Chapter Summaries

Sylvanas accepted Saurfang’s offer to help kill Zul'jin in exchange for a Highmaul Magic Gem containing research on Holy Light magic. Zul'jin escaped an assassination attempt in Orgrimmar using a voodoo double, only to encounter a Black-Robed Man.

• Sylvanas refused to help the Blood Elves for free, and Saurfang left with Zul'jin after overturning the table.
• Saurfang secretly visited Sylvanas and explained that uncontrolled Holy Light had transformed Nagrand’s creatures and made the pyramid at Oshu'gun indestructible.
• Saurfang offered Sylvanas a Magic Gem with Highmaul research on Holy Light magic in exchange for help killing Zul'jin, and she agreed.
• Zul'jin sensed danger, created a voodoo double, and hid as a rat while Sylvanas and Saurfang’s forces attacked the residence.
• Sylvanas struck the double with a Holy Light arrow, and Saurfang cut it in two while the real Zul'jin escaped through the tunnels.
• Zul'jin returned to his original form and encountered a Black-Robed Man who asked whether he was the leader of the Zul'Aman Empire.

The Black-Robed Man forced Zul'jin to reveal how he rose to power by serving Rat God Jerry, then sent him to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms as a Pandaren to repeat his success with the August Celestials' support. Zul'jin began work as an herbal doctor and suspected that the woman brought to him was Jaina.

• The Black-Robed Man turned Zul'jin into a rat and threatened him until he confessed that his real name was Ethan and he had become a fraudulent herbal doctor after deserting the army.
• Zul'jin explained that he had helped a wounded Rat God Jerry lure Trolls to be devoured, and that Jerry's support helped him overthrow the king and become leader of the Trolls of Zul'Aman.
• The Black-Robed Man decided Zul'jin could build support among the Pandaren and promised him the backing of the August Celestials.
• The Black-Robed Man carried Zul'jin to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, where Zul'jin fell as a rat and woke as a Pandaren herbal doctor.
• An overseer brought a woman to Zul'jin for treatment, and Zul'jin suspected she was Jaina after recognizing profound magical knowledge in her rambling.

Zul'jin tried to build a Pandaren resistance through faith in the August Celestials, but Sylvanas turned the people against them and his followers tore him apart. After resurrecting, he watched another Pandaren suffer and admitted he was powerless to help.

• Zul'jin convinced the overseers to leave Jaina in his care, and Jaina rejected his plan to recruit sick Pandaren because ordinary people were disposed of immediately.
• Zul'jin enlisted Jaina and Garrosh, presented himself as an emissary of the August Celestials, and gathered more than ten thousand followers into the Mutual Aid Society.
• Taran Zhu repeatedly tried to kill Zul'jin, but Zul'jin resurrected each time and gained enough prestige to threaten Taran Zhu's rule.
• Taran Zhu sought Sylvanas's advice, and she told him to deal with the root of the problem rather than keep killing Zul'jin.
• Sylvanas convinced the Pandaren that the August Celestials were evil gods, and the people turned on Zul'jin and tore him apart.
• Zul'jin resurrected beside a tree, watched an overseer whip a Pandaren, and lamented that he was powerless to help.

Jaina revealed that she had contacted Chen Stormstout and urged Garrosh and Zul'jin to help him challenge Taran Zhu's rule. Chen learned the New Lightforged Orcs' weaknesses from Xuen, while Taran Zhu learned of Chen's growing force and began training an elite Chi army.

• Jaina told Garrosh and Zul'jin that she had used a magic circle to contact the outside and learned that Chen Stormstout had gathered five thousand fighters.
• Jaina, Garrosh, and Zul'jin discussed how Chen could exploit the New Lightforged Orcs' weaknesses, while Jaina warned that Chen might become another Taran Zhu.
• Jaina asked Zul'jin for the August Celestials' help so Chen and Taran Zhu would be forced into a lasting balance of power.
• Chen Stormstout struggled to feed his force at One Keg and, after failing to persuade Lorewalker Cho, received instruction from Xuen on the New Lightforged Orcs' rigid fighting style.
• Taran Zhu received a secret letter about Chen's force and its knowledge of the Orcs' weaknesses, then resolved to train an elite force in Chi.

