Recaps

Nazgrim remained loyal to Garrosh despite understanding why the rebels opposed him, and prepared to face his friends on the battlefield. At Razor Hill, the rebels broke through the fortress wall and launched their assault.

• Nazgrim read Warlord Saurfang’s letter and accepted that they would meet as enemies on the battlefield.
• Kor'kron soldiers defended Razor Hill as artillery struck its steel wall and Dragonmaw Riders attacked from the air.
• Thrall sent Vol'jin to call on Zul'jin, whose Amani forces unleashed their animal-powered priests against the attackers.
• Zul'jin and Nalorakk transformed into bears and charged the damaged wall under protective spells.
• Zul'jin and Nalorakk smashed through the weakened wall, and the rebel ground forces charged into Razor Hill Fortress.

International support and the Night Empire’s forces strengthened Thrall’s resistance as it drove Garrosh’s forces back. Garrosh remained confident that the Heart of Y'Shaarj and his allies would secure his victory.

• Footage of Ji* Fire Palm being tortured in Orgrimmar sparked international condemnation, and the Shaohao Dynasty and Jaina announced military aid for the resistance.
• Jaina persuaded King Varian and the Southern Alliance to join the effort, greatly increasing the resistance’s strength.
• The Night Empire sent the Judgement legion and a giant Iron War Scorpion through Horde territory, greeting resistance forces and attacking Garrosh’s troops.
• Grom ordered Kargath Bladefist to support the Black Dragon Riders’ assault on Warlord Zaela’s fortress in the Ghostmist Mountain region.
• As Garrosh lost strongholds, he trusted the Heart of Y'Shaarj and the support of the August Celestials Council, Goblins, and ethereals to defeat Thrall.

The Iron Horde captured Zaela and the Dragonmaw Orcs for a future trial as Thrall’s resistance advanced toward Orgrimmar. Saurfang’s forces and the Alliance fleet took the port, where the Kor'kron commander chose to surrender to Saurfang.

• Grom ordered Zaela and the captured Dragonmaw Orcs sent to a prisoner-of-war camp to await trial, while Kargath stopped tormenting a prisoner.
• Thrall advanced north from Razor Hill as Saurfang led an elite detachment toward Orgrimmar Harbor and Garrosh concentrated his forces at Orgrimmar.
• The resistance and Garrosh’s defenders began an artillery battle outside Orgrimmar, with both sides exchanging heavy fire around the fortress tank.
• Saurfang’s detachment attacked the port garrison from behind while the Alliance fleet and Jaina’s mages battered its defenses.
• Varian led the Seventh Legion ashore in powered armor as Gnomish armored vehicles joined the assault and the Kor'kron port defenses collapsed.
• With Saurfang blocking retreat toward Orgrimmar, the Kor'kron commander surrendered to him.

The Night Empire sold Thrall’s rebels a Green Skin offensive, which devastated the Kor'kron defenses at Orgrimmar. As the Alliance advanced, Gamon liberated a factory and led the freed Goblins toward revolt.

• Thrall agreed to trade Nagrand furs for the Night Empire’s consumable offensive.
• Green Skins, Scrap Trucks, and killing cans charged from the fog and inflicted heavy losses on the Kor'kron at Orgrimmar’s gates.
• The Imperial diplomat detonated explosives hidden in the Green Skin corpses, further devastating the defenders.
• As the Alliance advanced toward the gates, the fog returned and another Green Skin assault threw the Kor'kron into chaos.
• Gamon killed the Kor'kron guarding a factory, freeing its enslaved Goblins, who armed themselves and prepared to overthrow Gazlowe.

The rebels overwhelmed Orgrimmar’s Kor'kron defenses with attacks from outside and uprisings inside the city. After the gates collapsed, Orgrimmar fell to the rebel forces.

• Night Empire consumables enabled repeated Green Skin assaults that battered the Kor'kron defenses and left the fortress tank near destruction.
• Gamon led Goblin rebels and four Steam Tanks toward the Trade District, while the Spirit Valley rebels captured their district and freed the Fire Gold Faction Pandaren.
• Ji* Firepaw urged the rebels to fight Garrosh, and the growing uprising drove Kor'kron forces back toward the Chieftain's Hall and gate plaza.
• The Alliance airships attacked the city's anti-air defenses as Night Empire Gremliins launched explosive suicide attacks on the gate plaza.
• The explosions overwhelmed the Kor'kron defenders, and Orgrimmar's gates collapsed.

