Chapter Summaries

The Orthodox Horde’s territorial demands and military buildup pushed the Draenei toward war, while Archbishop Yrel mobilized the zealous Lightforged Judgement Army. Yrel prepared to punish the Soulbinders of Auchindoun as heretics if they refused the Holy Light.

• The Orthodox Horde demanded land in Talador, then built fortresses and stockpiled weapons along its borders after the Draenei refused.
• Auchindoun reported the threat to Karabor Temple, where Velen could no longer command the Draenei military.
• Yrel called Draenei and foreign believers to war against the Orthodox Horde and ordered defenses and Lightforged forces assembled.
• Lightforged Orcs, Arakkoa, and Magnaron Giants joined the army, while naaru pledged obedience to Yrel.
• Yrel rejected the Soulbinders’ refusal to accept the Holy Light and declared that it would punish them as heretics.

Xuen and Boss Hu confirmed that the parallel Draenor Dark Portal had been bound to open in their Azeroth, while the world prepared for the coming invasion. Vol’jin became Horde Warchief as Thrall returned to the Maelstrom, where the coalition’s campaign against Neptulon approached the Throne of the Tides.

• Boss Hu told Xuen that Garrosh had persuaded the Orcs of parallel Draenor to build a Dark Portal, which would connect to their world when activated.
• Xuen and Boss Hu revealed that divine power had been fused into the portal to force its destination to their Azeroth.
• Factions and adventurers across Azeroth stocked up on weapons and prepared for war after news of the portal’s construction spread.
• Vol’jin stepped down as leader of the Troll United Tribes, passed the position to Zul’jin, and became the Horde’s first non-Orc Warchief.
• Thrall resigned as Interim Warchief and returned to the Maelstrom to lead the shaman and elemental forces against Neptulon.
• Adventurers and coalition forces pushed Neptulon’s forces back in Vashj’ir, bringing the siege of the Throne of the Tides close.

The Soulbinders resisted Yrel’s Lightforged Judgement Army after it restricted their shadow spells and soul magic, while Socrethar’s failed demon ritual unexpectedly summoned satyrs claiming to serve a Legion. The satyrs’ arrival left Socrethar believing they belonged to the Burning Legion, unaware of the strange eye glowing on their foreheads.

• Yrel stationed the Lightforged Judgement Army in Shattrath City and detained Soulbinders there, demanding that they abandon shadow magic and submit to the Holy Light.
• The Soulbinders sealed Auchindoun against Yrel’s forces, and Tu'ranni argued that they must resist coercion while Nia Mi proposed using Fel Energy and demons to defend the city.
• In the Socrethar Highlands, Socrethar’s demon summoning ritual unexpectedly succeeded despite his inability to contact the Burning Legion.
• Satyr Lord Trestan Evilhoof attacked Socrethar with a Chaos Bolt after Socrethar questioned the demons, then declared that they were the Legion’s vanguard serving the Supreme Divine Lord.
• Socrethar accepted the satyrs as Burning Legion demons without noticing the Fel-lit eyeball floating before their foreheads.

The Orthodox Horde and the Lightforged Judgement Army fought across Talador and the Nagrand Plains, as Yrel’s forces initially repelled the Horde and advanced. Grom Hellscream countered by sending the Horde navy to attack Shadowmoon Valley and by blocking the Draenei advance, leaving the war in a protracted stalemate.

• The Orthodox Horde invaded Talador from Gorgrond and Nagrand, while the Draenei withdrew into Shattrath and Auchindoun and held the cities behind energy shields.
• The Lightforged Judgement Army took the offensive, using tanks, war mechs, and Lightforged Orcs to defeat the Horde vanguard in Nagrand and push into the plains.
• Yrel planned to hold the Horde at the twin cities while concentrating her forces on Nagrand, but she learned that the Orthodox Horde had attacked Shadowmoon Valley.
• Grom Hellscream sent the Horde’s iron fleet from Tanaan Jungle to blockade Karabor Temple and bombard the Draenei capital, leaving the temple and harbor in ruins.
• The Orthodox Horde used railway reinforcements, the Terror Train, and Steel Stars to halt the Lightforged Judgement Army’s advance in Nagrand.
• With its offensive stalled, its losses mounting, and Shadowmoon Valley under attack, the Lightforged Judgement Army could not press deeper, and the war shifted toward stalemate.

