Chapter Summaries

After Arthas returned to Icecrown Citadel, Illidan and Maiev prepared to lead the Night Empire’s vanguard expedition to Outland. Illidan said farewell to his family and allies, then crossed through a Fel Portal with the expeditionary force, which closed behind them.

• Arthas escaped the valley and returned to Icecrown Citadel as Illidan and Maiev argued over what to do with the corpses.
• Illidan’s forces returned to Kalimdor and prepared to establish a forward base in Outland alongside Maiev’s Watchers and Socrethar’s Fel Legion.
• Malfurion and Tyrande said farewell to Illidan, who told Tyrande that she remained the light in his heart.
• Illidan promised Hu Feng that he would act cautiously, and Maiev vowed to watch over him as they continued to bicker.
• Illidan entered the Fel Portal to Outland, followed by the Illidari, Socrethar’s Eredar demons, and Maiev’s Watchers, then took the Skull of Gul'dan and closed the portal.

Stormwind and the New Horde announced that their aging leaders would step down in favor of a younger generation, with Varian Wrynn and Thrall set to take power. As both factions prepared for the transition, Vol'jin traveled to Stranglethorn Vale to recruit more Troll clans for the Horde.

• King Llane announced that Varian Wrynn would succeed him, while Anduin Lothar named Marshal Windsock as the Alliance's next Supreme Marshal.
• Grand Duke Bolvar and Countess Prestor continued running Stormwind's domestic affairs, while Onyxia embraced noble faction politics.
• Durotan announced that Thrall would become the Horde's new Warchief, and Orgrim Doomhammer chose Brox Saurfang and Varok Saurfang as the next Supreme Marshals.
• The Tauren and Darkspear Trolls accepted Thrall's succession, leaving his public challenge ceremony a formality.
• Vol'jin traveled secretly to Stranglethorn Vale to recruit Troll clans, as the Horde sought to keep pace with the Alliance's growing strength.

The Alliance and Horde maintained a fragile peace as their elder leaders prepared to step down, and Meryl Winterwind invited them to Karazhan for a farewell performance. Before attending, Boss Hu accompanied Alleria and Vereesa to Undercity to retrieve Sylvanas, where the Forsaken continued expanding their territory and weighing an alliance with the New Horde.

• Meryl Winterwind invited the Alliance, Horde, and neutral leaders to Karazhan for a farewell performance by the Ghostly Play troupe.
• Boss Hu agreed to attend but first accompanied Alleria and Vereesa to Undercity to bring Sylvanas back.
• The Forsaken expanded Undercity and nearby settlements, recruiting undead who swore loyalty to Sylvanas and expelling or destroying the rest.
• The Royal Dreadguard continued fighting Renault's Scarlet Crusade, which had fallen back to the defenses near Scarlet Monastery.
• The New Horde sent envoys to court Sylvanas, while she pursued closer ties with Quel'Thalas; Boss Hu let her make her own choice.

Boss Hu, Alleria, and Vereesa traveled through Brill and Undercity under heavy guard to meet Sylvanas. Alleria remained furious about her sisters’ choices as the party entered the Dark Queen’s palace.

• Vereesa pointed out Sylvanas’s statue in Brill, while Alleria confronted Boss Hu over concealing the truth from her.
• A Nightborne captain demanded that Governor Sephron summon Sylvanas, but Boss Hu stopped the Crusaders from intimidating him.
• Royal Dreadguard escorted the party from Brill to Undercity, where Alleria reacted with disgust to its abomination guards.
• A Dark Ranger who served Sylvanas’s personal forces recognized Alleria and offered to lead the party to the Dark Queen.
• Boss Hu sensed Whispers of Cthulhu in Undercity as the palace doors opened and the party entered.

Hu Feng confronted Varimathras over secretly plotting against Sylvanas and allowed him to prove his worth under a strict condition. As Alleria and Vereesa searched Sylvanas's private quarters, Hu Feng headed there to see how the political struggle would unfold.

• Varimathras greeted Hu Feng submissively in the hall, while Alleria and Vereesa rushed into Sylvanas's private quarters.
• Hu Feng ordered Varimathras to kneel, and the Nightborne Crusaders secured the hall as Antonidas arrived and paid his respects.
• Hu Feng accused Varimathras of organizing loyalists to rebel against Sylvanas and demanded to know his intentions.
• Varimathras explained that he wanted to test Sylvanas's ability to lead the Forsaken and hoped to rule them if she failed.
• Hu Feng let Varimathras prove himself, warning that he would not return to the Twisting Nether if Sylvanas suffered any injury.

Boss Hu helped Sylvanas restore more living sensations with Dawn Divine Power while Alleria and Vereesa visited her. The sisters made peace, a portal linked Sylvanas’s home to the Eternal Night Palace, and Alleria caught Boss Hu and Sylvanas flirting with their eyebrows.

