Recaps

The Orc Horde crossed the Dark Portal into a new world, where Gul'dan corrupted Durotan and Draka's newborn son, Gul'guro, with fel energy. As the Orcs invaded human territory, Stormwind prepared for war, and a human fortress faced a second force led by a Gronn.

• Medivh opened the Dark Portal, and Gul'dan and Blackhand led the Orc Horde through it to claim a new homeland.
• Durotan crossed with the Frostwolf Clan and found Draka going into labor; Gul'dan took the newborn and turned his brown skin green with fel energy, naming him Gul'guro.
• A human guard spotted the Orcs approaching a fortress near Darkshire, sounded the alarm, and Llane ordered the Alliance to enter a state of total war.
• Orcs attacked the fortress, but defenders drenched them in fire oil and ignited it, trapping many in flames.
• A second Orc force arrived with Ogres and a Gronn, prompting the human soldiers to retreat and destroy their important documents.

Hu Feng found his former student Merith Winterwind, who had become an undead while resisting a Pit Lord’s possession, and brought him to Stormwind. With the Orc invasion stalled at the front, Hu Feng prepared to begin the Alliance’s next step.

• King Llane, Lothar, and Bolvar discussed the Orc advance and the danger posed by warlocks, Ogre Mages, and Gronn.
• Suramar’s Retribution Golems halted the Orc vanguard at Westfall, while fighting in the Redridge Mountains became a bloody stalemate.
• Hu Feng visited Merith in Sunstrider Woods and learned that Merith had become undead after resisting a Pit Lord’s attempt to possess him.
• Hu Feng invited Merith to join the Alliance’s effort and brought him to Stormwind Keep.
• Bolvar reported that the Orc offensive was under control but nearing a stalemate, and Hu Feng said it was time to carry out the next step.

The Alliance turned its defenses into a counterattack and planned to draw Orc forces north to pressure the kingdoms that had stayed out of the war. Lothar brought the captured half-Orc Garona to Stormwind, where Hu Feng sensed Gul'dan’s dormant influence within her.

• Hu Feng and the Alliance leaders planned to let some Orcs through toward the northern kingdoms, and Lothar agreed to manage the operation.
• Merith Winterwind linked human and elven mages to devastate the Orc warlocks and Ogres at Redridge Mountains, while the Alliance routed the remaining Orc infantry.
• The Retribution Golems killed the gronn at Westfall, and the Alliance began pursuing the retreating Orcs on both fronts.
• Blackhand raged over the Horde’s defeats as Durotan and Orgrim blamed Gul'dan’s influence and Blackhand’s leadership for the war’s failure.
• Lothar arrived with Khadgar and the captured half-Orc Garona, who identified herself and called Llane the human Great Chief.
• Hu Feng sensed dormant fel energy in Garona and realized Gul'dan might use it to control her and attempt to assassinate Llane.

Quel'Thalas joined the Alliance and sent Alleria Windrunner and the High Elf rangers to Stormwind, where Alleria reunited with Hu Feng. Sylvanas learned that Hu Feng was the God of Magic’s incarnation and that she had developed feelings for the god she had long spoken with.

• Anasterian and the Silvermoon Council agreed to join the Alliance after considering the orc threat and Hu Feng’s warning about the Rune Stones.
• Alleria Windrunner led the first High Elf reinforcements to Stormwind, where Sylvanas and the rangers were welcomed by King Llane and Hu Feng.
• Hu Feng embraced Alleria, while Lothar and Llane teased them about their relationship.
• Sylvanas asked Llane what he meant by calling Hu Feng a god and learned that Hu Feng was the God of Magic’s incarnation in the mortal world.
• Sylvanas confronted Hu Feng about hiding his identity, then pulled Alleria aside to explain their past correspondence.
• At a welcoming banquet, Alleria accused Hu Feng of deceiving her, pinched him, and threatened to deal with him that night.

Hu Feng and the Alliance forces set out to assault Karazhan and confront Sargeras. After reaching the tower, they encountered Medivh’s chess challenge blocking the way upward.

