Chapter Summaries

The Emissary told Thrall that Vol'jin would become Warchief and advised Thrall to retire, while Kil'jaeden ordered Magtheridon to abandon Hellfire Citadel and begin the Shadow of Argus Plan. Varian's army occupied the citadel with little resistance, and Sylvanas examined the destroyed Legion cannon.

• Thrall rejected Vol'jin's rise to Warchief, but the Emissary blamed Thrall and Garrosh for their failures and told Thrall to go into seclusion after the Battle of Orgrimmar.
• The Emissary said the Beast Emperor Plan was on hold and offered to help Thrall deal with Ogre Jaina.
• Magtheridon learned that the Alliance had surrounded Hellfire Citadel and hesitated to fire his Legion cannon after spotting Forsaken soldiers among the attackers.
• Kil'jaeden told Magtheridon that their cooperation with Thrall was over and ordered him to return and set the Shadow of Argus Plan in motion.
• Magtheridon escaped through a Legion Portal as the giant cannon self-destructed, killing or injuring many Fel Orcs and damaging Hellfire Citadel.
• Varian led the Alliance into Hellfire Citadel with little resistance, and Sylvanas examined the cannon's remains.

The Emissary helped Thrall reclaim his public image by killing Ogre Jaina and forcing a massacre at Tian Monastery, after which Thrall denied ever calling Jaina an Orc or Ogre. In Orgrimmar, besieged and starving, Garrosh sacrificed Gamon to restore morale and received assurances from a mysterious being that a greater path still awaited him.

• The Emissary told the dispirited Thrall that Ogre Jaina had claimed Thrall and Jaina were originally one person, and proposed killing the Ogre so Thrall could correct the story.
• At Tian Monastery, the Emissary slaughtered the gathered spectators, killed Ogre Jaina, and ordered Thrall to perform for the public.
• Thrall used Big Candle Gagg to spread a statement insisting Jaina was human and denouncing anyone who called her an Orc or Ogre.
• With Orgrimmar besieged, starving, and suffering from poisoned water, Gamon suggested blaming the Pandaren, then volunteered to be punished instead.
• Garrosh hung Gamon at the entrance to the Drag, then prayed for guidance and was told that his defeat was temporary and a greater road to the heavens lay ahead.

Garrosh learned that he would lead the Orcs on another planet, while a Pandaren group sabotaged Orgrimmar’s gates and helped the Alliance breach the city. As the leaders advanced to confront Garrosh, the Emissary offered Thrall a chance to take Garrosh’s place after an even-matched duel.

• A mysterious being promised Garrosh that he would lead the Orcs on another planet after his defeat in Azeroth, and Garrosh gratefully accepted.
• A female Pandaren led the Peace Dove in poisoning and killing the Blind Swordsman guarding Orgrimmar’s gates, then set the gates ablaze with liquor.
• The Alliance used a Battering Ram to break through the weakened gates, and Garrosh ordered his remaining soldiers to resist as he fled toward The Drag.
• Varian, Sylvanas, Vol’jin, Baine, Lor’themar, Gallywix, and the Alliance leaders prepared to advance and end Garrosh’s reign.
• The Emissary promised Thrall a chance to fight Garrosh and take command of a much larger Orc force, then said Elemental Power would make the two combatants evenly matched.

Thrall and Garrosh negotiated to survive rather than fight to the death as the Alliance and Horde advanced through Garrosh's fortress. When Thrall's elemental power faded, Garrosh used Ra-den's heart to teleport away, emerging in the ruined Temple of the Jade Serpent.

• The Emissary brought Thrall before Garrosh and declared that only one Orc would ascend to the throne, while Thrall vowed to defeat Garrosh.
• Thrall and Garrosh watched the invasion and Nazgrim's death, then discussed their duel and agreed that both could live by cooperating.
• The Alliance and Horde fought through the fortress's defenses and defeated the Klaxxi Paragons before reaching the Throne Room.
• Thrall revealed that Garrosh's crystal held Ra-den's heart, but Garrosh used its power to vanish before the invading forces arrived.
• Garrosh found himself in the ruined Temple of the Jade Serpent in Pandaria, where he heard footsteps approaching.

Garrosh was repeatedly teleported away by Ra-den's Heart as the Horde leaders tried to kill him and Thrall. At the ruined Vermilion Bird Temple, Jiyun Ailuan declared it the site of Jiyun Tafeng's coming-of-age trial.

