Chapter Summaries

Vandel became more suspicious of Illidan, while Mannoroth and Thrall prepared to attack the Black Temple with help from Velen. Meanwhile, observers uncovered Velen’s ties to the Burning Legion as its representatives and the Army of the Light began negotiations in A'dal’s estate.

• Vandel said he had a plan after reflecting on strange disturbances he had encountered in Mardum.
• Mannoroth told Thrall that Illidan would send the Demon Hunters into Mardum, then revealed that Velen would help them attack the Black Temple.
• Rommath and the mages built more than a thousand Portals across Tanaris, and Rommath secretly left an Eye of Surveillance to discover Thrall’s plans.
• Anachronos, Mar'gok, and Durotan brought Velen to A'dal’s estate, where Khadgar showed them a surveillance crystal.
• The crystal revealed Thrall and Velen meeting with Rakeesh, Velen’s son and a Burning Legion commander, before the Legion and Army of the Light began negotiations.

A'dal, Rakeesh, and Velen negotiated how the Army of the Light and Burning Legion would divide influence over Azeroth and Outland, while Thrall tried to win their favor. After the meeting, the Moon Goddess's Emissary sent Thrall to apologize to Rakeesh, but he found the Legion general beaten nearly to death.

• A'dal and Rakeesh argued over control of Azeroth and Outland before Velen proposed that their forces support the Orcs and divide the territories.
• Thrall boasted that Orcs were the universe's strongest race, then groveled before Rakeesh when the general threatened him.
• A'dal and Velen proposed dividing territory and awarding influence according to contributions at the Black Temple, while Rakeesh insisted the outcome should be decided by battle.
• Anachronos confronted Velen over the negotiations, and Velen argued that keeping the Army of the Light and Burning Legion opposed would protect Azeroth.
• Thrall complained about Rakeesh to the Moon Goddess's Emissary, who slapped him and ordered him to kneel and apologize to the general.
• Thrall entered Rakeesh's room and found him badly injured among shattered Khorium.

Thrall found Rakeesh battered and was accused of torturing him, but A'dal’s spell revealed that a bald Orc had attacked Rakeesh while Thrall was present. As Velen and A'dal pressured Thrall to surrender the attacker, Thrall called for the Emissary, leading them to suspect the Emissary was the bald Orc.

• Thrall found Rakeesh injured, and Rakeesh clung to him and accused him of the assault when Velen and A'dal arrived.
• A'dal used Holy Light to replay the events, revealing that Rakeesh had devoured two Orc women before the bald Orc arrived with Thrall.
• The bald Orc crushed Rakeesh and repeatedly slammed him into the wall while demanding that he kneel and lick Thrall's toes.
• Velen accused Thrall despite the replay, and A'dal offered to let the matter go if Thrall handed over the bald Orc.
• Thrall called for the Emissary, and Velen and A'dal suspected that the Emissary was the bald Orc.

The Emissary halted the confrontation after discovering that a powerful Burning Legion figure had attacked Rakeesh, and the others agreed to conceal the incident. In private, A'dal and K'ure prepared for possible treachery, while Mannoroth summoned Thrall and asked about his brother Gudan.

• The Emissary beat Velen, damaged A'dal's avatar, and forced Thrall to confirm that he had only been ordered to apologize to Rakeesh.
• The Emissary and A'dal identified pure Fel residue at the scene, and Rakeesh said it belonged to neither Kil'jaeden nor Mannoroth.
• The Emissary concluded that a Burning Legion faction had sabotaged Mannoroth's plan, and A'dal agreed to let Rakeesh recover while strengthening Shattrath's defenses.
• In another Timeline, Velen said the incident had already widened distrust between the Holy Light and the Burning Legion, while Robbie told Krasus he was going to save Azeroth.
• A'dal secretly contacted K'ure, confirmed that Illidan had remained inside the Black Temple, and warned that Mannoroth might be targeted.
• Mannoroth summoned Thrall in Orgrimmar and asked whether he had an older brother named Gudan.