• Alleria asked Hu Feng about his other lovers, and he insisted that only she and Elisande were involved before promising to remain on Azeroth.
• The Alliance drove the Orcs from Sunstrider Woods and forced them back to defensive lines in Westfall and The Blasted Lands.
• Khadgar repeatedly urged Lothar to assault Karazhan until Lothar agreed to wait for Hu Feng at Duskwood Fortress.
• Hu Feng arrived with Alleria, Sylvanas, and Garona, then explained that Sargeras had lost most of his power and warned the group not to fight him head-on.
• Hu Feng and the others flew to Karazhan, where he sensed dense fel and shadow energy beneath the tower in a structure called Anti-Karazhan.
• Khadgar opened the locked gate, and Medivh’s projection challenged the group to win a chess match before proceeding upward; Hu Feng agreed to play.

Chen Stormbrew left Pandaria aboard Shenzhenzi to deliver a letter from the White Tiger to the Titan God’s avatar, while Emperor Shaohao began the Trial of the Four Celestials. Shaohao passed the Azure Dragon’s and Vermilion Bird’s trials, overcoming suspicion, fear, and despair.

• Shenzhenzi returned to Pandaria, and Chen Stormbrew boarded Mistvale Isle to explore the outside world and deliver the White Tiger’s letter.
• Shaohao insisted on undertaking the dangerous trial to purge the negative emotions growing in his heart.
• Yu-Long sent Shaohao to Mount Neverest, where he endured her Emerald Flame and overcame suspicion and fear.
• Chi-Jing led Shaohao to ruined relics in the Krasarang Wilds for the second trial.
• Shaohao endured Chi-Jing’s flames and Crane Rush, drawing hope from his people and purging despair from his heart.

Shaohao passed Xuan Niu Niuzao’s trial of courage and resolve, then faced the White Tiger’s trial in the Kunlun Mountains and emerged transformed into an emperor. He accepted that ending his arrogance might one day require him to sacrifice himself to protect Pandaria, though he regretted that he would never meet the Night Elf ruler the White Tiger praised.

• Shaohao and the Monkey King crossed the Great Wall and evaded Mantid patrols on their way to Xuan Niu Temple.
• Shaohao stopped fleeing Xuan Niu’s charges, endured the storm of wind and sand, and attacked the bull, passing the trial of courage and resolve.
• Xuan Niu sent Shaohao to the Kunlun Mountains, where he spent ten days climbing to the summit and met the White Tiger.
• Shaohao attacked the White Tiger, who countered with claw strikes and challenged him to distinguish strength from brute force.
• Shaohao completed the White Tiger’s trial and returned transformed, with his savagery replaced by strength and reason, while arrogance remained.
• Shaohao learned that eliminating his arrogance might require him to merge with Pandaria’s mists and die protecting it, and he calmly accepted that possibility.

Hu Feng and the others cheated their way through Medivh’s chess match, claimed a sword nobody wanted, and killed Prince Malzahar on the way upstairs. They confronted Medivh in the top hall, where he revealed Sargeras’s demonic form and prepared to fight.

• Hu Feng expanded the Alliance’s chess forces with divine power, and the group beat the orcs while countering Medivh’s cheating.
• Hu Feng opened the reward chest and took the one-handed sword King's Guardian after everyone else refused it.
• Hu Feng struck Prince Malzahar with a Void Ray, and Malzahar collapsed into black charcoal as the group continued upstairs.
• Lothar confronted Medivh over his possession of their old friend, while Garona, Alleria, Sylvanas, and Khadgar attacked him.
• Medivh blocked the attacks with Fel energy and transformed into a horned, Fel-burning form resembling Sargeras.

Hu Feng and Sargeras fought until Lothar used a crystal to awaken Medivh’s soul, allowing Medivh to cast Sargeras into the abyss. Hu Feng survived Sargeras’s curse, and Medivh named Merith Winterwind as the next Guardian before the group prepared to return to Stormwind City.

