Chapter Summaries

Sylvanas’s forces destroyed the Argent Crusade by turning its soldiers into undead, while Tirion Fordring betrayed the order in exchange for the promise of a blessing. After Fordring handed over the Ashbringer, Eitrigg stabbed him.

• Sylvanas rejected a Troll’s proposal to abandon the Undercity, and Antonidas killed him when she demanded to know who had sent him.
• Mannoroth persuaded Tirion Fordring to help claim the remains beneath Light’s Hope Chapel, promising him the Dark Lady’s blessing.
• Lor’themar, Halduron, and Rommath secretly watched as Antonidas’s portal delivered Argent Crusade soldiers to Light’s Hope Chapel.
• Undead apothecaries sprayed the soldiers with plague, transforming them into undead while Fordring declared their deaths a sacrifice for Azeroth.
• Fordring gave Mannoroth the Ashbringer, claiming it could open the crypt’s barrier, and Eitrigg stabbed him in the chest.

Eitrigg killed Tirion Fordring and Mannoroth condemned his soul to wander the Plaguelands, ending the Argent Crusade. Sylvanas confronted Lor'themar over his divided loyalties and offered him a cup of Fel-tainted blood, revealing that the price of accepting was her newly restored beauty.

• Eitrigg tore out Tirion's heart and killed him, and Mannoroth pulled out his soul to wander the Plaguelands in anguish.
• Mannoroth led the necromancers, Undead apothecaries, and the Undead army away from Light's Hope Chapel as Lor'themar prepared to meet Sylvanas.
• Sylvanas revealed that she knew Lor'themar had also offered allegiance to the Alliance, but said she would give him and the Blood Elves a chance to start over.
• Sylvanas cut her wrist and offered Lor'themar a cup of her Fel-tainted blood, warning him that he should make the right choice.
• When Lor'themar asked what the price was, Sylvanas removed her hood and revealed her newly beautiful face, astonishing him, Halduron, and Rommath.

Sylvanas used Fel blood to win Rommath and Halduron, eliminate Lor'themar, and transform the Blood Elves into Fel Elves. After taking Silvermoon City, she launched an attack on Zul'Aman to remove the Amani Tribe.

• Rommath drank Sylvanas's blood, gained a more handsome appearance, and discovered that his Mana Addiction had disappeared.
• Halduron drank the blood too, then helped Sylvanas and Antonidas bind Lor'themar and stab him to death.
• With Rommath and Halduron leading, Sylvanas took Silvermoon City, and the Blood Elves accepted Fel blood and became Fel Elves.
• Sylvanas began an attack on Zul'Aman, deciding the Amani Tribe no longer had a place in her plans.

Robbie prepared the Kingdom of Stormwind to control the Dark Portal while Sylvanas led the Forsaken and Fel Elves in an assault on Zul'Aman. The chapter ended with Sylvanas ordering the Amani Tribe wiped out after plague and bombardment destroyed their defenses.

• Robbie learned that Sylvanas had gained a Fel Body, taken control of the Iron Horde, and turned the Blood Elves into Fel Elves.
• Kel'Thuzad urged Robbie to secure the Dark Portal, and the Kingdom of Stormwind began rebuilding Nethergarde Keep under the Black Dragon Princess's direction.
• Sylvanas gathered the Forsaken and Fel Elves outside Zul'Aman, where Archmage Rommath saw how outmatched Silvermoon City was by the Forsaken army.
• Sylvanas ordered High Archmage Antonidas to attack, and the Forsaken spread plague through the forest and bombarded Zul'Aman's walls until they collapsed.
• Sylvanas refused to accept the Amani Tribe's surrender and ordered her forces to kill them all.

As the Forsaken overran Zul'Aman, Amani priests manipulated the tribe into sacrificing its people to resurrect Zul'jin. Zul'jin returned from the pool of blood, but his first words urged the Trolls to run.

• Amani priests claimed Zul'jin alone could save the tribe and stirred the desperate people to offer their lives for his return.
• Amani tribespeople fell into the corrosive blood pool, willingly or after being shoved, and became sacrifices while the priests watched.
• The chapter recounted how Thrall had killed Zul'jin by boiling and eating him, then returned his skull while the Amani priests concealed the truth.
• After the pool consumed enough flesh and blood, Zul'jin rose from it and sang about his hatred of the Elves and the Horde before shouting for everyone to run.

Zul'jin returned from the dead, rallied the Amani Trolls with dark magic, and secretly escaped as they charged the Forsaken. After the Forsaken conquered Zul'Aman, Sylvanas investigated the mysterious power around the altar and saw a hazy figure looming above it.

