Chapter Summaries

Kael'thas, Sylvanas, Alleria, and Anveena led a combined army toward Dalsom to confront Dar'Khan and the Scourge in the Ghostlands. Along the way, Sylvanas teased Kael'thas about marrying Anveena, and the allied forces continued their advance confident in their strength.

• Alleria asked Kael'thas about the captured naaru crystal ship, and he said the High Elves were studying it as a possible mobile fortress.
• Sylvanas teased Kael'thas and Anveena about their relationship, and Kael'thas said he would consider marrying Anveena after the Outland expedition.
• Kael'thas refused to let Anveena sacrifice herself to restore the Sunwell and said the High Elves were seeking a way to separate her soul from its power.
• The High Elves, Forsaken, and Ghost Rangers advanced toward Dalsom with Kael'thas, Sylvanas, Alleria, and Anveena among their strongest fighters.

The allied elven forces overwhelmed Dar'Khan's Scourge army at Dalsom while Sylvanas received news of a new conflict in the Western Plaguelands. The city gate collapsed, leaving the battle decided as Dar'Khan prepared to flee.

• Dar'Khan watched the Forsaken, High Elves, and Night Elf rangers crush his defenses, while Kael'thas, Anveena, and the Elemental Ascended bombarded Dalsom.
• Kel'Thuzad ordered Dar'Khan to gather anything useful and escape to Northrend through a hidden one-way teleportation array.
• Sylvanas learned that Oscar and the Argent Dawn were contesting Andorhal and ordered Koltira to defend it with the Scream of the Banshee Legion.
• Sylvanas teased Saurfang about Koltira and mocked Kael'thas about Anveena, prompting both men to protest.
• Dalsom's city gate collapsed under the assault, ending any suspense about the battle.

Vereesa underwent the painful first stage of a high-grade Ghost Ranger transformation while Sylvanas investigated the Silver Fleet and grew involved in the Empire’s factional maneuvering. Elisande revealed she was allowing the factions’ schemes to continue as a test, leaving Sylvanas’s actions under observation and the God-Emperor to deliver the final judgment.

• Alleria reassured Vereesa as Nightborne scholars injected her with golden liquid, and Sylvanas watched over the procedure before leaving to investigate the Crusaders’ restricted Silver Fleet facilities.
• Sylvanas was denied entry to the Extermination Order department and returned upstairs after taunting the guards about the Silver Fleet’s importance.
• As Imperial factions maneuvered to place their people in the Silver Fleet, Cenarius sensed danger, withdrew his faction, and warned Malfurion and Tyrande to stay out of the schemes.
• Auriel reported to Elisande that Sylvanas’s faction was suppressing Turalyon’s Soulbinder Priests, while Cenarius and Blackrock had begun to grow wary.
• Elisande told Auriel to let Sylvanas continue, saying only the Eternal Night God-Emperor could judge her and that she wanted to see which other factions would be drawn in.

The Night Empire launched an intense recruitment drive for its planned Silver Fleet and Death Star, inspiring fervent support from elves and other races. Ambassadors watched with awe and concern as the first recruits were selected and preparations began for training.

• The Night Empire raised a new Imperial Banner and broadcast appeals for elves to join the Silver Fleet and serve the God-Emperor.
• Elven applicants crowded recruitment centers, while the Death Star remained at the design stage and the fleet was still a prototype.
• At Suramar City’s Central Giant Mage Tower, Krasus and a Bronze Dragon ambassador watched the fanatical crowds and discussed how the elves had changed.
• New Horde ambassadors worried that the Night Empire might seek world conquest, while one orc argued that Sarodar would keep his word and focus on the Burning Legion.
• Recruiters selected early Silver Fleet candidates in Suramar and Azuremyst Isle, including Draenei technicians and Soulbinder Priests for support roles.

The Night Empire began training elven recruits to operate warships and building its first Death Star, Azeroth's Retribution. In Orgrimmar, Princess Talanji sought an alliance with the Horde, convinced that Zandalar needed its strength to survive a rapidly modernizing world.

• Crusader instructors trained the newly enlisted elven soldiers to operate warships, Death Stars, and ship-mounted Energy Cannons instead of fighting as infantry.
• Engineers and Arcane Golems worked on the skeletal framework of the Death Star on Sarodar Divine Kingdom Planet, which Boss Hu named Azeroth's Retribution.
• Boss Hu told Elune to accept the Death Star as compensation for the moon he had taken, and Elune agreed.
• Princess Talanji arrived in Orgrimmar and learned that ethereals were bringing steelworking technology to the Horde.
• After seeing the Horde's war machine and an airship, Princess Talanji ordered her carriage toward the Warchief's Hall, determined that Zandalar should join the Horde.

