Chapter Summaries

Tyrant Vihari and the Crusaders suppressed the Sargerei Eredar after Boss Hu forbade them from killing Velen’s Draenei, then Boss Hu persuaded the Eredar to stand down. Prophet Velen’s Draenei located Azeroth and headed for it, while other forces continued toward the planet and Outland.

• Tyrant Vihari beheaded several rioting Sargerei Eredar, summoned Crusader reinforcements, and fought the Eredar Twins as the Crusaders surrounded the rebels.
• The Eredar appealed to Boss Hu, who halted the conflict and persuaded them to accept his order not to kill the Draenei.
• Prophet Velen learned that Exodar had found Azeroth and received a signal from another group of Draenei there, so he ordered the ship to accelerate toward the planet.
• Ael Crystals and planetary defenses stood ready to draw Velen’s ship toward its designated destination as it approached Azeroth.
• Avenger Argus continued traveling toward Azeroth’s coordinates, while a Burning Crusade fleet destroyed inhabited planets on its way to Outland.

The Alliance and Horde paused their conflicts and prepared to join the Night Empire’s expedition to Outland, while their forces continued pressing through the Molten Core. The chapter left the Azeroth Allied Forces mobilizing for the campaign as battles and preparations continued across the world.

• The Alliance defeated Baron Geddon and pushed deeper into the Molten Core after breaking the Fire Elemental army led by Ragnaros.
• The Night Empire sent the Holy Crusaders of Truth to aid the Alliance as the Titan God-Emperor hurried preparations for an invasion of Outland.
• The Alliance and Horde halted their disputes, gathered supplies in the Blasted Lands, and planned their campaigns in Outland.
• Warchief Thrall prepared to claim the Nagrand Plains and reunite the Orcs with the Mag'har Clan, while the Alliance planned to join Illidan Stormrage in Shadowmoon Valley.
• The Horde and Alliance jointly declared the Gurubashi Trolls a threat and planned an operation against Zul'Gurub.
• The Alliance Expeditionary Force advanced through the Molten Core with help from Crusader Zealots, Immortal units, and Goblin vendors.

The Allied forces pushed through the Molten Core as Vivianka cut Incinerator Greymane in half and the crusaders advanced toward Ragnaros's lava pool. Administrator Exekutus successfully summoned the Firelord, while the Dawn Administrator prepared the Eye of Sargeras to greet him.

• Vivianka used her demonic power to slice Incinerator Greymane in half and returned to the Crusaders' line.
• Administrator Exekutus gathered his remaining forces to defend the sacred lava pool and tried to summon Ragnaros from the Firelands.
• The Crusaders and Dark Iron Dwarves pushed forward, using explosives strapped to obsidian golems to blast through obstacles and Fire Elementals.
• The Dawn Administrator seized Sulfuron Harbinger with psychic energy as the Allied forces entered the lava hall.
• Exekutus completed the summoning, and the Dawn Administrator readied the Eye of Sargeras for Ragnaros's arrival.

The Allied forces defeated Ragnaros in the Molten Core with the power of the Eye of Sargeras, and Vivianka discovered a mysterious sphere identified as the Skull of the Tempest. Meanwhile, the Horde breached Zul'Gurub's gate and prepared to charge into the city.

• Ragnaros killed Exotus, then rejected the Dawn Administrator's demand to surrender to the Titans.
• The Dawn Administrator and the Allied forces restrained Ragnaros, and she struck him with a beam from the Eye of Sargeras.
• As Ragnaros died, he sent Sulfuras back to the Firelands and his released essence awakened a blue sphere carried by Vivianka.
• Vivianka gave the sphere to the Dawn Administrator, and Agmar identified it as the Skull of the Tempest, containing a wind elemental prince's soul and power essence.
• General Nazgrim ordered the Horde's siege engines to bombard Zul'Gurub until its gate collapsed, then commanded the warriors to charge inside.

The Horde advanced into Zul'Gurub to destroy Blood God Hakkar and defeat the Gurubashi Trolls, while the Zandalari withdrew to Zandalar Isle to report to King Rastakhan. As the Hakkarai faced defeat, Bloodlord Mandokir surrendered and Hakkar's summoned essence avatar realized the trolls had betrayed him.

• Moira oversaw the Dark Iron Dwarves’ integration into the Alliance as they helped build subway lines linking major cities.
• The Horde invaded Zul'Gurub to stop the Gurubashi Trolls from summoning Blood God Hakkar and offered surrendering trolls a place in the Horde.
• The Zandalari Trolls left their camp in Stranglethorn Vale and returned to Zandalar Isle to brief King Rastakhan.
• The Horde gained support from Troll United Clans guides and Gurubashi rebels who opposed summoning Hakkar.
• Bloodlord Mandokir surrendered and demanded to see Vol'jin, while Hakkar's essence avatar realized the trolls had set him up.

