Recaps

The Alliance joined the New Horde’s fight against the Gurubashi and Skullsplitter Trolls after Bloodlord Mandokir attacked Alliance outposts. Meanwhile, Heklar turned Gurubashi Arena into a profitable gladiatorial venue and black-market town, and his wealth began to surge.

• Bloodlord Mandokir allied with the Skullsplitter Trolls and attacked New Horde forces and Alliance outposts, drawing the Alliance into the conflict.
• The Alliance and the New Horde coordinated against the Gurubashi Trolls and Skullsplitter Trolls while avoiding an official war between their factions.
• Heklar reopened Gurubashi Arena with the Heklar Consortium, the Venture Company, and the Hydraxian Waterlords as shareholders.
• Heklar used the Night Empire’s banner to deter interference as the arena’s deathmatches attracted contestants and customers.
• The arena’s surroundings developed into a neutral town filled with black markets and shady deals, and Heklar’s wealth grew rapidly.

Heklar used his favor with the Divine Emperor and payments to the Crusaders to have them target goblins in Booty Bay who favored Trade Prince Gazlowe. After the raid, Heklar gained control of Booty Bay while the Steamwheedle Cartel lost its foothold there.

• Heklar displayed his dark-gold cloak and prestige as the Divine Emperor’s favored servant while overseeing a deathmatch at Gurubashi Arena.
• Heklar gave the Crusader mage the Divine Emperor’s monthly share, extra chests for the God Queens, and a donation to the Crusaders.
• Heklar asked the Crusaders to suppress goblins in Booty Bay who respected Trade Prince Gazlowe more than the Divine Emperor, and the mage agreed to help.
• Days later, Chosen Zealots and a Chosen Immortal raided Booty Bay, while bribed goblin guards stood aside and the Zealots attacked anyone who resisted.
• Trade Prince Gazlowe avoided confronting the Crusaders, and Booty Bay fell under Heklar’s control as the Steamwheedle Cartel was driven out.

Heklar consolidated Booty Bay’s banks into Heklar Bank, expanding his legitimate business and influence while lending the Lordaeron Restoration Army gold. His efforts to expand into Azshara were rebuffed by Queen Azshara, setting up a future conflict with the vengeful Goblin.

• Heklar united Booty Bay’s banks as Heklar Bank, offering high deposit interest and low-interest loans backed by collateral.
• Heklar expanded his influence through Booty Bay’s legal businesses and Gurubashi Arena’s black markets, while gaining favor with the Night Empire’s God Queens.
• The Lordaeron Restoration Army borrowed one million gold from Heklar Bank, pledging Princess Calia’s childhood doll as symbolic collateral.
• The New Horde considered borrowing from Heklar, but Trade Prince Gazlowe offered better terms, and Thrall accepted the Steamwheedle Cartel’s loan.
• Queen Azshara rejected the Heklar Consortium’s presence in Azshara, despite Medivh’s warning that Heklar would resent the insult.

After the Alliance was driven from Blackwing Lair by Chromaggus, Hu Feng decided to head to Blackrock Mountain to help. He rode through Stormwind and Elwynn Forest, where a child’s admiration reassured him before he continued on his journey.

• Chromaggus and the black dragonkin defeated the Alliance forces in Blackwing Lair, forcing them to retreat, though Varian personally slew three black dragons.
• Hu Feng read the battle report and decided to go to Blackrock Mountain, brushing off Alleria’s teasing about his motives.
• Hu Feng borrowed a Mechanical Road Buster in Stormwind and set off through the congested city toward Elwynn Forest.
• Hu Feng rode through Goldshire and detoured to Lake of Stone Markers, where he watched families and children enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
• A little girl recognized Hu Feng and called him a good god, reassuring him that his sacrifices had protected Azeroth before he rode on.

Hu Feng recruited the Three Brothers Behind the Stone into the Iron Horde as its first Orc Dawn Knights, then joined the Alliance battle at Blackrock Mountain and reassured Varian. The Alliance forces regrouped with Hu Feng’s help as the fighting continued.