Deathwing established himself as a regional power in Netherstorm, turning the Botanica into a laboratory and expanding his Dragon Worshippers while extorting nearby forces. Meanwhile, the Holy Light Legion struggled to keep Alliance and Horde forces from expanding into Terokkar Forest and Auchindoun.

• Deathwing drove the Holy Light Legion out of Netherstorm, and Khil'ri blocked his breath with a Holy Light barrier.
• Deathwing transformed the Botanica into a living laboratory, expanded the Dragon Worshippers, and recruited Millhouse Manastorm after beating him into cooperation.
• Deathwing extorted experimental equipment and technology from the Star Alliance, whose bounty for his death attracted no adventurers.
• Deathwing's strength and growing influence secured his control of the Botanica and made him a power in Outland.
• The Holy Light Legion drove back Horde scouts trying to expand into Terokkar Forest, then confronted Alliance units secretly approaching Auchindoun under the pretense of fishing.

The Horde dealt with Garrosh’s departure and negotiated with the Night Empire over Gruul’s Magnaron Giants in Blade’s Edge Mountain. After the Horde dismantled a Mana Forge and withdrew from Netherstorm, the High Elves still demanded an apology, which Thrall eventually issued.

• Thrall sent Garrosh and Grandmother Geya'an back to Azeroth after Garrosh gave up military authority and control of Karabor and the Mag'har Clan.
• The Horde sent envoys to negotiate Gruul’s Magnaron Giants out of Blade’s Edge Mountain and learned their presence was tied to a dispute over a Mana Forge.
• After the Horde occupied a small Mana Forge in Netherstorm, Countess Liadrin and the Blood Elf Dawn Knights clashed with Horde forces over it.
• The Night Empire privately advised the Horde to dismantle the Mana Forge and leave Netherstorm, promising Gruul’s Giants would then withdraw.
• Thrall ordered the Horde to remove the Mana Forge, but the High Elves also demanded an apology, so the Horde issued a public statement apologizing to Quel'Thalas.
• Countess Liadrin accepted the apology, and the departing Orc envoys mocked the High Elves.

The Lich King planned to attack Light's Hope Chapel to raise the buried Paladin heroes, while Malygos reassured the other Dragon Aspects that he trusted Father God's plans for Sindragosa and the Blue Dragonflight. Onyxia secured her faction's return to Wyrmrest Temple, establishing her claim as the legitimate Black Dragon lineage.

• The Lich King chose Light's Hope Chapel as his next target and planned to use the Knights of the Ebon Blade to obtain the Paladin heroes' remains.
• Malygos told Alexstrasza, Ysera, and Nozdormu that Father God had revealed plans for Sindragosa and the Blue Dragonflight's revival.
• The four Dragon Kings ordered the Dragonflights to strengthen Dragonblight's defenses, especially around Galakrond's burial place.
• Nalis asked Wyrmrest Temple to restore the Black Dragonflight faction loyal to Onyxia, and the four Dragon Kings agreed.
• Onyxia publicized the decision through her Stormwind identity as Countess Katrana, prompting black dragons to recognize her faction as the legitimate Black Dragon lineage.

Orthodox Druids led by Malfurion took over Zangarmarsh to restore its environment, while Fandral Staghelm focused on driving the Circle of the Benevolent out of the Night Empire. The expelled Druids sailed for Northrend, denouncing both Druid factions as traitors to nature.

• Cenarius’s Orthodox Druids took over Zangarmarsh and began preparing to restore the swamp and address its fungal contamination.
• Malfurion led the Orthodox Druids, while Fandral Staghelm commanded the Dawn Druids and pursued the Empire’s interests.
• Fandral rejected the Circle of the Benevolent’s animal-protection doctrines and drove its members out of the Night Empire with Tauren Druids’ cooperation.
• The Circle of the Benevolent sailed for Northrend and condemned the Orthodox and Dawn Druids for betraying nature.

Lady Vashj and the Coilfang Naga left Coilfang Reservoir for new lives under the Titan’s protection, and Vashj regained her Night Elf form after completing her ten-thousand-year service. The Titan sent her to join Azshara and persuade her former queen to obey, while he reflected with Xuen on his rule and the coming threat.

• Vashj handed Coilfang Reservoir over to the Druids and led the Coilfang Naga back to Azeroth, where they were assigned to guard the Empire’s coasts as an independent force loyal to the Titan.
• The Titan used divine power to transform Vashj back into a Night Elf while preserving her accumulated magic.
• The Titan warned Vashj to straighten out Azshara’s way of thinking and told her that Azshara was an enfeoffed lord in the Azshara region, not a queen.
• Xuen defended the Titan’s harsh rule as necessary, and the Titan said he was unconcerned by others’ judgment because his actions and purpose were clear.
• The Titan criticized the Pantheon’s rigid Titans and said he would rather emulate Sargeras than follow their path.