In Ironforge, Boss Hu told Vivianka the tragic story of Wind Prince Sathrand and brought her to Silithus to free him. Sathrand gave his essence to the sword blank, creating Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Storm Chaser, and blessed Vivianka with a wish for love without regret.

• Durin's Adventurer's Home Tavern became Ironforge's most popular gathering place, where adventurers honored Oscar and protected his younger brother's establishment.
• Boss Hu and Vivianka ate at the tavern while he explained that Sathrand had loved Aishir and been imprisoned after the Firelord defeated him.
• Boss Hu promised Vivianka he would take her to the final battle against Sargeras, then led her to Sathrand's seal in Silithus.
• Sathrand learned that Aishir had died with the Plane of Air and chose to surrender his soul and essence to Boss Hu's sword blank.
• Sathrand's essence transformed the sword into Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Storm Chaser, and he blessed Vivianka with a wish for love without regret.

The Horde conquered Zul'Gurub and defeated Hakkar's avatar, then claimed the city as a stronghold despite Alliance objections. Sarodar transformed southern Durotar into fertile farmland, forcing the Horde to relocate its boar farms and leaving newly recruited Trolls to contend with Thunder Lizards for their promised farms.

• The Horde army captured Zul'Gurub and bombarded the Blood God altar while Darkspear Trolls attacked Hakkar's avatar with poisoned weapons and shadow magic.
• Hakkar's avatar fell, and the Horde made Zul'Gurub a military stronghold and declared it Horde territory.
• The Alliance strengthened its border defenses and expanded into eastern Stranglethorn Vale while the Horde avoided a direct clash.
• Sarodar transformed southern Durotar into fertile farmland, and the Horde began relocating its boar farms to northern Durotar.
• Newly recruited Trolls protested that their promised farms were full of Thunder Lizards, while Ogres mocked them and were reminded they had been tricked into farm work too.

Demon Lord Kazzak realized that the Alliance, Horde, and other powers were preparing to reopen the Dark Portal and invade Outland, while the Night Empire organized the expedition. The allied forces began gathering in The Blasted Lands, with several factions staying behind or sending only limited contingents.

• Kazzak watched mortal forces build camps and fortifications around the Dark Portal and feared they intended to invade Outland.
• The Night Empire sold enslavement rune contracts as factions and adventurers armed themselves, while the Blackrock Syndicate profited from booming weapons and resource sales.
• The Night Empire Border Army and Iron Horde crossed the Endless Sea aboard a floating island toward The Blasted Lands.
• The Alliance, Horde, and neutral powers followed the Night Empire and converged on The Blasted Lands.
• Sylvanas kept the Forsaken out of the expedition, while Kael'thas sent Countess Liadrin and the Blood Elf Dawn Knights with the allied forces.
• The Argent Dawn and Scarlet Vanguard stayed to fight undead and the Scarlet Crusade, while Princess Cariath sent a Lordaeron Restoration Army delegation to seek the legion that had left with Turalyon and Khadgar.

Illidan prepared Outland’s defenses against the Burning Legion’s invasion and sent the Illidari to seize the Sargerite Keystone from the Madness of Shattered Depths. As demons descended across Outland, the Burning Crusade began, and Illidan kept Maiev beside him at the Black Temple.

• Illidan ordered defenses reinforced at Hellfire Citadel, the Dark Portal, and the Black Temple, and sent Talon Bloodmagic and the Bloodmaul Clan to reinforce Hellfire Citadel.
• Illidan revealed his plan to attack the Madness of Shattered Depths and take the Sargerite Keystone to obtain the coordinates of demon worlds, including Argus.
• Illidan appointed Kael Sunfury, Jace Darkweaver, Soul Eater Alariel, S'ayla Nightblade, Korvas Bloodthorn, and Seviss Brightflame to lead the Illidari through a Fel Portal into the shattered world.
• Illidan told Maiev to stay with him rather than fight on the front lines, and they began arguing as Fel meteors fell across Outland.

Prophet Velen and the Draenei arrived at Azeroth aboard the Exodar, which was captured by the Ael Crystal and safely guided to Azuremyst Isle. There, Velen encountered Karabor Temple and a force of unfamiliar Draenei led by Soulbinder Tu'ranni, leaving both groups wary and confused.

