Chapter Summaries

Azshara finished her anima research in the Maw and prepared to leave with Ve’nari, whom she recruited as her royal steward. As they set out to meet Diakum’s envoy, Azshara called a hidden figure Lord Mushroom Head and said he was worthy of study.

• Azshara caused another disturbance in Torghast, but the Mawsworn refused to respond after her repeated attacks on their forces.
• Remornia urged Azshara to punish Ve’nari, and Azshara ordered the demon sword to rise before announcing that her anima research was complete.
• Azshara returned to her cave, where Ve’nari reported a message saying Diakum would send an envoy to take her away.
• Azshara revealed that the envoy had already arrived and asked Ve’nari to serve as her royal steward; Ve’nari accepted while insisting she remained free to leave.
• Azshara told Ve’nari to pack, then addressed the hidden Lord Mushroom Head and declared him worthy of study.

Azshara escaped the Maw with Ve'nari and stolen soulseeds, but Zovaal tried to drag her back through a Domination chain. Diakum and Remornia stopped him, and Azshara arrived safely at the Veiled Market, where she began planning her court and its intelligence service.

• Marasmius opened a one-use portal from the Maw, allowing Azshara and Ve'nari to escape after reclaiming corrupted soulseeds from the Sanctum of Domination.
• Azshara unleashed a devastating Arcane Rend as she left the Maw, while Ve'nari brought the stolen soulseeds to safety.
• Zovaal sent a Domination chain through the closing portal to seize Azshara, but Diakum held it back and Azshara severed it with Remornia.
• Azshara sealed the broken chain for study, thanked Diakum for saving her, and accepted temporary lodging in the Veiled Market.
• Azshara invited Marasmius to serve as her court's Minister of Intelligence, but Diakum explained that it was loyal to the Winter Queen.
• The Nether-Stalker proposed seeking Ardenweald's help to find a mushroom suited to Azshara's court, and Diakum teased it for being a sycophant.

Azshara assessed the Mawsworn and Zovaal’s plans while discussing the Pantheon and Zereth Mortis with Diakum, agreeing to help stop the Jailer under strict conditions. Elsewhere, Remornia learned that Denathrius had replaced her with a new demon sword, King’s Sorrow, and was defeated when she tried to attack it.

• Azshara told Diakum that the Mawsworn were a disciplined, fearless army and that Zovaal’s dependence on the First Ones’ power would doom his plans.
• Azshara asked about claiming the Pantheon, and Diakum explained that Norgannon’s free Titan Soul stood in her way.
• Azshara agreed to join Diakum’s effort to stop Zovaal and go to Zereth Mortis, on the condition that they take only knowledge and destroy everything else afterward.
• Sarkir presented King’s Sorrow as Denathrius’s new weapon and told Remornia that she had been cast out.
• Remornia attacked King’s Sorrow, but the unfinished blade struck her down and left her embedded in the weapon room floor.

Azshara manipulated Remornia into accepting a test of Denathrius’s loyalty while Ve'nari reported that Rafaam planned to steal Castle Nathria. Azshara agreed to help Rafaam claim the castle as her palace, and sent him away to wait for her assistance.

• Azshara comforted Remornia and proposed that she return to Denathrius if he proved he was still waiting for her, while Remornia agreed to follow Azshara’s instruction until the truth was revealed.
• Ve'nari told Azshara that Rafaam planned to steal Castle Nathria and suggested Azshara could help him take it as her royal palace.
• Azshara caught Rafaam spying in her bedchamber, and he escaped with her spellbook before her time-reversal spell dragged him back.
• Rafaam proved his skill by revealing that he had stolen Azshara’s spellbook, then asked her for Castle Nathria’s core blueprints.
• Azshara explained that Denathrius could make Castle Nathria fly and told Rafaam to lie low until she provided the help he needed.

Diakum and Azshara reached Revendreth as the Cipher Society studied First Ones ciphers, and Azshara revealed her immense Sinstone, Pride. They traveled toward the Ashen Wilds, where Diakum explained that the Holy Light’s crusade was about to resume.