• Boss Hu entered Sylvanas’s quarters and helped calm Alleria after she argued with Sylvanas over her decision to become undead.
• Boss Hu contacted Old Chen to prepare takeout, then used Dawn Divine Power to restore Sylvanas’s warmth, circulation, and sense of smell.
• Alleria inspected Sylvanas and demanded a portal to the Eternal Night Palace, which Sylvanas agreed to build.
• Boss Hu and Sylvanas exchanged eyebrow signals about who would take the lead that night, and Alleria caught them flirting.
• Alleria told Vereesa they were going home and declared she would stop looking after Sylvanas.

Sylvanas discussed Varimathras and the Forsaken’s future with Boss Hu before declaring that the Forsaken had joined the Horde under Warchief Durotan. The move intensified the Alliance-Horde standoff, with both factions seeking new allies and Theramore edging closer to the Alliance.

• Boss Hu and Sylvanas reunited in private, and he cautioned her about handling threats personally.
• Sylvanas agreed that Varimathras could test his strength, while Boss Hu insisted that a Dreadlord must not control the Forsaken.
• Sylvanas said she would bring the Forsaken into the Horde and would try, despite doubts, to bring Quel'Thalas with them.
• Several days later, Sylvanas declared that the Forsaken had joined the Horde and recognized Warchief Durotan's authority.
• The Alliance rejected the Forsaken but pursued ties with the Dark Iron Dwarves, Wildhammer Dwarves, and Onyxia's black dragon faction.
• As the Horde courted Stranglethorn Vale's trolls, the Alliance approached Jaina in Theramore, sharpening the growing political and military standoff.

Hu Feng, Meri, and Medivh discussed Karazhan’s restoration, the return of Deadwind Pass residents, and the threat posed by undead black knights. They then joined former Alliance and Horde commanders at a banquet, where old rivals traded insults and recalled their past battles.

• Hu Feng praised Meri and Medivh for restoring Karazhan, and Meri described the rebuilding of the nearby town and the return of some residents.
• Meri agreed to monitor Vivianka’s decision about bringing her people back to Deadwind Pass without pressuring her.
• Meri told Hu Feng that they were clearing out the undead black knights and had already emptied Karazhan’s artifact vault.
• Medivh said the New Horde planned to establish Fortress of the Thunder King in The Blasted Lands opposite Watchtower Citadel.
• Hu Feng, Meri, and Medivh went to the banquet, where old Alliance and Horde commanders gathered to drink, argue, and reminisce.
• Lothar and Orgrim traded accusations about their wartime tactics while the other commanders listened.

At the banquet, Hu Feng warned Durotan to preserve the balance between the Horde and Alliance as both factions restrained themselves from another full-scale war. The performance began, marking the close of the old era and the start of a new campaign against Azeroth’s lingering threats.

• Durotan thanked Hu Feng and the Night Elves for helping the New Horde, then reported that Rend Blackhand had rejected his offer while the Dragonmaw survivors had joined the Horde.
• Hu Feng warned Durotan not to let the Horde upset the balance with the Alliance, and Durotan agreed to stay out of the Burning Steppes.
• Turalyon showed Hu Feng that she had become a Dawn Priest, and he told her she could still consider herself a Soulbinder and study Shadow energy.
• Sylvanas teased Turalyon until Hu Feng and Alleria told her to stop, while Elisande reminded the family to observe proper etiquette in public.
• A host announced an epic performance about the end of an era, and Hu Feng reflected that the factions were established and the coming struggle would target threats such as Blackwing Lair, Molten Core, Ahn'Qiraj, and Naxxramas.

Nozdormu observed that Titan Sarodar’s timeline had become impossible to see into, while the Bronze Dragons’ and Infinite Dragons’ purposes began to converge. Across Azeroth, commercial rivalries, regional conflicts, and Alliance negotiations intensified, leaving the Alliance focused on uniting its members against growing threats.

• Nozdormu found that the river of time recognized both the destined timeline and Titan Sarodar’s timeline, and that the Bronze and Infinite Dragons’ goals were drawing closer together.
• Blackrock and Trade Prince Gallywix escalated their commercial war as the Blackrock Syndicate and Bilgewater Cartel competed across Alliance and New Horde territories.
• General Griman led the Westfall Militia against the Syndicate bandits while Onyxia secretly undermined Westfall’s supplies and tried to place Dawn Knights in the militia; Griman reported her to Grand Duke Bolvar.
• Blackrock Orcs and black dragonkin spread through the Burning Steppes as the Alliance attacked from the Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge, while Emperor Thaurissan sought to expand Dark Iron territory.
• Grand Lord Kurden and King Magni discussed closer settlement ties between the Wildhammer and Bronzebeard Dwarves after the Wildhammer Dwarves joined the Alliance.