Taran Zhu prepared an army to stop Chen Stormstout, but Chen captured the Gate of the Deity through a surprise attack and advanced into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. At the Emperor's Reach, the two leaders fought for control, and Taran Zhu revealed the Power of the Holy Light after his Chi ran out.

• Taran Zhu used poisoned Sha-fragment soup to give three thousand overseers Chi and trained them to defend the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
• Chen Stormstout killed the New Lightforged Orcs' commanding general and captured the Gate of the Deity without losing a soldier.
• Chen left a thousand Pandaren at the gate and led four thousand onward, while Taran Zhu assembled the overseers and farmers at the Emperor's Reach.
• Chen Stormout challenged Taran Zhu to a duel, with the winner to lead the Pandaren of the Vale and the loser to leave Pandaria forever.
• Chen Stormstout wore Taran Zhu down with his elemental avatars and Drunken Master Fist, but Taran Zhu revealed his Holy Light power and declared Chen defeated.

Chen Stormstout defeated Taran Zhu with the help of a golden-armored giant, then revealed he had betrayed Taran Zhu’s daughter, driving Taran Zhu to collapse. Niuzao revived and healed Taran Zhu, and after both armies withdrew, Taran Zhu vowed revenge on Chen Stormstout and every enemy of the Pandaren.

• Taran Zhu summoned a giant forged from the Holy Light souls of five thousand Pandaren, and it wounded Chen Stormstout during their fight.
• Chen Stormstout confessed that he had captured Taran Zhu’s daughter and handed her to Vol’jin, who sent her to Thrall to be eaten; Taran Zhu collapsed in shock.
• Jaina urged Zul'jin to call on the August Celestials, and Niuzao possessed Taran Zhu, healing him and restoring his strength.
• Chen Stormstout and Taran Zhu broke off the fight and ordered their forces to withdraw and make camp.
• Taran Zhu questioned a drunken Pandaren overseer about the Pandaren’s cowardice, then swore to avenge his daughter and punish the enemies of the Pandaren.

Driven by revenge and the Pandaren’s peril, Taran Zhu sought the Sha of Pride in a hidden underground palace and was confronted with a vision of his daughter and village being destroyed. The Sha of Pride offered him as many Sha Fragments as he wanted but withheld guidance until Taran Zhu learned to let go of his hatred.

• Taran Zhu decided to seek the Sha of Pride in the Mogu ruins, hoping to obtain Sha Fragments and save the Pandaren.
• Taran Zhu entered the underground palace, where Norushen criticized the Pandaren for hoarding the secret of Chi and warned that their people faced extinction.
• Taran Zhu passed into a vision of his daughter and village being attacked by Orcs, and he collapsed in helpless grief.
• The Sha of Pride appeared, mocked Taran Zhu and Shaohao, and offered him Sha Fragments while insisting that hatred would not save the Pandaren.
• The Sha of Pride told Taran Zhu to take the fragments he needed and promised guidance after he learned to release his hatred.

Taran Zhu seized Halfhill and used the Orcs captured there to persuade the Pandaren to overcome their fear and accept them as food. Meanwhile, Chen Stormstout sought Xuen's support against Taran Zhu, and Sylvanas's negotiations with the Ogre Empire reached an impasse.

• Taran Zhu gave Sha fragments to the Pandaren of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, awakening Chi in more than two hundred thousand of them.
• Xuen appeared to Chen Stormstout and ordered him to seek Sha fragments from the Sha of Anger to match Taran Zhu's growing forces.
• Taran Zhu realized the Pandaren feud only benefited Sylvanas and led an elite force in a surprise attack on Halfhill.
• Taran Zhu's forces killed Halfhill's commander and brought many New Lightforged Orcs back to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
• Taran Zhu killed an Orc publicly and urged the Pandaren to reject their fear, then had cooks prepare Orc broth for them to drink.
• Sylvanas's negotiations with Imperator Mar'gok stalled over the Titan ruins, and her quill suddenly snapped.

