Chapter Summaries

Raymond warned Tyrande that the Burning Legion had returned and that Mannoroth would use Demon Blood to control the Warsong Clan, while he and Medivh prepared a meeting with Cairne Bloodhoof. Thrall sent Grom and the Warsong Clan to Ashenvale to build a camp, but the Orcs’ slaughter had already begun to strain their alliance with the Minotaurs.

• Tichondrius and Mannoroth watched Grom Hellscream’s attacks and planned to restore the Warsong Clan’s Demon Blood so it would provoke the Night Elves and serve the Legion.
• Raymond appeared before Tyrande, warned her about the Orcs and Archimonde’s invasion, and urged her to prepare for war; Tyrande ordered the Sentinels to gather.
• Raymond and Medivh discussed arranging a meeting with Cairne Bloodhoof, while Raymond planned to use the Warsong Clan’s atrocities to turn the Minotaurs against the Orcs.
• Thrall confronted Grom over the attacks, then ordered the Warsong Clan to enter Ashenvale and build a camp while he flew toward the Stonetalon Mountains with Cairne.
• Cairne watched Thrall’s Orcs slaughter the humans and recognized that their brutality had created a growing rift between the Orcs and Minotaurs.

Raymond manipulated Grom Hellscream into drinking Fel-tainted blood that turned the Warsong Clan into blood-drinking Fel Orcs, leading them to kill Cenarius and devastate Ashenvale. As Medivh witnessed the destruction, he blamed himself for guiding the Orcs to Kalimdor and decided they could not be allowed to settle there.

• Grom Hellscream led the Warsong Clan into Ashenvale, where clashes with the Night Elf Sentinels escalated into a battle against Cenarius and his Treants; Cenarius defeated the Orcs and bound Grom.
• A Demon approached the captured Grom and directed him to a glowing spring, where Grom and more than a thousand Warsong Orcs drank Fel-tainted water and became bloodthirsty Fel Orcs.
• Raymond revealed to Mal'Ganis that he had altered Mannoroth's blood in the spring so the Fel Orcs would answer to him, then destroyed the spring and said he intended to become Azeroth's sole guardian god.
• Grom led the Fel Orcs back into Ashenvale, where they burned the forest and killed Night Elves; Grom drank Cenarius's blood during their battle, and the Orcs drained the Demigod to death.
• Mannoroth opened a portal to send Demons in support of the rampaging Warsong Clan, while Thrall, Cairne Bloodhoof, and Jaina searched for Medivh in the Stonetalon Mountains.
• Medivh watched images of the Orcs' destruction and Cenarius's death, blamed himself for bringing the Orcs to Kalimdor, and resolved that they could not be allowed to establish themselves in Azeroth.

Thrall discovered that Grom Hellscream and the Warsong Clan had joined the Burning Legion, killed Cenarius, and destroyed his hopes of winning acceptance for the Orcs. Raymond expelled Thrall’s forces from the coalition, Cairne Bloodhoof sided with the native races, and Thrall’s divided army debated whether to fight the Warsong Clan.

• Thrall, Cairne Bloodhoof, and Jaina reached Medivh in the Stonetalon Mountains, where he revealed that the Eastern Kingdoms were already fighting the Burning Legion and urged them to head for Mount Hyjal.
• Medivh showed them the Warsong Clan’s slaughter in Ashenvale and revealed that Grom Hellscream had killed Cenarius after drinking Demon Blood.
• Raymond arrived and declared the Orcs expelled from the coalition, while Cairne Bloodhoof chose to stay with Jaina and the other allies instead of leaving with Thrall.
• Thrall led his remaining forces back to their airship and learned that the Orc clans disagreed over Grom, Demon Blood, and what to do next.
• Eitrigg urged Thrall to attack and eliminate the Warsong Clan to distinguish the New Horde from Grom’s demonic followers, but Thrall objected that the fight would devastate his already weakened army.