• Zul'jin returned to life and decided to flee, but first used dark magic to stir the Amani people into fighting the Forsaken.
• Zul'jin escaped with the priests through a secret passage toward a ship bound for the Zandalari Empire as the Trolls attacked the Forsaken.
• The Forsaken overwhelmed the Amani resistance, took Zul'Aman, and began turning Troll souls and remains into resources for their army.
• The Forsaken halted before the altar where Zul'jin had been resurrected because its mysterious power filled them with fear.
• Antonidas investigated the altar but could not climb it, then reported back to Sylvanas.
• Sylvanas approached the altar, recognized its flawless power, and saw a hazy figure looming above it.

Sylvanas ordered the slaughter of Zul'Aman's Troll civilians and prepared to counter the Alliance's move to control the Dark Portal. In Shadowmoon Valley, Khadgar struggled with his loss of purpose and learned that Cordana still needed his help concerning Illidan.

• Sylvanas saw a vision of Azeroth's destruction and vowed to survive at any cost.
• Sylvanas ordered the Forsaken to kill Zul'Aman's civilians, arguing that the Trolls deserved vengeance for their past and their alliance with the Orcs.
• The Forsaken learned that Zul'jin had escaped by boat, and Sylvanas sent an emissary to demand that Rastakhan surrender him and apologize.
• Sylvanas learned that the Alliance was rebuilding Nethergarde Keep to control the Dark Portal and said she would use the Blue Dragonflight to counter them.
• Khadgar lamented that Sylvanas's control of the Iron Horde had left him with no role, and Cordana told him she still needed his help with Illidan.

Khadgar refused to help Cordana Felsong rescue Illidan and told her about his past love for Lisa to argue that she should let go. After Cordana left, the injured Kalecgos arrived at Starfall Outpost with a message from Sylvanas Windrunner.

• Khadgar told Cordana that Illidan had failed in his duty and that he would not help free him.
• Cordana accused Khadgar of deceiving her, and the two argued over Illidan and whether love was worth facing.
• Khadgar recounted how he had met Lisa in Lakeshire and left her to pursue magic at Karazhan.
• Cordana left Khadgar, determined to rescue Illidan herself.
• An injured Kalecgos arrived at Starfall Outpost, and Khadgar drove off the eagle pursuing him.
• Kalecgos told Khadgar that Sylvanas Windrunner had sent him with a few words.

Khadgar told Kalecgos that Sylvanas was only a pawn in a plan to destroy Azeroth and urged him to help weaken the Alliance. While they inspected New Nethergarde Keep and its magically trapped lake, Khadgar and Kalecgos were pulled through space onto a vast expanse of ice.

• Khadgar revealed to Kalecgos that he had worked to weaken the Alliance and that Sylvanas was a scapegoat for a hidden Destroyer.
• Khadgar said Illidan and Queen Azshara were targets of their schemes and questioned Kalecgos's loyalty to Sylvanas.
• Khadgar and Kalecgos flew to the Blasted Lands and saw that the Alliance had rebuilt New Nethergarde Keep beside the Dark Portal, which was submerged in a lake.
• Khadgar sensed ice and spatial magic in the lake, identified Kel'Thuzad as its source, and told Kalecgos to flee.
• A spell from the Book of Medivh transported Khadgar and Kalecgos to a vast expanse of ice.

Kalecgos and Khadgar escaped a parallel Azeroth after Khadgar learned why Kalecgos had betrayed the Blue Dragonflight. In Orgrimmar, Cairne secretly prepared a flood attack that struck the sleeping Horde.

• Kalecgos and Khadgar found themselves stranded on an icy parallel world, where Khadgar discovered the coordinates to return.
• Kalecgos told Khadgar that his kin had mocked and neglected him for being weak, and that betrayal had been his means of survival.
• Khadgar agreed to help Kalecgos leave after making a private deal with him, then opened a portal from the ice field.
• Cairne used Tauren savings and Goblin treasure to buy Water Elemental Scrolls and hire mages to fill a pool above Orgrimmar, while Vol'jin remained unaware.
• After the Horde soldiers and Vol'jin fell asleep, Cairne's prepared flood crashed down from the sky onto Orgrimmar.

Vol'jin escaped Orgrimmar’s flood by staging his death, while Cairne’s forces slaughtered the Orc survivors. The floodwaters then revealed that Everflesh Medivh had broken free and was attacking both Tauren and Orc airships.