Turalyon received an Old God vision warning her to beware of Nia Mi, while Nia Mi secretly considered drawing her into a Fel-aligned conspiracy. As the Dark Portal neared completion, Grom celebrated the Horde’s planned invasion of Azeroth, but Garrosh sensed that something was wrong.

• Turalyon and Nia Mi discussed the Draenei’s worsening war against the Horde while tending the souls in Auchindoun’s Well of Souls.
• Turalyon saw a vision of Salathas, another Turalyon emerging from a starry gate, and a warning that Nia Mi would fall to Fel corruption.
• Turalyon concealed the vision from Nia Mi, while Nia Mi wondered why Gul’dan had not contacted Turalyon and resolved to move faster in recruiting her.
• The Dark Portal’s growing connection to Azeroth excited the Orthodox Horde, whose clan chiefs planned to invade a world they believed had no powerful defenders.
• Grom praised Garrosh and looked forward to conquering Azeroth, but Garrosh remained uneasy about what was coming.

The Alliances, Horde, and Shaohao Dynasty fortified the Dark Portal and prepared for an imminent invasion by Orcs from a parallel world. The Horde veterans and recruits treated the coming conflict as a fight against enemies, not a reunion with their former homeland.

• The Southern Alliance reinforced its defenses around the silent Dark Portal while airships and Pandaren Cloud Serpent Riders prepared for combat.
• The Northern Alliance inspected its positions in Lordaeron, where noble officers criticized the Southern Alliance's and Horde's military equipment.
• Horde soldiers joked about encountering alternate versions of Durotan or Orgrim, and a Kor'kron officer reprimanded a rookie for treating the enemy as celebrities.
• King Saurfang's assurance that soldiers should not bear responsibility for political disputes had earned the Kor'kron's loyalty after the Horde civil war.
• The Orcs regarded Azeroth as their homeland and prepared to fight the invading Draenor Orcs as enemies.

The Orthodox Horde opened the Dark Portal to invade a supposedly weak parallel Azeroth, but Garrosh and Gul'dan realized the world beyond was prepared for them. Grom ordered the Horde through anyway, leaving them on the brink of disaster.

• Grom rallied the Orthodox Horde and ordered the Dark Portal opened, while Gul'dan sensed that its destination had been found suspiciously easily.
• Blackhand assured Grom that his foundry would keep the Horde supplied, and Grom ordered the invasion to begin.
• The Dark Portal revealed The Blasted Lands instead of the expected Darkmire, and Garrosh realized the other world might already be prepared for them.
• Garrosh demanded that the Horde destroy the portal, but Grom ordered the army to charge through.
• Gul'dan warned his Firebrand Sword Saints that a massive enemy army surrounded the portal, but they dismissed him and kept him bound.

The Orthodox Horde’s invasion through the Dark Portal instead brought them face-to-face with the main timeline’s World of Azeroth, where Alliance and Horde forces launched a counterattack. Garrosh watched the defenders secure the portal and call in overwhelming reinforcements, including Titan Sarodar, leaving Draenor’s army facing disaster.

• The Orthodox Horde charged through the Dark Portal into the waiting Iron Defense Line and was met by a devastating barrage.
• Halford Wyrmbane and General Nazgrim led their forces in a fight for the portal platform as the Iron Horde’s Black Dragon Riders seized the skies.
• Garrosh realized the portal led to the main timeline’s World of Azeroth, and he ordered the Orthodox Horde to destroy the portal and target the mages.
• Brigitte Abdis led the Scarlet Regiment down the stairs while Spider Walking Tanks and a siege tank supported the assault.
• The Mage group located Draenor and returned to Azeroth, after which the Alliance and Horde airships and the Night Empire’s floating fortress entered the battlefield.
• Garrosh heard Titan Sarodar’s voice from the floating fortress and despaired.