• Diakum restored a Broker scholar transformed into stone by a mistaken First Ones cipher combination and warned the Cipher Society not to experiment carelessly.
• Azshara joined Diakum on the journey into Revendreth and revealed her Sinstone, a vast floating landmass called Pride.
• Diakum and Azshara visited the Revendreth Black Market, where Azshara explained that Denathrius had turned stolen World Life Force into anima for the Maw.
• Diakum and Azshara flew to the Light-scorched Ashen Wilds, and Azshara recounted how she had formed her Sinstone there.
• Diakum told Azshara that the Ashen Wilds marked the return of the Holy Light’s Crusade of Judgment.

Diakum entered the Ashen Wilds after Queen Azshara used her command over Stonehead to pass the gate, then discovered Naaru fragments that revealed the ancient Holy Light crusade against Sire Denathrius. The fragments rekindled his warhammer and led him toward the last surviving Naaru, whose cries came from beneath Castle Nathria.

• Azshara explained that she had mastered mud servant magic and persuaded Stonehead to serve her, then rode the giant into the Ashen Wilds to find Duke Sital.
• Diakum picked up Naaru fragments near Stonehead's shelter and witnessed their memory of the Naaru's assault on Revendreth and their battle with Sire Denathrius.
• Diakum placed the fragments in the Sunstrider Warhammer, where golden flames ignited as the departed Naaru answered his call.
• Diakum gathered more Naaru remains across the wasteland and heard their voices guide him toward the last surviving Naaru beneath Castle Nathria.
• Diakum followed the sacred song into the Ashen Wilds, vowing to save the imprisoned Naaru and destroy the Venthyr who had tormented her.

Diakum met Azshara and her court in the Ashen Wilds, where they planned to defeat Denathrius and preserve Revendreth. Meanwhile, Sarkir showed Denathrius the nearly finished Blade of Sorrow, and Denathrius anticipated the approaching threat.

• Diakum gathered many Naaru fragments in the Ashen Wilds and met Azshara, Duke Sital, and their Mud Servants at Azshara’s ruined palace.
• Azshara explained that Renathal’s faction was preparing to oppose Denathrius, while Sital identified the Stone Legion as a major obstacle to their plans.
• Diakum revealed that the Stonewright had been a powerful Night Warrior and said he would seek her support by reminding her of her former enemy.
• Sarkir showed Denathrius the Blade of Sorrow being forged in Torghast, with Zovaal’s Domination and the Runecarver’s power being added to it.
• Denathrius praised Renathal’s supposed loyalty, then suspected that Diakum had arrived as the Holy Light in the Ashen Wilds began to dim.

Diakum hunted Nathrezim in Revendreth and brought Corruptor Sasoval to the Stonewright, whose past loyalty to Elune and anger at Denathrius shaped her response. After learning Denathrius had broken his promise to keep the dreadlords exiled, she agreed to help Diakum take him down and ordered the Stoneborn to assist.

• Diakum defeated Venthyr guards in Dreadhunter’s hunting grounds, captured Corruptor Sasoval, and later brought him and four other dreadlords to the Stonewright’s manor.
• The Stonewright told Diakum that Elune’s followers had invited her to join the Night Warrior Association Shadowlands Branch, but she had no wish to return to her former devotion.
• The Stonewright’s moonfire killed four dreadlords, and she executed Sasoval after realizing Denathrius had allowed the Nathrezim to return despite his promise to exile them.
• The Stonewright refused Diakum’s request to remain neutral and ordered Stoneborn throughout Revendreth to help him take Denathrius away.

Prince Renathal rallied Revendreth’s nobles and allies against Sire Denathrius, while Diakum entered the Crimson Abyss and found Venthyr torturing a Naaru. The chapter left Diakum attacking the torturers as the revolt against Denathrius spread.

