Chapter Summaries

The Old Sun King used the Eye of Sargeras to unleash a Fel storm, but Garrosh Hellscream and his Orcs attacked before he could finish. The Sun King and Vashj escaped through a Portal, while the Orcs forced the captives to enlist and followed them into the unknown world beyond.

• The Old Sun King’s Eye of Sargeras unleashed a Fel storm that clashed with the Lich King’s Death Power in Northrend, forcing Arthas to help Ner’zhul hold it back.
• Garrosh Hellscream and his warriors landed on Quel'Danas Island, broke through the Naga defenses, and drove Vashj and the Old Sun King to flee through a Portal.
• Garrosh ordered his adjutant Vorgak to enlist the prisoners, and Vorgak forced the human nobles, Goblins, and Trolls into the Expeditionary Force.
• The Goblin engineers stabilized the Portal, and Garrosh led the newly assembled force through it after the Old Sun King and Vashj.
• Kael'thas refused Verina’s offer to intervene, ordered Silvermoon City’s defenses strengthened, and watched the Portal’s light as the Orcs departed.

Jaina brought Deren news that Garrosh was pursuing Anasterian after raiding the Tomb of Sargeras, but the Sun King instead attacked Quel'Danas Island and seized a Goblin-run Sunwell theme park. Deren and his companions learned that Kael'thas had leased the island to Goblins, whose bizarre tourist businesses had attracted nobles and even Trolls.

• Jaina told Deren that Garrosh had broken into the Tomb of Sargeras and was tracking Anasterian, and Chromie confirmed that their conflict followed Illidan and Maiev's script into Outland.
• Jaina returned with news that Anasterian had landed on Quel'Danas Island with Naga Forces and captured the Goblins and customers at the Sunwell Theme Park.
• Deren questioned why Anasterian had gone to Quel'Danas instead of Dalaran, and Jaina explained that Dalaran was still standing and feared by demons.
• Jaina explained that Kael'thas had leased Quel'Danas Island to Goblins, who had built a fake Sunwell attraction, a fel-energy spa, and Elven Charm Street.
• Jaina said Anasterian had also captured human nobles, Elven employees, and a small number of Trolls, leaving Onyxia astonished by the park's clientele.

Jaina reported that Garrosh’s Fel Orcs had interrupted Anasterian’s attempt to attack the Lich King, forcing the Sun King and the Naga to flee through a Portal to Outland. Deren, Jaina, and Onyxia considered the unfolding Burning Crusade-like conflict and planned to monitor both Outland and Thrall’s Tomb of Sargeras expedition, leaving Deren eager for an unpredictable new Timeline.

• Jaina told Deren that Garrosh’s Fel Orcs had defeated the Naga at Quel'Danas and forced Anasterian to flee to Outland with the Naga.
• Garrosh recruited the captured Rattlesnake Goblins and sent the Goblin engineers, Stormwind nobles, and Troll prisoners toward Outland as part of an expedition.
• Deren and Jaina discussed how the Orcs and Goblins looting the Tomb of Sargeras might draw the Burning Legion’s attention away from Azeroth.
• Chromie recognized the events as resembling the Burning Crusade, while Deren warned that Garrosh could build a powerful coalition in Outland.
• Deren told Jaina to have Rivendare monitor Garrosh’s forces, and Jaina decided to plant spies in Thrall’s second Tomb of Sargeras expedition.
• Onyxia suggested that the changed events could create the brand-new future Deren wanted, and Deren agreed that even he could not predict it.

Varian learned that Stormwind nobles and Goblin staff had disappeared in Outland after visiting Sunwell Theme Park to buy a potency potion, and Bolvar advised him to hire Goblins to stage or carry out a rescue. Varian faced the missing people’s families outside the palace and raised his hands to address the crowd.

• Varian questioned Bolvar about sixteen nobles and Goblin staff who had vanished after visiting Sunwell Theme Park, and learned they were believed to be in Outland.
• Bolvar revealed the group had gone to buy a Goblin-made potion said to enhance male potency, making Varian furious that nobles had spent their salaries on it.
• Bolvar warned that the families’ growing public protest could damage Varian’s reputation and suggested announcing an expedition and a Goblin rescue mission.
• Bolvar explained that the Goblins offered either a five-hundred-gold reconnaissance trip or a ten-thousand-gold-per-person attempt to retrieve the missing people.
• Varian went to the palace balcony, saw the families and spectators demanding help, and raised his hands as the crowd fell silent.

Varian announced a rescue effort for the missing nobles while secretly delaying the expedition, and Bolvar hired Goblins to search Outland for clues. Meanwhile, Howard and the other captives endured forced labor, were captured by Naga, and escaped with Turalyon as the Naga attacked a Goblin caravan.