• Hu Feng discovered the Three Brothers Behind the Stone ambushing travelers near Lakeshire and learned they had been waiting for the Old Horde to return.
• Hu Feng transformed the brothers with dawn light, explained the fate of the Old Horde, and accepted their pledge to serve the Iron Horde.
• The Three Brothers Behind the Stone ate at Lakeshire Inn, received armor and horses, and set off with Hu Feng.
• Alliance troops and adventurers fought dragonkin and Blackrock Orcs at Blackrock Mountain while Varian led the defense.
• Hu Feng arrived, healed the Alliance forces, and urged Varian to let the troops rest and regroup before counterattacking.

The Alliance pushed through Blackwing Lair while Hu Feng helped them and searched for valuables. As Varian fought Chromaggus, Hu Feng discovered Nefarian had fled to his secret laboratory in Blackwing Circle, which was nearing completion.

• Hu Feng found Bloodfang Leather Armor and gave it to Varian to pass to Garona.
• Nefarian gathered his research materials and fled Blackwing Lair after learning Hu Feng was with the Alliance.
• Varian fought and killed Valastrasz with Hu Feng's divine power keeping him healed.
• Hu Feng bound the Goblin Engineers with divine chains and claimed them for the Heklar Consortium.
• Hu Feng found Nefarian's private platform empty, then located Blackwing Circle and saw that the secret base was nearly finished.
• Hu Feng returned to Blackwing Lair while the Alliance continued fighting Chromaggus.

Kael'thas oversaw the Sunwell's transformation into a living woman named Anveena, while the Demonic Blade Girl arrived in Theramore and drew Jaina and Aegwynn's attention. Aegwynn suspected the girl came from near Karazhan and was seeking revenge against Sargeras.

• Kael'thas chose Krasus's plan to condense the Sunwell's essence into a human rather than destroy it permanently.
• Krasus used his power to shape the Sunwell's essence into Anveena, who understood that she might one day become the Sunwell again.
• Kael'thas promised to protect Anveena, and Krasus realized that the Sun King might have fallen for her.
• The Demonic Blade Girl left Theramore and crossed Dustwallow Marsh with a crimson blade on her back.
• Jaina and Aegwynn watched the girl through an Arcane Eye, which she destroyed with a slash of Demonic Energy.
• Aegwynn recognized the girl's energy as mutated dark divine power and suspected she came from near Karazhan to seek revenge against Sargeras.

The Alliance's campaign in Blackrock Mountain ended its first phase, while Dark Iron Emperor Sorcer considered joining the Alliance under Moira's influence. Across the north, restoration armies and their allies prepared for further battles, and the Silver Dawn and Crimson Vanguard planned an assault on Naxxramas.

• The Alliance destroyed the True Horde and nearly wiped out the Blackrock Orcs and Nefarian's Black Dragonflight before returning to Stormwind to reorganize.
• Sorcer agreed to explore joining the Alliance after Moira urged him to unite the Dark Iron and Bronzebeard Dwarves against Ragnaros and the Fire Elements.
• Princess Calia used support from the Heklar Consortium and the Dawn Brotherhood to rebuild the Alterac Mountains, while Southshore sought her protection against the Forsaken.
• The Stromgarde Restoration Army and Alliance dwarf forces fought the Forsaken and New Horde in Arathi as Prince Trollbane planned to retake Stromgarde.
• Bridget Abendis renamed her Scarlet Crusade force the Crimson Vanguard, and Darian Mograine prepared to join it in an assault on Naxxramas.

Oscar secretly built a rebel force in Naxxramas and agreed to cooperate with Dark Witch Farinna, who offered to bring Noth the Plaguebringer to his side. As the world’s factions prepared to attack Naxxramas, Kel'Thuzad fortified Stratholme and the Battle of Naxxramas drew near.