• Velen ordered the Exodar to power down after the Ael Crystal's tractor beam seized the ship and the lifeless planet's cannons targeted it.
• The Ael Crystal guided the Exodar to Azuremyst Isle, where it buried itself partly in the ground without causing the devastation Velen expected.
• Tu'ranni ordered the Ogri'la Guard to prepare for contact and remain ready to fight as Velen's Draenei emerged from the Exodar.
• Velen recognized Karabor Temple and sent Yrel to fetch the naaru O'ros.
• Tu'ranni's Draenei force arrived on armored thunder elephants, and Velen recognized the Soulbinders and Turalyon among them.
• The Dawnlight Draenei noticed the naaru aboard the Exodar and expressed distrust toward Velen's Holy Light-following group.

Turalyon and the Draenei who fled their world met Prophet Velen’s faction on Azuremyst Isle, and the Dawn Administrator brought Velen and O’ros before Boss Hu. Boss Hu allowed Velen’s people to settle near the Exodar and urged them to choose a side before the coalition army attacked Outland, the world they had left behind.

• Turalyon greeted Prophet Velen outside the Exodar, but the Dawn Administrator’s forces teleported in and surrounded the ship.
• Velen asked for a place to settle, and O’ros requested that the Draenei be judged by the Titan.
• Boss Hu told Velen to settle near the Exodar and let the two Draenei groups decide later whether to unite or remain separate.
• Boss Hu offered the Night Empire’s help and advised Velen to learn about Azeroth before deciding whether to join the Alliance.
• Boss Hu announced that the coalition army would soon attack Outland, and Velen realized that the campaign would return him to the world his people had left.

Velen's Draenei joined the Alliance while settling near the Night Empire, but their faith-based conflict with Turalyon's Dawnlight Draenei worsened. The dispute halted plans to train Soulbinder Priests and left Velen unable to revive the tradition.

• Velen formally led his Draenei to join the Alliance and accepted Stormwind's invitation to establish an embassy.
• Velen questioned the Night Empire's hostility toward the naaru and the Dawnlight Draenei's strict separation from his people.
• Arguments over the naaru and the Holy Light stirred resentment between ordinary Draenei on both sides, and access to New Auchindoun and the New Karabor Temple was restricted.
• Soulbinder Priests refused to train Velen's priest apprentices, shelving the planned revival of the Soulbinders.
• Velen grew frustrated by the setback, while Exarch Yrel condemned the Soulbinders before recalling that they no longer followed the Holy Light.

Boss Hu rejected Auriel’s proposal to seize the Draenei’s technology by force and arranged a political deal instead. With relations between Velen’s Draenei and Turalyon’s Dawnlight Draenei collapsing, Velen accepted the Night Empire’s offer of land and aid in exchange for letting its engineers study the Exodar’s technology.

• Auriel urged Boss Hu to demand the Exodar’s propulsion and energy technology, threatening to kill the Draenei if they refused, but Boss Hu warned that such violence would damage the Alliance’s reputation.
• Boss Hu told Auriel he had another way to obtain the technology and sent her away while forming a plan.
• The Dawnlight Draenei closed their temples and territory to Velen’s faction, while Turalyon’s faction declared that integration with them was void.
• A Night Empire diplomat told Prophet Velen that the Dawnlight Draenei’s objections meant Velen’s people could not remain on Azuremyst Isle, then offered them land in Azshara and material aid in exchange for access to the Exodar’s technology.
• Prophet Velen accepted the Night Empire’s offer, agreeing to let its engineers and crystal technicians study the Exodar.

The Night Empire secured Draenei power and energy technology in exchange for land in Azshara, while the Horde gained resource-extraction rights there. Turalyon’s Dawnlight Draenei rejected reconciliation with Prophet Velen’s faction over their incompatible beliefs, leaving the two groups set to separate.

• The Night Empire’s engineers and scholars studied the Exodar’s technologies and blueprints, and the Empire ceded half of Azshara to Prophet Velen’s Draenei.
• The Night Empire and the Horde agreed to open southern Azshara to Horde mining and industry in exchange for rent, taxes, labor, and cheap supplies.
• Turalyon’s Dawnlight Draenei welcomed Velen’s faction leaving Azuremyst Isle and Bloodmyst Isle, insisting that their kin abandon the Holy Light and the Naaru if they wanted to stay.
• Velen found Soulbinder Tu'ranni’s faction unfamiliar and extremist, especially because its members aided the Crusaders with soul interrogation, torture, and Mind Control.
• Velen viewed Soulbinder Nia Mi as dark and evil, while Turalyon seemed less troubling than the archbishops under her command.

Nia Mi broke from Turalyon’s control and aided the Crusaders while the Eredar sisters joined the Night Empire as citizens. Boss Hu dissolved their contracts and summoned Demon Lord Zakun before a female werewolf carrying the Moon God's Scythe infiltrated Gilneas.

