Chapter Summaries

The coalition captured The Molten Core, and Hill Lord Rundane explained to Foreman Ofist why he had waited to oppose Thorias until victory was possible. Ofist pledged to help Rundane lead the Dark Iron Dwarves, presenting him with the Sulfuron Hammer as Rundane called the troops to fight for their people.

• The coalition forces and Dark Iron Dwarf slaves overwhelmed the defenders at The Molten Core, while Hill Lord Rundane and Foreman Ofist defeated Foreman Matorus and Blackcoat Lasorik.
• Foreman Ofist asked Hill Lord Rundane what he planned to do next, and Rundane explained that he had waited for allies strong enough to defeat Thorias and withstand retaliation.
• Hill Lord Rundane told Foreman Ofist that he had opposed Thorias's enslavement of their people and condemned the use of their dead as fuel.
• Foreman Ofist recognized Rundane as the better leader and knelt to offer him the Sulfuron Hammer, which Lokhtos Darkbargainer had helped him obtain materials to forge.
• Hill Lord Rundane accepted the hammer and shouted, "For the Dark Iron Dwarves!"

Hill Lord Rundane challenged Grand Duke Kael'thas with the Safron Warhammer but was defeated until Tyrel arrived and sealed the fire elemental. Tyrel rescued Rundane, confirmed that Firelord Ragnaros had been weakened, and gave Kael'thas to Rundane, whose warhammer was transformed using the elemental's essence.

• Hill Lord Rundane confronted Grand Duke Kael'thas, but Kael'thas used his immense strength and the Molten Pool's fire energy to defeat him and take the Safron Warhammer.
• Tyrel arrived after Alex had revealed Rundane's plans, then used Aluneth and the Sunwell's Primal Arcane energy to seal Grand Duke Kael'thas.
• Tyrel respectfully recognized Rundane as Lord Commander and explained that he had spared Kael'thas to learn more about Firelord Ragnaros.
• Grand Duke Kael'thas's words confirmed that Firelord Ragnaros had weakened after being separated from the Firelands and could not defeat Prince Nefarian.
• Tyrel handed Kael'thas over to Rundane, and the elemental's essence transformed the Safron Warhammer into a weapon with fire elemental power.

The alliance considered how to reach the Molten Core without being trapped between the Dark Iron Dwarves and fire elementals. Akraide revealed that Vaelastrasz and stolen dragon eggs were held in Blackrock Spire, and Tyrel agreed to help rescue them.

• Lord Rendan offered to fight alongside the alliance, but Tyrel told him to stay and protect his people.
• Yorin proposed asking the Blackrock Clan to hold back the Dark Iron Dwarves, and Ariok supported him despite Eitrigg's warnings about Rend Blackhand.
• Akraide, a Red Dragon disguised as a Blackrock Orc, emerged and said he could help the alliance.
• Akraide revealed that Prince Valastrasz had been captured by Nefarian, who was conducting experiments on stolen dragon eggs.
• Tarecgosa asked Tyrel to help, and he agreed to rescue Vaelastrasz and the dragon eggs.

Akredos helped Eitrigg, Yorin, and Ariok secretly meet Rend Blackhand at Blackrock Spire, where Rend offered to return the Blackrock Clan to the Horde if they killed Nefarian and Daggoran Thaurissan. Tyrel joined them, and the group began planning to strike at Nefarian and Ragnaros.

• Akredos disguised Eitrigg, Yorin, and Ariok so they could enter Blackrock Spire and meet Rend.
• Rend revealed that he wanted to free the Blackrock Clan from Nefarian and offered to rejoin the Horde if Nefarian and Daggoran Thaurissan were killed.
• Eitrigg accepted Rend's offer but warned that he would kill him if he betrayed the Horde, and Rend handed over his greatsword to show his trust.
• Akredos realized Rend's support would make rescuing Vaelastrasz easier.
• Tyrel met Rend, and they felt an immediate spiritual connection before beginning plans against Nefarian and Ragnaros.