Rhonin received word that Krasus would soon visit him about a threat to the timestream, as the journey into ancient times approached. Across Azeroth, factions prepared for new conflicts, while Oscar lamented that his life as a Death Knight kept him from returning to Ironforge.

• Rhonin received a letter from Krasus saying he would visit soon to discuss the stability of the timestream.
• Sylvanas expanded Forsaken territory and sent Varimathras's forces into costly battles while Durotan provided veteran orc instructors to train the Forsaken army.
• Kel'Thuzad's Scourge fought the Scarlet Crusade and the Argent Dawn, while Kael'thas kept Quel'Thalas sealed off and focused on purifying the Sunwell.
• Sylvanas failed to capture Garithos, who continued guerrilla attacks, while Arugal's worgen raided Forsaken settlements from Shadowfang Keep.
• Cenarion Hold reported that C'Thun's influence was growing stronger and the Aqir were stirring, prompting preparations for another War of Shifting Sands.
• Oscar sang of his longing for Ironforge and wondered when the world would accept free-willed Death Knights.

Varian was crowned King of Stormwind as Llane abdicated, while Lothar handed the role of Grand Marshal to Windsock and discussed his retirement with Garona. Garona left Lothar to handle the matter of her becoming a noble so she could focus on training SI:7.

• Llane crowned Varian King and gave him the golden Sword of the King as the crowd cheered for Stormwind and the Alliance.
• Magni asked Hu Feng why Stormwind rulers kept giving up the throne, and Hu Feng defended their decision as wisdom.
• Lothar began transferring the Alliance Supreme Marshal's duties to Windsock and gave him the Brotherhood Sword.
• Garona visited Lothar, who said he planned to retire and urged her to accept a noble title.
• Garona told Lothar to arrange the title for her while she continued overseeing SI:7, and he agreed to speak with King Varian after the coronation.

Thrall was formally confirmed as the New Horde’s Warchief, and Brox Saurfang and Varok Saurfang became its High Warlords. The Bloodscalp and Skullsplitter Trolls joined the Horde seeking help, while the Zandalari remained wary.

• Durotan called on Thrall to prove his right to lead, and Thrall raised the Doomhammer and declared himself ready to command the Horde.
• Cairne Bloodhoof and Vol'jin voiced their clans’ support for Thrall, and the assembled Horde hailed him as Warchief.
• Orgrim offered Brox Saurfang and Varok Saurfang the positions of High Warlords after they defeated him in arena duels, completing the Horde’s leadership transition.
• Vol'jin introduced Bloodscalp and Skullsplitter emissaries, who asked the Horde for aid against the Gurubashi and the Alliance and offered to join.
• Thrall welcomed the two Troll clans into the Horde, while the Zandalari remained outside the alliance.

Deathwing’s research at Grim Batol was interrupted when Skara Darkscale led an army of Lightforged Murlocs against his Black Dragonkin. After the murlocs withdrew with their trophies, Skara established a settlement in the Wetlands and planned another attack.

• Deathwing confined Alexstrasza at Grim Batol and continued his Twilight Dragon research while she tried to persuade him to reform.
• Deathwing sensed his Black Dragonkin dying and learned that Grim Batol was under attack by an army of murlocs.
• Skara Darkscale led murlocs empowered by Dawn’s Light against the Dragonkin, with Boss Hu having backed the campaign for revenge.
• The murlocs retreated before Deathwing could retaliate, carrying Dragonkin heads back to the Wetlands.
• Skara’s followers established a settlement near Menethil Harbor, attracted more murlocs, and prepared to attack Grim Batol again.

Alexstrasza returned to Wyrmrest Temple after Deathwing released her, while Malygos traveled to Darnassus to ask the Titan Divine Lord to punish Deathwing. Boss Hu sympathized with the Blue Dragonflight but said Deathwing still had value and promised compensation.

• Deathwing released Alexstrasza after imprisoning her for three months, then abandoned Grim Batol and fled with his Dragon Eggs and experiments.
• Malygos left the Eye of Eternity and headed for Darnassus, determined to avenge the Blue Dragons and demand Deathwing’s execution.
• Chromie confronted Boss Hu over his interference with the time stream, but Crusader soldiers dragged her away.
• Malygos requested an audience with Boss Hu and urged him to punish Deathwing for slaughtering the Blue Dragons.
• Boss Hu told Malygos that Deathwing still had uses and promised to compensate the Blue Dragonflight.

Malygos regained the Blue Dragon Aspect’s power from the Dragon Soul, and Hu Feng offered him a plan concerning Sindragosa. Meanwhile, Vivianka led refugees back to Deadwind Pass, intending to travel to Kalimdor once they had settled.