• Vol'jin fled aboard an airship as floodwaters devastated Orgrimmar and watched Orc commanders prepare for the disaster.
• Vol'jin left a double to die in his place and escaped through a portal with Dracula Shredwheel and a hooded Archmage.
• Cairne Bloodhoof led the Undead Tauren in killing Orc survivors after the flood passed.
• Medivh’s tentacles rose from the floodwaters and dragged away Tauren and Orcs, prompting Cairne to order a retreat.
• Doras identified Everflesh Medivh, and massive tentacles surged from the water toward the airships.

Sylvanas watched the flood destroy Orgrimmar and revealed that she had engineered Medivh and his mother’s transformation into monstrous Everflesh creatures. She then explained her plan to summon the Dark Portal and bring the Iron Horde into Azeroth to attack the Night Elves.

• The flood’s tentacles overwhelmed Orgrimmar’s airships, and the monstrous Medivh and his mother devoured Saurfang, Nazgrim, and the city.
• Cairne Bloodhoof escaped with the Undead Tauren while Medivh and his mother consumed Orgrimmar and remained trapped in the ruined city.
• Sylvanas and Antonidas surveyed the destruction, and Sylvanas celebrated the Orcs’ defeat and explained that Medivh and his mother had been corrupted beyond being a threat.
• Antonidas realized Sylvanas had arranged the creation of Everflesh Medivh and questioned her knowledge of the plot.
• Sylvanas said she planned to bring the Iron Horde into Azeroth to defeat the Night Elves and revealed that Khadgar’s mission had concealed her plan to summon the Dark Portal.
• Sylvanas pointed toward Dustwallow Marsh and asked Antonidas why the Focusing Iris had been necessary to destroy Theramore.

Antonidas examined the preparations at Theramore for summoning the Dark Portal and questioned whether the divine messenger could perform the dangerous ritual. The messenger warned that only Medivh and Queen Azshara could complete it.

• Antonidas realized the Focusing Iris's explosion had weakened space at Theramore, and the Forsaken had built a fortified base around the site.
• Antonidas saw that the ritual would use water from the Sunwell for mana and require a caster with exceptional mastery of time and space.
• Sylvanas said the divine messenger would summon the Dark Portal, but Antonidas urged her to confirm the plan with him.
• Antonidas used an incantation to consult the sleeping divine messenger inside an ornate coffin.
• The divine messenger explained that Azeroth's knowledge of time and space was limited and said only Medivh and Queen Azshara could complete the spell.

Vol'jin enjoyed a luxurious life in hiding on Sweetwater Cliff after the Horde’s defeat, until Zul'jin confronted him. Zul'jin warned that God-King Rastakhan could pose a grave danger if he discovered Vol'jin was in the Zandalari Empire.

• Sylvanas and Antonidas asked the divine messenger how to persuade Queen Azshara to summon the Dark Portal, and it suggested finding Illidan before falling silent.
• Vol'jin read a newspaper that reported his supposed death and mocked the Alliance, while he relaxed among beauties on Sweetwater Cliff.
• Vol'jin sensed a Forest Troll’s killing intent, grabbed his buried warglaives, and recognized the approaching Zul'jin.
• Zul'jin mocked Vol'jin’s public image of frugality, then recalled how Vol'jin had given Thrall a secret recipe that led to Zul'jin being eaten for thirty days.
• Zul'jin set aside their old feud, shared Vol'jin’s roasted Tauren meat, and warned him that Rastakhan might discover his hiding place.

Vol'jin recruited Zul'jin into an alliance backed by N'Zoth, while Tyrande ordered Maiev to prepare Illidan for battle against Sylvanas. The chapter left the Night Elves facing a crisis as Tyrande revealed she believed Sylvanas wanted Illidan to father children who could secure the High Elves' future.

• Vol'jin realized Zul'jin had tied their fates together and agreed to ally with him against God-King Rastakhan.
• Vol'jin showed Zul'jin an altar and revealed that he had contacted N'Zoth by trading away Azeroth's interests.
• N'Zoth answered Vol'jin's prayer and promised that the Loa could not find him.
• Tyrande secretly visited the Vault of the Wardens and demanded that Maiev make Illidan forget his grievances so he could fight Sylvanas.
• Tyrande ordered Maiev to use cruel torture on Illidan despite its risk to his strength.
• Tyrande told Maiev that Sylvanas sought Illidan because their children could free the High Elves from Mana Addiction, threatening the Night Elves.