After Lord Rendan and the Thorium Brotherhood were mistaken for attackers, Nefarian led the Dark Horde and Black Dragonflight against Blackrock Depths to reclaim his test subjects and assert his claim as King of Blackrock. General Hurdfire’s forces held the narrow approaches, but Nefarian broke through and stormed into the Molten Core.

• Rend Blackhand told Nefarian that Dark Iron Dwarves had seized his test subjects, and General Dath'remar falsely confirmed the report.
• Nefarian blamed Ragnaros and assembled the Dark Horde and Black Dragonflight to attack Blackrock Depths.
• General Hurdfire used the terrain to hold back the invading armies, while Emperor Dagran Thaurissan remained displeased with him over his criticism of past military defeats.
• Nefarian transformed into a dragon, killed over a thousand Dark Iron Dwarves with a shadow-infused breath attack, and charged into the Molten Core.

With Prince Nefarian away, Rend and the Blood Elf-Orc alliance moved to rescue Vaelastrasz and free the Blackrock Clan from the Black Dragonflight. Rend’s forces returned to Blackrock Spire and attacked the Dragonkin, while General Dath'remar and General Hurdfire were caught by surprise.

• Tyrel asked Rend to take Akredos and rescue Vaelastrasz from Blackwing Lair.
• Rend told Malkorok to summon Gath'zog, who brought Blackrock Citadel’s forces back to Blackrock Spire.
• Gath'zog turned on the Forest Trolls, and the Blackrock Orcs killed many Smolderthorn and Firetree Trolls as the Ogres stayed with Rend’s forces.
• Gath'zog ordered the Blackrock Clan to attack the Dragonkin fighting the Dark Iron Dwarves, declaring that Rend had ordered them to resist.
• The Blackrock Orcs struck the unprepared Dragonkin and dragon beasts, shocking General Dath'remar and General Hurdfire.

Prince Nefarian attacked Firelord Ragnaros with Shadowflame, then revealed his resentment toward his absent father Deathwing as he taunted the Firelord. Tyrel, Luminas, and their allies watched in hiding until an adult Red Dragon charged into Molten Core.

• Nefarian dodged Ragnaros's hammer and wounded him with Shadowflame, while Ragnaros's attacks failed to stop the nimble dragon.
• Nefarian taunted Ragnaros and claimed the territory above Molten Core, but Ragnaros dismissed him as a clown.
• Ragnaros's contempt stirred Nefarian's pain over his mother's absence and Deathwing's lack of approval, and Nefarian threatened to kill Ragnaros with his planned Prismatic Dragons.
• Luminas criticized Nefarian and Ragnaros as childish while Tyrel and the others remained hidden behind Aluneth's shield and Luminas's Frost Rune.
• An adult Red Dragon roared that he would repay Nefarian for his humiliation and charged into Molten Core, drawing the attention of Nefarian and Ragnaros.

Vaelastrasz charged Nefarian but was struck into the lava by Ragnaros, prompting Tyrel to intervene and sever the Firelord’s arm. As Tyrel challenged Ragnaros and the dragons fought Nefarian, Vaelastrasz survived and surfaced from the lava.

• Nefarian recognized Vaelastrasz and mocked him, provoking the wounded Red Dragon to charge.
• Ragnaros smashed Vaelastrasz into the lava, and Akredos attacked the Firelord to save him.
• Tyrel struck Ragnaros with Flaming Strike and severed his left forearm, then declared war on him.
• Nefarian tried to leave Molten Core, but Akredos, Tarecgosa, and Azuregos confronted him.
• The dragons and Tyrel’s allies fought Ragnaros and Nefarian, while Vaelastrasz emerged alive from the lava.

The champions battling Firelord Ragnaros flooded the Molten Core with seawater and cooled it with ice magic to weaken his regeneration. Their efforts enabled Duke Hydraxis to enter the fight, where Ragnaros turned on him and immediately gained the upper hand.