• Varian announced that a vanguard rescue team had departed, then told Anduin that Goblins would stage the effort while the real expedition was delayed for years.
• Bolvar contracted the Goblins to search Outland for information about the missing sightseeing group.
• Howard and the other nobles were forced to carry Fel Energy fragments while Goblin prisoners enjoyed paid comforts.
• In Zangar Marsh, a mushroom spore cloud confused the Orcs, and Naga captured Howard.
• Howard persuaded the Naga that Goblins had cheated them, and Turalyon led him toward an underwater escape route as the Naga attacked a Goblin caravan.

Howard was trapped in a swamp by Turalyon, a Naga who had abducted him, but she offered to protect him if he took her back to Azeroth. He used his artistic charm to win her favor, leaving them with a tentative alliance.

• Turalyon warned Howard not to move and told him the swamp was dangerous while keeping him in a tree hollow.
• Howard regretted buying the potion that had led him from a Sunwell Theme Park visit to captivity among Naga and Orcs in Outland.
• Turalyon brought Howard charred lizard meat and clean water, then asked him to take her back to Azeroth in exchange for her protection.
• Howard accepted Turalyon's offer and began courting her with poems, mushroom drinks, and help removing parasites from her scales.

Howard escaped the Naga with Draenei Paladin Marla, but their journey to Honor Hold ended when Garrosh Hellscream captured them. As Orcs took Howard to their camp as cannon fodder, he learned that a rescue team from The Sandbox had also been seized.

• Turalyon stole a patrol map and Coral Daggers, then planned to escape with Howard toward Honor Hold.
• Garrosh Hellscream killed Turalyon, and Marla rescued Howard after he pretended to be a captive scholar devoted to the Holy Light.
• Howard charmed Marla by disguising flirtation as theological discussion, and the two stayed together in the jungle.
• Garrosh's Orcs defeated Marla and captured Howard, who learned that The Sandbox's rescue team had also been taken prisoner.
• Howard secretly kept Turalyon's Coral Dagger as the Orcs escorted him toward their camp.

After thirty-seven days as prisoners in a Fel Iron mine, Baron Howard and the other captives were told they would become cannon operators and were forced to attend an Ogre feast. As Howard and his fellow prisoners showed signs of changing under Fel Energy, Garrosh Hellscream arrived with a new plan for Outland.

• Baron Howard endured captivity alongside Goblin prisoners and lord Fielder while strange changes appeared on his body.
• The Ogre leader Grudol announced that Lord Garrosh had chosen the human prisoners to become cannon operators and threw them a feast.
• Howard ate twitching meat and drank Fel Energy-tainted liquor, which blurred his senses and made his vision turn purple.
• Howard saw lord Fielder’s pupils briefly become vertical slits and wondered whether the prisoners were adapting to Outland.
• Garrosh Hellscream arrived at the banquet with his Bodyguard Squad after a failed assault on Zangar Marsh, intending to pursue a new plan.

After Fel Energy and Void energy mutated the human captives, Howard and Lord Fielder accepted their strange new bodies and were assigned to operate cannons at the Hellfire ruins. Howard fired the first shell and embraced the possibilities of his transformed life.

• Garrosh announced that the human captives would leave mining and serve in a long-range support unit using abandoned cannons.
• Howard discovered tentacles, darkened nails, and other mutations among himself and the other captives, while Lord Fielder revealed his own tentacles could spray corrosive slime.
• Howard and Fielder suspected Fel Energy and Void energy were driving the humans to adapt, and Howard decided that being cannon fodder sounded easier than operating artillery.
• At dawn, Howard adjusted a rust-covered cannon and assured Garrosh that he could fire it.
• Howard fired the first shell, welcomed his new life, and imagined becoming something greater as his body continued to mutate.

Garrosh’s mixed artillery company used human cannon crews to break the demon army, while Howard claimed the captive Draenei Paladin Marla and secretly treated her wounds. At dawn, Marla confronted Howard about serving the Orcs, and their exchange was interrupted when Garrosh summoned the officers.

• Garrosh organized the humans into an artillery company, and their accurate cannon fire shattered the Felguards’ line before the Orcs charged.
• Garrosh celebrated the victory by rewarding the human soldiers and displaying female captives, among whom Howard recognized Marla.
• Howard freed Marla from her cage and loudly claimed her as his captive to protect her, then bandaged her wounds in his tent.
• At dawn, Marla held a sharp stone to Howard’s throat and demanded to know why he served the Orcs, and he explained the forced conscription and his soldiers’ need to survive.
• Garrosh summoned the officers, and Howard warned Marla to stay quiet while he went to the meeting.

Garrosh formed the Iron Horde and prepared to attack Mannoroth’s stronghold at the Dark Temple, while Howard arranged Goblin trade and Marla secretly contacted the Broken. The Iron Horde gathered its forces in Shadowmoon Valley, leaving Howard and Marla poised to shape the coming battle.