• The Stonewright led the Stoneborn in revolt against Denathrius, and fighting broke out between the Stoneborn factions at Castle Nathria.
• Prince Renathal entered a gathering of noble families with the Countess, the Dreadhunter, and the Curator, then offered the Harvester of Envy’s place to whoever brought him Tithelord’s anima.
• Renathal urged the nobles to support his restoration and told the Dreadhunter and Curator that he would side with the Stoneborn and eliminate the Nathrezim.
• Diakum entered the Crimson Abyss while Stoneborn fought among themselves and burned approaching Venthyr with his Light.
• Diakum found Venthyr torturing a stranded Naaru to turn it into a living sinstone, then attacked them with his Sunstrider Warhammer.

Diakum freed Zraly from the Venthyr’s control and cursed her torturers to become Ash Ghouls, then prepared to learn about the Light Crusade. At Castle Nathria, Denathrius received King’s Sorrow and planned to use the rebels’ deaths to test Diakum’s resolve.

• Diakum endured Zraly’s forced Holy Light attacks and purified her, freeing her from the Sinful Runes and the Grand Overseer’s control.
• The Grand Overseer’s attempt to make Zraly self-destruct backfired, and Diakum cursed her and the other Venthyr into Ash Ghouls who had to hunt 999 guilty souls to earn rest.
• Zraly thanked Diakum, who explained that the Venthyr’s scheme against the Naaru required a forceful response and invited her to witness the end of those responsible.
• General Carl warned Denathrius that the rebels were attacking Castle Nathria, while Banaszar urged him to retreat rather than face Diakum.
• Sarkir arrived with Mawsworn reinforcements and presented Denathrius with King’s Sorrow, a weapon that combined the powers of three Eternal Ones.
• Denathrius took up King’s Sorrow and resolved to use the rebels’ suffering to test whether Diakum would abandon his principles.

Diakum absorbed the holy remains of thousands of Naaru in the Crimson Abyss while Azshara defeated the Accuser and took her medallion. Remornia learned Denathrius had abandoned her, shattered her old form, and chose to follow Azshara against him.

• Diakum gathered the Naaru remains’ Holy Light into himself, and Zraly guarded him as he balanced the overwhelming light with shadow.
• Azshara let the Accuser summon her sinstone, and her enormous floating-island sinstone crashed down, flattening much of Darkhaven and defeating the Accuser.
• Azshara took the Pride Harvester’s Medallion and left the Accuser’s fate to Prince Renathal.
• Remornia collapsed after Denathrius severed their connection and gave the concept bound to her soul to another sword.
• Remornia shattered her outer blade and asked to follow Azshara, who empowered her and promised her a chance to drink Denathrius’s blood.

Azshara joined the assault on Castle Nathria and used First Ones Runes to turn its sin-magic barrier against Sire Denathrius. With the Stoneborn storming the opened palace, Azshara confronted Denathrius, and their demon swords clashed as the battle began.

• Azshara arrived at the battlefield and recognized that the Venthyr had withdrawn to Castle Nathria while the Stoneborn hunted down the Sire’s Nathrezim allies.
• Azshara and the Stonewright agreed that Azshara could claim the Stone Legion if she could take it from Denathrius, and the Stonewright gave her a Reaper Stoneborn demon staff.
• Azshara studied Castle Nathria’s barrier and used First Ones Runes to seize control of its sin magic, break open the gates, and scatter the Stone Legion defending the palace.
• The Stonewright and General Draven led the Stoneborn into Castle Nathria as Denathrius sent his army to meet them.
• Azshara confronted Denathrius, and Remornia and King’s Sorrow began fighting before their wielders did.

Diakum arrived at Castle Nathria and battled Sire Denathrius, who tried to trap him in a judgment fueled by the blood debts of his victims. After Denathrius sacrificed Venthyr and damaged Revendreth to sustain the ritual, Diakum grew furious and invited him to judge his sins, beginning with the Sin of Eclipse.