Xuen the White Tiger settled into Winterspring Valley as the White Tiger Temple was built, but Flower Birds Wind Moon arrived with a message from Yu'lon that sent him back to Pandaria. Boss Hu remained in Winterspring Valley and was asked to provide Flower Birds Wind Moon with more divine power.

• Xuen the White Tiger approved the White Tiger Temple plans while Elune appeared and asked Boss Hu about her artificial moon and promised trip to Outland.
• Boss Hu told Elune to train harder so she could maintain her essence avatar, and she returned to the planet's core to practice.
• The White Tiger Temple began construction in Winterspring Valley, where Xuen the White Tiger claimed the Frostsabers as his followers and attracted the females' attention.
• Flower Birds Wind Moon delivered Yu'lon's question about whether the White Tiger would return to Pandaria, and Xuen the White Tiger reluctantly agreed to go back.
• Flower Birds Wind Moon asked Boss Hu to transfer more divine power to her, and he protested that she was charging expenses to the public account.

Illidan and Maiev settled into life together in the Black Temple, where their affection took the form of constant arguments and fights. Maiev reorganized Illidan’s room and moved his treasured possessions into a display room, leaving him furious and disoriented when he woke without his weapons beside him.

• News spread across Azeroth that Illidan and Maiev had become a couple, though neither revealed when their feelings began.
• Maiev moved into Illidan’s room and redecorated the Black Temple’s upper levels in a Night Elf style.
• Maiev threw away Illidan’s preserved flower, Tyrande’s Memory, and his Skull of Gul’dan.
• Maiev moved Illidan’s Warglaives of Azzinoth and other weapons into the display room because she could not tolerate his messy bedroom.
• Illidan woke to find his weapons missing from beside his bed and angrily remembered that Maiev had stored them next door.

Illidan and Maiev received congratulations from acquaintances across the Night Empire, most of which came with teasing or threats. Jarod Shadowsong visited the Black Temple and warned Illidan never to abandon Maiev, leaving Illidan to realize the danger came from Maiev herself.

• Sarodar sent Illidan a long congratulatory telegram that ended with a warning against domestic violence and a kiss from his Titan brother.
• Malfurion and Tyrande sent a joint message recalling Illidan's past and urging him to live well with Maiev in Outland.
• Elisande formally congratulated Illidan, praised his contributions, and warned him to guard Shadowmoon Valley or face her punishment.
• Crusader High Inquisitor Auriel sent Illidan a congratulatory letter that threatened punishment and announced inspections of the Illidari forces.
• Cenarius sent Illidan a blessing, and Illidan handed the letter to the Doomguard to eat.
• Jarod Shadowsong visited the Black Temple and told Illidan to keep Maiev safe, explaining that she would kill him if he abandoned her.

After the Outland expeditionary war ended, the major factions claimed territory and resources while making plans for their colonies. The Night Empire renamed Hellfire Citadel Nightmare Citadel and began dismantling the Path of Glory, while the Draenei remains were returned to Auchindoun for burial.

• The Night Empire took control of Hellfire Peninsula and turned Hellfire Citadel into the colonial fortress-city Nightmare Citadel.
• The New Horde and Dawnlight Draenei demolished the Path of Glory, and Boss Hu announced that the Night Empire would help remove it and return the buried Draenei remains to Auchindoun.
• The Orthodox Druids sent a team from Zangarmarsh to begin healing Hellfire Peninsula.
• The Dawnlight Draenei continued developing the Temple of Taha'mat with the Night Empire's support, while Quel'Thalas abandoned Eagle Sentry and moved its forces into Netherstorm.
• Quel'Thalas secured Netherstorm's Mana Forges and shipped their mana supplies to its homeworld as the factions exploited Outland's remaining resources.

The High Elves strengthened their defenses in Netherstorm against the Horde and Deathwing’s Dragon Worshippers while the Alliance Expeditionary Force developed Shadowmoon Valley’s rich mithril deposits. The new ore shipments lowered prices across Azeroth, benefiting ordinary households even as Goblin magnates protested.

• Maiev Shadowsong took over negotiations with Countess Liadrin and sold the High Elves Void Drakes for 4,886 gold, 50 silver, and 36 copper each.
• The High Elves built walls along Netherstorm’s borders with Blade’s Edge Mountain and the Dragon Worshippers’ territory, then bought the Star Alliance’s defensive laser wall system.
• Alliance mining operations spread across Shadowmoon Valley, where Illidari troops under Illidan allowed humans, dwarves, and gnomes to extract mithril.
• Outland’s ore shipments drove down ore prices across Azeroth, angering Goblin magnates while making refined iron goods more affordable for ordinary families.