The Orthodox Horde retreated from the Dark Portal after Azeroth’s forces secured it and established a foothold in Draenor. Bound beneath the portal, Gul'dan encountered Draenei, elves, and Eredar from the invading world, whose alliances and intentions bewildered him.

• Grom Hellscream and Garrosh ordered the Orthodox Horde to withdraw from the Dark Portal and form a new defensive line at the Bloodmaul Clan’s Hellfire Pass fortress.
• Azeroth’s forces expanded their bases around the Dark Portal, while Draenei, Arakkoa, and Primal Gronn grew wary of the foreign invaders.
• A Black Moon Legion Druid asked to take Gul'dan, but the Draenei insisted they had debts to settle with him.
• Gul'dan was shocked to see Tyrant Vihari and the Dawnlight Draenei wielding Fel Energy.
• An Eredar sister mocked Gul'dan, mentioned the executions of Cho'gall and Talon Bloodmage, and left to seek trouble with the naaru and Holy Light Legion.

The Draenei learned that Archbishop Socrethar’s fel-corrupted followers had split into rival factions, with Tyrant Vihari leading the Dawn Legion against him. Vihari’s new power and the spread of sha energy drove the Sargerei into a violent civil war.

• Yrel and Prophet Velen investigated reports that Draenei were turning to Fel Energy while the Orthodox Horde and the Alliance threatened Draenei territory.
• Satyr demons persuaded Draenei to abandon Socrethar’s Shadow Council faction and join the Dawn Legion and Sargerei Organization.
• Vihari rejected Socrethar, embraced enhanced Fel Energy, and became a fallen Dawn Knight leading the Dawn Legion forces.
• Socrethar confronted Vihari, but she attacked him after whispers and sha energy intensified her rage.
• Sha energy spread from Vihari through the Sargerei under her command, turning them into frenzied killers and igniting the Draenei civil war.

Socrethar fled after losing control of his Fel-aligned faction, while Vihari took over Socrethar Heights and transformed the defeated Draenei into Fel guardians. As Shadowmoon Valley settled into a fragile standoff, conflict spread in Talador, and an Eredar gave Nia Mi an artifact to deliver to Turalyon.

• Socrethar escaped through a Fel Portal, and Vihari's forces captured the remaining followers and their crystal guardian technology.
• Nia Mi submitted to Vihari, who planned to place the defeated Draenei souls into Fel crystal constructs.
• Yrel and Velen learned Socrethar had fled, but Karabor Temple lacked the troops to confront Vihari's Sargerei.
• Vihari strengthened Socrethar Heights while the Sargerei and Karabor Temple avoided open conflict.
• A clash between the Lightforged Judgement Army and the Soulbinders left more than a dozen soldiers dead and worsened relations over Auchindoun.
• An Eredar gave Nia Mi a boxed dagger containing Salathas and told her to deliver the artifact to Turalyon without touching it.

The Azeroth Allied Forces divided across Draenor to pursue separate campaigns, while Gul'dan escaped from the Dark Portal's power hall with the secret help of Crusader soldiers. The invaders spread across the continent, and Gul'dan vanished into Tanaan Jungle with the Shadow Council warlocks.

• The Alliance expeditionary force and Velen's Draenei set out for Shadowmoon Valley, while the Horde headed for Frostfire Ridge to seek the Frostwolf Clan.
• Lordaeron, Dalaran, and the Argent Dawn advanced toward Feralas, while the Shaohao Dynasty and Night Empire forces traveled toward Nagrand and Talador.
• The Azeroth Allied Forces spread across Draenor, looting and attacking as the Orthodox Horde withdrew into Bloodmaul Clan strongholds.
• Crusader soldiers secretly released Gul'dan and his remaining Shadow Council warlocks from the power hall beneath the Dark Portal.
• The Crusader guards pretended they had failed to stop Gul'dan's escape, and an Eredar sister abandoned her questioning after they threatened her.