Thrall issued a wanted order for Gudan to repair relations between the Burning Legion and the Army of the Light, while Mannoroth investigated Rakeesh’s attacker and prepared to seize the Black Temple. Illidan watched the Army of the Light mobilize, and Velen awakened the Draenei dead to fight Illidan, prompting them to question why they should help the Orcs.

• Thrall agreed to issue a wanted order against Gudan, and Mannoroth urged him to mend the rift with the Army of the Light.
• Mannoroth confirmed with Doomwalker that Illidan had not left the Black Temple, then ordered Doomwalker to cooperate with the Legion’s plan to take it.
• Veras Darkshadow told Illidan that mages from Silvermoon City and the Sunreavers had built over a thousand portals in Tanaris, and Illidan anticipated Mannoroth’s move.
• Illidan watched golden Holy Light rise from Shattrath City and reflected to Veras Darkshadow on people sacrificing themselves for others’ causes.
• Velen awakened the Draenei dead along the Path of Glory and urged them to fight for the Holy Light, but the Holy Souls questioned why they should fight Illidan to aid the Orcs.

Velen enslaved the Draenei Holy Souls and sent them to the Black Temple, where Illidan’s Soul Conduits harvested them. Illidan discovered a curse embedded in their souls and then learned that Orodur was hidden in Mardum, prompting him to send the Demon Hunters there under Vandel’s command.

• Velen mocked the Draenei Holy Souls’ faith in the Holy Light, then bound them with Holy Light Enslavement and sent them through a portal to the Black Temple.
• Illidan approved activating the Soul Conduits, which drew in the Draenei Holy Souls and ground them into soul fragments for storage in the Soul Casket.
• Illidan sensed a curse on himself and realized it had been placed on the Draenei twenty-five thousand years earlier by the Army of the Light.
• A Demon Hunter brought Illidan a crystal recording of Mardum that showed a colossal golden object, which Illidan identified as Orodur.
• Illidan ordered all Demon Hunters to travel to Mardum, with Vandel in command.

Illidan’s council prepared the Black Temple for an Orc assault while Illidan struggled against a curse. Thrall sent wave after wave of fanatical Orcs through Portals to exhaust the Temple’s defenses, leaving Illidan to order a final stand rather than unleash the Undead Plague.

• Illidan told the Illidari Council he would personally defend the Black Temple, then focused on removing the curse within him.
• Thrall feasted on Tauren meat, had Eitrigg kill an adviser who questioned the meal, and ordered the Horde to begin its attack.
• Thousands of Portals opened between Tanaris and Shadowmoon Valley, and unarmed Orcs poured through them toward the Black Temple.
• Duchess Malande ordered the Fel cannons to fire, but the Orcs charged through the bombardment with Blood Fury and continued attacking for a day and night.
• Thrall paused the assault as K'iri used Holy Light to dry the battlefield, then the Orcs attacked again after more than a million had died.
• Illidan suggested using the Undead Plague but rejected turning Outland into a world of the Undead, ordering the commanders to prepare to fight once their supplies ran out.

Illidan learned that Thrall’s massed Orc deaths had cursed and weakened him, then arranged for Maiev to kill him and take his body if the Black Temple fell. After five days of bombardment and millions of Orc casualties, the attackers broke through the temple’s outer wall and entered the sewers, where Illidan ordered Naj'entus to form a defense.

• Illidan realized the Draenei curse was being used by the vengeful spirits of dead Orcs to weaken him, and he decided to seek Maiev’s help.
• Thrall ordered Saurfang the Great to lead the assault on the Black Temple while privately plotting to claim Outland despite Rakeesh’s appointment.
• Velen, Rakeesh, and A'dal discussed the Army of the Light’s conditioning of the Orcs and Thrall’s seizure of Rakeesh’s weapons shipment.
• Illidan told Maiev the Black Temple was near defeat and asked her to kill him, take his body, and return with her sisters to the Vault of the Wardens.
• The Black Temple’s cannons fired for five days and nights, more than five million Orcs died, and the Orcs broke through the outer wall into the sewers.
• Illidan ordered High Warlord Naj'entus to lead the Naga in defending the sewers and noted that he had left Naj'entus a Portal for retreat.

