Chapter Summaries

Howard reveled in the attention his mutated tentacles attracted from the female Naga in Nazjatar. Elsewhere, White Jaina warned a Naga handmaiden that escaping her fate required deceiving fate itself, and demanded that she abandon her true body’s power and wealth.

• Howard enjoyed being surrounded, fed, and praised by female Naga who admired his tentacles.
• Howard considered bringing Fielder to Nazjatar to help him cope with the Naga’s attention.
• A Naga handmaiden asked White Jaina how to use her identity to escape her current body without drawing suspicion.
• White Jaina explained that the handmaiden had to make fate believe she had died as foretold, rather than merely escaping through an incarnation.
• White Jaina said the handmaiden must surrender her true body’s power and accumulated wealth, keeping only the essential part of her consciousness in her incarnation.

White Jaina persuaded Naga to create a female Void Elf incarnation so N'Zoth could escape its current body as part of a staged Old God crusade. After Naga left, White Jaina contacted Deren and hoped the plan would succeed.

• White Jaina explained that Naga needed a mortal identity that seemed normal but still offered influence and freedom.
• White Jaina suggested a female Void Elf, an Orc Shaman, or an Undead mage, and Naga chose to become a female Void Elf.
• Naga asked how to convincingly stage the Old God's death, and White Jaina said she had a plan and would act as Naga's hostage during the crusade.
• White Jaina promised to notify those above and advance the crusade plan, after which Naga could go to Outland.
• After Naga left, White Jaina sent Deren the message "Tiger, tiger, tiger" and reflected that N'Zoth might become the first Old God tricked into creating an incarnation and fleeing.

Azshara learned that N'Zoth would send Ysiel Nightshadow to Nazjatar to watch her and the human mage, intensifying her fears that her plan to betray the Old God might be exposed. White Jaina reassured her and proposed a plan to restrain Ysiel and Azshara during a surprise attack on N'Zoth, while both women pursued their own schemes.

• Azshara admired her altered appearance and spoke with N'Zoth, who questioned her loyalty and her meetings with the human mage.
• N'Zoth told Azshara that Ysiel Nightshadow, a Void-infected High Elf from Outland, would soon arrive to observe Nazjatar and focus on the human mage.
• Azshara admitted her worries to White Jaina and asked whether Ysiel could be bought off.
• White Jaina reassured Azshara that Ysiel would not discover their cooperation and offered to restrain her when the plan began.
• White Jaina proposed that her people launch a surprise attack on N'Zoth while she restrained both Ysiel and Azshara, and Azshara agreed.

White Jaina met Ysiel Nightshadow, the Old God's new Void Elf incarnation, and discussed their plan to fake taking control of Azshara. After delaying the operation while Theramore handled an unexpected problem, White Jaina decided they could finally begin.

• Azshara welcomed Ysiel Nightshadow to her palace and introduced her to White Jaina, who offered to show her around.
• In private, Ysiel revealed that she had abandoned her former name and identity, and White Jaina questioned her disguise and plans.
• Ysiel agreed to let White Jaina control her and then Azshara as part of their act, before leaving through a Void Portal.
• White Jaina received a Void Crystal from Ysiel and learned from Deren that preparations for the operation were complete.
• The next day, White Jaina delayed the plan while Theramore dealt with an unexpected situation, and Ysiel grew anxious about her separated original body.
• After contacting Deren and waiting for the problem to be handled, White Jaina finished a divination spell and said they could begin.

White Jaina tricked Azshara into opening a Portal to Ny'alotha, then used a Fel Energy crystal to summon demons against N'Zoth. After the demons cleared the way, King Varian and his Paladins arrived to attack the Old God, while Ysera recognized the whole battle as a staged performance.

• White Jaina revealed Ysera and threatened Azshara until she opened a Portal to Ny'alotha.
• White Jaina brought Azshara and Ysera through the Portal, where N'Zoth attacked them with tentacles and Black Mist.
• White Jaina used a Fel Energy crystal to summon the Burning Legion, and demons fought N'Zoth's Faceless Ones and tentacles.
• After White Jaina signaled that the traps were cleared, King Varian led his Paladins through an Arcane Portal and drove off the demons.
• Varian and the Paladins attacked N'Zoth, while Ysera realized the battle was an elaborate act.

Heroes from across Azeroth joined the assault on N'Zoth, while White Jaina directed Ysera to let the Old God's defenses fall so the Heart of Azeroth could reclaim its stolen energy. After Varian shattered N'Zoth's shell with Sargathas's Blade of the Dark Empire, Jaina began draining the Old God's energy, and another armored Paladin took the blade to absorb its Void Essence.