Sylvanas discovered that Halfhill had gone silent and learned that Taran Zhu and Chen Stormstout were preparing for war after both sides of Pandaren gained Chi. After Khadgar investigated the conflict, Sylvanas ordered him to secure Chen’s cooperation against Taran Zhu.

• Sylvanas sent Centaur scouts to Halfhill, learned that powerful Pandaren had attacked them, and demanded that Saurfang the Great bring Antonidas to assist her.
• Chen Stormstout asked the Sha of Anger for Sha Fragments, then gave them to Pandaren from the Vale of Eternal Blossoms so they could gain Chi.
• Taran Zhu built fortresses and trenches while Chen Stormstout worried that he lacked the New Lightforged Orcs’ logistical support.
• Khadgar opened a Portal to Pandaria and sent scouts to assess the situation, learning that the two Pandaren forces were evenly matched.
• Sylvanas ordered Khadgar to meet Chen Stormstout and arrange an alliance against Taran Zhu.

Saurfang tried to intimidate Chen Stormstout, but Khadgar exposed his bluff and helped Chen defeat him. Khadgar and Chen plotted to capture Sylvanas and seize the Warchief’s position, while Sylvanas recognized the trap and agreed to enter the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.

• Saurfang visited Chen Stormstout and threatened him with the supposed power of the Army of the Light.
• Khadgar secretly warned Chen that Saurfang was lying, and Chen beat Saurfang, broke his limbs, and made him his captive.
• Khadgar urged Chen to seize the Warchief’s position and offered to help him capture Sylvanas in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
• Chen agreed to cooperate with Khadgar, who promised to bring an expert from Highmaul to ensure their plan succeeded.
• Khadgar told Sylvanas that Chen wanted her to lead troops into the Vale, and she agreed, suspecting Chen intended to replace her.

Sylvanas and Khadgar arranged a mass teleport to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, where Chen Stormstout challenged her rule through a staged tasting and demanded that she step down. Chen revealed that he had recognized Sylvanas’s mastery of Undead magic, while less than half her army had arrived.

• Khadgar helped Sylvanas build a permanent Teleportation Array and explained that arriving troops would be briefly dizzy after teleporting.
• Sylvanas led a thousand guards through the array, where Chen Stormstout greeted her and denied plotting to replace her.
• Sylvanas sent lightforging Tauren and Troll chefs to prepare beef, but Chen criticized the sauce and cooking method.
• Sylvanas killed the Troll chefs after Chen’s criticism, and Chen accused her of ruling through bloodshed and demanded that she step down.
• Sylvanas asked why Chen had not attacked her after she teleported, and Chen said he knew she had become more proficient in Undead magic.

Sylvanas revealed her death powers and overwhelmed Chen Stormstout and Khadgar, then raised the Restless Souls buried beneath the Vale of Eternal Blossoms to transform into a giant Banshee. As she absorbed the souls, Khadgar summoned Tectus, a towering being mutated by Holy Light, to face her.

• Sylvanas shed her Holy Light disguise, and Khadgar joined Chen Stormstout to attack her.
• Sylvanas corrupted Chen Stormstout’s elemental clones and unleashed a Banshee Scream, but Chen survived by replacing their power with Holy Light.
• Khadgar and Chen Stormstout struck Sylvanas with a spell and the Golden Armored Giant, but she survived and seized Chen with a smoke-like arm.
• Chen Stormstout summoned Chi from the Sha of Anger cloud and grew to fight beside the Golden Armored Giant, while Khadgar recognized his power was nearing Unity of Heaven and Humanity.
• Sylvanas raised the Restless Souls buried across the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, transformed into a giant Banshee, and shattered the Golden Armored Giant.
• Khadgar tore open a scroll and summoned Tectus, a towering embodiment of chaos mutated by Holy Light.

Sylvanas transformed into a monstrous being by combining Holy Light and death, and trapped Tectus by cutting him off from outside power. Khadgar summoned High Counselor Valrego and Kelage, whose Titan-forged Holy Light arms tore apart Sylvanas’s new body, but Sylvanas returned to her original form, still confident.