• Garrosh was overwhelmed and nearly eaten by starving refugees at the ruined Temple of the Jade Serpent, but Ra-den's Heart teleported him away and healed him.
• In Orgrimmar, Sylvanas decided the Horde would make Thrall pay for Garrosh's escape, and Baine knocked Thrall to the ground.
• Gallywix bombed Garrosh when he reappeared, but Ra-den's Heart healed him and teleported him away again as Thrall approached with Doomhammer.
• At the ruins of the Vermilion Bird Temple, Jiyun Ailuan condemned Chen Stormstout and the temple's past alliance with the Orcs, then named the site of Jiyun Tafeng's coming-of-age trial.

Jiyun Tafeng fought Garrosh in the ruins of the Vermilion Bird Temple and overwhelmed him, while Thrall prepared to kill Garrosh in the Throne Room. Varian did not intervene, and the Doomhammer struck a brilliant wall of Holy Light instead.

• Jiyun Tafeng found Garrosh in the Vermilion Bird Temple ruins and mistook his arrival for a test arranged by Grandpa.
• Garrosh attacked Jiyun Tafeng, but Jiyun Tafeng used his speed and martial arts to beat him until he surrendered.
• Jiyun Tafeng decided Garrosh was his prey and punched at him again.
• Garrosh fell into the Throne Room, where Thrall stopped Vol'jin and approached him with the Doomhammer.
• Robbie, Vanessa, and Murozond watched as Varian chose not to save Garrosh, and Thrall's hammer struck golden Holy Light.

Thrall attacked Garrosh, but Velen and Anduin intervened, prompting Thrall and Sylvanas to turn on them. Anduin revealed a prophecy about Heaven’s Shadow, which Robbie connected to Azeroth’s past interference with time.

• Velen used the Holy Light to shield Garrosh from Thrall’s Doomhammer, while Anduin tried to persuade Varian to save him.
• Thrall attacked Velen, breaking his arm and back, until Velen finally called upon the Holy Light to heal himself.
• Sylvanas threw Velen to the Abominations and questioned the restrained Anduin about the prophecy he and Velen had heard.
• Anduin explained that Heaven’s Shadow would arrive when Azeroth made a mistake, and that Garrosh could not die before then.
• Robbie realized the mistake referred to Azeroth’s large-scale interference with time and wondered what Heaven’s Shadow would bring.

Robbie explained the Shadow of Argus to Murozond, while the leaders debated Garrosh’s fate and chose to have Pandaria try him. Vol’jin became the Horde’s new Warchief, but Varian and Sylvanas made clear that he would have little power.

• Robbie told Murozond that the Shadow of Argus was an illusion meant to provoke conflict, and Murozond lamented how tangled the timelines had become.
• The Alliance and Horde leaders argued over Garrosh’s punishment, then Varian proposed that Pandaria try him and brought Taran Zhu before them.
• Thrall offered to serve Vol’jin as Warchief after insulting his inaction, and the Horde leaders pledged their support to Vol’jin.
• Varian warned Vol’jin that the Alliance would destroy the Horde if it repeated Garrosh’s crimes, while Sylvanas promised to kill Vol’jin if he became like Garrosh.
• Vol’jin accepted the Warchief’s position and recognized that Varian and Sylvanas had ensured he would remain a puppet.

The Alliance and Horde leaders disputed whether Garrosh should be treated as a Warchief or a prisoner while awaiting trial at the Temple of the White Tiger. Wrathion exposed Master Tian’s hypocrisy and killed him, but the leaders remained divided over Garrosh’s treatment.

• Taran Zhu asked the leaders whether Garrosh should be treated as a Warchief or a prisoner, prompting Thrall, Vol'jin, Tyrande, Anduin, and Prophet Velen to argue over his status.
• Master Tian declared that Garrosh should receive treatment befitting a Warchief, and Wrathion arrived and challenged his claim to hospitality.
• Wrathion demanded that Master Tian provide Pandaren as food for Garrosh, bound him with flame, and had him thrown into a boiling cauldron.
• Master Hight and Baine insisted that Garrosh should be treated as a prisoner and refused to provide Pandaren or Tauren as food.
• Anduin and Prophet Velen defended giving Garrosh preferential treatment, while Wrathion questioned their reasoning and the dispute continued.

Wrathion defeated Anduin and Velen, but Kairoz interrupted with the Hourglass of Time to present evidence for Garrosh’s trial. The artifact showed Durotan attacking a Draenei city while protecting a young girl, and the leaders praised his mercy.

• Anduin and Velen offered their people as ingredients for Garrosh, so Wrathion fought and defeated them with summoned Orcs and other tricks.
• Wrathion restrained Anduin and Velen, then caught Kairoz, who revealed he had brought the Hourglass of Time to judge Garrosh’s crimes.
• With Garrosh’s food problem resolved, Kairoz activated the Hourglass and showed an attack on the Draenei city of Telmor.
• The leaders watched Durotan slaughter Draenei civilians before he stopped an Orc from killing a little Draenei girl.
• Baine and Lor'themar praised Durotan for protecting the girl.