• Ragnaros drained a magma pool, regrew his left arm, and resumed attacking Tyrel.
• Luminas crossed the magma on a frozen path and attacked Ragnaros, while runic frost carried unusual energy into his body.
• High Examiner Tesseran and the Blood Elf Magisters opened portals to the Endless Sea, and the Magisters and Orc Shamans sent seawater and Water Elementals into the Molten Core.
• Azuregos and Tarecgosa summoned freezing winds from Northrend to cool the Molten Core.
• The Orc Shamans summoned Duke Hydraxis, who struck Ragnaros with water elemental energy.
• Ragnaros abandoned his attack on Tyrel and clashed weapons with Duke Hydraxis, overpowering him.

Nefarian escaped the Molten Core after Alex struck his reverse scale with the Sunstrider Greatsword, then teleported to Blackwing Lair. There, Rend Blackhand betrayed him and wounded him, but Nefarian escaped again as Rend claimed his treasures.

• Nefarian defeated Vaelastrasz and Akredos, then fled through the Molten Core while Azuregos and Tarecgosa pursued him.
• Alex hurled the Sunstrider Greatsword and pierced Nefarian's reverse scale, sending him crashing to the ground.
• Nefarian prepared to attack Alex and the others with Shadowflame, but Azuregos intervened, allowing Nefarian to teleport away.
• Nefarian returned to Blackwing Lair and learned from Rend Blackhand that Blood Elves and Dark Iron Dwarves were attacking Blackrock Spire.
• Rend pretended to support the injured Nefarian, then stabbed him in the chest; Nefarian transformed and escaped as Rend claimed his treasures.

Firelord Ragnaros unleashed a devastating blaze despite the seawater flooding his lair, leaving Duke Hydraxis weakened and Vaelastrasz dead. As Tyrel gained Vaelastrasz’s Life Flame, Duke Hydraxis revealed that Luminas had secretly injected Essence of Water into Ragnaros, which began consuming his source flames.

• Ragnaros reignited the magma beneath Blackrock Mountain and recovered much of his strength by absorbing the lair’s fire essence.
• Tyrel protected Vaelastrasz while Duke Hydraxis shielded the expedition, but Ragnaros’s flames burned through the defenses and devastated the lair.
• Ragnaros’s attack left Duke Hydraxis grievously weakened, while Vaelastrasz sacrificed his remaining soul power and Life Flame to empower Flaming Strike.
• Duke Hydraxis sent a droplet of water at Ragnaros and revealed that Essence of Water had already been planted inside him.
• Luminas had concealed the Essence of Water in Frost Strike and injected it into Ragnaros under cover of the Rune Blade, causing it to consume his source flames.

Tyrel and Firelord Ragnaros unleashed their full power in a clash between Flaming Strike and the Hand of Ragnaros, while powerful beings across Azeroth sensed the battle. Though both weapons ran out of energy and Ragnaros claimed victory, Tyrel summoned Aluneth and began channeling the miniature Sunwell’s arcane power.

• Tyrel gathered power for Flaming Strike while the heroes, including returning reinforcements led by Azuregos and Tarecgosa, shielded him from Ragnaros’s attacks.
• Tyrel and Ragnaros struck at once, and their clash lit the sky above Blackrock Spire as Dagran Thaurissan, Rend, and powerful beings across Azeroth sensed the battle.
• Ragnaros’s Hand of Ragnaros was knocked away, but both it and Flaming Strike exhausted their energy.
• Ragnaros declared that Tyrel could no longer defeat him, but Tyrel summoned Aluneth and poured the miniature Sunwell’s primal arcane energy into it.

After Ragnaros was defeated, Tyrel gathered his core and Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros, while Alex prepared to reforge Thunderfury with help from Solidar. Rend offered rare metals for the weapon and planned to move the Blackrock Clan to Kalimdor, gifting Upper Blackrock Spire to Lord Rendan’s Dark Iron resistance.