• Diakum emerged from the Crimson Abyss and landed on Castle Nathria, where he joined Azshara against Sire Denathrius.
• Azshara left Denathrius to Diakum, who overpowered the Sire in close combat and drove him to retreat and fight at range.
• Denathrius invoked a judgment ritual that summoned reflections of Diakum’s blood debts and used sin anima to keep them attacking.
• Diakum recognized that Denathrius was consuming Revendreth’s anima and asked how many Venthyr had died when the Sire shattered the land for more power.
• Denathrius declared that the Venthyr and Revendreth existed to serve his will, prompting Diakum to ignite his warhammer and challenge him to judge every sin he bore.

Diakum unleashed Eclipse over Castle Nathria, trapping its inhabitants in a consuming eternal night while the Stonewright and Azshara struggled to survive its dangers. Denathrius fell to Remornia’s repeated strikes as Diakum stood over him and offered him a chance to speak his last words.

• Eclipse extinguished the light throughout Castle Nathria, and the Stonewright led the Stoneborn toward safety beneath her moonlight.
• The Stonewright tried to let Baroness Inerva Darkvein reach the moonlight, but a Stoneborn knocked her back into the darkness, and Azshara warned the Stonewright that Eclipse had marked her.
• Azshara used Diakum’s shadow insignia to disperse the Ash Death Angels, then left the Stonewright to explore the castle and seek its treasures.
• Azshara rescued Rafaam and ordered him to lead her to Castle Nathria’s energy nexus so they could transfer ownership before Denathrius fell.
• Denathrius’s body began turning to ash as Diakum sustained Eclipse, and the shattered Remornia stabbed Denathrius thirteen times through the heart.
• Denathrius fell to his knees, and Diakum asked him for his last words.

Diakum and Sarkir defeated Sire Denathrius and bound his immortal soul to King's Sorrow, leaving him imprisoned as they questioned his motives. Denathrius explained that his cruelty began as a response to the role the First Ones designed for him, and he accepted his fate as a consumable in destiny’s cycle.

• Diakum’s Eclipse consumed light and turned its victims into mindless agents of eternal darkness as he stood over the defeated Sire Denathrius.
• Sarkir revealed that King's Sorrow was Denathrius’s phylactery and declared himself the Sire’s warden, then demanded to know why Denathrius had opposed destiny.
• Denathrius said he had abandoned persuasion and tortured sinners because they resisted atonement, and the resulting anima made the Shadowlands function.
• Denathrius argued that either the First Ones had intended his transformation or lacked the right to impose a flawed destiny, then challenged Diakum and Sarkir to judge his choices.
• Denathrius said he had hated everyone equally, believed he and Renathal were destined to become tragic sacrifices, and asked to be left alone to die.

Sire Denathrius praised Prince Renathal, confessed his resentment toward the destiny imposed by the First Ones, and passed his Absolution Anima to his son before asking what would happen to him. Meanwhile, Tichondrius recruited Ginthasa to help reclaim Denathrius’s sealed demon blade, knowing Diakum might be baiting them into a trap.

• Sire Denathrius told Prince Renathal that his coup was masterful and questioned whether he understood the burden of inheriting Revendreth.
• Sire Denathrius confessed that he hated the First Ones’ design and had pursued destruction because he had lost hope of changing the Shadowlands.
• Prince Renathal argued that the Shadowlands needed to be repaired rather than destroyed and promised to overturn destiny himself.
• Sire Denathrius transferred his Absolution Anima to Prince Renathal, then asked Diakum and Sarkir how they would deal with him; Diakum asked whether he had heard of fishermen.
• Tichondrius found Ginthasa in the Sea of Darkness and explained that Diakum planned to take King's Sorrow to the material cosmos.
• Tichondrius urged Ginthasa to join the Nathrezim in reclaiming Denathrius’s sealed demon blade, while warning that Diakum’s plan might be a trap.

Diakum visited Castle Nathria to return the wounded Remornia to Azshara and learned from Denathrius’s diary that the Attendants of the Gods might oppose anyone challenging fate in Zereth Mortis. After Diakum left, Azshara discovered that Denathrius had secretly survived inside Remornia, and he offered to tell her about Zereth Ordus.