• Hu Feng revealed himself as Sarodar and attacked Sargeras, battling him in brutal hand-to-hand combat while the others watched from the hall’s exit.
• Alleria wanted to help Hu Feng, but Sylvanas stopped her, and Lothar waited with a strange crystal.
• Hu Feng wounded Sargeras and shouted a signal, prompting Lothar to smash the crystal and awaken Medivh’s soul.
• Hu Feng lent Medivh Titan Divine Power, helping Medivh overcome Sargeras and cast him into the abyss.
• Sargeras’s final curse began draining Hu Feng’s life force, but Hu Feng stabilized it while Medivh collapsed in an aged, weakened state.
• Medivh said he could no longer be Guardian and approved Hu Feng’s choice of Merith Winterwind as his successor; the group then gathered to recover and return to Stormwind City.

While recovering from Sargeras’s curse, Hu Feng learned that the Alliance had maneuvered the Horde northward and celebrated Stormwind’s victory. The Horde regrouped in the Wetlands, while Hu Feng’s injuries continued to heal and the war moved toward the Arathi Highlands.

• Elisande welcomed Alleria, and the two women quickly bonded while Sylvanas supported her sister.
• Hu Feng’s wounds had mostly healed, but Sargeras’s curse still spread through his body and had to be removed gradually.
• Merith Winterwind became the Guardian of Tirisfal, and the kingdoms accepted his succession after Medivh stepped down.
• Hu Feng, Llane, and Lothar planned to funnel the Horde north, and Blackhand led the Horde through the Burning Steppes, Searing Gorge, and Wasted Lands.
• After failing to overcome the dwarves’ defenses, the Horde settled in the Wetlands and planned to attack the Arathi Highlands when the weather warmed.
• King Llane celebrated Stormwind’s victory as returning Alliance armies and cheering citizens filled Stormwind City.

Llane met Durotan, who sought peaceful talks between the Frostwolf Clan and the humans, but a Stormreaver ambush disrupted the meeting. Hu Feng crushed the attackers with divine power and offered the captured warlocks a chance to live.

• Llane agreed to meet Durotan after Garona and Medivh explained the Frostwolf Clan's opposition to the invasion.
• Durotan told Llane that the Frostwolf Clan would not surrender but wanted peace with the humans.
• Stormreaver Orcs ambushed the Frostwolf Clan and human cavalry, and Durotan called on the humans to help fight their common enemy.
• Hu Feng forced the Orcs to their knees, burned the Fel Orc warriors, and left the captured warlocks surrounded by the Frostwolves.
• Durotan realized Gul'dan had feared the god among the Alliance, and Hu Feng offered the warlocks a chance to live.

Hu Feng forced the Orc warlocks into a deathmatch, then stopped Garona’s assassination attempt on King Llane and removed Gul’dan’s soul fragment from her. The sole survivor, Retsen, pledged himself to Hu Feng and was accepted as his follower.

• Hu Feng trapped the Orc warlocks in a circle of Fel Fire and ordered them to fight until only one survived.
• The warlocks attacked one another while the humans and Frostwolf Orcs watched, and Lothar and Sylvanas placed bets on the combatants.
• Garona Shadow Stepped behind King Llane and attempted to stab him, but a burst of golden light deflected her attack.
• Hu Feng seized Garona with a golden hand, tore Gul’dan’s soul fragment from her, and heard her apologize to Llane, who reassured her that she remained his guard.
• The warlock Sylvanas had bet on survived the deathmatch, and Hu Feng allowed the winner, Retsen, to leave unharmed.
• Retsen asked to follow Hu Feng, and Hu Feng accepted him as a follower.

Hu Feng and Llane arranged for the creation of a warlock order while Durotan chose a new homeland for the Frostwolf Clan. The clan agreed to cross the sea to Kalimdor, and Hu Feng reassured Durotan about his son, Gul'guro.