• Tyrel plunged Flaming Strike into Ragnaros’s core, absorbing Azeroth’s Primordial Fire, and shrank Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros, for mortal use.
• Alex showed Tyrel the Heads of the Windseeker, and Tyrel promised to have Solidar reforge Thunderfury with the Arcane Forge.
• Rend offered Alex Elementium Ore and Arcane Crystal to help reforge Thunderfury.
• Tyrel warned Rend that Stormwind City and Ironforge might threaten the Blackrock Clan after it returned to the Horde.
• Rend said the Blackrock Clan would seek a new homeland in Kalimdor and decided to gift Upper Blackrock Spire to Lord Rendan’s Dark Iron resistance.

Rend, Eitrigg, and Yorin planned to build a port so the Blackrock Clan could safely relocate to Kalimdor. After Dragonmaw scouts took to the skies, Tarecgosa prepared to return rescued dragon eggs and hatchlings to the Nexus, while Alex stayed behind and Akredos promised to report Vaelastrasz’s fate to the Red Dragon Queen.

• Eitrigg suggested hiring Goblin airships to transport the Blackrock Clan, but Rend refused to risk his people on an unsafe journey across the Endless Sea.
• Yorin proposed building a port, and Rend and Eitrigg agreed that the Blackrock Clan’s construction skills could make sea transport possible.
• Dragonmaw Clan Dragon Knights flew out to scout for a suitable port site near the Burning Steppes.
• Tarecgosa asked Tyrel to open a portal to Moonwhisper Temple so she could return the rescued dragon eggs and hatchlings to the Nexus.
• Tarecgosa invited Alex to go with her, but Alex feared meeting Malygos and did not accept.
• Akredos told Tyrel that the Red Dragonflight would remember the Sin'dorei’s help and that he would explain Vaelastrasz’s choice to the Queen.

Tyrel learned that Kael'thas planned a dangerous gamble for the Sin'dorei and gave Rommath the Eye of Sulfuras to help forge him a fire staff. After returning to Silvermoon City, Tyrel discovered Anveena and Kalecgos had vanished, and he set out to find her.

• Rommath told Tyrel that Kael'thas intended to risk himself for the future of the Sin'dorei, and Tyrel objected to his brother's plan.
• Tyrel gave Rommath the Eye of Sulfuras so it could be used to forge Kael'thas a new Artifact Staff, and Rommath returned to Outland.
• Taelestia told Tyrel that Kalecgos had taken Anveena to Eversong Woods, and Tyrel reflected on his duties as her older brother.
• Valeera warned Tyrel that Anveena and the Blood Blade elites guarding her had disappeared without signs of a battle.
• Tyrel reassured Valeera that Anveena was alive and still within Quel'Thalas, then insisted they find her.

After Anveena disappeared, Lothar sealed Quel'Thalas and led patrols to find her. Meanwhile, Liandara lured Anveena and Kalecgos to Morningstar Tower, where she betrayed them and left Anveena captured and Kalecgos wounded.

• Taelestia ordered Lothar to seal Quel'Thalas's borders and search for Anveena, and Lothar swore to protect her.
• Lothar enlisted Hadronox's help and sent Dragonhawk Riders and Ranger-Expeditionaries to patrol the region.
• Liandara persuaded Anveena to enter the Ghostlands and claimed that defeating the Undead at Morningstar Tower would help Tyrel.
• Anveena and Kalecgos followed Liandara to Morningstar Tower, where Anveena began preparing a powerful spell against the Undead.
• Arcane chains bound Anveena and interrupted her spell, while Liandara stabbed Kalecgos through the chest.

Liandara revealed that she had betrayed Quel'Thalas and trapped Anveena and Kalecgos to gain power with the Scourge's help. Dalkhan Theron returned from the dead and enslaved Kalecgos, while Liandara demanded the Scourge help her claim Quel'Thalas.