• Oscar secretly moved loyal undead into Stratholme and prepared to rebel against the Lich King when Azeroth’s armies attacked.
• Dark Witch Farinna approached Oscar after breaking free of the Lich King’s influence and offered her cultists and Noth the Plaguebringer in exchange for joining him.
• Oscar consulted Cthulhu, then agreed to let Farinna follow him on the condition that she bring Noth the Plaguebringer.
• Arch Lich Kel'Thuzad gathered Scourge forces around Stratholme and guarded the Lich Tower that connected the city to Naxxramas.
• The world’s factions prepared for the attack, while the Forsaken and Lordaeron Restoration Army set aside their conflict and Sylvanas and Princess Calia sought to join the campaign.

The Demonic Blade Girl traveled through the Night Empire and struggled to reconcile its people's support for Hu Feng with her hatred of Sarodar, then reached Darkshore and vowed to take revenge. In Quel'Thalas, Kael'thas cared for Anveena and resolved not to force her to sacrifice herself, while wrestling with his growing feelings for her.

• The Demonic Blade Girl witnessed the Night Elves' genuine support for Hu Feng and heard how he explained the empire's policies and promised its people a voice in its decisions.
• The Demonic Blade Girl decided that the empire's causes and justifications could not erase the harm its actions had caused ordinary people.
• The Demonic Blade Girl traveled through Ashenvale to rainy Darkshore, saw the three Floating Islands, and vowed to make Sarodar admit his crimes.
• Kael'thas told Anveena that the Mage Corps was seeking a way to separate her from the essence so she would not have to sacrifice her life for Quel'Thalas.
• Kael'thas admitted to himself that he wanted to keep Anveena with him and was troubled by his feelings for her.

Tirion Fording took command of the Silver Dawn and reformed it into a diverse force allied with other groups against the Scourge. As the Eastern Plaguelands campaign gathered support, rumors about Yao Dao Ji’s attack on the Eternal Night Divine Emperor distracted the world from the Night Empire’s absence.

• Tirion Fording accepted leadership of the Silver Dawn and opened recruitment to members of every race and faction, including the Forsaken.
• Eitrigg endorsed Tirion, and Orc warriors and shaman prepared to join the campaign against the Scourge alongside Tauren and Night Elf druids.
• Tirion eased relations with the Lordaeron Restoration Army and invited the Dawn Brotherhood to fight the Scourge; Highlord Bolvar agreed and redirected the Alliance’s expedition north.
• King Varian stayed behind to marry Tiffin, leaving Highlord Bolvar to lead the Alliance army to the Eastern Plaguelands.
• The Night Empire withheld its forces because the Eternal Night Divine Emperor had been injured by Yao Dao Ji, and people mistakenly began treating her as his prospective God Queen.

Hu Feng met a woman wielding the altered Apocalypse, who blamed him for the disaster that killed her family and vowed revenge. After stopping her attack, he learned that the power unleashed during the Battle of Karazhan had mutated her and destroyed her home.

• A Crusader guard brought Hu Feng a human woman carrying a blade infused with his power.
• The woman identified her weapon as Apocalypse and attacked Hu Feng with its crimson energy.
• Hu Feng caught the blade, ordered the Crusaders not to intervene, and disarmed her.
• The woman accused Hu Feng of causing the destruction of her home in Sunlit Forest and the deaths of her family.
• Hu Feng realized that the clash of divine powers at Karazhan had spread a curse fused with his fel energy across Duskwood and Westfall.
• The woman declared that she would avenge her family by making Hu Feng suffer as she had.

Hu Feng admitted responsibility for the Demonic Blade girl's family’s deaths and let her attack him without resisting. After she collapsed from exhaustion, he ordered his followers to protect her, leaving him to face his mistake.

• Hu Feng apologized to the girl for causing her family’s deaths and offered to let her take revenge without resistance.
• The girl attacked Hu Feng repeatedly with the Demonic Blade, but his Titan avatar could be wounded without being killed.
• The girl exhausted her demonic power and fainted after telling Hu Feng that she wanted revenge; he caught her and summoned healers.
• Hu Feng reflected that his actions had caused an ordinary family’s tragedy and kept the scar over his heart as a reminder of his fault.
• Hu Feng ordered Elisande and Auriel to ensure nothing happened to the girl, and Auriel abandoned her plan to arrange the girl’s death.