• Hu Feng returned the Blue Dragon King’s power essence and urged Malygos to shoulder his duties as a Dragon Aspect.
• Hu Feng told Malygos that he had a plan concerning Sindragosa, and Malygos left the hall grateful and excited.
• Hu Feng reminded Deathwing to stay hidden and wait until he was needed, while Deathwing continued working with dragon eggs.
• Elisande questioned Hu Feng about restoring the Dragon Aspects’ power, then blasted Chromie from their private hall when she interrupted them.
• Vivianka led refugees through Deadwind Pass toward their restored homeland and planned to travel to Kalimdor after they settled.

Azeroth’s factions consolidated their territories and strengthened their forces as the Forsaken and New Horde expanded, prompting the Alliance to reinforce its borders and support Stromgarde. The chapter left the Alliance and Horde trading accusations while escalating their covert and military pressure on each other.

• Kel'Thuzad pulled the Scourge back into a defensive position, while the Scarlet Crusade withdrew behind its Stratholme fortifications and the Forsaken continued attacking the Scarlet Monastery.
• The Forsaken joined the New Horde, secured Lordaeron outside the Plaguelands, and began advancing toward the Arathi Highlands after the Wildhammer Dwarves abandoned their expansion plans.
• The New Horde sent veteran military advisors to the Forsaken and Stranglethorn trolls and built Hammerfall Town and Grom'gol Base Camp.
• The Stromgarde Restoration Army sought Alliance support without joining the Alliance, while Stormwind, the Dwarves, and the Gnomes strengthened their defenses and deployed forces to the Arathi Highlands and Stranglethorn Vale.
• The Horde demanded that the Alliance stop supporting Theramore and withdraw its scouts, but King Varian intensified infiltration into Horde territory and prepared an expedition to seize a position in The Barrens.

Varian and Old King Llane worried that Onyxia was cultivating Prince Anduin’s trust to gain power, but they let the relationship continue in exchange for Stormwind’s growing influence over her Black Dragonflight. The chapter left the Princess faction’s black dragons increasingly integrated with the Alliance, while rival dragon factions objected without acting.

• Prince Anduin showed a strong affinity for the Holy Light and wanted to become a priest, frustrating Varian, who hoped his son would become a warrior.
• Onyxia grew close to Anduin, inviting him to her manor and encouraging him as a prince, while Varian found no sign that she was teaching him anything evil.
• Old King Llane recognized that Onyxia was earning Anduin’s trust to gain influence once he became king, and persuaded Varian to tolerate their visits while monitoring what she taught him.
• Stormwind formed an elite legion of black dragonkin disguised as humans, and the Princess faction’s Black Dragonflight grew closer to the Alliance.
• Other dragon factions objected to Stormwind sheltering Onyxia’s black dragons, but the Alliance refused to back down and Thrall accepted that the matter was settled.

Boss Hu glimpsed possible futures, including a vast Azerothian fleet preparing to attack the Burning Legion and Void creatures. He left determined to accelerate his preparations for the day Azeroth could strike Argus, while questioning whom he could trust.

• Boss Hu used his Titan Will to search the river of time and saw a possible future in which he and Stellagosa were together.
• Boss Hu entered a powerful future fragment and saw himself leading a futuristic elven fleet and the Night Empire against the Burning Legion and Void creatures.
• His future self told him to follow his heart and ignore other people's advice before the fragment shattered.
• Back in Stormwind Keep, Hu Feng considered how the future war might coincide with the Legion's invasion of the Broken Isles and the assault on Argus.
• Hu Feng resolved to accelerate the creation of the Dawn Legion, the Silver Fleet, and the New Pantheon, and wondered whether he could trust the other Titans.

The Night Empire cleared demons from Felwood while Druids and Za'tar worked to heal Wailing Caverns, and the New Horde expanded across southern Kalimdor. Theramore strengthened its Alliance ties and defenses as tensions with the Horde grew, though the continent remained relatively peaceful.

• The Night Empire sent its Border Guard and Bearman guides to exterminate demon forces in Felwood Forest.
• Za'tar restrained the remaining centaur clans while elf and Tauren Druids worked to restore Wailing Caverns.
• The Horde expanded through Thousand Needles, Un'Goro Crater, and Tanaris, while Magatha's Terror Totem faction continued resisting Cairne Bloodhoof's rule.
• Blackrock approached Sylvanas to establish Forsaken trade operations, escalating his commercial rivalry with Gallywix and the Bilgewater Cartel.
• Jaina secured Alliance aid and loans for Theramore, which expanded its defenses in Dustwallow Marsh as the Horde built a fortified town nearby.
• Aegwynn directed Theramore's army in small clashes with the Horde while refugees from Deadwind Pass strengthened the city.