Garrosh's forces retreated into the Underground Fortress as the rebels secured Orgrimmar, while the Alliance and Quel'Thalas's forces stormed Twilight Citadel with Gul'dan's Shadow Council. N'Zoth fled the citadel, leaving Benedictus and Cho'gall behind as the allied forces closed in.

• General Nazgrim ordered Garrosh's remaining Kor'kron troops to retreat into the Underground Fortress, and the rebels surrounded the entrance in Chieftain's Hall.
• The Goblin rebels stopped looting and agreed to obey Thrall after the rebels let them keep the gold they had taken from Gazlowe's bank.
• The Alliance Seventh Legion, Quel'Thalas's Twilight forces, and Gul'dan's Shadow Council assaulted Twilight Citadel, overwhelming N'Zoth's followers.
• Salin Firesoul transformed into a mass of flesh and tentacles, capturing Halfus Wyrmbreaker while Valiona and Theralion surrendered.
• Gul'dan confronted Cho'gall, and N'Zoth fled from the citadel after the Ascended Council was defeated.
• Bolvar confronted Benedictus, who realized N'Zoth had abandoned him and Cho'gall.

General Nazgrim refused to abandon his post and fought the allied army to protect the passage deeper into the Underground Fortress. After Thrall defeated him, Sargeras restored Nazgrim and promised he would recover.

• Nazgrim rejected Garrosh’s offer of Twilight power and guarded the middle-level passage with Kor'kron soldiers who had also refused the infusion.
• Thrall and the rebel forces reached Nazgrim, but he refused to surrender and charged them to defend the iron door.
• Nazgrim fought the allied army, including King Varian, until Thrall struck him down with Doomhammer.
• As the allied army breached the door, Thrall found Nazgrim near death and honored his loyalty to the Horde.
• Gamon relayed Sargeras’s promise to save Nazgrim, and a ray of dawn rapidly healed the orc general.

Hu Feng explained that he saved Nazgrim because the Orc reminded him of Brox, while Elisande discussed the renewed conflict spreading across Pandaria. After Lei Shen invaded the Cao Dynasty and Shaohao intervened, the Mogu conflict escalated into a continent-wide war.

• Hu Feng told Elisande that Nazgrim reminded him of Brox, the Orc whose sacrifice remained one of his regrets.
• Lei Shen took advantage of the weakened forces in the Scourge Lands and invaded the Cao Dynasty after capturing territory in the south.
• Cao Fei rallied his troops against Lei Shen and sent envoys to Shaohao for help.
• Shaohao condemned Lei Shen and sent a Great Wall garrison legion to join Cao Fei's forces.
• Cao Fei declared his intention to unify the Mogu and wage war against Lei Shen, expanding the conflict into a continent-wide war.

The rebels fought their way through Garrosh’s underground fortress, defeating Malkorok and encountering a clash between the Horde’s beast tamers and freed Pandaria beasts. The August Celestials’ eight remaining Ancient Heroes then attacked the rebels, turning the battle into a three-way melee.

• Varian, Gamon, Jaina, Vol’jin, Thrall, Durotan, Orgrim, and Grom Hellscream overwhelmed Malkorok, while the Kor’kron surrendered after Nazgrim’s defeat.
• The rebels advanced through the lower fortress, where Garona revealed that she had opened the beast cages.
• Freed Pandaria beasts joined Bloodthirsty Sok in attacking Garrosh’s soldiers and beast tamers as the rebels waited at the hall’s entrance.
• The August Celestials’ eight remaining Ancient Heroes arrived with Mantid forces and attacked the rebels directly.
• The beasts, Mantid, and rebel forces entered a three-way melee.

The Ancient Heroes fought the rebels and the Chieftain's Guard while trying to buy time for Garrosh, but a hidden disciple of Cthulhu revealed himself and unleashed the Old God's madness in the hall. The battle ended with Skil and Shakril overcome, as Cthulhu's Twilight engulfed the combatants.

• The Ancient Heroes committed to holding back the rebels so Garrosh could continue working with the Heart of Y'Shaarj.
• Sok went berserk under the combined attacks, rampaging through the hall and inflicting heavy casualties on the Chieftain's Guard and Mantid.
• Skil the Bloodseeker found a hidden disciple of Cthulhu among the rebel mages, and the mage transformed as Cthulhu's power emerged.
• Cthulhu's gaze drove Skil into madness, and his soul vanished into the Old God's call.
• Shakril the Venomous rushed to help Skil, met Cthulhu's gaze, and began tearing at himself in madness.
• The mage disciple transformed into a writhing mass of flesh as purple Twilight flooded the hall and tentacles attacked the fighters.