The Demonic Blade Girl woke in Hu Feng’s palace and wrestled with what to do after learning she could not kill Titan Sargeras. Hu Feng offered to travel back and save her family, but warned that changing the past would erase her memories and risk a time paradox, leaving her to consider his offer.

• The Demonic Blade Girl woke after two days of sleep, exhausted and troubled by her inability to avenge her family by killing Titan Sargeras.
• An elven maid brought the girl food and tea, and Hu Feng visited her after hearing she had awakened.
• Hu Feng told the girl he felt responsible for her family’s deaths and could ask the Infinite Dragonflight to take him back to the eve of the Battle of Karazhan to save them.
• Hu Feng warned that saving her family would erase the girl’s later memories and that changing the past could create a dangerous time paradox.
• The girl acknowledged Hu Feng’s motives but insisted they did not excuse his crimes, while Hu Feng promised to make amends.

Illidan investigated growing demon activity across Outland and learned that the Naaru Starfleet had arrived in The Storm Peaks. Rejecting Khadgar’s attempt to enlist his help, he sent forces to scout the Naaru ships and capture a vessel or a Naaru for the Night Empire.

• Maiev Shadowsong warned Illidan that demon camps were expanding and mass-producing infernals, while demons were also attacking the Fel Orcs and the brown-skinned orcs in Nagrand.
• Illidan reviewed the Illidari’s forces, including the Fel Orcs, Coilfang Naga, Akama’s Broken, and the Void Dragon-riding Dragonmaw Skybreakers.
• Dragonmaw Skybreakers reported that a Naaru Starfleet had arrived near The Storm Peaks to support Adal in Shattrath City.
• Khadgar told Adal that Illidan had refused to join the Army of the Light, and Adal noted that Illidan’s allegiance to the Night Empire had altered fate’s course.
• Illidan ordered Dragonmaw Skybreakers and succubi to investigate the Naaru ships and capture a ship or a Naaru for the Divine Emperor.

After recovering, Yao Dao Ji left Eternal Night Palace to judge whether Sargeras would make amends and joined the coming war against the Scourge. Her departure prompted factions across the world to treat her as a VIP, while Heklar ordered the Heklar Consortium to cultivate a relationship with her.

• Yao Dao Ji refused Sargeras's offer to erase her memories and rescue her family, choosing instead to watch whether he fulfilled his promises.
• Alleria gave Yao Dao Ji a golden feather-shaped badge and urged her to seek help from the High Elves, Undercity, or Stormwind City.
• Yao Dao Ji left for the Eastern Plaguelands to join the World Allied Forces' offensive against the Scourge.
• Hu Feng ordered the Crusaders to monitor Yao Dao Ji and send aid if she faced danger.
• After news spread of Yao Dao Ji's power and her wound to the Eternal Night Divine Emperor, factions worldwide added her to their VIP lists.
• Heklar ordered the Heklar Consortium to give Yao Dao Ji priority equal to God Queen Sylvanas and meet her demands.

Tirion Fording gathered the Alliance, New Horde, Crimson Vanguard, Silver Dawn, and Lordaeron Restoration Army to plan an assault on Stratholme and Naxxramas. The Demonic Blade Girl arrived to help, then angrily rejected being mistaken for Sarodal’s wife.

• Tirion Fording assigned the Alliance and New Horde to clear opposite sides of Stratholme while the Crimson Vanguard and Silver Dawn targeted City Hall Square, the Lich Tower, and Naxxramas.
• Tirion asked about the Forsaken, and Warlord Saurfang said Sylvanas was attacking the Scarlet Monastery and the Horde would not exploit the campaign.
• Princess Calia arrived with the Lordaeron Restoration Army and pledged to support the assault, while trading sharp words with Saurfang over the Forsaken’s plague weapons.
• A Silver Dawn scout announced that the God Queen who had wounded the Eternal Night Divine Emperor had arrived, and Tirion went to welcome her.
• The Demonic Blade Girl said she had come to help destroy the Scourge, then bristled when Tirion called her the God Queen and implied she was Sarodal’s wife.