Thrall’s New Horde fought its way through Ashenvale toward Grom Hellscream, while Raymond secretly transformed the Warsong Clan into Blood Orcs and took control of Grom. The chapter ended with Grom challenging Thrall to Mak’gora as Raymond and Mal’Ganis watched.

• Thrall led the Frostwolf Clan and its allies into Ashenvale, where they fought powerful Fel Orcs and Demons at heavy cost.
• Jaina and Cairne Bloodhoof arrived at the battlefield, and Jaina hurried onward toward Mount Hyjal rather than join the Orc civil war.
• A Mo'arg engineer discovered that the Warsong Clan’s blood contained an unknown substance, but Mannoroth dismissed the warning and ordered the blood injected into every Orc.
• Raymond revealed himself to Grom Hellscream as the maker of the Blood Orcs, seized control of him, and ordered him to capture Thrall and later drain Mannoroth’s blood.
• Grom confronted Thrall and blamed him for the Warsong Clan’s fate before challenging him to Mak’gora, leaving Thrall to decide whether to accept.

Thrall accepted Grom Hellscream’s challenge, but Grom defeated him and claimed the title of Warboss before revealing his defiance of Mannoroth by helping the Warsong Clan destroy the demon vanguard. Raymond then revived and transformed Thrall into a Blood Orc, leaving him free to choose whether to return to the Horde while Raymond pursued his plan to corrupt his soul.

• Thrall and Grom fought a brutal Mak'gora, and Grom overcame Thrall’s elemental-powered Doomhammer and transformed him with demon blood.
• Grom declared himself the Horde’s new Warboss, then attacked and killed Mannoroth while the Warsong Clan slaughtered the nearby demons.
• Varok Saurfang and Eitrigg rejected Grom’s leadership, and Grom left with the unconscious Thrall as the other Orcs withdrew toward Azshara.
• Grom brought Thrall to Raymond, who revived him and gave him his first blood-feeding; Thrall killed and drained an Orc prisoner before regaining his senses.
• Raymond told Thrall he was free to leave and choose his own path, and Thrall cautiously departed after questioning Raymond’s motives.
• Raymond explained to Mal'Ganis that offering choices and letting someone fall willingly made a soul more valuable, then revived the dead prisoner as an Undead and teleported away.

The Evermeet Elves arrived in Athkatla and discovered that Zuo Si had built a vast, soul-centered Mythal that strengthened magic throughout the Sword Coast Empire. He sent Silinxi and her army toward Cormanthor aboard a Gunship with Dragon Knight escorts, while his expanding magical infrastructure transformed life across the Imperium and he prepared to test Sylex’s power.

• Archimonde ordered the Legion to advance on Mount Hyjal while Thrall settled the Horde in Azshara and Grom Hellscream waited in Felwood for Illidan.
• Silinxi arrived in Athkatla with five thousand Elves and recognized the city-spanning Mythal and its floating Mythallars as Zuo Si’s unprecedented creation.
• Zuo Si explained that he had inscribed his soul as the Mythal’s core and that his Land Cards could extend its protection to cities across the Sword Coast Empire.
• Zuo Si supplied Silinxi’s expedition with a Gunship and Dragon Knight escorts, and the Elves departed to reclaim Myth Drannor.
• Zuo Si discussed the Drow gods as likely enemies, displayed Sylex, and mused about testing its destructive power while his Mythal spurred magical growth and new industries across the Imperium.

Seiveril Miritar and Silinxi explained why the Elves had retreated from Faerûn and planned to restore Cormanthor with Raymond’s support, while Raymond forced Fzoul Chembryl to accept the alliance. On Mirrodin, Raymond’s converted Praetors prepared New Phyrexia for war as Elesh Norn realized another consciousness was taking control of her body.