Cthulhu’s intervention turned the battle against the Ancient Heroes into a desperate struggle while the rebel army pressed its attack. In Stormwind, Wrathion reached a deal with Onyxia, and Archbishop Benedictus was executed for treason.

• Cthulhu corrupted Bloodthirsty Sok and attacked the Ancient Heroes with tentacles, nightmare beasts, and maddening whispers while the rebel army advanced.
• Wrathion told Onyxia he would not challenge her for control of the Black Dragonflight and offered to sign a contract in exchange for an end to her pursuit.
• Onyxia agreed on the condition that Wrathion remain in human identity and avoid contact with Black Dragons beyond his bodyguards.
• Wrathion and Onyxia signed the contract, which bound them with Dawn Divine Power.
• Highlord Bolvar announced King Varian’s decree that Benedictus be executed for betraying Stormwind and serving Old God N’Zoth.
• A Grand Marshal’s longsword pierced Benedictus’s heart as the crowd watched.

The rebels broke through Garrosh’s defenses after Gazlowe surrendered and negotiated to keep the Steamwheedle Cartel’s weapons business. Thrall confronted Garrosh in the innermost hall, where the Heart of Y'Shaarj empowered him, and challenged him to fight.

• With the rebel army having defeated the guards, Gazlowe surrendered the military factory but refused to give up the Steamwheedle Cartel’s control of arms manufacturing.
• Thrall offered Gazlowe a contract that left military production with the Cartel and placed civilian affairs under the Goblin United Board.
• Gazlowe accepted the deal and gave the rebels tanks, artillery, firearms, and ammunition ordered by Garrosh.
• Thrall and the rebels reached the innermost hall, where the Heart of Y'Shaarj fed power into Garrosh.
• Garrosh accused Thrall of choosing him and insisted that everything he had done was for the Horde, and Thrall challenged him to fight.

Thrall, Varian, Grom, Vol'jin, and Jaina fought Garrosh after he fused with the Heart of Y'Shaarj. Garrosh finally released the heart and collapsed after his grandmother Gaia'an persuaded him to stop.

• Grom gave up trying to persuade Garrosh and agreed to end the fight, while Thrall led the attack.
• Garrosh fused with the Heart of Y'Shaarj, transformed into a Sha-infused monster, and battled the group as Jaina, Vol'jin, Thrall, Varian, and Grom attacked.
• Grom and Thrall warned Garrosh that the heart was magnifying his obsession with the Horde, but Garrosh insisted he could control it.
• Thrall's Chain Lightning struck Garrosh as he struggled to rise, and Garrosh fell to his knees.
• Grandmother Gaia'an confronted Garrosh over the Horde's civil war and suffering, and he ended the fusion, released the heart, and collapsed.

After the Horde civil war ended, the Shaohao Dynasty arranged Garrosh’s extradition and the Heart of Y'Shaarj’s containment, while the Sha demons migrated to the Tower of Slumber. The Arrogant Sha agreed to join Sargeras’s expansionist plans and cooperate with research into Sha-powered weapons.

• Thrall resumed the Warchief position temporarily, and the Horde agreed to send Garrosh to Pandaria for a public trial.
• The Horde and the Shaohao Dynasty entrusted the Heart of Y'Shaarj to Sargeras for containment in the Tower of Slumber.
• The Arrogant Sha led the Sha demons from Pandaria toward Kalimdor, prompting the Pandaren to celebrate their departure and prepare for more fighting.
• Sargeras welcomed the Sha demons and agreed with them on protecting Azeroth while conquering other worlds.
• The Arrogant Sha arrived at the Tower of Slumber with the remaining Sha demons, who agreed to cooperate with the Crusaders’ research into Sha-powered weapons.

Kairozdormu freed Garrosh with the Hourglass of Time and offered to take him to a parallel world so he could rebuild the Horde. Garrosh agreed to go, while Hu Feng revealed that the escape had unfolded according to his plan.

• Kairozdormu killed Garrosh’s guards with a Sand Blast that rapidly aged them and offered to help Garrosh escape using the Hourglass of Time.
• Kairozdormu proposed traveling to a parallel world without Titan Sargeras, where he would help Garrosh take control of the Horde in exchange for regaining his time-traveling abilities.
• Kairozdormu revealed that he had stolen the Horde’s military technology and blueprints, and Garrosh agreed to leave with him while secretly remaining wary of the dragon.
• Garrosh asked Kairozdormu to take his token to Orgrimmar and recruit Ethereals and Goblins before the two vanished from the prison.
• Chromie revealed that she had watched the escape for Hu Feng, who confirmed that Kairozdormu’s move had gone according to plan.