Cao Fei, the last direct descendant of the Cao Mogu clan, sought training at the Temple of the Shado-Pan so he could protect his people and restore his dynasty. The White Tiger accepted him as an apprentice, though Cao Fei remained far from understanding what it would take to become an emperor.

• Cao Fei went to the Temple of the Shado-Pan to learn monk martial arts, but the monks initially sent him away because he lacked talent for the path.
• The White Tiger recalled the Cao Dynasty’s good reputation and decided to test Cao Fei’s patience before accepting him.
• After Cao Fei waited for several days in the snow, Master Xue Liu welcomed him into the temple as an apprentice.
• Cao Fei trained and studied intensely but struggled with True Qi and martial arts, especially compared with Fei Xue and Xiang Lian.
• Cao Fei told his Pandaren friends that he would restore the Cao Dynasty on the Isle of Giants, while the White Tiger watched and waited for him to learn what leadership required.

Yao Dao Ji grew stronger while helping cleanse the Eastern Plaguelands, and Tirion prepared an assault on Stratholme using Oscar’s secret offer to undermine Naxxramas from within. The Night Empire’s forces arrived to support the offensive and were assigned to fight alongside Yao Dao Ji, who angrily rejected being called a Goddess Queen.

• Yao Dao Ji used her demonic blade to destroy undead on cleansing missions, while studying Sargeras’s training notes and learning to wield its fourth form.
• Tirion invited Yao Dao Ji to military meetings as her strength accelerated the cleansing campaign toward Stratholme.
• Darian continued fighting Scourge forces while hoping to free his father from corruption.
• Tirion received Oscar’s letter promising to turn undead in Stratholme against the Scourge and open the passage to Naxxramas, while warning the allies not to attack his Scarlet Zone.
• The Alliance and Horde began moving toward Stratholme, with plans to rendezvous with Oscar’s Legion and join the Crimson Vanguard and Silver Dawn in the city center.
• A Night Empire force arrived under the Divine Emperor’s decree and offered to fight alongside Yao Dao Ji, who insisted she was not a Goddess Queen.

The New Horde and Night Empire continued strengthening their ties while the Alliance and Horde fought the Scourge in Stratholme. Highlord Bolvar met Oscar’s Scarlet Undead, who agreed to help defeat the Lich King’s forces and claimed the city for themselves.

• Warlord Saurfang led the Orcs through Stratholme’s eastern district, destroying the remaining Scourge undead as they advanced toward the civic square.
• The chapter described the Burning Blade Clan Blademasters leaving the Iron Horde to join the New Horde, while relations between the New Horde and Night Empire continued to improve.
• Highlord Bolvar’s Alliance forces approached the Scarlet Zone, where they expected to find the Death Knight Oscar.
• A Scarlet Death Knight welcomed Bolvar and said Oscar could turn some Scourge undead against the Lich King.
• Bolvar agreed that Stratholme would belong to Oscar’s Scarlet Undead, who refused to submit to the Queen of the Banshees.

The Alliance and Crusaders pushed toward the Civic Plaza as Princess Calia and the Demonic Blade Girl competed to kill the Scourge. Oscar’s influence triggered undead infighting that weakened the defenders, while he continued fighting Mograine inside Naxxramas.

• Princess Calia and the Demonic Blade Girl raced ahead of the Alliance army, slaughtering undead as the Immortals and Zealots supported them.
• The Immortals locked onto Naxxramas’s gargoyles, and Light of A'lar destroyed the flying army with a barrage from the Aether Crystal.
• After Princess Calia killed the Scourge commander, undead began attacking one another, and Bolvar and Tirion Fording recognized Oscar’s influence and ordered their forces to exploit the chaos.
• Arch Lich Kel'Thuzad found no evidence that the frenzied undead had broken free of control, despite their infighting.
• Oscar rode Invincible through Naxxramas and started another brawl with Mograine, trading insults and charging at him with corrupted weapons.