• Sylvanas grew to enormous size and used Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire, to split Tectus into countless golden stones.
• Sylvanas sacrificed tens of thousands of Lightforging Centaurs, Tauren, and Quilboar to create a giant body that wielded Holy Light and death separately.
• Sylvanas’s tentacles enveloped Tectus and cut him off from the Holy Light he needed to stay together.
• Khadgar summoned High Counselor Valrego and Kelage, the magic-immune Ogre who could absorb Holy Light.
• Kelage formed enormous golden Titan arms and tore Sylvanas’s Old God body apart, forcing her dark aura to gather back into her original form.
• Valrego called Sylvanas pathetically weak, while Sylvanas calmly dusted herself off and remained confident.

Tirion Fordring arrived with a hundred Holy Dragons and overwhelmed Kelage and Tectus, forcing Valrego to flee while Chen Stormstout became trapped by Sylvanas. As Tirion faced Chen, Garrosh hinted that someone Tirion feared most might still turn the battle around.

• Khadgar recognized Tirion Fordring as he led a hundred Holy Dragons into battle against Sylvanas's forces.
• The Holy Dragons broke Valrego's No-Fly spell and fused into one enormous dragon to fight Kelage, but Kelage and Tectus joined forces and brought it down.
• Khadgar warned Chen Stormstout that Tirion had not used his full strength, while Valrego prepared Blood Sacrifice Fate to preserve Kelage and Tectus's souls.
• Tirion transformed into Holy Light, destroyed Kelage and Tectus from within, and drove Valrego to vanish from the battlefield.
• Khadgar gave Chen a Teleportation Scroll, but Sylvanas's arrow had locked onto Chen and prevented his escape as Tirion confronted him.
• Jaina lamented that their efforts had failed, while Garrosh said they had not reached the most desperate moment and asked whether she remembered whom Tirion feared most.

Chen Stormstout used Chi-Ji’s illusion of Eitrigg to defeat Tirion Fordring and led the Pandaren in killing Sylvanas, but Jaina, Garrosh, and Zul'jin remained trapped because Chen’s rise upset the balance of power. They found Sylvanas resurrected in a tomb and planned to use her connections to ally Taran Zhu with Amado; Sylvanas then learned that Taran Zhu had sent the three Pandaren.

• Chen Stormstout used Chi-Ji’s Illusion Power to make Tirion Fordring see Eitrigg, causing the Holy Dragon to flee in terror.
• Chen Stormstout attacked Sylvanas, and the Pandaren killed her before he declared that the Pandaren had risen.
• Jaina, Garrosh, and Zul'jin realized they were still trapped because Chen Stormstout’s victory had disrupted the balance between the factions.
• Zul'jin revealed that Sylvanas had resurrected in a nearby tomb, and Jaina proposed using her connections to bring Taran Zhu and Amado together.
• Sylvanas crawled from her coffin and learned from a female Pandaren that Taran Zhu had sent the group.

Taran Zhu captured Sylvanas and sought an alliance with Aman'Thul, who supplied a collar to control her and ordered an attack on Orgrimmar. Chen Stormstout learned that three armies were approaching, leaving his new rule under threat.

• Sylvanas was taken to Taran Zhu, who imprisoned her in Holy Light and sent an envoy to Light's Hope Chapel to seek an alliance.
• Aman'Thul rebuked Tirion Fordring and ordered him to face an illusion of Eitrigg until he overcame his fear.
• Aman'Thul agreed to ally with Taran Zhu, gave his envoy a golden collar meant to control Sylvanas, and ordered Grommash Hellscream, Kilrogg, and Blackhand to attack Orgrimmar.
• Chen Stormstout inspected his palace construction and kept a Lightforging Orc resembling Thrall at his side.
• Khadgar warned Chen Stormstout that Aman'Thul had sent three armies toward Orgrimmar.

Chen Stormstout’s forces fought to a stalemate against their enemies while he grew distracted by palace construction. Taran Zhu captured Holy Light's Gate at Theramore, forcing Chen to recognize Amado’s plan and march to stop him.

