Chapter Summaries

Deathwing delivered Naxxramas to Boss Hu, who seized the fortress and began turning it into a mobile Palace of Joy. As the Scourge’s defeat left its remaining forces leaderless, new political upheavals eclipsed the factions’ local conflicts.

• Deathwing ambushed Naxxramas over the Endless Sea and dragged the floating fortress to the Eternal Night Palace.
• Boss Hu sent Crusader soldiers to purge Naxxramas, then ordered Deathwing to hand over his latest Twilight Dragon research results.
• The returning Allied Forces celebrated Naxxramas’s capture and prepared to eradicate the leaderless Scourge remnants.
• The New Horde fought the Alliance and Stromgarde Restoration Army, while the Forsaken battled the Lordaeron Restoration Army and attacked Scarlet Monastery.
• News spread that the Forsaken had left the Horde and the High Elves had withdrawn from the Alliance.

The Forsaken and Quel'Thalas withdrew from the Horde and Alliance after the powers allowed Oscar's Scarlet Undead Legion to take Stratholme, then formed the Sindorei Alliance against him and other rivals. Oscar ignored their threats and remained confident in his control of the city and the western Eastern Plaguelands.

• The Forsaken announced their departure from the Horde and expelled Orcs, Tauren, and Trolls from Undercity, while Quel'Thalas withdrew from the Alliance and ordered its other races to leave.
• Thrall and Varian expressed regret over the withdrawals, while Saurfang, Eitrigg, and human nobles reacted to the departures from their respective sides.
• Sylvanas and Liadrin negotiated the Sindorei Alliance, which pledged to protect its members’ northern interests and threatened Oscar, the Lordaeron Restoration Army, and the Scarlet Crusade.
• The Sindorei Alliance demanded that Oscar join the Forsaken or disband, while Oscar remained silent and nicknamed Stratholme Oscar's City of Joy.
• Oscar’s apparent lack of political concern concealed his confidence in his territory and his readiness for his enemies to challenge him.

After the Forsaken and High Elves threatened Stratholme, Oscar rallied adventurers and former Scourge forces to make his Scarlet Undead Legion too costly to attack directly. The standoff eased, but the Sindorei Alliance began a war of attrition while conflicts continued elsewhere in the Eastern Kingdoms.

• The Alliance, Horde, Argent Dawn, and Scarlet Vanguard accepted Oscar's control of Stratholme as a neutral buffer, while ignoring his proposed renaming of the city.
• Oscar called adventurers to Stratholme, and guilds and adventurers gathered there and across the Eastern Plaguelands to support him.
• Oscar's forces grew to include a large adventurer army, former Scourge officers, Death Knights, Curse Cultists, and towering Flesh Golems.
• The Forsaken and High Elves held back from attacking Stratholme, while the Sindorei Alliance sent forces to attack Andorhal and Scholomance.
• The Horde fought the Stromgarde Restoration Army and Forsaken for Hammerfall Town as the Alliance increased support for the Scarlet Vanguard and Lordaeron Restoration Army.

The Horde Expeditionary Force returned to Kalimdor while Bolvar stayed behind to discuss cooperation with Brigitte. Meanwhile, Garithos’s attacks on the High Elves provoked political fallout, and Sylvanas continued expanding the Forsaken’s use of plague and Val'kyr.

• The Horde Expeditionary Force sailed back to Kalimdor aboard ugly, coal-powered ships, prompting Brigitte and the Tauren brothers to complain about their appearance.
• Grand Duke Bolvar remained with the Alliance Expeditionary Force to discuss future cooperation with Brigitte Abdis and strengthen the Alliance’s northern influence.
• Marshal Garithos, loyal to Princess Cariath, joined Dawn's Light and used Arugal’s Worgen to attack the Forsaken and the High Elves.
• After Garithos insulted Sylvanas, the Night Empire pressured him to apologize, and he blamed Varimathras for the Forsaken’s plague bombs.
• Sylvanas ordered the Royal Alchemists to make more plague bombs while two newly corrupted Val'kyr hovered behind her in Undercity.

Oscar sent Dulin back to Ironforge with money and supplies to begin a quieter life, then dealt with Farina’s attempt to undermine his authority in Stratholme. He left Farina imprisoned in a dungeon overtaken by Cthulhu’s flesh, which had spread beneath the city and given Oscar control over its defenses.

• Oscar gave Dulin a letter for their mother and a spatial ring full of gold and valuables, and Dulin left with Ouhuang’s adventurer team to return to Ironforge and become a blacksmith’s apprentice.
• After the war threat eased, Oscar arrested Farina when she tried to use Mind Control on him, and he wounded her in a clash with the Death Knights.
• Noth chose not to fight Oscar and waited for a chance to discuss Farina’s fate.
• Oscar visited Farina in the Scarlet Quarter dungeon and revealed that Cthulhu’s flesh had transformed it into a living, watchful trap.
• Oscar relied on Cthulhu’s spreading flesh to monitor and defend Stratholme, accepting its power over the city as he avoided joining Sylvanas’s forces.