• Hu Feng ordered Retsen to establish the Six Daggers Council, train human and elven warlocks, and stop blighting the land; Retsen offered to recruit dissatisfied members of the Shadow Council.
• Llane offered Durotan three possible settlements for the Frostwolf Clan: Alterac Valley, the Wetlands, or the Barrens in Kalimdor.
• Durotan rejected the first two options and signed an agreement to settle in the Barrens, promising the clan would regard itself as part of Azeroth and aid the world when threatened.
• Llane toasted the Frostwolf Clan as friends, and Durotan prepared to take his people through Westfall to Golden Sands and sail for Kalimdor.
• Hu Feng learned that Durotan's son, Gul'guro, had been entrusted to Orgrim and assured Durotan that the boy would become a wise Great Chief.

The Frostwolf Orcs sailed from Westfall as Hu Feng urged Alleria to return to Kalimdor with him, while Durotan worried about his missing son. In the north, the Horde advanced through the Hinterlands, allied with Zul'jin's trolls, and pushed the Wildhammer Dwarves toward Aerie Peak, leaving Kurdran searching for help.

• The Frostwolf Orcs boarded the Night Elves' new ships, and Hu Feng persuaded Alleria to consider returning to Kalimdor after the war.
• Durotan and Draka worried about their son Gul'guro as they watched the Frostwolf Orcs embark.
• The Horde broke through Thoradin's Wall and advanced into the Hinterlands, where its forces fought the Wildhammer Dwarves.
• Orgrim secured Zul'jin's alliance by promising that the Horde would attack Quel'Thalas as soon as possible.
• Kurdran saw the Wildhammer Dwarves driven back toward Aerie Peak and considered seeking aid from the Alliance in the south.

Kurdran sought Alliance aid for the Wildhammer Dwarves, and King Llane offered support in exchange for an Alliance concession in the Hinterlands. Hu Feng presented powerful Steam Armor as the Night Elves’ contribution, and Kurdran secured 300 sets along with Stormwind troops and Ironforge supplies, though Magni kept the demonstration suit in exchange for ale.

• Kurdran asked King Llane to bring the Wildhammer Dwarves into the Alliance because Orc attacks threatened Aerie Peak.
• King Llane offered a Stormwind legion if the Wildhammer Dwarves granted the Alliance a concession in the Hinterlands, while Magni promised Ironforge food and spirits.
• Hu Feng arrived and offered the Wildhammer Dwarves 300 sets of armor he had crafted himself.
• Magni demonstrated the Steam Armor, using its Arcane Crystals to smash a huge pit into Stormwind Keep’s floor.
• Kurdran agreed to the Alliance’s support and demanded that Magni return the armor, but Magni bargained him down with an offer of 10,000 bottles of Thunder Ale.

Retsen built Stormwind City's Warlock District and worked with Kanrethad to establish its training program, while commoners and Highborne flocked to join. With Sinfeir's arrival, the Six Daggers Council gained a Destruction specialist and proposed changing its name to the Black Scythe Council.

• Retsen oversaw the Warlock District and recruited Kanrethad to teach demon summoning and join the Six Daggers Council.
• Kanrethad encouraged Retsen to leave his past behind and argued that warlocks could fight for Azeroth.
• King Llane offered commoners subsidies and career opportunities to train as warlocks, drawing crowds of applicants alongside arriving Highborne.
• Retsen noticed Sinfeir's concealed fel presence and invited her to join the council.
• Sinfeir joined as a warlock skilled in the Destruction path, completing the council's three branches.
• Retsen told Sinfeir that he and another warlock had proposed renaming the Six Daggers Council the Black Scythe Council.

Durotan led the Frostwolf Orcs to settle in Durotar, where they built Orgrimmar and allied with the Tauren against the Centaurs. The chapter ended with Durotan bringing trade goods to the Night Elves and being welcomed by Garrond Shadowsong at an Ashenvale fortress.