After Durotan’s negotiations with his parallel counterpart collapsed into a fight over Draka, the Horde launched an invasion of Frostfire Ridge. The Glory Legion secured a beachhead and advanced inland, leaving the Frostwolf Clan retreating toward Draenor Fortress.

• Durotan’s attempt to recruit the parallel Frostwolf Clan failed when he and his counterpart argued over the Horde and Draka, then fought.
• Durotan’s Kor’kron guards helped him escape, and General Nazgrel ordered the Glory Legion to attack Draenor Fortress.
• The Glory Legion landed from eight steel airships, defeated the coastal Frostwolf troops, and occupied the beachhead.
• The Glory Legion advanced inland to seize coastal territory and establish a military fortress and supply base.
• The chapter described how Vol’jin’s Horde embraced expansion and judged the same tactics differently depending on which faction used them.

The Alliance prepared to approach the Draenei while the Night Empire’s War Floating Island entered Talador and attacked the Orthodox Horde near Auchindoun. After the invaders cleared the area and landed, Turalyon and Nia Mi went to make contact with Boss Hu, who recognized Turalyon and saw that she carried Salathas.

• The Alliance learned that the Draenei were divided between Yrel’s Lightforged Judgement Army and Velen’s faction, and planned to use Archbishop Mar'adul to establish contact.
• The Night Empire’s War Floating Island crossed Talador, firing on Orthodox Horde troops as it flew toward Auchindoun.
• Boss Hu ordered the Firstborn of the Gods to land and clear the surrounding area of Horde troops.
• The Crusaders broke Auchindoun’s magical shield and attacked the Horde positions with a Chosen Colossus, Zealots, and Walking Tanks.
• Turalyon and Nia Mi led the Soulbinders out to meet the invaders, and Boss Hu noticed Salathas hanging at Turalyon’s waist.

The Night Empire occupied Auchindoun after driving the Orthodox Horde from Talador, while Boss Hu reassured the Draenei and detected Soulbinder Nia Mi's secret Fel studies. Elsewhere, Gul'dan seized Hellfire Citadel and plunged Draenor into greater chaos, as a Tauren machine gunner returned to the Azeroth universe with stolen blueprints.

• The Night Empire defeated the Orthodox Horde vanguard in Talador, then halted its advance and occupied Auchindoun.
• The Night Empire's Draenei explained their protected but limited autonomy to their counterparts, and Boss Hu met the parallel Turalyon and discovered Nia Mi's secret ties to Fel Energy.
• Gul'dan, Archbishop Socrethar, and the Bloodmaul Clan seized Hellfire Citadel and turned it into a Fel stronghold.
• Gul'dan's forces corrupted Tanaan Jungle as the Orthodox Horde lost control of most of its territories, while Azeroth's allies reinforced the Dark Portal.
• A Tauren machine gunner escaped through space with stolen blueprints and set coordinates for Planet Azeroth.

The Night Empire strengthened its control over the Soulbinders in Auchindoun while their dispute with Yrel’s Lightforged Judgement Army deepened. To remove the main obstacle to the Soulbinders’ break with Karabor Temple, Elisande sent Sera Moonward to deliver information to the Alliance’s Seventh Legion.

• The Soulbinders wavered toward the Night Empire as Dawnlight Draenei eased tensions and promised work and protection, while Nia Mi rejected Yrel’s demands and demanded that military authority return to Prophet Velen.
• Yrel denounced Nia Mi as a traitor, and the Night Empire warned Yrel not to insult it or its Naaru allies again.
• The Night Empire planned to exploit the Soulbinders’ split from Karabor Temple and concluded that Prophet Velen had to disappear for its takeover to succeed.
• Elisande ordered Sera Moonward to travel to Draenor and deliver information to the Alliance’s Seventh Legion, and Sera agreed.