Kairoz used fabricated scenes from the Hourglass of Time to make Garrosh appear to have saved Azeroth, while Wrathion questioned his motives. Kairoz then visited Garrosh’s cell, where Velen and Anduin were being tortured, and suggested they might eventually resist.

• The Hourglass of Time showed Durotan saving a Draenei girl, and Azeroth’s leaders praised his mercy while Kairoz used the scene to support Garrosh’s case.
• Kairoz presented false visions of Garrosh defeating Arthas and Cairne Bloodhoof, and the leaders could not challenge the claims because their own secrets were at stake.
• Vol’jin ended the trial for the day as the visions made Garrosh’s defense seem stronger.
• Wrathion confronted Kairoz about the fabricated history, and Kairoz said he was showing everyone what they wanted to see while pursuing his own purpose.
• Kairoz and Wrathion heard Garrosh torturing Velen and Anduin in his cell, and they disagreed over whether the prisoners would resist.

A mysterious High Elf gave Anduin and Velen pills meant to poison Garrosh if he ate both their flesh, but the pills released worms that burrowed into their noses. The next morning Garrosh began eating Anduin, and Velen warned him that he would only be poisoned if he ate both men.

• Anduin and Velen lamented their torture and discussed Velen's hope that Garrosh would eventually remember their kindness.
• A disguised High Elf woman offered them two pills that would poison Garrosh if he ate both their flesh, then vanished after warning them that Kairoz's involvement could prolong the trial.
• Velen refused to take the pills because he trusted the Holy Light's prophecy, while Anduin decided to destroy them.
• The pills broke open, releasing a black worm and a white worm that burrowed into Anduin's and Velen's nostrils.
• The next morning Garrosh cut flesh from Anduin's thigh and ate it, but Velen warned him that eating only Anduin would not poison him.

As Garrosh’s trial stalled, Kairoz sought Anduin and Velen’s help with a plan that could either kill Garrosh or free him. He restored Velen’s sanity and left the choice to Anduin and Velen, giving them one night to decide.

• Garrosh tortured Velen and threatened to keep doing so, while the trial deadlocked as Vol'jin’s hardliners rejected Kairoz’s false evidence.
• Wrathion warned Kairoz never to lose the ability to fly, and Kairoz went to speak with Anduin and Velen.
• Anduin admitted he hated Garrosh but did not regret his choices, and Kairoz asked for his Holy Light to help with a plan.
• Kairoz explained that Velen had many personalities and awakened another one, restoring Velen’s sanity.
• Kairoz told Anduin and Velen he would create a chance to kill or rescue Garrosh and gave them the night to choose.

Velen revealed that he had secretly helped the Burning Legion corrupt the Orcs and orchestrated the Draenei’s slaughter to gain a chance at personal transcendence on Azeroth, and he persuaded Anduin to support releasing Garrosh. At Garrosh’s resumed trial, Velen invoked the Holy Light’s authority and declared Garrosh guilty.

• Kairoz described a possible future in which Garrosh’s death led to Thrall’s murder, the Orcs’ exile, lasting peace, and Sylvanas becoming Anduin’s queen.
• Velen told Anduin that he had secretly informed the Burning Legion of the Draenei’s whereabouts and arranged events to reach Azeroth and pursue immortality and power.
• Anduin admitted he wanted eternal life, and Velen urged him to release Garrosh so their futures would become uncertain and full of opportunity.
• At Garrosh’s resumed trial, Vol’jin questioned whether Velen would also forgive Kil’jaeden and challenged Velen’s reliance on the Holy Light.
• Velen declared that the Holy Light found Garrosh Hellscream guilty.

Velen and Anduin defended Garrosh at his trial, but when Garrosh began to reveal a secret, Kairoz triggered a prepared assault to free him. The Temple of the White Tiger erupted into chaos as attackers from other timelines and the Dragonmaw Clan struck.

• Velen declared Garrosh guilty only because he had failed to lead the Orcs in exterminating Azeroth’s other races, and Anduin also swore to sacrifice everything for Garrosh’s acquittal.
• Garrosh begged the tribunal to spare his life and offered to reveal a secret, then accused Thrall of knowing nothing about the true purpose of the Beast Emperor Plan.
• Kairoz ordered the plan into motion, the Hourglass of Time exploded, and Velen or Anduin helped Chromie’s Anti-Magic Cage trap her.
• Kairoz opened a Portal that brought in alternate-timeline versions of Jaina, Kael'thas, and Varian, who attacked the leaders in the tribunal.
• Zaela and Dragonmaw Orcs bombed the Temple of the White Tiger as the courtroom descended into chaos.