• Varian called for reinforcements, and heroes, mages, dragons, Vrykul, dwarves, and gnomes poured through Portals to attack N'Zoth.
• White Jaina explained to Ysera that Theramore had gathered heroes for a full assault, then ordered her to stop resisting once the Old God's outer shell weakened.
• Jaina arrived, and Ysera recognized her as a Star Soul's priestess but promised not to cause trouble.
• Varian used Sargathas's Blade of the Dark Empire to shatter N'Zoth's outer shell.
• Jaina raised the Heart of Azeroth and reclaimed the energy N'Zoth had stolen, shrinking its body.
• An armored Paladin took the dagger from Varian and stabbed N'Zoth, prompting Ysera to cry out as he absorbed its Void Essence.

After N'Zoth was defeated, Sargathas absorbed its Void Essence while Deren coordinated the cleanup and treasure distribution. Just as Deren began to relax at home, White Jaina arrived with a mysterious Void Elf.

• White Jaina identified Sargathas, who absorbed N'Zoth's Void Essence, and Varian stood forward to protect her.
• Antonidas tried to persuade Aegwynn to stay in Theramore by telling her about progress on Deren's Thermobaric Bomb project.
• Maiev praised herself to Illidan, while Elaseth worried about how to approach Deren after Elune's trial.
• Jaina returned to Deren's home with the fully charged Heart of Azeroth, and Deren asked her to pass on orders for the final cleanup and orderly distribution of N'Zoth's treasure.
• White Jaina entered Deren's living room with a barefoot Void Elf after checking that the other Jaina was absent.

Ysiel Nightshadow, an Old God incarnation, arrived in Theramore with White Jaina and asked Deren to show her around. After learning Ysiel had secretly prepared a backup body in Outland, Deren arranged protections and planned to meet her with allies the next day.

• Onyxia reacted to Ysiel's arrival, while Deren sent her to warn Jaina and learned that White Jaina had brought the Void Elf incarnation of N'Zoth to his home.
• Ysiel asked Deren to guide her around Theramore, but Onyxia objected, and Aegwynn took Ysiel away to find lodging.
• White Jaina told Deren that Ysiel had planted part of her Old God body in Outland as a backup in case her incarnation was destroyed.
• Deren planned to meet Ysiel with White Jaina and Aegwynn, then asked Jaina to seek protection from Old God whispers through Azeroth's Soul.
• Jaina used the Heart of Azeroth to create three mental-protection necklaces, and Deren gave one to White Jaina for Aegwynn.

Deren guided Ysera and White Jaina around Theramore, taking Ysera shopping through the city’s markets. Ysera’s flirtatious behavior left Deren wary of her intentions as the outing continued.

• Deren welcomed Ysera and White Jaina, served them breakfast, and proposed a day of shopping around Theramore.
• Ysera chose to visit the cloth market and showed excitement about buying clothes, perfumes, jewelry, and other goods.
• Ysera used a Void spell to clear the breakfast table before the three began their shopping trip.
• Ysera bought many fabrics and clothes while repeatedly asking White Jaina for advice on her outfits.
• Ysera tried on a short dress and asked Deren what he thought, then spun around in it and nearly exposed herself.
• White Jaina urged Ysera to change back, while Deren grew suspicious that the Old God was deliberately tempting him.

Deren arranged for Ysera to stay with Aule and Salo, the two demons he had brought to Theramore, and tasked them with keeping her from causing trouble. After Deren left, Ysera learned that the sisters knew she was an Evil God incarnation, but they refused to explain why they remained in Theramore.

• After a day of shopping, Deren told Ysera he had arranged a place for her to stay, and White Jaina joined him in bringing her to a secluded residence.
• Deren introduced Ysera to Aule and Salo, who pretended to be Draenei from Outland and welcomed her as their new roommate.
• Deren privately told Aule to watch Ysera, prevent her from corrupting people, and use her as an excuse to investigate a Void conspiracy.
• While Salo and Ysera bonded over the shopping, Deren and White Jaina departed, leaving Ysera with the demon sisters.
• Ysera confronted Aule and Salo about their identities, and Salo mocked her for coming to Theramore while the sisters refused to explain why they did not dare escape.

Azshara discovered that N'Zoth's curse had lifted and left Nazjatar aboard a Goblin ship for Theramore, hoping to find a way to regain her beauty. She left the High Warlords in charge, and they promptly assigned the tentacled Baron to handle Nazjatar's affairs while they enjoyed themselves.

• Azshara woke in her Royal Palace, found that the teleportation array to Ny'alotha no longer worked, and asked Howard what had happened.
• Azshara hired Golden Eye to prepare the Swift Fortune, sailed out of Nazjatar, and realized she was free of the Old God's curse.
• Azshara set the ship's destination to Theramore and sent a handmaiden back to tell the commanders to govern in her absence.
• The High Warlords agreed to leave the tentacled Baron in charge of Nazjatar's affairs while they took turns enjoying themselves.

After learning that the Evil God Elf had targeted Theramore with help from an unknown source, Deren asked Chromie to investigate the Timeline. She discovered that the unhatched Black Dragon Ragnaros had partnered with N'Zoth, and Deren proposed bringing him to Alexstrasza for discipline.