Tyrande and Maiev discussed the Wardens’ torture of Illidan while Robbie learned the truth about his imprisonment. Black Cat asked Robbie to travel ten thousand years into the past and change Illidan’s fate, explaining that Azeroth’s earlier chance to rise had been unfairly thwarted.

• Tyrande and Maiev descended through the Vault of the Wardens, where Tyrande said Sylvanas hoped Illidan would kill her and Maiev planned to burn Illidan’s soul.
• Black Cat brought Robbie to the Vault and recounted how Illidan had been captured after the Battle of the Black Temple and returned to the prison.
• Robbie used the Eye of C'Thun to see Illidan being subjected to brutal, relentless torture.
• Black Cat told Robbie not to rescue Illidan in the present but to go back ten thousand years and change his fate without altering the current state of affairs.
• Black Cat explained that Queen Azshara had succeeded in giving Azeroth’s native forces an early chance to rise, but Azeroth had been treated unfairly and the mistake needed to be remedied.

Medivh freed Krasus from Thrall and extracted Broxigar Saurfang’s repaired soul from Thrall’s body. He assembled Krasus, Broxigar, and the Archmage Rhonin for a mission to travel ten thousand years into the past and find Queen Azshara’s spellbook.

• Thrall held a banquet where Vol'jin cut flesh from the bound Krasus’s heart, and Thrall declared he planned to eat Alexstrasza.
• Alexstrasza arrived to save Krasus, then returned with Jaina and Medivh, who freed Krasus and ordered Alexstrasza to heal him.
• Medivh declared he needed a strong body and removed Broxigar Saurfang’s soul from Thrall, then placed it in the young Orc chosen by Saurfang.
• Broxigar agreed to help Medivh in exchange for the chance to become Warchief, and Medivh warned that he must return alive from ten thousand years in the past.
• Medivh chose Krasus, Broxigar, and Rhonin to travel with Nozdormu to Queen Azshara’s era and retrieve her spellbook.

Rhonin volunteered to take Jaina’s place on a dangerous mission to travel ten thousand years into the past and retrieve Queen Azshara’s spellbook, leaving his pregnant wife Vereesa behind. After Krasus brought him to Kalimdor, Rhonin met the powerful Orc Broxigar Saurfang and realized he was the weakest member of their expedition as they entered Nozdormu’s portal.

• Rhonin accepted Jaina’s place on Medivh’s perilous mission, despite learning that it would take him into the distant past.
• Rhonin said goodbye to his pregnant wife Vereesa and flew with the recovering Krasus toward Kalimdor.
• Rhonin met Broxigar Saurfang, who threatened him and Krasus while displaying immense demonic power.
• Rhonin recognized that Broxigar was the expedition’s main force and regretted agreeing to Jaina’s request.
• Rhonin, Broxigar, and Krasus entered the Maelstrom portal that led to Queen Azshara’s era.

Robbie traveled ten thousand years into the past to investigate Illidan and Queen Azshara, arriving near the Well of Eternity before resting in a tree hollow. The story then shifted to Illidan and Xavius returning from a hunt, where Xavius tried to warn Illidan about his brother and questioned his studies with Cenarius.

• Black Cat sent Robbie through a Time Portal to the ancient past and reminded him to investigate Queen Azshara as well as Illidan.
• Robbie used the Eye of C'Thun and felt the Well of Eternity's magic awaken and flow into him from afar.
• Robbie hid in a hollow tree to let the unstable power inside him settle.
• Illidan and Xavius returned from killing a Demon Dragon, carrying its meat back to nearby villages.
• Xavius complained that Malfurion took credit for Illidan's hunting spoils, and Illidan offered him half the meat.
• Xavius criticized Cenarius's teachings, but Illidan said he continued learning from him because Tyrande liked it.

Xavius worried about Illidan's feelings for Tyrande while Robbie discovered that the Well of Eternity had empowered every Night Elf. Rhonin, Krasus, and Broxigar split up to scout, and Broxigar was knocked unconscious after attacking a little Night Elf girl.

• Xavius resolved to uncover why Illidan had become infatuated with Tyrande and to protect him from what he saw as her schemes.
• Robbie sensed that the demon blood in his body had grown stronger and that the Well of Eternity had transformed every Night Elf into an Archmage.
• Robbie unfurled the Eye of C'Thun to search for Illidan Stormrage.
• Rhonin, Krasus, and Broxigar found signs of Elves and split up to scout, with Rhonin handing the others Magic Beacons for communication.
• Broxigar found a little Night Elf girl and tried to grab her, but her punch sent him flying and left him unconscious.