• Seiveril Miritar questioned how the Sword Coast Imperium governed so effectively, and Silinxi credited its bureaucracy, surveillance, and harsh rule.
• Silinxi explained that the Elves had retreated because of the prophecies in the Tirantir Codex and now planned to reclaim Myth Drannor with the Imperium’s support.
• Silinxi warned Seiveril Miritar that the Elves would face the Drow, the City of Shade, and Fzoul Chembryl’s forces as they attempted to restore Cormanthor.
• Fzoul Chembryl confronted Raymond over his support for the Elves, but Raymond pressured him to accept their return and withdraw his people from Myth Drannor.
• Vohar, Jin-Gitaxias, Vorinclex, and Sheoldred prepared New Phyrexia’s forces and weapons for Raymond’s coming war while keeping their plans hidden from Elesh Norn.
• Elesh Norn realized that a new consciousness was controlling her whenever she lost consciousness and that her memories of those moments had been erased.

Elesh Norn’s New Glistening Oil consciousness tightened its secret hold over her body as Evermeet’s army landed near Myth Drannor and drew the Cormanthor Drow into a massive alliance. The battle began with the inexperienced Elves pushed back, until Silinxi ordered the gunship to open fire.

• The New Glistening Oil consciousness seized control of Elesh Norn, revealed its plan to make New Phyrexia the Master’s possession, then returned control while concealing its dominance.
• Silinxi’s Elven army reached Myth Drannor, built a fortified camp beside a lake, and left the airship overhead as a Drow scout watched.
• Lame Jez rallied the Jelle Family and other Drow, monsters, demons, and dragons to oppose the Elves’ return to Cormanthor.
• Silinxi told Seiveril Miritar she would use Elven High Magic to destroy the gathered enemy, and the allied army attacked the fortress after nightfall.
• The Drow and their allies breached the walls and inflicted heavy casualties on the inexperienced Elves, prompting Silinxi to order the gunship to open fire.

The Thunder and the Dragon Knights turned the tide against the Drow coalition, while Raymond restrained Vhaeraun and confronted Lolth and Eilistraee. Lolth betrayed Vhaeraun’s forces, and Silinxi’s restored Mythal crushed the remaining army, leaving Cormanthor secure and Eilistraee uneasy about her mother’s plans.

• The Thunder bombarded the Drow and Monsters, while Sevriel’s Elves fought the isolated attackers and Dragon Knights engaged the evil Dragons.
• Drow forces breached the city gate and disrupted the Elven ranks, while Lame Jez’s teleporting assault team was trapped inside the Thunder by its Golems, Undead, and defenses.
• Raymond used an upgraded Mythal to restrain Vhaeraun and revealed that Lolth had arrived; Eilistraee appeared and stopped her brother from escaping.
• Lolth ordered her priestesses and Spider-Kissers to turn on Vhaeraun’s followers, killing hundreds and throwing the allied army into chaos.
• Silinxi reactivated Myth Drannor’s Mythal and joined the Elven wizards in a ritual that devastated the Drow army, while the Dragon Knights defeated the enemy Dragons.
• Vhaeraun withdrew his avatar, Lolth returned to the Underdark, and Eilistraee worried that her mother was plotting something terrible.

Silinxi restored Myth Drannor while Raymond and Eilistraee discussed the dangers surrounding Cormanthor, then Raymond turned his attention to the coming battle at Mount Hyjal. Illidan fought Arthas over the Skull of Gul'dan as Raymond maneuvered Grom, Thrall, and the Night Elves into position, and the chapter ended with Malfurion warning Tyrande that Illidan would bring disaster.

• Silinxi reclaimed Myth Drannor with the Mythal, expelled its enemies, restored the city, and gathered its scattered survivors.
• Raymond agreed to warn Eilistraee about Lolth, then returned to Athkatla as Cormanthor's neighbors began approaching the restored elven kingdom.
• Illidan fought Arthas in Felwood, and Arthas told him that the Skull of Gul'dan could help him defeat Tichondrius.
• Grom Hellscream reported that Illidan had arrived, and Raymond ordered him to wait until Illidan was exiled before offering him support.
• Thrall considered joining the coalition against the Burning Legion, and Eitrigg volunteered to seek forgiveness from the Night Elves.
• Malfurion and Tyrande prepared Mount Hyjal's defenses, and Malfurion warned Tyrande that Illidan would eventually cause a disaster.