• Diakum returned Remornia to Azshara and heard her recount Denathrius’s conspiracies, including his plans to create a god.
• Azshara warned Diakum that the Attendants of the Gods might be First Ones’ jailers who would oppose their plans in Zereth Mortis, and Diakum said he might have to ally with Zovaal against them.
• Diakum left Castle Nathria, while Azshara planned to have Remornia reforged by the Runecarver in The Maw.
• Azshara detected a hidden spirit inside Remornia and forced it out, discovering that it was Denathrius himself, separated from the Accuser.
• Denathrius explained that he had severed his Eternal Soul to pursue freedom, and Azshara offered possible shelter in exchange for information about Zereth Mortis.
• Denathrius said he had no information about Zereth Mortis but asked Azshara whether she had heard of Zereth Ordus.

Denathrius revealed Zereth Ordus and a hidden creation system behind the cosmic order while seeking Azshara’s protection, but she chose Diakum’s loyalty and destroyed his remaining soul. Diakum then warned Sarkir that the Attendants of the Gods could reset the Shadowlands and proposed destroying Zereth Mortis before confronting the First Ones’ design.

• Denathrius told Azshara that Zereth Ordus was another First Ones’ sepulcher and suggested that a counterfeit Star Soul was hidden within the Order Pantheon.
• Azshara contacted Diakum about recruiting Denathrius, received his message saying “Read,” and chose to destroy Denathrius rather than risk betraying her trusted advisor.
• Diakum explained to Sarkir that Denathrius had survived by sacrificing his divinity and power, while Azshara’s message confirmed that she had judged him herself.
• Diakum warned Sarkir that the Attendants of the Gods could activate backup Eternal One prototypes and reset the Shadowlands to its original state.
• Diakum proposed that he and Zovaal enter the Sepulcher of the First Ones while Sarkir destroyed Zereth Mortis’s core and permanently ended the First Ones’ system.

Diakum gathered three Night Warriors in Broker City and asked them to help save Tyrande Whisperwind and his wife, Neri, from Elune’s wrath. The Night Warriors agreed to confront their painful inheritance, while Diakum planned to lead the rescue when they returned to Azeroth.

• Diakum observed that Dymus was nearing collapse under An'she's Pain of Eclipse while his own Light-Shadow Coexistence continued to develop.
• The Nether-Stalker told Diakum that the guests had arrived, and Diakum met the Stonewright on the way to the reception room.
• Diakum learned from the Stonewright, Hyrnax, and the Nerubian assassin that they had come to the Shadowlands to make amends for painful regrets tied to their Night Warrior power.
• Diakum revealed that Tyrande and his wife, Neri, were Night Warriors who needed saving, and asked the three Night Warriors to help when they returned to Azeroth.
• Diakum said he would carry out the rescue himself, relying on his connection to Elune and the Night Warriors' help in containing her wrath.

Diakum traveled to Maldraxxus, where he witnessed the realm’s celebration after the Construct Sanctum fell, then repelled Zovaal’s messengers and received the Jailer’s offer to cooperate. He agreed to meet Zovaal after arranging his affairs, while Medivh urged him to join forces to enter Zereth Mortis.

• Diakum watched Maldraxxus celebrate Blackhand’s victory over Gamal and the Construct Sanctum with a brutal gladiatorial tournament.
• Diakum traveled aboard the Ritual Court’s Floating City, where Zovaal’s Valkyries of Domination ambushed the passengers and Diakum destroyed them with Holy Light.
• Diakum discovered a black crystal left behind by the attackers and spoke with Zovaal through its projection.
• Zovaal asked Diakum to cooperate in reaching Zereth Mortis, and Diakum agreed to meet him after arranging his affairs, with three conditions to discuss.
• Diakum warned Zovaal that the Attendants of the Gods might have tampered with the Arbiter’s Core, then asked Medivh whether they should accept the offer.
• Medivh supported cooperating with Zovaal so they could reach Zereth Mortis and its Vault of Truth before confronting him.