• Chen Stormstout assigned Charlga Razorflank, Kromza, and Rom to lead forces after finding no commanders in Orgrimmar.
• Grom Hellscream and Rom fought to a standstill at Azshara Rustwater Port, while Kromza stalled Kilrogg's fleet and Charlga repelled Blackhand at Northwatch Hold.
• A Centaur scout spotted an approaching fleet, and Taran Zhu led more than ten thousand Pandaren to seize Holy Light's Gate at Theramore.
• Taran Zhu said he intended to block the portal rather than destroy it, while Sylvanas stood behind him wearing a collar.
• Chen Stormstout realized Amado wanted to cut off Draenor’s escape route and gain power in Azeroth, but Khadgar warned that Chen could not defeat Amado’s Holy Dragons alone.
• Chen Stormstout gathered his army and marched toward Theramore.

Chen Stormstout and Khadgar’s Lightforged Orcs fought Taran Zhu’s forces in a devastating battle at Theramore while Khadgar planned to target Amado. On Draenor, Velen persuaded Imperator Mar'gok to give him Light-Hunter Kuber’s core, then presented it to the Red Dragon Queen to enlist the dragons’ support.

• Khadgar told Chen Stormstout how the Trolls had rewritten the history of their defeat, and Chen’s hundred thousand Lightforged Orcs marched on Theramore.
• Taran Zhu’s hundred thousand Orcs met Chen’s army in Theramore’s ruins, fought for three days and nights, and won; Chen prepared another contingent as both sides sought a way to break the stalemate.
• Khadgar proposed assassinating Amado and arranged a surprise attack on Halfhill, but Taran Zhu’s trap wiped out the attackers while another team sought Xuen’s help on the Timeless Isle.
• On Draenor, Velen persuaded Imperator Mar'gok that the Alliance could be turned against Amado and received Light-Hunter Kuber’s core to help restore the Order of the Silver Hand.
• Velen brought Kuber’s core to the Red Dragon Queen at Wyrmrest Temple and declared that the Holy Light was on their side.

The Red Dragon Queen and Velen planned to create Holy Dragons and recruit Dragon Knights, forcing Dragonkin into relentless labor to build the required Magic Circle. Meanwhile, Robbie impersonated the wealthy Blood Elf Alaisel Sunwatcher and followed a Wolvar guide to a hidden crystal palace where he spotted Velen disguised as Cho'gall.

• The Red Dragon Queen agreed with Velen that Dragon Knights could command Holy Dragons, but their attempts to create them failed until Krasus proposed building a massive Magic Circle.
• The Red Dragon Queen ordered Dragonkin to work without rest, appointed Krasus to enforce the orders, and threatened to turn disobedient workers into puppet Dragons.
• Velen recruited Dragon Knight candidates across Azeroth and required them to surrender their property, which Alaisel Sunwatcher converted into Magic Gems.
• Robbie captured Alaisel, assumed his appearance, and traveled to Mo'aki Harbor among adventurers seeking to become Dragon Knights.
• A Wolvar led Robbie through the bushes to a hidden crystal palace, where Robbie recognized Velen disguised as Cho'gall.

Robbie and the Dragonkin planned how to manage the thousands of dragon-knight candidates and ease the Red Dragonflight’s overwork. After Robbie turned the candidates against Velen, the Red Dragon Queen ordered Velen’s magic sealed and him thrown into the Great Sea.

• Krasus, Anachronos, Velen, and Robbie discussed the overcrowded candidate camp, and Robbie suggested copying Tirion Fordring’s deadly trial to eliminate excess candidates.
• Krasus revealed that more than five hundred Red Dragons had died building the magic circle, so Robbie proposed buying Dalaran’s magic constructs with Red Dragon corpses.
• Robbie visited the disorderly settlement at Wyrmrest Temple, where Velen proposed selling defeated candidates as slaves.
• Velen ordered the candidates to build a trial ground, while Robbie spread a rumor that Velen planned to turn the defeated into jerky.
• The candidates gathered outside Velen’s door and drove him to seek help from Krasus.
• The Red Dragon Queen told Krasus to seal Velen’s magic and throw him into the Great Sea.