The Alliance debated the Dark Iron Dwarves’ offer to cooperate against the Fire Elementals in exchange for renewed access to Ironforge, while Magni rejected any reconciliation with Thaurissan. The meeting ended with Varian summoning Garona for a new mission, as warlocks uncovered a Burning Legion fleet heading for Outland.

• Lothar and Old King Llane praised Varian’s rule and told him to leave the fighting to his marshals.
• Bolvar reported that Thaurissan’s delegation offered cooperation against the Fire Elementals if the Dark Iron Dwarves could return to Ironforge and seek seats on the Council of the Three Hammers.
• Magni rejected Thaurissan’s proposal and vowed the Dark Iron Dwarves would never enter Ironforge while Thaurissan lived and his daughter did not rule them.
• Llane ordered the Alliance to prolong negotiations, and Varian summoned Garona for a new mission.
• Retsen and the other warlocks interrogated demons and discovered that a Fel Energy fleet was traveling toward Outland.

Boss Hu learned that the Burning Legion planned to invade Outland with a Fel fleet and ordered Gul'dan to prepare a Fel Legion while Elune recovered. In Stormwind, Varian's tax exemption boosted his popularity as the kingdom used prolonged negotiations to stall the Dark Iron delegation.

• Boss Hu learned from Gul'dan that the Burning Legion would send a Fel fleet to Outland within months and intended to destroy the Dark Portal.
• Boss Hu told Gul'dan to organize a Fel Legion, and Gul'dan negotiated for a high rank and his own army.
• Boss Hu checked on Elune, who was digesting saturated divine power and wanted to leave the planet's core.
• Stormwind's court invited the Dark Iron delegation to a welcoming banquet while continuing to delay negotiations.
• Varian declared a yearlong tax exemption across Stormwind, earning the people's gratitude and raising his prestige.

At the Stormwind banquet, Varian discussed the risks posed by Onyxia with Alleria and Sylvanas. As negotiations between the Alliance and the Dark Iron Dwarves stalled, Varian met secretly with Magni and Kordran and prepared to use the Hidden Blade to force a decision.

• Bolvar, Alleria, and Sylvanas advised Varian at the banquet, and Sylvanas warned him that Onyxia was using her political influence to gain power through Anduin.
• Varian confirmed that Onyxia hoped to become King's Hand and that he distrusted her despite allowing her into the royal cabinet.
• Magni and Kordran rejected the Dark Iron Dwarves' demands during negotiations, insisting that Thaurissan abdicate in favor of Moira's unborn child before the clans could reunite.
• Varian secretly asked Magni and Kordran whether they would accept the Dark Iron Dwarves and reopen the Council of the Three Hammers if their conditions were met.
• After Magni agreed, Varian ordered a messenger to summon Garona from SI:7 as the Hidden Blade's operation was about to begin.

Varian sent Garona to assassinate Emperor Thaurissan and frame another faction, and Thaurissan was soon killed in an attack blamed on Fire Elementals. Queen Moira took power as Regent Queen, agreed to join the Alliance, and prepared to help attack Molten Core.

• Varian asked Garona to infiltrate Blackrock Depths, kill Emperor Thaurissan, and conceal the Alliance's involvement.
• Garona left Stormwind for Blackrock Mountain, while the Alliance continued negotiations with the Dark Iron delegation.
• Fire Elementals attacked Blackrock Depths and killed Thaurissan, with one claiming the Dark Iron Dwarves had betrayed their master before self-destructing.
• Moira suppressed the Dark Iron Dwarves' unrest, assumed the Emperor's authority as Regent Queen, and ordered the delegation to join the Alliance against Molten Core.
• The Alliance accepted the Dark Iron Dwarves' demands, and Moira was set to join the Council of the Three Hammers as the Alliance prepared its assault on Ragnaros.
• Old King Llane told Boss Hu that Moira's unborn heir would likely bind the Dark Iron Dwarves to the Bronzebeard Dwarves, while Moira focused on securing her child's future.

The Dark Iron Dwarves joined the Alliance, bringing the three dwarven clans together as the Alliance developed new strongholds and planned an assault on Molten Core. The expedition prepared to advance with Dark Iron forces and black dragonkin, while goblin merchants profited from adventurers arriving in Blackrock Depths.