Illidan Stormrage traded the Skull of Gul'dan to Raymond for Mannoroth’s power, then killed Tichondrius and was rejected by Malfurion after becoming a demon. Illidan accepted Grom Hellscream’s challenge, while Arthas and Kel’Thuzad moved the Scourge toward Mount Hyjal and Raymond planned to use the skull to control the energy released by the World Tree.

• Raymond took the Skull of Gul'dan from Illidan Stormrage in exchange for Mannoroth’s body and sealed soul.
• Illidan Stormrage absorbed Mannoroth’s power, transformed into a demon, and killed Tichondrius after hunting through Felwood Forest.
• Malfurion rejected Illidan Stormrage and ordered him to leave Night Elf territory, so Illidan walked away from his people.
• Grom Hellscream challenged Illidan Stormrage to a duel and offered the Warsong Clan’s loyalty if Illidan won.
• Arthas and Kel'Thuzad agreed to lead the Scourge toward Mount Hyjal while the Alliance’s guns and cannons repelled undead attacks in the Eastern Kingdoms.
• Raymond studied the Skull of Gul'dan and planned to use its portal connection to absorb the World Tree’s released energy and protect the Well of Eternity.

Raymond questioned Gul'dan's skull and learned about the Dark Portal, the Scepter of Sargeras, and the dangers of Sorcerer magic. As Calia joined the leaders at Mount Hyjal, they agreed to use the Alliance army to help defend against Archimonde while Malfurion prepared to sacrifice the World Tree's protection; the Burning Legion and Undead Scourge then launched their assault.

• Raymond bound Gul'dan to serve him and demanded detailed knowledge of the Dark Portal, the Scepter of Sargeras, and the Tomb of Sargeras.
• Raymond learned how Sorcerers' ties to the Burning Legion exposed them to corruption, while Calia reported that the Alliance's defenses held and confirmed preparations for a force of twenty thousand troops.
• Raymond sent Calia to Mount Hyjal with a teleportation rune and warned her to watch Jaina, while explaining that the Alliance would seek an alliance with the Night Elves.
• At Mount Hyjal, Malfurion revealed that the Night Elves would surrender the World Tree's gift of immortality to unleash its power against Archimonde, and Jaina and Cairne Bloodhoof agreed to hold the first defensive line.
• Calia arrived and offered the Alliance army in exchange for access to the Well of Eternity's energy, and Jaina opened a portal that brought troops and war machines to Mount Hyjal.
• Archimonde announced his attack, and Jaina ordered the defenders to reinforce the walls as the Burning Legion and Undead Scourge advanced, beginning the final battle of the Third War.

The Alliance withdrew from its shattered first defensive line and held the second against Archimonde’s forces, while Tyrande rejected Eitrigg’s attempt to secure a Horde alliance. Meanwhile, Raymond and Asmodeus agreed on terms for the expedition into Azeroth as Archimonde returned to the battle.

• Jaina, Cairne Bloodhoof, and Uther retreated with the first line’s survivors after Archimonde summoned a colossal Infernal that devastated the battlefield.
• Tyrande explained Malfurion’s plan to feign weakness and draw Archimonde into a trap, and Calia agreed to defend the second line.
• Calia rallied the Alliance as its guns, aircraft, and Druids stopped the advancing Demons and undead at the second line.
• Tyrande rejected Eitrigg’s offer of a Horde alliance and had a Sentinel throw him down the mountain.
• Raymond and Asmodeus agreed to reduce the tax on souls gained in the expedition, then watched the Battle of Mount Hyjal as Archimonde reappeared.