• Liandara explained that the chains binding Anveena grew stronger whenever she used magic, while Kalecgos lay wounded from her sudden attack.
• Liandara revealed that she resented losing her status as princess and had allied with the Scourge to eliminate Kael'thas and Tyrel and seize Quel'Thalas.
• Dalkhan Theron emerged inside Morningstar Tower, and Liandara said she had helped resurrect him and brought Anveena in exchange for the Scourge's support.
• Dalkhan promised that the Scourge would conquer Azeroth, while Liandara insisted she would rule Quel'Thalas and later drive the Scourge out.
• Liandara asked Dalkhan to make Kalecgos obey her, and Dalkhan enslaved the injured blue dragon with a restraining collar.

Anveena broke free of Dalkhan’s control after Kalecgos urged her to remember Tyrel and her people, but Kalecgos died saving her and became the staff Dragon’s Wrath. Anveena destroyed Morningstar Tower and its surrounding Scourge, then reunited with Lothar and Tyrel, ready to help shoulder responsibility.

• Dalkhan drained Anveena’s power and used dark magic to make her serve him, while Kalecgos called on her to remember her brother and her people.
• Anveena’s consciousness returned and the Sunwell’s power shattered her restraints, but Liandara stabbed Kalecgos through the heart as he professed his love for Anveena.
• Anveena freed herself and transformed Kalecgos’s sacrificed soul and the seed of Mother Tree Sas'aral into Dragon's Wrath: Kalecgos's Soul-Sacrificing Staff.
• Anveena unleashed the staff’s power and reduced Morningstar Tower to a crater, destroying the remaining Scourge in the Ghostlands.
• Lothar checked on Anveena, and Tyrel arrived; Anveena told him her golden eyes and Kalecgos’s help meant she could leave Silvermoon City and share the burden of responsibility.

Tyrel discovered that Korialstrasz, also known as the Kirin Tor Archmage Krasus, had desecrated the Sunwell and concealed Anveena. Vaelastrasz could not explain Korialstrasz’s motive, leaving Tyrel to suspect the Kirin Tor’s long-standing interest in the Sunwell.

• Tyrel and Anveena sparred in Sunfury Spire, where Tyrel’s fire dragon defeated Anveena’s ice dragon.
• Anveena asked why Tyrel had not told her that Vaelastrasz’s essence was within Flaming Strike, and Tyrel comforted her without pressing her about Morningstar Tower.
• Tyrel confronted Vaelastrasz and demanded the identity of whoever had put Red Dragon life essence into Anveena.
• Vaelastrasz identified Korialstrasz as the culprit and revealed that he also lived among humans as Krasus, an Archmage on Dalaran’s Six Council of Kirin Tor.
• Tyrel asked why Korialstrasz had interfered with the Sunwell, but Vaelastrasz did not know, leading them to suspect the Kirin Tor’s interest in Quel’Thalas.

The Holy Relic Association’s Uldaman excavation expanded with Goblin, Dark Iron Dwarf, and Blackrock Orc laborers while King Magni Bronzebeard led the Ironforge Legion toward Loch Modan. Magni explained that he was marching to rescue his daughter, Moira, defend the Bronzebeard claim to Khaz Modan, and confront threats to Dwarven interests.

• Blood Elf, Goblin, Dark Iron Dwarf, and Blackrock Orc workers joined the Uldaman excavation, and the Dark Iron Dwarves nearly doubled its pace.
• King Magni Bronzebeard led the Ironforge Legion through South Gate Pass toward Loch Modan, where the vanguard rested in King's Valley.
• High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque urged Magni to stay in Ironforge because Brann had gone missing, but Magni refused.
• Magni told Mekkatorque that he needed to rescue Moira and protect the Bronzebeard succession after Muradin and Brann disappeared.
• Magni said the march would also answer the Dark Iron Legion's attack on Sersama and prevent the Blood Elves from claiming Uldaman, and Mekkatorque pledged to fight beside him.