Kairoz rescued Garrosh and recruited him, Velen, and Anduin to travel through a dangerous space-time passage to an unfamiliar version of Draenor. The four arrived safely in Nagrand, where they found an unconscious Orc near a spring.

• Kairoz used a time node to question Garrosh, who said he believed the Orcs were key to defeating Elune, then brought him through a Portal with Velen and Anduin.
• Kairoz invited Garrosh, Velen, and Anduin to join him, and Garrosh agreed in exchange for his life and safety.
• Kairoz activated Nozdormu's Hourglass, and the four were swallowed by its expanding galaxy as Velen and Anduin shielded them with the Holy Light.
• The four emerged safely on Draenor from thirty-five years earlier, and Kairoz warned them to stay near a fragment of the Hourglass to avoid being rejected by space-time.
• Garrosh led the group to food and a spring in Nagrand, where they discovered an unconscious Orc.

After arriving in an unfamiliar version of Nagrand, Kairoz, Garrosh, Anduin, and Velen discovered that Orcs preyed on Draenei and that the Warsong Clan was led by an Ogre rather than Grom Hellscream. Kairoz concluded that they were in a timeline too different for his plan and demanded that Velen explain the era.

• Garrosh caught the starving Orc Gremi after he bit off a piece of Velen's arm, and Gremi revealed that the Warsong Clan's fortress lay beyond a Gronn-filled wasteland.
• Gremi explained that Orcs ate Draenei exiles, contradicting Anduin's understanding of the timeline and alarming Kairoz.
• Kairoz asked to meet Grom Hellscream, but Gremi said the Warsong Clan was ruled by Grimak, a distant cousin of the Ogre ruler Imperator Mar'gok.
• Garrosh threatened Gremi for insulting the Hellscream name, but Kairoz stopped him because Gremi could still be useful.
• Kairoz told Velen that they needed to build a Dark Portal to return and demanded to know the truth about the era Velen had lived through.

Kairoz learned that ogres had enslaved the orcs for millennia and reconsidered his plans for Draenor. After Velen and Anduin escaped, Kairoz found himself isolated with Garrosh and Geromi, who appeared to be conspiring against him.

• Velen told Kairoz that he had banished Draenei to be eaten by orcs, and Geromi revealed that ogres ruled nearly every orc clan.
• Geromi explained that the Gorian Empire had enslaved the orcs for thousands of years, while the orcs viewed the Draenei as enemies.
• Garrosh suggested that the two Velens might meet, prompting Kairoz to turn against the Prophet Velen, who teleported away.
• Garrosh and Geromi ate Anduin's legs while he slept, and Anduin later used Holy Light Translocation to escape.
• Kairoz realized that Garrosh and Geromi were aligned and that he was alone without Velen or Anduin.

Kairoz decided Garrosh was unnecessary to his plan and began plotting to have the Warsong Clan kill him. Garrosh manipulated Geromi into warning Warchief Grimak, but Grimak answered Geromi’s prayer and told him to remain beside Kairoz; the group then set out for Grommashar Fortress, leaving Kairoz uneasy about Geromi’s sudden change.

• Kairoz decided he could take Garrosh’s place and arranged to use the Warsong Clan to eliminate him, while giving Garrosh a shard of the Hourglass to protect him from space-time.
• Garrosh questioned Geromi about his loyalty to Warchief Grimak and persuaded him that failing to warn Grimak about Kairoz’s planned attack would be betrayal.
• Kairoz said he intended to work with the Warsong Clan, and Geromi protested that a mortal working with the god was blasphemy.
• Geromi prayed to Warchief Grimak, who told him that his exile and beating had been part of a benevolent plan and instructed him to stay beside Kairoz as if nothing had happened.
• The next morning, Garrosh, Geromi, and Kairoz set out for Grommashar Fortress, and Kairoz grew uneasy when Geromi appeared newly energetic.

Kairoz arrived at Grommashar Fortress intending to overthrow Warchief Grimak, but Grimak had prepared for him and disabled his Dragon transformation. Garrosh helped Grimak kill Kairoz, and Grimak renamed Gremi as Grom Hellscream.

• Kairoz entered Grommashar Fortress and discovered that Grimak had killed the Warsong Clan Orcs he had secretly controlled.
• Grimak revealed that Kairoz could not transform into a Dragon and challenged Garrosh to prove his strength by killing Kairoz.
• Garrosh attacked Kairoz with Gorehowl, but Kairoz disarmed him and knocked him into a wall using the Holy Light.
• Grimak pinned Kairoz down with the Holy Light, and Garrosh stabbed him in the back with a curved hourglass shard.
• Kairoz died after telling Garrosh that the Orcs would never control their own destiny.
• Grimak asked Gremi his full name and declared that he would henceforth be called Grom Hellscream.