The Orcs and Naga fought a three-day battle in the Black Temple’s sewers, while Thrall praised the Orcs’ mass deaths as an honor and Illidan prepared Supremus to defend the temple. As Thrall ordered Saurfang the Great to attack, Dranosh returned with Mannoroth’s offer of protection, which came with a condition.

• Naj'entus led the Naga against the Orcs in the Black Temple’s sewers, where the fighting continued until corpses blocked the passage.
• Rakeesh ordered a Blood-Melting Potion thrown into the sewers, clearing the blockage so the Orcs and Naga could resume fighting.
• Thrall celebrated the Orcs’ sacrifices in Shadowmoon Village, while Eitrigg and the assembled Orcs praised him as their savior.
• Duchess Malande told Illidan that Naj'entus had withdrawn and the Orcs were approaching the main hall, so Illidan ordered her to protect Supremus’s core.
• Thrall’s soldiers ordered Saurfang the Great to attack the Black Temple, but Dranosh returned and reported that Mannoroth would protect them in exchange for a condition.

Saurfang the Great agreed to build Lord Mannoroth a secret lair and discussed the devastating cost of Thrall’s war with Dranosh. At the Black Temple, Orcs sacrificed themselves to extinguish Supremus’s Fel Fire, while Illidan prepared to retreat before Teron Gorefiend turned against him.

• Saurfang the Great agreed to pay for Lord Mannoroth’s secret lair, believing Mannoroth’s protection would let him recover his wealth.
• Saurfang the Great and Dranosh lamented the Orc casualties and predicted that Thrall’s conflict with the Army of the Light and the Burning Legion would end in disaster.
• An Orc veteran led the soldiers into Supremus’s Fel Fire, and five hundred thousand Orcs died as their blood weakened the flames.
• Illidan ordered his commanders to defend the Soul Casket and prepare a retreat, then remained alone in the council hall, burdened by the wraiths’ curse.
• Teron Gorefiend entered the council hall and attacked Illidan, declaring that Lord Eitrigg had promised him Shadowmoon Valley.

Teron Gorefiend appeared to kill Illidan, but Illidan remained unharmed and Teron fled with a false head. Rakeesh led a secret group through the Black Temple to reach Illidan, only for an unseen force to stop them near the Council Chamber.

• Teron Gorefiend used Death Shadow to weaken Illidan, stabbed him, and cut off what he believed was Illidan's head.
• The Warglaives of Azzinoth struck Teron Gorefiend from behind, and Illidan revealed himself unharmed, his blindfold gone.
• Gurtogg Bloodboil led the Fel Orcs in holding off the green-skinned Orcs while the two sides fought to a stalemate.
• Rakeesh led his followers through a secret passage and found the unconscious Teron Gorefiend holding a false head, then ordered him sent to Shadowmoon Village.
• Rakeesh's group climbed a chain toward the Council Chamber, but an unseen force made the Felguard fall and shattered the Eredar Mage's feather, prompting Rakeesh to call out to their hidden attacker.

A human woman used the Heart of Zangar to stop Rakeesh’s Legion forces from reaching Illidan, while Horde elites passed through a portal to enter the council hall. In Shadowmoon Village, Thrall refused Teron Gorefiend’s demand to rule Shadowmoon Valley and left Eitrigg to test whether the wounded traitor was a warrior or a coward.

• Rakeesh tried to cross a gap, but the human woman used the Heart of Zangar to ensnare his Felguards and block the Legion’s advance.
• The woman refused Rakeesh’s offer, then opened a portal through which around thirty of Thrall’s elite Horde warriors entered the council hall.
• Teron Gorefiend woke in Shadowmoon Village holding Illidan’s head and was brought before Thrall.
• Thrall dismissed Teron’s request to become lord of Shadowmoon Valley, offering him only leftover Pandaren as a reward.
• Teron attacked Thrall verbally, but his wounds left him powerless, and the Orc guards beat him until he begged for mercy.
• Thrall ordered Eitrigg to find out whether Teron Gorefiend was a warrior or a coward.