The coalition defeated Baron Rendell in the town square and secured the Lich Tower as a staging ground for an assault on Naxxramas. Gul'dan then arrived with Fel Orc warlocks, saying they would target Harvest Gothik before departing.

• Yao Dao Ji, Calia, and Saurfang joined forces against Baron Rendell as Tirion Fording and Bridget Abendis finished off his guards.
• Rendell summoned Ghouls with Army of the Dead, but Tragic Timmy and the Ghouls turned on him and tore him apart.
• Darian Mograine reopened the teleportation passage, and Tirion ordered the coalition to establish a defensive camp and prepare to enter Naxxramas.
• Tirion read Oscar's secret letter, which said Oscar planned to rebel once the coalition's main force entered Naxxramas and had turned Dark Witch Farinna and Noth the Plaguebringer.
• Gul'dan emerged from a Fel portal with his warlocks and demons, announcing that they would deal with Harvest Gothik before leaving.

Heklar oversaw the first successful movement test of the Chosen Titan, a new Crusader assault machine intended for combat testing in the Battle of Angrathar. At the Eternal Night Palace, Hu Feng showed Alleria a Heavy Zealot equipped with an Energy War Hammer and promised that Rangers would receive upgraded weapons and new roles.

• Heklar supervised Goblin Engineers and Draenei Crystal Technicians as they prepared the Chosen Titan prototype for its first test.
• Heklar remotely operated the Titan, which charged its crystals, walked forward, and turned successfully.
• Heklar ordered engineers to accompany the army for live combat testing and set a goal for the Titan to meet mass-production standards within half a year after the war.
• Hu Feng explained to Alleria that the Empire needed mechanical assault machines to strengthen the Crusaders' heavy forces.
• Hu Feng showed Alleria a Heavy Zealot wielding an Energy War Hammer and said Rangers would become long-range snipers with upgraded weapons.

After Stratholme was secured, the allied forces prepared to assault Naxxramas while adventurers swarmed the floating fortress for quests. Dulin Flashgem hoped to rescue his brother Oscar, and both the allies and the Scourge agreed to leave Kel’Thuzad’s cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, unharmed.

• Oscar's Scarlet Undead occupied Stratholme, repaired the city, and began gathering its ghosts.
• The allied forces secured Naxxramas's entrance, after which adventurers took quests from the different faction camps.
• Warlock adventurers crowded around Gul'dan in the Shadow Council camp seeking fel secrets, while other adventurers formed mixed Alliance and Horde parties to hunt undead.
• Dulin Flashgem joined his team in Stratholme, and his squad leader reassured him that they would free Oscar when the assault began.
• Kel'Thuzad threatened anyone who harmed Mr. Bigglesworth, and allied soldiers and adventurers agreed to leave the cat alone.

The Crimson Vanguard and the New Horde fought the Scourge in separate quarters of Naxxramas while the Crusaders battled Instructor Razuvious. When Yao Dao Ji was nearly struck down, the Firstborn of the Gods arrived to take over the fight.

• Bridget Abendis led the Crimson Vanguard in holding back the Scourge while Bolvar, Tirion Fording, and Calia attacked Mekkasna.
• Farina arrived with her curse cultists, joined the assault on Mekkasna, and urged the group to hurry to the Plague Zone to meet Noth the Plaguebringer.
• Warlord Saurfang fought Patchwerk while the Kor'kron Vanguard supported the Horde army against Scourge Alchemists, abominations, and oozes.
• Instructor Razuvious overpowered Darian Mograine and attacked Yao Dao Ji as the Crusader Zealots and Immortals battled his Death Knights.
• The Crusader captain summoned the Firstborn of the Gods, who blocked Razuvious's strike and told Yao Dao Ji to withdraw and rest.