who urged him to pursue power in Gorgrond by claiming the abilities of Destroyer Dov and Tarlna the Ageless.
• Grand Duke Alpha suggested Anduin use his royal privilege to cooperate with Chief Blackhand and the Iron Horde.
• Grand Duke Alpha explained that the Iron Horde planned to destroy Karabor Temple with a ship full of explosives after the Draenei and Alliance adventurers killed Chief Ner'zhul.
• Grand Duke Alpha proposed flying the Peace Dove's banner and placing Anduin aboard the explosive ship, with Med'an ready to teleport him away if needed.
• Anduin objected that the plan would expose his collusion and ruin his reputation, while Grand Duke Alpha argued they could claim he had been coerced or magically disguised.

Robbie judged Karabor Temple’s beach defenses inadequate against the Iron Horde and persuaded Yrel to fund cannon batteries and fortifications. After the Draenei prepared the beach for a landing, Yrel summoned Robbie to a warehouse and showed him a strange cannon.

• Robbie inspected Karabor Temple’s defenses and concluded the Draenei and Lunarfall adventurers were poorly prepared for the Iron Horde.
• Robbie asked Yrel to fund cannons, then proposed batteries, trenches, musketeers, and a mobile cavalry force to defend the beach.
• Yrel agreed to Robbie’s plan and told him to spend the Draenei’s money carefully.
• The Draenei dug trenches, placed obstacles, and sank ships to prepare Karabor Temple’s beach for the Iron Horde’s landing.
• Yrel summoned Robbie to a warehouse and showed him a strange cannon.

Robbie gave Yrel a salvaged Draenei Particle Beam Weapon, while Anduin secured a protective amber device and prepared to exploit the Draenei’s defeat. As the Iron Horde fleet approached Karabor, scuttled ships blocked its advance in a narrow channel.

• Robbie learned that the Draenei’s last Particle Beam Weapon came from Argus and told Yrel to save it for a critical moment.
• Commander Volka demonstrated the Iron Destroyer to Anduin, who judged it inaccurate and dangerous despite its power.
• Anduin accepted an automatic Ancient Amber protection device from Udir and learned that the Defias Brotherhood had bought cannons and guns for the Draenei.
• Anduin told Udir to prepare to take in selected Draenei refugees and send them to Exodar after Karabor fell.
• The Iron Horde fleet stopped in a narrow channel, and Kalecgos identified scuttled ships as the obstruction.

The Iron Horde bypassed the sunken ships by sending Orcs swimming toward shore, where Robbie’s cannons were ready to fire. The Draenei archbishops intervened to stop Yrel, and Robbie realized they were trying to delay her and weaken her hold on power.

• Commander Volka sent hundreds of heavily armored Orcs swimming toward shore, believing the Draenei would not ambush them.
• Robbie spotted Med'an, Prince Anduin, and Kalecgos aboard the Iron Horde flagship and prepared to fire his cannons at the Orcs.
• Archbishops Maladaar and Othaar and Chief Artificer Hataaru confronted Yrel, accusing her of betraying Draenei traditions by ordering a sneak attack.
• Yrel argued that the Iron Horde was their enemy, but Maladaar condemned her plan as unjust.
• Robbie realized the archbishops were using the argument to delay the attack and undermine Yrel’s authority, and he wondered what to do.

Robbie used a staged display of Holy Light and Vanessa’s intervention to disarm the archbishops opposing Yrel, while Othaar helped her take control. The Draenei’s cannons devastated the Orc vanguard, and Commander Volka turned to Med’an for help defeating them.

• Robbie conjured a display of Holy Light and pretended to be a god to stop Maladaar and Hataaru from undermining Yrel.
• Vanessa silenced Maladaar and Hataaru, while Othaar pledged support and Yrel’s rangers seized the two archbishops.
• Robbie commanded the Draenei to attack the Orcs, and Othaar took control of the council’s guards as hundreds of cannons nearly wiped out the landed vanguard.
• Othaar told Robbie that he opposed Velen’s leadership and supported Yrel, while Robbie warned him against betraying the Draenei.
• Commander Volka learned that Velen was dead and asked Med’an for help, and Med’an claimed he had seventeen ways to defeat the Draenei.

Anduin watched Med'an show off for the Iron Horde and summon a vast ghost fleet from sunken ships. As Med'an prepared a powerful spell aimed at Karabor Temple, Robbie recognized the danger and urged Yrel to kill him.

• Anduin recalled his childhood friendship with Med'an and warned him that the Iron Horde did not know what his most powerful spell was.
• Chief Commander Volka demanded that Med'an prove his strength by casting his most powerful spell.
• Robbie watched from the coast as Med'an raised hundreds of sunken ships into a ghost fleet and sent it toward Karabor Temple.
• Med'an shaped sand into a model of Karabor Temple and began preparing a powerful spell to destroy it.
• Robbie shouted for Yrel to kill Med'an while he was at the critical stage of casting.