Thrall hesitated to join the Battle of Mount Hyjal after the Night Elves rejected his terms, while Calia and the Alliance retreated under Archimonde’s assault. Raymond rescued Calia, then arrived at the World Tree as Archimonde’s trap failed and opened a Legion portal; Raymond revealed his plan to oppose the Burning Legion and summoned forces from across the multiverse.

• Thrall received Eitrigg’s report that the Night Elf leader had firmly rejected his terms, leaving the Orcs unsure whether to join the battle.
• Calia ordered the Alliance forces to retreat, but Archimonde destroyed her gunship and trapped her while Uther was kept at bay by Kazzak.
• Raymond rescued Calia from Archimonde, sent her back to the Eastern Kingdoms, and went to the World Tree to await Archimonde.
• Malfurion’s plan overloaded Archimonde with the World Tree’s energy, but Raymond contained the blast, saved Archimonde, and allowed him to open a portal to Argus.
• Raymond’s consciousness-controlled vessel revealed that he had deliberately helped Archimonde open the portal, and the true Raymond arrived through a rift from the Dark Void.
• Raymond declared war on the Burning Legion, offered Archimonde the choice to become his subordinate, and summoned the Hell Devil Legion and New Phyrexia through Planeswalker portals.

Soros trapped the Burning Legion in a devastating battle at Mount Hyjal while Phyrexian Oil began infiltrating Argus. He persuaded Archimonde to abandon the Legion and serve as his adjutant, then demonstrated his power by absorbing the Well of Eternity’s energy.

• A Pit Fiend general urged Devils and mortals to join the invasion, while Firna and Glasya praised Soros’s ambition and considered drawing closer to him.
• Soros’s Devils and New Phyrexians overwhelmed the Burning Legion at Mount Hyjal, turning enemy casualties into new troops as demons continued pouring through the portal to Argus.
• Gramill reported that the armies of Nine Hells and the Yugoloths were ready to serve Soros, who ordered her to mobilize the Ninth Layer’s forces.
• Soros revealed his identity and plans to Archimonde, explained that Phyrexian Oil was already contaminating Argus, and offered him power in exchange for becoming his adjutant.
• Archimonde agreed to betray the Burning Legion if Soros proved he could contend with Sargeras, and Soros absorbed the Well of Eternity’s immense energy to demonstrate his strength.

Raymond drained most of the Well of Eternity, then captured and compleated Archimonde, turning him against the Burning Legion. As the Legion’s forces collapsed, Kel'Thuzad prepared to offer the Undead Scourge to Raymond in exchange for their survival.

• Malfurion and Tyrande evacuated Mount Hyjal with their allies as Raymond drained the Well of Eternity and the battle devastated the region.
• Raymond stopped before emptying the Well, made a card from its water, and considered how to control and develop Azeroth’s energy and World-Soul.
• Archimonde agreed to leave the Burning Legion, but Raymond sealed him into a card and merged him with Phyrexian Oil, creating a compleated follower.
• Archimonde attacked the Legion’s forces, transformed Azgalor, and began hunting the other demon lords as the Legion’s defensive line broke.
• Kazzak ordered the Undead Scourge sent to the front, prompting Arthas and Kel'Thuzad to decide they must abandon the Legion.
• Kel'Thuzad created an illusion and vanished to negotiate the Undead Scourge’s surrender to Raymond, with Ner'zhul willing to serve him.

Raymond and Archimonde opened the Dark Portal to Draenor, beginning a plan to use its network of portals to invade Burning Legion worlds across the universe. As Archimonde attacked Magtheridon’s stronghold, Kil’jaeden ordered Illidan to retrieve Sargeras’s body and turn the war in the Legion’s favor.