Hu Feng revealed that he had rigged the Hourglass of Time to link a parallel Draenor to Azeroth’s Dark Portal, prompting the factions to prepare an invasion. The chapter ended with Azeroth’s armies armed and eager for war, while Garrosh’s escape faded from public attention.

• Thrall confessed that he had secretly redeployed troops and sabotaged the defenses to help Garrosh escape prison.
• Hu Feng explained that Nozdormu had allowed Kairozdormu to steal the Hourglass of Time and that he had altered it to connect parallel Draenor to Azeroth’s Dark Portal.
• Varian and the other leaders agreed to divide the new territory by the usual rule: whoever seized it would own it.
• The factions publicly framed the invasion as a mission to capture Garrosh and rescue Draenor’s people, while privately preparing to claim its resources and territory.
• The Alliance, Horde, Northern Alliance, and Shaohao Dynasty armed and organized their expeditionary forces for the coming invasion.

On parallel Draenor, Garrosh rejected Kairozdormu’s plan to control the Orcs and killed the Bronze Dragon with fragments of the Hourglass of Time. He set out for the Warsong Clan settlement, while hidden divine power remained beneath the hillside.

• Garrosh and Kairozdormu argued on a hill in Nagrand, and Kairozdormu warned that Garrosh was his pawn.
• Kairozdormu used the Hourglass of Time to overpower Garrosh, then proposed that Garrosh unite the Orc clans while he pursued conquest across worlds.
• Garrosh smashed the Hourglass of Time and stabbed Kairozdormu repeatedly with a fragment, killing him.
• Garrosh gathered the artifact’s fragments and left for the Warsong Clan settlement.
• A strand of dark golden divine power seeped into the hillside, waiting for the Orcs to build an interworld structure like the Dark Portal.

Grom Hellscream rejected Gul'dan’s offer of demon blood and led the Orcs in killing Brutallus. The Orcs celebrated their freedom as preparations for the Dark Portal continued, though their destination was not parallel Azeroth.

• Gul'dan lost support among the Orc clans after Grom Hellscream and Durotan condemned Fel magic, and he summoned Brutallus with Kil'jaeden’s help.
• At the altar in Tanaan Jungle, Gul'dan offered Grom a cup of demon blood, but Grom poured it out and refused the gift.
• Brutallus appeared and threatened the Orcs, so Garrosh signaled Warsong troops to attack with cannons.
• Grom struck Brutallus in the skull with Gorehowl, and the Abyssal Lord exploded and died.
• Garrosh pulled Grom out of danger, and Grom raised Gorehowl as the Orcs cheered their freedom.
• The Orcs continued building the Dark Portal, though their final destination was not parallel Azeroth.

Hu Feng arranged for the parallel world's Dark Portal to lead to Azeroth, while the world prepared for war and Vol'jin became Warchief. On parallel-world Draenor, the True Horde made territorial demands of the Draenei, leaving Velen worried about the growing threat.

• Hu Feng told the White Tiger that his power had been fused into the parallel world's Dark Portal, ensuring it would open on Azeroth.
• Azeroth's armies and weapons industries prepared for the coming invasion as the world awaited the Dark Portal's completion.
• Vol'jin became Warchief, Thrall returned to the Maelstrom, and the Horde's campaign against Neptulon continued.
• The True Horde unified under Grom Hellscream, expanded its forces, and demanded part of Talador from the Draenei.
• After the Draenei rejected the demand, the True Horde mobilized troops and supplies near their borders, prompting Velen to consider how to respond.

The Draenei faced a siege in Talador as Turalyon received a disturbing vision, while the True Horde prepared to invade Azeroth through the Dark Portal. Socrethar’s attempt to contact the Burning Legion instead summoned a group of unfamiliar Satyr demons.

• The True Horde besieged Shattrath and Auchindoun, while the Draenei fortified their cities and Shadowmoon Valley prepared reinforcements.
• Turalyon experienced a vision of herself as an Archbishop of Dawn, a star-filled gate, and an army crossing it, then heard a whisper about hope for the Draenei.
• Niyami wondered why her secret contact had not approached Turalyon and resolved to advance her plans to recruit her.
• Grom praised Garrosh and the True Horde prepared to cross the completed Dark Portal and conquer Azeroth.
• Socrethar’s demon-summoning contract opened a portal, and Trestan Felhoof and several Satyrs emerged, claiming to serve the Legion’s Supreme Lord.

The Alliance, Horde, Northern Alliance, and Shaohao Dynasty fortified the Blasted Lands and Lordaeron after the Dark Portal closed, preparing for an invasion from another Draenor. The Orcs accepted the coming war, seeing the invading Orcs as enemies rather than kin.