• Anka Heartclaw showed Durotan the Barrens and offered the Frostwolf Clan construction supplies in advance.
• Durotan named the Orcs’ new land Durotar and their developing city Orgrimmar, after Orgrim.
• Tauren envoys befriended Durotan, and the Orcs and Tauren agreed to fight the Centaurs together and help each other build.
• Durotan led Wolf Riders against the Centaurs, whose mobility failed against the Orcs’ giant wolves.
• Durotan brought furs and strong liquor to Ashenvale, where Garrond Shadowsong welcomed him and invited the Frostwolf warriors to a banquet.

Durotan visited Ashenvale and discussed Draenor with Garrond while the Alliance attacked the Horde with support from steam-armored Wildhammer Dwarves. Lothar killed Warchief Blackhand in a Malagok duel, and Orgrim took command as the Horde fell into chaos.

• Dryads watched Durotan and his companions as Garrond introduced them to the forest sisters in Ashenvale.
• Durotan told Garrond that Draenor had become like hell after Gul'dan's fel energy destroyed it.
• Kurdran led three hundred Steam Iron Dwarves against the Orcs and Trolls as Lothar's human legion joined the battle.
• Blackhand challenged Lothar to a Malagok duel, and Lothar killed him with Brotherhood's Blade.
• Orgrim rallied the disordered Horde and ordered its chieftains to gather under his command as the Alliance launched a full-scale assault.

The Crusaders of the Truth prepared a great purge to unite the Night Elves under Titan Sargeras as Divine Emperor. Elisande resolved to offer her lover the Night Elf people, as the Crusaders mobilized and awaited the purge.

• Rumors that Sargeras should become Divine Emperor divided the Night Elves, with Highborne support, druid opposition, and Tyrande weighing the proposal.
• The Crusaders of the Truth reviewed intelligence on opponents and prepared a purge, naming Fandral Staghelm and Cenarius among their targets.
• Spellblade Auriel ordered the Crusaders into wartime readiness and declared that the purge would continue until all opposition was arrested or killed.
• Nearly a thousand Crusaders mobilized, received target lists, and gathered with Faceless Ones in the Tower of Slumber.
• Elisande reviewed reports from Suramar City and resolved to sacrifice opponents to make the Night Elves stronger for her lover.

As the Horde pushed Lordaeron and Gilneas into a stalemate, Hu Feng accompanied Mekkatorque and Gnome forces to reclaim Gnomeregan. They fought off Leprous Gnome Walking Tanks outside the abandoned city and prepared to enter its irradiated depths.

• Orgrim concentrated the Horde's main forces in Silverpine Forest and Hillsbrad Foothills, leaving Lordaeron and Gilneas struggling to hold their defenses.
• Alonsus Faol trained the first paladins, while Dalaran sent more mages to help turn the fighting in Silverpine Forest into a stalemate.
• Mekkatorque thanked Hu Feng for joining the Gnomes' expedition to Gnomeregan, and Hu Feng traveled there with Alleria and Sylvanas.
• The Gnome troops reached Gnomeregan's elevator entrance, where the Leprosy Ray had left the surrounding land and water fluorescent green.
• Mekkatorque ordered the Gnome forces to attack, and their mechanical striders overwhelmed several Leprous Gnome Walking Tanks.
• Hu Feng tried to sell Mekkatorque a Goblin bomb, but Mekkatorque refused, prompting Hu Feng to worry about the Goblins' poor reputation.

Hu Feng and his companions fought through Gnomeregan, where he tried to prove his magical prowess against a Spellbreaker robot with Super Safe Big Bombs. The robot was badly damaged, but Hu Feng’s final bomb exploded in his hand.

• Hu Feng captured an alarm robot, learned from Mekkatorque that its blueprints were freely available, and crushed it when it kept sounding its alarm.
• Alleria and Sylvanas destroyed mechanical enemies as Sylvanas demanded an artifact bow from Hu Feng.
• Mekkatorque warned the group about a Spellbreaker robot that could silence mages, and Hu Feng was silenced when he tried to attack it with a Pyroblast.
• Hu Feng threw two Super Safe Big Bombs at the Spellbreaker, blasting away its arm and damaging its body.
• Hu Feng’s final Super Safe Big Bomb exploded in his hand before he could throw it.