• Garrosh assigned Howard’s artillery company to support the attack on the Dark Temple, and Marla proposed contacting the Broken inside it to persuade them to withdraw.
• Howard reported Marla’s plan to Garrosh, then discussed obtaining ammunition through Goblin trade and selling prisoners to secure supplies.
• Garrosh named his coalition the Iron Horde, and Howard negotiated trades with the Goblin manager aboard the Adventurer.
• Marla secretly passed word to a captured Broken leader that the Orcs planned to attack the Dark Temple and that the Broken could avoid the conflict.
• Garrosh assembled the Orcish army in Nagrand, while Howard and Marla joined the Iron Horde’s forces in Shadowmoon Valley ahead of the attack.

Deren's allies learned that the Rattlesnake Goblins had contacted the Outland Naga, while Vashj's battered forces struggled across Hellfire Peninsula. A Goblin messenger led Vashj toward Zangar Marsh, where she hoped to find a home for her people, and she sought to contact the mysterious figure aiding them.

• At breakfast, Deren explained that the Naga's move to Outland could make Azeroth safer, while Onyxia and Chromie teased him about pursuing Princesses and Jaina trusted his motives.
• Vashj's exhausted Naga forces reached Hellfire Peninsula after fleeing pursuing Orcs, and she learned that the Sun King had abandoned them to cover the rear.
• Vashj spared Lickwitz Goldsand, a Goblin Accountant of The Sandbox, after he promised to deliver intelligence about the Naga's future.
• Lickwitz told Vashj that the Consortium offered Zangar Marsh as a refuge where the Naga could establish a kingdom, so she sent Serifa to scout ahead and led her forces west.
• After Serifa confirmed the marsh, Vashj ordered the Naga to march there and asked Lickwitz to contact his mysterious employer.
• When Lickwitz began unfastening his belt to retrieve the hidden Communication Crystal, Vashj mistakenly electrocuted him, then healed him and continued toward the marsh.

Vashj contacted Jaina and Deren Losen, who proposed helping the Naga establish a kingdom in Zangar Marsh. Vashj agreed to pursue the plan, while Deren explained to Jaina and Onyxia how the Naga kingdom could serve Theramore and weaken Outland’s other powers.

• Vashj used the Communication Crystal to contact Jaina in Theramore and asked to speak with the person guiding the Goblin.
• Jaina introduced her Tactical Advisor, Deren Losen, who urged Vashj to establish a Naga kingdom in Zangar Marsh and promised Theramore’s support for a small cross-plane Portal.
• Jaina declared that Deren could represent Theramore, and Vashj agreed to develop the marsh into the independent Zandalar Kingdom.
• After the call, Deren explained to Jaina and Onyxia that the Naga kingdom could divide Outland’s forces, protect Azeroth, and reduce Naga coastal raids and Old God influence.
• Deren joked that Theramore could grant noble titles to the Naga, and everyone laughed.

Vashj led the Naga through Zangar Marsh, fought their way to Serpent Lake, and established a base for the future Zandalar Kingdom. She named the outpost Fang Base and then demanded that Jaina meet her in Outland and establish a portal to Theramore.

• Vashj used a Goblin-drawn map based on Deren's description to guide the Naga through the marsh, where they cleared a Sporefolk lair and suffered three casualties.
• Mudclaw Monsters attacked the Naga camp at night, but Vashj and her warriors repelled them.
• Vashj led a three-pronged assault on the creatures guarding Serpent Lake and defeated the Mudclaw Monsters and Swamp Lords.
• The Naga established an underwater base at Serpent Lake, captured a Void Ray, and named the outpost Fang Base.
• Vashj contacted Jaina and demanded an in-person meeting in Outland and a portal to Theramore, but Jaina protested that she was unwell.

Deren Losen presented Vashj with a plan for the Naga to establish an independent kingdom in Zangar Marsh with Theramore’s support. Vashj accepted the proposal in principle and agreed to cooperate through the Goblins, while Onyxia watched Deren with renewed interest.

• Vashj used a magic circle to bring Deren Losen, Aegwynn, and Onyxia to her command post in Serpent Lake.
• Deren laid out six proposals, arguing that Zangar Marsh could support the Naga, trade with Azeroth, and offer Vashj room to govern independently while nominally serving Queen Azshara.
• Deren proposed that Vashj establish the Zandalar Kingdom and explained that its position in Outland would help protect Azeroth by preventing a unified power from controlling the Dark Portal.
• Vashj asked whether Theramore could represent Azeroth’s powers in supporting the Naga, and Deren suggested using Goblins as intermediaries for trade and diplomacy.
• Vashj agreed to cooperate and required the Goblins to establish a Portal connecting Zangar Marsh directly to Theramore.
• Deren and Vashj shook hands with all four of Vashj’s arms, while Onyxia watched him with fresh curiosity.