Thrall had Teron Gorefiend tortured, killed, and bound to the Doomhammer, while Jaina arranged for successive groups to challenge Illidan at the Black Temple in exchange for payment. After the Horde, Alliance, Mag'har Orcs, adventurers, and Murlocs all failed, Jaina demanded collateral from the Burning Legion before negotiating with them.

• Eitrigg used a Blood Elf knight and the Holy Light to torment Teron Gorefiend, and Thrall had Teron's soul bound to the Doomhammer.
• At the Black Temple, Rakeesh's group learned that Illidan was the only living person in the Council Chamber, while Jaina refused to let them pass.
• Jaina opened a Portal for a Stormwind Prince and his Alliance force, who entered the Council Chamber and fell silent; she said the Prince had promised her Darkshire and Westfall and left the Lionheart Shield as a deposit.
• Jaina sent Mag'har Orcs, Azerothian adventurers, and then Murlocs to challenge Illidan, and each group soon fell silent inside the Council Chamber.
• Jaina told the Burning Legion's Dreadlord to provide collateral before she would negotiate, and he suggested using a person as collateral.

Jaina forced Rakeesh to surrender the Uzul in Chains as collateral and agree to help kill Illidan in exchange for ruling Outland. Rakeesh entered the Black Temple and found Illidan’s assembled forces and his own followers standing in rows with strange smiles, then heard Illidan explain that knowledge had left him helpless.

• Rakeesh offered Prophet Velen as collateral, but Jaina demanded the Uzul in Chains instead.
• Jaina exposed how Velen had arranged Uzul’s poisoning and Rakeesh had helped turn Uzul and his twenty-two followers into a monster.
• Rakeesh handed Jaina the bronze mirror holding the Uzul in Chains, and they agreed that he would kill Illidan for control of Outland, Zangarmarsh, and a million Orc sacrifices.
• Rakeesh entered the Black Temple’s council hall and found Illidan, the assembled Horde and Alliance forces, adventurers, Mag'har Orcs, Murlocs, and his followers standing in rows with strange smiles.
• Illidan told Rakeesh that knowledge was the universe’s most precious possession and that the gap in their knowledge explained what had happened.

Rakeesh met Illidan at the Black Temple and learned that Illidan planned to travel to the Shadowlands, while Illidan sent the others away and faced the adventurers. Akama reached the Command Hall and offered to help the adventurers open the door to Illidan.

• Illidan spared Rakeesh and told him to deliver Kil'jaeden a message that the secret was hidden in the Shadowlands.
• Rakeesh chose the Azeroth adventurers to fight Illidan, and Illidan transformed the other groups into Mggl-Mggl, Sunhide Little Gronn, Gamon, and Krishito before sending them through Portals.
• Rakeesh left the Black Temple with his subordinates and spoke with Jaina, who warned him that he had faced a terrifying being.
• Illidan went to the terrace with twenty-five adventurers, shut them outside, and knelt with the Skull of Gul'dan.
• Akama arrived at the Command Hall, heard the adventurers say they had gravely wounded Illidan, and offered to help them open the stone door.

Akama opened the terrace door by sacrificing Draenei souls and joined the adventurers in confronting a weakened Illidan, but fled when Illidan slaughtered the Ashtongue Deathsworn. He sought Maiev’s help, only for her to demand a reward before pursuing Illidan.

• Akama used Udalo and Olum’s souls to shatter the runes and open the terrace door.
• The adventurers and Ashtongue Deathsworn confronted Illidan, who revealed that Orcish vengeful spirits were draining his life force.
• Illidan killed more than twenty Ashtongue Deathsworn with his Warglaives, and Akama fled and shut the terrace door.
• Akama decided to seek help from Maiev and hurried to the prison where the Watchers had been held.
• Maiev told Akama that four mysterious people had freed the Watchers and opened a Portal to the Pleasure Gardens.
• Maiev asked who would rule the Black Temple after Illidan fell, then demanded to know what Akama would offer for her help.