The Horde profited from taking Nagrand and Blade's Edge Mountain, gaining valuable ores and wildlife that fueled mining and hunting businesses. Though the Alliance and Horde remained political rivals, their trade and smuggling continued to thrive, with Goblins moving Horde goods to Stormwind.

• The Horde secured Nagrand Plains and Blade's Edge Mountain, strengthened by the incorporation of the Mag'har Clan and the loyalty of the ogres.
• Horde leaders discovered abundant Adamantite and Fel Iron, and demand for Fel Iron soared until the Night Empire helped stabilize its price.
• Orcs hunted Nagrand's Clefthoof, Kaly birds, Talbuks, and Windrocs, selling their hides, meat, organs, and tamed mounts for profit.
• Horde merchants traded goods such as hides and Orc Strong Ale with humans despite Alliance-Horde hostility, while smugglers operated between their territories.
• Bilgewater Cartel Goblins secretly transported Horde goods to Stormwind, with officials conveniently remaining unaware.

Thrall revived the Orcish Month of Hunting in Nagrand and invited both the Horde and the Alliance to participate. As Boss Hu and Thrall discussed the coming Northern Expedition and rising Horde extremism, Thrall resolved to bring Garrosh along and try to change his views.

• Thrall organized the Month of Hunting on the Nagrand Plains, inviting Horde allies and Alliance participants who paid an admission fee to hunt in separate areas.
• Horde and Alliance hunters displayed their prey at a bonfire outside Karabor and received praise for their skill.
• Boss Hu asked whether the Horde would join the Northern Expedition against the Lich King, and Thrall pledged the Horde’s finest troops.
• Thrall admitted that the Horde was exploring spacefaring technology, while Boss Hu rejected Thrall’s suggestion that the Night Empire become independent from the Alliance.
• Boss Hu warned Thrall that Horde-supremacist factions were gaining influence, and Thrall said he would bring Garrosh on the Northern Expedition to try to correct his extreme views.
• Boss Hu and Thrall went to join the bonfire gathering, where Thrall challenged him to a drinking contest without divine power.

Edwin VanCleef and the Defias Artisan's Guild were recruited to build ships for Stormwind as the Alliance prepared for a likely expedition to Northrend. While stuck in traffic, VanCleef considered how the Outland war had improved ordinary people's lives and privately thanked Deathwing for creating the work that had made his guild prosperous.

• Edwin VanCleef and the Defias Artisan's Guild were summoned by King Varian to build ships at Stormwind's docks after receiving basic training from gnome engineers.
• VanCleef left his home in Old Town on his Gnome-made motorcycle and got stuck in rush-hour traffic on the way to the shipyard.
• VanCleef read that the Outland expedition had lowered prices and improved ordinary citizens' quality of life, with supplies from Nagrand Plains contributing to cheaper food.
• VanCleef noticed increased news condemning the Lich King and the Scourge alongside Stormwind's shipbuilding efforts, and guessed that the Alliance would soon launch an expedition to Northrend.
• VanCleef decided that the Defias Artisan's Guild would serve the nation as long as it was paid, then privately thanked Deathwing for creating the work that had benefited Stormwind and his guild.

VanCleef read about Syndicate bandit attacks in Westfall and considered opening a Defias Artisan's Guild branch there to help the militia and win reconstruction work. He reached the Stormwind dockyard and joined his old subordinates as a new workday began.

• VanCleef read that Syndicate bandits had attacked a Westfall farm and damaged its crops, then considered expanding the Defias Artisan's Guild into the region.
• VanCleef weighed the risks of letting his daughter Vanessa join SI:7 and decided to discuss his Westfall idea with his family and old subordinates before making plans.
• Stormwind guards took a dwarf and a young human noble to the City Defense Department after their war ram and carriage horse caused a traffic jam.
• VanCleef passed through the busy Stormwind docks, where a Night Empire ship had arrived and four ironclad warships were under construction.
• VanCleef answered an old subordinate's call at a workbench in the military dockyard as a new day's work began.

Jaina used Theramore’s fleet and Aegwynn’s support to win Alliance backing against the Ashvane family and pursue a return to Kul Tiras. The Horde tried to secure the Zandalari for itself, but its negotiations were derailed by the Akunai Cult.

• The Alliance and Horde prepared for the Northrend campaign as Jaina expanded Theramore’s fleet and Aegwynn’s agents spread support for her in Kul Tiras.
• Jaina offered Theramore’s fleet to the Alliance, and Varian and Bolvar accepted while promising political support for her cause.
• The Alliance condemned Priscilla Ashvane and called for Jaina to be allowed to return to Kul Tiras.
• The Horde pursued negotiations with the Zandalari while rejecting the Akunai Cult’s envoy.
• Princess Talanji pleaded with the Warchief to distinguish ordinary Zandalari from the Akunai, but he ordered them to leave.