Deren presented Vashj with two gifts on Jaina’s behalf: Naga warriors transformed from squirrels and a vial of Sunwell Water. Vashj accepted Theramore’s cooperation proposal in principle and ordered her advisors to test the water as she began building an independent Naga kingdom.

• Deren revealed that Aegwynn had transformed dozens of squirrels into Naga Warriors, who said they had been captured by Theramore and pledged loyalty to Vashj.
• Vashj welcomed the warriors and learned that several among them were priests and mages.
• Deren gave Vashj a sample of Sunwell Water, and she tested it by casting an ice shield before asking for a regular supply.
• Vashj said the cooperation agreement was acceptable in principle but required further discussion of the water quota and confidentiality terms.
• After the delegation left through a Portal, Vashj secured the vial, ordered Serifa to study how to combine it with their spells, and arranged for the new warriors to be observed and trained.

Vereesa escorted a Naga delegation through Theramore while Vashj secretly recruited coastal tribes to reinforce her forces in Outland. Queen Azshara inspected Vashj’s plans through a Communication Crystal and ordered her to keep expanding their influence.

• Vereesa calmed Theramore’s citizens and arranged for guards to escort the Naga Emissary and her companions to the coast.
• Vashj learned that the Tideweaver Tribe had arrived from Theramore, adding around forty warriors and several priests to her forces.
• Vashj ordered her Naga to recruit more tribes quickly before Queen Azshara noticed their activity.
• A Siren from Nazjatar brought a Communication Crystal to Vashj, revealing Queen Azshara’s projection and prompting Vashj to explain her troop gathering in Outland.
• Vashj concealed her agreement with Theramore as the Old Gods probed her thoughts, and Azshara warned her not to betray their trust.
• Azshara accepted Vashj’s explanation and ordered her to continue expanding Naga influence in Outland.

Vashj expanded Naga control across Zangar Marsh, established Zandalar as their new homeland, and strengthened her forces to resist the Old Gods’ influence. The chapter left her planning further expansion and envisioning herself as the Naga’s true queen in Outland.

• After Queen Azshara’s phantom vanished, Vashj realized she needed greater strength to defy the Old Gods.
• Vashj led Naga forces to conquer areas of Zangar Marsh, defeating the Swamp Lords and Mudclaw Monsters and breaking the Ogres’ fortress with a Tidal Storm.
• Vashj began building the Zandalar Royal Palace and developing local resources, including magic pearl clams, to support the Naga’s rise.
• Vashj welcomed sixty new immigrants, including ten Abyssal Priests, to Zandalar and declared it a free homeland for the Naga.
• Vashj’s advisers reported that Sunwell Water had strengthened warriors against mental magic, and she ordered an eastward expansion and surveillance of Hellfire Peninsula.
• Vashj surveyed Zandalar City and resolved to build a kingdom where she could wield true authority beyond Azshara’s control.

After the Naga retaliated against Goblin merchants for selling them counterfeit weapons, Deren proposed sending Stormwind Paladins to Zanga as neutral arbiters, with benefits for the Naga and other factions. Lady Vashj challenged Deren to convince her, while Onyxia watched jealously.

• Lady Vashj punished a Goblin merchant and ordered Naga Warriors to take goods from Goblin shops in Zangar Marsh as compensation for counterfeit weapons.
• Jaina complained to Deren about the conflict, and Deren proposed that Stormwind Paladins arbitrate Goblin-Naga transactions in Zanga.
• Deren outlined benefits of sending Paladins to Outland, including supporting local factions, fighting demons, improving relations, and producing holy water.
• Jaina agreed to contact Varian and asked Deren to approach Lady Vashj.
• Deren proposed Paladin arbiters to Lady Vashj, who suspected the plan and asked him to bed-persuade her as Onyxia glared at the communication crystal.

Deren persuaded Vashj and Varian to support sending Paladins to Outland, and Stormwind’s delegation arrived in Zangar Marsh to negotiate with the Naga. The Paladins agreed to Vashj’s terms, but she immediately challenged the Goblins to face arbitration over their sale of inferior weapons.

• Deren explained to Vashj the diplomatic, military, and commercial benefits of accepting Paladins, and she agreed to discuss the proposal with her subordinates.
• Jaina presented Deren’s arguments to Varian, who approved sending Paladins under the cover of Goblin business and accepted that some nobles and church officials might join them.
• A week later, Captain Redpath led ten Paladins into Zangar Marsh, where they established an arbitration court alongside Goblin merchants.
• Vashj summoned the delegation and agreed to help locate kidnapped Stormwind nobles, permit Holy Light teachings as long as the Naga were not targeted, and accept monthly holy water.
• Redpath gave Vashj a jar of holy water, then the Goblin demanded compensation for robbed shops, prompting Vashj to ask the Paladins to rule on the Goblins’ sale of inferior weapons.