• Alliance officers reinforced the Blasted Lands defenses while airships and Cloud Serpent Knights patrolled above the Dark Portal.
• Lordaeron officers inspected their ornate energy weapons and armor, then mocked the Stormwind and Horde forces’ tanks.
• A Kor'kron officer kicked rookie Rug for joking about getting an autograph from an enemy chieftain.
• Warlord Saurfang’s statement that soldiers should not bear responsibility for political conflicts earned the Kor'kron soldiers’ gratitude.
• The Orcs recalled their differing ties to Draenor and regarded the parallel-world Orcs’ planned invasion as a fight against enemies of Azeroth.

Merchant Ork traveled from Stormwind Kingdom into Lordaeron and encountered the Northern Alliance’s strict customs and old-fashioned traditions. Lordaeron’s leaders were considering renaming the alliance the War Court as Queen Calia pursued greater power, while Ork continued toward the capital eager to return south.

• Ork rode north in his Steam Truck caravan, carrying goods toward Lordaeron City and passing through Silverpine Forest.
• At Shadowfang Keep, a War Court soldier inspected Ork’s clearance documents and warned him to show respect on the Empress’s lands.
• Ork observed that Lordaeron’s aristocratic customs, medieval-style architecture, and ornate military designs contrasted sharply with Stormwind’s practical, modern culture.
• Lordaeron’s hawks urged Queen Calia to abolish the name Northern Alliance, and nobles supported renaming it the War Court as Calia considered becoming Empress of the North.
• After the inspector let him proceed, Ork resumed his journey in his smoke-belching Steam Truck, intending to sell his goods and return south as soon as possible.

The True Horde opened the Dark Portal expecting to invade a weak parallel Azeroth, but instead encountered the heavily armed forces of the world Garrosh knew. The Alliance and Horde seized the portal and brought their fleets and a Night Empire Floating Island into Draenor, leaving Garrosh in despair at the arrival of Titan Sargeras.

• Grom Hellscream rallied the True Horde and ordered the Dark Portal opened for their invasion of Azeroth.
• The True Horde vanguard crossed into The Blasted Lands and was met by fortified defenses and a devastating barrage from Azeroth's forces.
• Rebein and General Nazgrim led the Alliance and Horde counterattack through the Dark Portal while Black Dragon Riders seized the air.
• Garrosh recognized the invading forces and urged the True Horde to destroy the portal, but the Mage Corps opened a larger passage to Draenor.
• Alliance and Horde airships, followed by the Night Empire's Floating Island, entered Draenor, and Titan Sargeras's voice sent Garrosh into despair.

The Allied Forces of Azeroth secured the Dark Portal while the True Horde retreated, and the Draenei faced a civil war among the Sargerei. Tyrant Vihari's Dawn faction turned against Socrethar, with fel energy and Sha energy driving the fighting into chaos.

• The True Horde abandoned its attempt to destroy the Dark Portal and withdrew toward Hellfire Citadel as the Allied Forces fortified the area.
• Prophet Velen learned that Draenei had been corrupted by fel energy and were conspiring with the Burning Legion and Gul'dan's Shadow Council.
• Satyr demons split the Sargerei by forming the Dawn Legion, and Tyrant Vihari became its fanatical leader after accepting enhanced fel energy.
• Socrethar confronted Vihari, who denounced him and attacked under the influence of whispers linked to the Old Ones.
• Sha energy spread through Vihari and her followers, filling them with rage as the battle against Socrethar escalated.

Sok'reth escaped Sok'reth Heights, leaving Vehari in control as Karabor Temple held back from attacking. Across Draenor, Azeroth's factions spread out to pursue their own campaigns, while Gul'dan escaped into Tanaan Jungle with help from the Crusaders guarding him.

• Sok'reth fled through a portal as his followers delayed Vehari, and the Sargerei he left behind were killed and their souls bound into fel crystal constructs.
• Prophet Velen learned of the conflict at Sok'reth Heights but kept his forces focused on other fronts, while Vehari fortified the stronghold and made no move against the Draenei.
• After the True Horde withdrew into fortified positions in Tanaan Jungle, the Azerothian factions divided up and set out for different regions of Draenor.
• Velen's Draenei joined the Alliance expedition toward western Shadowmoon Valley, while the Horde, Lordaeron's Northern Alliance, the Shaohao Dynasty, and the Night Empire headed for their respective destinations.
• Crusaders pretending to fail at guarding the prisoners secretly freed Gul'dan and the Shadow Council warlocks, who disappeared into Tanaan Jungle.