• The Alliance army entered Blackrock Depths and Darkforge Fortress, and Moira returned to Ironforge to join the Council of the Three Hammers as the dwarven clans reunited.
• The Wildhammer Dwarves began planning to rebuild Grim Batol, while gnomes designed underground rail links connecting Stormwind, Ironforge, Grim Batol, and Darkforge Fortress.
• Adventurers flocked to Blackrock Depths to explore Molten Core and bought supplies from goblin peddlers despite suspecting their fire resistance potions were relabeled anti-plague potions.
• Moira declared that Dark Iron combat constructs, warriors, and warlocks would join the Alliance assault on Molten Core.
• Onyxia sent black dragonkin to accompany the Alliance forces, and Varian and Borrevar discussed her usefulness to the kingdom.

The Festival of Brews brought lively celebrations and a dangerous Spider Race to Darkshore, while Oscar returned to Ironforge as a Death Knight. Welcomed by the adventurers who recognized him, he joined the festivities and reclaimed his place among them.

• The Night Empire held its Festival of Brews in Darkshore, where drunk contestants raced Arcane Spiders and Boss Hu opened the festivities.
• Old Chen cooked for the festival crowd, while Boss Hu, Sylvanas, Alleria, Elisande, and Turalyon held a drinking contest in the Eternal Night Palace.
• Oscar secretly traveled from Stratholme to Ironforge to see his hometown and the Festival of Brews.
• An adventurer recognized Oscar Shinedrill and called others over, and the crowd eagerly welcomed him despite his becoming a Death Knight.
• The Ironforge guards chose to ignore Oscar's presence, and he entered the camp with Mr. Fat Worm to drink and tell stories.

The Night Empire called on Azeroth's factions to join the Second War of Shifting Sands against the Aqir. The Horde, Theramore, the Alliance, and the Bronze Dragonflight committed forces, while several factions declined, leaving the armies to gather for the coming campaign.

• The Eternal Night God-Emperor announced that the Night Empire would reopen the Scarab Wall and launch the Second War of Shifting Sands, inviting allies to join the Azeroth Allied Forces.
• Thrall ordered the Horde expeditionary army, under King Saurfang and General Nazgrim, to replenish supplies and march to Cenarion Hold.
• Jaina committed Theramore to the campaign as she regretted losing Kael'thas, who had grown close to Anveena.
• King Varian sent the Skybreaker airship fleet, including Skyfire, while the Alliance withheld ground forces occupied at Blackrock Mountain.
• The Argent Dawn, Scarlet Vanguard, and Lordaeron Restoration Army declined to participate because of conflicts and manpower shortages in their territories.
• Nozdormu announced that the Bronze Dragonflight would send Dragons to support the campaign.

Boss Hu gathered the Night Empire’s allies for a campaign against the Aqir and C’Thun in Silithus, while several factions pursued their own conflicts or offered limited support. As armies converged on Cenarion Hold, rival Twilight’s Hammer groups and Cthulhu also mobilized against C’Thun.

• Quel’Thalas and the Forsaken stayed focused on their war against Oscar, while the Dawnlight Draenei prepared to join the Night Elves.
• The Bearmen agreed to send Shamans, and the Primal Gronn sent a member with several dozen Dryads toward Silithus.
• The Night Empire and its allies began converging on Cenarion Hold, making the War of An’qiraj the world’s foremost conflict.
• Quel’Thalas’s Twilight’s Hammer condemned C’Thun’s cultists and sent Twilight followers and Elemental Ascended to fight them.
• Cthulhu’s Twilight followers also mobilized, and part of Cthulhu’s body began moving from Uldum toward Silithus to join the attack on C’Thun.

Balnazzar’s Scarlet Crusade defended Fireside Valley against the Great Warlord’s chaotic, seemingly endless greenskin assault. The Nightborne scholars observed the attack and decided the greenskins could serve as cannon fodder against the Burning Legion.

• Balnazzar heard that a huge force of orcs was approaching Fireside Valley and saw their crude, chaotic assault begin.
• The greenskins launched explosive Goblins at the walls and blew open the city gate, flooding into Fireside Valley.
• The Scarlet Crusade fought back as the greenskins rampaged through the city, and Balnazzar personally cut down wave after wave of attackers.
• After one wave was wiped out, the Great Warlord sent another mass of greenskins into the city before retreating with his surviving elites.
• Nightborne scholars recorded the assault and said the greenskins could be used as cannon fodder against the Burning Legion.

As the Allied forces prepared to open An'qiraj, Boss Hu decided Cthulhu should devour C'Thun, while armies and supplies gathered in Silithus. At the Eternal Night Palace, Sylvanas left Pamela in Boss Hu’s care, and he tried to reassure the frightened girl.

• Boss Hu changed his plan for C'Thun and decided Cthulhu would devour him and take his place.
• The Allied forces cleared insect hives in Silithus as supplies and adventurers arrived, while the Green, Blue, Bronze, and Red Dragonflights assembled an aerial force.
• Dar'k'vis prepared to storm An'qiraj with Princess Y'alki, who was loyal to Cthulhu and in love with him.
• Sylvanas brought Pamela to the Eternal Night Palace and asked Boss Hu to care for her and help strengthen her resentful spirit.
• Boss Hu tried to comfort Pamela, and Sylvanas promised to visit her while trading teasing remarks with him about Kael'thas and Anveena.