• Pit Fiend generals ordered their troops to retreat and keep the Burning Legion fighting on Mount Hyjal, where Devils and New Phyrexia continued harvesting souls and parts.
• Vorinclex brought Jin-Gitaxias a captured Demon Lord and received double the war machines as replacements.
• Raymond reopened the Dark Portal with the Skull of Gul’dan and led Medivh and Archimonde into Draenor to take control of its portals.
• Raymond ordered Archimonde to seize the portals in Shadowmoon Valley, and Archimonde attacked Magtheridon’s Black Temple with his Compleated army.
• Magtheridon learned that Archimonde was attacking the Black Temple, while Mother Shahraz questioned why the Legion commander had come to Outland.
• Kil’jaeden ordered Illidan Stormrage to travel to the Tomb of Sargeras and revive the dark Titan’s body.

Kil'jaeden struggled to contain a surprise invasion spreading across the Burning Legion’s occupied planets as Raymond and Sheoldred launched New Phyrexia’s campaign across the universe. With the Legion’s portal network overwhelmed, Sargeras authorized Kil'jaeden to deploy one of the imprisoned Titans against the attackers.

• Phyrexian Oil secretly infected Argus and spread through the Legion’s portal network to more than ten thousand planets while Kil'jaeden remained unaware.
• Sargeras arrived on Argus, questioned Kil'jaeden about the stalled Azeroth invasion, and approved his plan involving Illidan Stormrage and the Broken Isles.
• Archimonde seized the Black Temple from Magtheridon, and Raymond sent Guraise to guard Mother Shahraz before ordering Sheoldred to lead the invasion through the Legion’s portals.
• Sheoldred spread Phyrexian Oil across a Fel-saturated planet and destroyed the Legion’s defenders with a massive barrage, while attacks overwhelmed the Legion’s occupied worlds.
• Kil'jaeden’s commanders warned that the Legion’s portal network could not support the simultaneous invasions, and Kil'jaeden asked Sargeras to send a Titan.
• Sargeras authorized Kil'jaeden to deploy either Aggramar or Argus, provided the Titan survived and the imprisoned World-Soul remained under his control.

Raymond examined a compleated Old God and ordered Jin-Gitaxias to develop New Phyrexia’s own world-consuming Old Gods while warning that a Titan might enter the war. Argus the Unmaker appeared and destroyed a planet before Raymond joined Firna’s battle against him, leaving the newborn Titan wounded by Raymond’s Void Sword.

• Sheoldred and Jin-Gitaxias expanded New Phyrexia’s war effort as Phyrexian Oil developed Fel and Shadow varieties that powered war machines and corrupted minds.
• Raymond visited a planet whose dead Old God had been compleated, learned that New Phyrexia had found three such planets, and ordered Jin-Gitaxias to create Old Gods that could spread independently.
• Raymond warned Jin-Gitaxias that Kil’jaeden might send a Titan, then went to investigate the war’s front lines.
• Firna’s Devil Legion captured millions of demon souls until Argus the Unmaker appeared and attacked the planet; Firna fought him while her troops retreated, but the planet broke apart.
• Raymond arrived among the debris, identified Argus, and joined the fight, striking through the Titan’s body with the Dark Void Sword.

Raymond defeated Argus, corrupted him into a Demon Titan, and used the Sylex to wound Sargeras and escape with Argus. In the Twisting Nether, Raymond began turning Mardum’s fragments into a new Bottomless Abyss with Argus as its ruler.

• Raymond wounded Argus with the Void Sword, drained his energy, and survived the Titan’s devastating counterattack through his Astral Dragon power.
• Raymond injected the Abyss Fragment into Argus, irreversibly corrupting him and transforming him into a Demon Titan.
• Sargeras arrived, and Raymond revealed that he had activated the Sylex while stalling for time.
• Raymond hurled the Sylex at Sargeras, then escaped with Argus as the blast devastated the star system and gravely wounded Sargeras.
• Raymond and Argus reached Mardum in the Twisting Nether, where Argus agreed to rule as Raymond began merging the Floating Islands into a new Bottomless Abyss.