Maiev forced Akama to reveal the Black Temple’s treasure hoard while the Demon Hunters reached Mardum, where Vandel exposed his deception and challenged their beliefs about Fel. The Demon Hunters were left confronting why Fel drove them mad while Illidan and the Legion’s other demons had endured it for millennia.

• Maiev made Akama lead the Watchers to the Treasure Hall, where she opened the Gate of Watchers and sent them to gather useful supplies before rejoining her.
• Vandel welcomed the Demon Hunters to Mardum and declared it their new home, but Jace Darkweaver demanded to know where Orodur was.
• Vandel admitted that Orodur was fabricated, then revealed that he had secretly kept Cynthia Shadowweaver alive instead of killing her.
• Vandel explained that he had hidden Cynthia because he shared her question about why Fel drove Demon Hunters mad, warning that all of them could lose their sanity within ten years.
• Cairne Sunfury defended Illidan’s sacrifices, but Vandel asked why Illidan and the Legion’s Dreadlords, Pit Lords, and Eredar had not gone mad from Fel.

Vandel proved that Illidan’s Fel had damaged Demon Hunters’ sanity and appearance by restoring Cynthia Shadowweaver with a different source of Fel. Most of the Demon Hunters chose to stay with Vandel, while Kayn Sunfury and Altruis left for the Black Temple for different reasons.

• Vandel presented a list linking Demon Hunters who had gone mad to conflict with Illidan or doubts about his cause, then revealed that he still had his eyes.
• Vandel removed Cynthia Shadowweaver’s Fel and infused her with new Fel, restoring her sanity, appearance, and sight.
• Cynthia recognized Altruis, who concluded that Illidan’s Fel had harmed the Demon Hunters, while Kayn Sunfury denounced Vandel and attacked him.
• Vandel disarmed Kayn and offered the Demon Hunters a choice; most stayed to have their Fel replaced, while Kayn and a few others remained loyal to Illidan.
• Altruis told Vandel he would confront Illidan, then led Kayn and the departing Demon Hunters toward the Portal to the Black Temple.

Maiev defeated Illidan at the Black Temple and prepared to take his body to the Vault of the Wardens. Kayn Sunfury and the other Demon Hunters arrived, but Illidan’s death stripped them of their power, and Maiev ordered them imprisoned.

• Akama opened the terrace door, where Illidan and the adventurers from Azeroth were frozen in transparent bubbles.
• Maiev fought Illidan, wounded him, and gained the upper hand as his strength ran out.
• Illidan failed to complete his Metamorphosis, and Maiev killed him; she found Tyrande's Memory among his belongings.
• Akama tried to cut off Illidan’s head, but Maiev stopped him and had the Watchers prepare to carry Illidan’s body to the Vault of the Wardens.
• Kayn Sunfury and other Demon Hunters emerged from a Portal, but Illidan’s death drained their Fel power and left them helpless.
• Maiev ordered the Demon Hunters taken to prepared cells in the Vault of the Wardens.

Thrall learned that Illidan had been killed by someone else and erupted in rage, while Akama took control of the Black Temple and discussed what to do with the remaining Orcs. The chapter left Akama terrified after Doomwalker warned that Thrall was hunting for Illidan’s killer and had vowed to destroy the killer’s clan.

• Thrall celebrated the Horde’s apparent victory and boasted that Outland would belong to him.
• Akama sent a signal that allowed A'dal to announce Illidan’s death and order the Orcs to stop fighting.
• Mannoroth told Thrall that he would receive no glory for Illidan’s death, and Thrall attacked his own guards in fury.
• Thrall ordered Eitrigg to discover who had killed Illidan and threatened vengeance against the killer and their people.
• Naruk Xil congratulated Akama but proposed leaving the million Orcs in Shadowmoon Valley for the Army of the Light to claim their souls.
• Doomwalker warned Akama of Thrall’s threats, and Akama fell to his knees and begged Naruk Xil for protection.