• Nia Mi’s Soulbinders helped the Crusaders inspect and interrogate souls, allowing her to establish an independent faction.
• The Eredar sisters frightened Velen’s Draenei with Fel Energy flying discs, worsening their distrust of the Night Empire.
• Boss Hu promised the Eredar sisters citizenship and concessions, then dissolved their enslavement contracts so he could summon more demons.
• With Gul'dan’s help, Boss Hu summoned Demon Lord Zakun through an enslavement contract.
• A female werewolf carrying the Moon God's Scythe climbed over Gilneas’s high wall without being seen by its guards.

Velen’s Draenei returned to the Exodar and prepared to build ties with the Alliance, while the Dawnlight Draenei remained isolated in the Night Empire. As the Outland expedition approached, Velen’s forces and Liadrin’s Blood Elf Knights joined the allied army, leaving war on the verge of breaking out.

• Velen’s Draenei returned to the Exodar and received the promised land in the Azshara region, while the damaged ship required urgent repairs.
• Velen sent envoys to establish diplomatic relations with the Alliance and the Northern Revival Alliance, and his Draenei pledged Ogri'la Guards and paladins for the Outland expedition.
• The Dawnlight Draenei kept to Azuremyst Isle and Bloodmyst Isle and sent only the Soulbinder Priest Order to accompany the Night Empire’s army as battlefield medics.
• Liadrin led a High Elf expeditionary force and prepared to march into Outland with the allied armies.
• Liadrin’s Dawn Knights, empowered by the High Elves’ aggressive crimson Dawn’s Light, became known as Blood Elf Knights and answered directly to Kael'thas.

Boss Hu visited Cenarius in Ashenvale and showed him visions that persuaded him to support the Night Empire and its coming expedition to Outland. Back at the Eternal Night Palace, Boss Hu refused to let Vivianka join the expedition and dragged her toward his bedroom.

• Boss Hu visited Cenarius and discussed his plans for the future and the dangers facing Azeroth.
• Cenarius said the visions had softened his opposition to the purge and agreed that the Night Elves needed unity.
• Cenarius promised to support the expedition to Outland and try to persuade the other Wild Demigods to cooperate.
• Boss Hu warned that he would show no mercy to those who obstructed the fight against their great enemy, and joked that Xuen could deal with the Wild Demigods.
• Vivianka demanded to join the expedition, but Boss Hu refused and took her toward his bedroom.

Gul'dan and Medivh prepared to reopen the Dark Portal as Azeroth's allied forces gathered around it. Meanwhile, Kazak fought Zakuun and the Sargerei Eredar, then surrendered and called on the Dark Titan for help, but the Eredar turned their fury on him.

• Gul'dan used his knowledge of Fel Energy and Medivh's expertise to prepare the Dark Portal to reopen toward Outland.
• The Azeroth Allied Forces surrounded the portal with troops, fortifications, and artillery, while the Night Empire's Giant Floating Island provided portals for allied forces.
• Zakuun attacked Kazak under the master's command and used Fel Energy supplied through a slavery contract.
• Zakuun's Sargerei reinforcements arrived and attacked Kazak's forces, targeting the Felhunter matriarch in particular.
• Kazak surrendered and appealed to the Great Dark Titan for help, but the Eredar sisters turned on him for speaking out.

Sarodar accepted Kazzak’s surrender, bound him as a contract slave, and ordered him to help prepare for the expedition to Outland. At home, Vivianka formed an elite Eternal Chosen Legion and began hunting the surviving Black Knights.

• Kazzak surrendered to Sarodar, arguing that Kil'jaeden would punish him for serving Archimonde.
• Sarodar ordered Kazzak to train an elite Demon Legion, bound him with contracts, and assigned him and Zakuun to capture demons and engineers during the Outland expedition.
• Sarodar sought Burning Legion engineers and Fel warship technology to build his own fleet and learn the coordinates of Argus.
• Vivianka agreed to remain in the Night Empire, and Sarodar assigned his human Divine Queen wife to serve in the Crusaders.
• Vivianka formed the Eternal Chosen Legion and sent it to hunt the surviving Black Knights hiding in Deadwind Pass and Swamp of Sorrows.

Illidan, Socrethar, and their allies fought off a Burning Legion assault on the Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley. Maiev destroyed a Sorrow Spires portal, and the enemy forces began retreating toward the Demonic Forges.

• Illidan and Socrethar led the defense against the Burning Legion while Akama's Broken and the Dragonmaw Skybreakers held off attackers on the flank.
• Illidan charged through the demon army to reach Maiev Shadowsong and the Watchers, who were surrounded near a Sorrow Spires.
• Illidan helped the Watchers defeat the demons, and Maiev destroyed the spire's portal before its walls collapsed.
• With reinforcements cut off, the demon army retreated toward the Demonic Forges, while Socrethar pursued them and the Black Temple remained safe for the time being.