Hu Feng joined Mekkatorque and the others in confronting Mechanist Thermatopragus in Gnomeregan, then secretly collected one of the Walking Bombs before helping end the fight. Later, he tinkered with the bomb in Stormwind Keep while King Llane and Prince Varian watched nervously.

• Alleria confiscated Hu Feng’s Big Bombs and made him destroy them, while Mekkatorque abandoned his offer of safer gnomish bombs after her warning.
• Mekkatorque opened the massive door to Thermatopragus’s chamber, and the gnomes attacked the traitor and his giant robot.
• Thermatopragus summoned Walking Bombs, and Hu Feng froze one and stored it in his spatial ring.
• Hu Feng declared the training over and joined the fight, helping the group defeat Thermatopragus.
• King Llane told Varian that the gnomes were returning to Gnomeregan and that Lothar and the Wildhammer Dwarves were pursuing trolls in the Hinterlands.
• Hu Feng dismantled a Walking Bomb in Stormwind Keep as Llane asked him to move Varian away from it.

Alleria and Sylvanas infiltrated Grim Batol and discovered the Dragonmaw Clan was preparing armor for Gronn and stockpiling dragon eggs with Prince Nefarian. When Nefarian discovered them, he trapped the sisters and dismissed their warning about the God of Magic.

• Alleria and Sylvanas entered Grim Batol to investigate the Dragonmaw Clan’s unusual activity.
• The sisters found a Highmountain Giant forging armor and discovered Gronn chained in a nearby plaza.
• Alleria and Sylvanas overheard Zuluhed and Nefarian discussing Gronn armor and a cache of black and red dragon eggs.
• Nefarian sealed the passage with black flames after revealing he had noticed the sisters hiding behind the eggs.
• Nefarian mocked the sisters’ warning about the God of Magic and claimed Azeroth’s defensive wards made gods no more than mortals there.

Alleria and Sylvanas faced Nefarian in Grim Batol, where Alleria’s necklace summoned Hu Feng’s divine power to punish the black dragon. Nefarian escaped the Titan’s projection, while the sisters were ordered back to Stormwind City and the continent awaited Sargeras’s next move.

• Alleria activated the eyeball pendant with her blood, and a Void Ray struck Nefarian as golden divine power began destroying the hall.
• Zuluhed gathered the dragon eggs and escaped while the trapped Windrunner sisters watched and Nefarian struggled against the Void Energy.
• Hu Feng’s Divine Eye appeared, battered Nefarian with golden spirits and whips, and wounded him with a beam of light.
• Nefarian raised a Flame Shield and fled in dragon form, and Hu Feng let him go so he could later take advantage of the prince’s experiments.
• Hu Feng ordered Alleria and Sylvanas to return within a day, and news of the battle spread across the continent.

Hu Feng confined Alleria and Sylvanas after their reckless adventure, but the sisters soon found a new diversion in Elwynn Forest. They set out with a dwarf adventurer to hunt Hogger, until Sylvanas drove him off and the sisters decided to claim the bounty themselves.

• Hu Feng scolded Alleria and Sylvanas for nearly being taken by a black dragon and forbade them from leaving the Alliance's sphere of influence.
• Alleria placated Hu Feng, while Sylvanas teased him about Elisande before the sisters left to stroll around Elwynn Forest.
• King Llane embarrassed himself with a remark about Alleria and Sylvanas, and Queen Talia hurried Varian away while Garona tried to understand what he meant.
• In Goldshire, Alleria and Sylvanas agreed to help Oscar Sparkdrill hunt the Gnoll Hogger for a hundred gold coins.
• Oscar annoyed Sylvanas with his stories and a remark about her marriage prospects, so she chased him off with a storm of arrows and decided to hunt Hogger with Alleria.