The Night Elf Border Guard tested new Goblin-built weapons against Aqir hives while the New Horde and Cenarion forces cleared Silithus. The chapter ended with Goblin merchants selling supplies inside Cenarion Hold.

• The Night Elf Border Guard used mobile Energy Cannons against an Aqir hive, but their commander called for heavier fire support.
• The Border Guard deployed the Chosen Colossus, whose main cannon set the target hive ablaze and impressed the elven officers.
• Elven soldiers, mages, and adventurers suggested improvements and additions to the Colossus.
• King Saurfang summoned adventurers to haul Silithus sand for the Horde, while wolf riders and their shamanic allies swept through smaller Aqir hives.
• Elven Druids and Priestesses of the Moon, supported by Green Dragons and the Red Dragonflight, burned out hives near Cenarion Hold.
• Goblin merchants arrived at Cenarion Hold and sold healing potions, mana potions, and mosquito-repellent floral water.

The Iron Horde, Alliance, dragonflights, and other forces fought the Aqir across Silithus before An'qiraj's gates opened. As Orcs and Draenei began rebuilding trust, Selin Fireheart led a Twilight expedition to attack C'Thun's followers.

• The Iron Horde advanced toward the Scarab Wall, destroying Aqir hives while Dawnlight Draenei medics treated its many wounded.
• Orcs and Dawnlight Draenei gradually eased their mutual distrust as the Orcs acknowledged their people's past crimes and the Draenei considered the possibility of living peacefully together again.
• The Bronze Dragons helped the Iron Horde attack insect swarms, while the Blue Dragons supported the Alliance airship fleet's search-and-destroy operations.
• High Elf Twilight believers teleported to Cenarion Hold to attack C'Thun's Twilight's Hammer rather than join the battle against the Aqir.
• Selin Fireheart led the expedition, seeking military achievements and promotion while caring little about the morality of Twilight energy.

The Night Empire’s Twilight cultists fought C’Thun’s followers in Silithus, and the capture of elven cultists prompted the God-Emperor to order their punishment. After reading the battle reports, Hu Feng discussed the severity of that punishment with Fandral and agreed to speak with Cenarius after the Battle of An’qiraj.

• Selin Fireheart ordered his forces to capture Night Elf and High Elf followers of C’Thun alive, and the Night Empire sent Crusader Chosen Zealots to take custody of them.
• Truth Judge Auriel condemned the captured elves as traitors at a public execution in Suramar City, where Crusaders subjected them to endless slicing.
• Hu Feng asked Fandral Staghelm whether the execution method was appropriate, and Fandral defended harsh measures while urging that the uninformed be given a chance to understand the Empire’s convictions.
• Fandral advised Hu Feng to reconcile with Cenarius, and Hu Feng agreed to speak with him after the Battle of An’qiraj.

Boss Hu lifted the seal on An'qiraj, unleashing a vast Aqir swarm against the allied armies. As the Horde, Iron Horde, Alliance, and their allies fought back, Saurfang and Grom led the ground countercharge and the allied front advanced.

• Nozdormu handed Boss Hu the Scepter of An'qiraj, and Boss Hu struck the Gong of the Beetle to lift the seal.
• The Aqir swarm poured through the Scarab Wall, and the Alliance airships opened fire as ground forces assembled to meet the attack.
• King Saurfang led the Horde into a countercharge, while Saurfang's Blade blasted insects and an Anub'is apart.
• Grom and Kargath led the Iron Horde forward as Iron Gorons, healers, Soulbinder Priests, Druids, and Moonkin supported the advancing armies.
• Saurfang and Grom fought through the swarm, and Saurfang declared that he would not disgrace the Ragefire Clan or his brother Brox.

Boss Hu watched the allied forces and Night Empire Border Guard battle the insect swarms at An'qiraj, then flew toward the temple to confront the Old God C'Thun. The fighting continued across the battlefield as Prophet Skram was overwhelmed by General Dar'k'vis and Princess Y'alki.

• Boss Hu recognized the Black An'qiraj Combat Tank as his new follower and decided to leave it in the Eternal Night Palace.
• The Night Empire Border Guard used Energy Ray rifles, machine-gun turrets, Walking Tanks, and the Chosen Colossus to batter the insect swarms.
• Ossirian the Unscarred fought the Primal Gronn while the Iron Horde and New Horde fired Steel Stars at the Anub'is.
• Boss Hu flew into An'qiraj as General Dar'k'vis and Princess Y'alki suppressed Prophet Skram before the underground temple.
• Boss Hu descended toward the temple to confront the Old God C'Thun.