At Auchindoun, Tu'ranni received Salathas and began merging with the Old God, while Boss Hu arranged for Salathas to be reborn through another Tu'ranni. In Shadowmoon Valley, Halford Wyrmbane learned that the Night Empire had secured Talador and secretly planned to eliminate Prophet Velen and divide the Draenei.

• Nia Mi gave Tu'ranni the artifact dagger Salathas and its matching book, and Tu'ranni eventually accepted them.
• Tu'ranni fell into increasingly deep sleeps as Salathas eroded and assimilated her consciousness, while Nia Mi took charge of the Soulbinders.
• Boss Hu decided Salathas would be reborn through the other Tu'ranni, dismissing the affected Tu'ranni's feelings and noting that Salathas would remain under Titan Sarodar's control.
• The Alliance forces established a stronghold in Shadowmoon Valley despite Yrel's opposition, because Prophet Velen allowed them to land.
• Sera Moonwarden sent Halford Wyrmbane word that the Night Empire had defeated the Orthodox Horde and secured Shattrath, Auchindoun, and Talador.
• Halford told Mar'adul of the victory, then secretly planned to eliminate Prophet Velen and divide the Draenei with the Night Empire.

Boss Hu met the returning Tauren machine gunner, who brought blueprints for a psionic warp engine from another world. With the technology acquired, Boss Hu prepared to build his Silver Fleet and eventually face Sargeras, while planning to expose Oscar's gambling to his wife.

• Boss Hu hurried back from Draenor after Elisande reported that the Tauren machine gunner had returned to Azeroth.
• The Tauren explained that he had crossed worlds while carrying technical documents and offered Boss Hu Protoss psionic warp engine blueprints.
• Boss Hu traded with the Tauren for the blueprints, which could enable construction of the Empire's space warships and Titan's Spear.
• The Tauren departed in his flying toilet, and Boss Hu resolved to build the Silver Fleet before marching on Argus.
• Boss Hu remembered his plan to report Oscar for sneaking away to gamble at Hearthstone.

The Tauren brother stumbled through a corrupted spatial rift into an abandoned sanctuary and escaped its darkness, only to find himself in a black-hole system controlled by Reapers. The system’s inhabitants let him return home, while the black-haired man and Zazan argued over the decision.

• The Tauren brother entered a strange steel corridor inside his flying toilet, where a computer described the abandoned Endless Path Sanctuary and its deadly lower levels.
• Doors along the corridor began banging open, so the Tauren brother fled back to his toilet and forced the entrance shut as darkness and countless eyes filled the passage.
• The Tauren brother emerged in a black-hole system ringed by artificial structures and inhabited by enormous steel squids, whose super AI took control of his toilet.
• A Pioneer told the Tauren brother that he had entered the Reapers’ domain and was ordered to leave, then restored the spatial rift so he could escape.
• The Tauren brother saw hundreds of steel squids depart for a cosmic war, while the black-haired man and Zazan argued about letting him go.

The Azeroth coalition continued to overwhelm the Orthodox Horde across Draenor, while the Laughing Skull clan fled Feralas through Gorgrond and faced deadly enemies and slave-catching parties. Their retreat left them trapped between the dangers of the wilderness and the invaders seeking to capture them.

• The Night Empire's expeditionary army blockaded Hellfire Citadel while attacking the Bloodmaul Clan across Tanaan Jungle.
• The New Horde's Glory Legion drove Durotan's Frostwolf Clan back toward Draenor Citadel in Frostfire Ridge.
• The Northern Alliance, Dalaran's Mage Legion, and northern neutral factions conquered the Laughing Skull clan's last city-fortress in Feralas, forcing the clan to flee by sea toward Gorgrond.
• The fleeing Laughing Skull Orcs suffered heavy losses while crossing Magor territory, where Magnaron Giants hunted them.
• The Primal Gronn and Dryads attacked the Laughing Skull clan and threatened to turn captives into forest puppets for Everlush Grove.
• Azerothian adventurer slave-catching parties began hunting the Orcs, hoping to profit from the renewed demand for slaves.