• Deren refused Aegwynn's suggestion to kill the Evil God Elf and asked Chromie to help uncover how she learned about Theramore.
• Chromie searched the Timeline and revealed that Ragnaros, an unhatched Black Dragon, had investigated his siblings and partnered with N'Zoth.
• Deren explained that Ragnaros was an intelligent, uncorrupted egg at Ravenholdt Manor leading a plan to eliminate corrupted Black Dragons, including Onyxia and Nefarian.
• Deren proposed that Alexstrasza take an interest in Ragnaros and discipline him for his plans.

Alexstrasza and Chromie infiltrated Ravenholdt Manor to retrieve a pure Black Dragon egg, but Alexstrasza was badly injured by an acid trap. As she took the egg, its voice questioned her and asked why Ravenholdt had not stopped them.

• At Dragonblight Temple, Alexstrasza destroyed a batch of dragon eggs damaged by demonic power, and Chromie told her that Ravenholdt Manor had captured a pure Black Dragon egg.
• Alexstrasza agreed to retrieve the egg, and Chromie transported them to the Hillsbrad Foothills, where they sensed its aura at Ravenholdt Manor.
• Alexstrasza and Chromie entered the manor invisibly, found a basement entrance, and opened its magical locks with Dragonfire.
• A strong-acid trap drenched Alexstrasza, and Chromie reversed the acid's fall and froze it, though Alexstrasza's injuries remained.
• Alexstrasza found the pure Black Dragon egg and picked it up, whereupon a voice from inside asked who she was and why Ravenholdt had not stopped her.

Alexstrasza and Chromie faced an ambush at Ravenholdt Manor while protecting the black dragon egg, and Alexstrasza retaliated by destroying the assassin stronghold. They returned to Wyrmrest Temple with the egg, while Chromie also took a safe and documents from the ruins.

• Alexstrasza spoke with the voice inside the dragon egg as Chromie sensed an invisible assassin approaching and protected herself.
• The assassin struck Alexstrasza with a sap and a holy dagger, but she exposed him and reduced him to ash.
• Alexstrasza began laying waste to Ravenholdt Manor while Chromie watched from outside and used Time Magic to force fleeing assassins back toward the dragon.
• Grand Duke Ravenholdt claimed his assassins had served Azeroth by supplying the Alliance with Scourge intelligence, but Chromie revealed they had cooperated with the Cult of the Damned, and Alexstrasza killed him.
• Alexstrasza destroyed the manor and decided to hatch the stable dragon egg herself, while Chromie took a safe and documents before they returned to Wyrmrest Temple.

Deren and the women of his household uncovered Ravenholdt’s surveillance of Onyxia and learned that the unborn Black Dragon Prince, Ragnaros, had manipulated the assassins and Twilight’s Hammer to target her. Deren decided to send evidence to Alexstrasza so she could teach Ragnaros proper dragon values, while the distant egg sensed danger.

• Deren, Chromie, Jaina, Onyxia, and Anveena sorted Ravenholdt’s documents, and Deren explained why the assassins had protected Ragnaros’s egg.
• Jaina found intelligence reports about Theramore, and Deren traced Ravenholdt’s years-long surveillance of Onyxia and himself.
• Deren discovered that Ragnaros had tried to provoke conflict between Onyxia and Twilight’s Hammer while gathering intelligence on the Black Dragon siblings.
• Onyxia and Chromie reacted with alarm to Ragnaros’s schemes, while Deren concluded that the egg needed guidance from Alexstrasza.
• Deren asked Chromie to take selected documents to Alexstrasza, and Chromie agreed to help educate Ragnaros; far away, the egg trembled as it sensed a dark fate.

Deren met with Ysera and revealed that Ravenholdt Manor had manipulated her and Onyxia to target the Black Dragons. He then disclosed that he had come from outside Azeroth and knew its stories from reading a picture book, leaving Ysera and Aegwynn shocked.

• Deren decided to tell Ysera the truth about his identity and brought Aegwynn with him to meet her.
• Deren told Ysera that Ravenholdt Manor had been feeding her intelligence to manipulate her and Onyxia into fighting or joining forces against the Black Dragons.
• Deren showed Ysera documents from Ravenholdt Manor and said he would still honor their agreement despite learning she was formerly N'Zoth.
• Deren told Ysera that he had come from outside Azeroth and had entered its world from a picture book.
• Deren explained that reading the picture book let him know Azeroth's important stories and plotlines, unlike Bronze Dragons, who could only observe limited events.

Deren told Ysiel that Theramore would honor its agreement, but said her history as an Old God made her companions uneasy and recommended she leave for Outland. Ysiel asked how she could earn their trust, and after Aegwynn suggested a Soul Contract, she fell silent and finally said she had made up her mind.

• Deren explained that Theramore valued trust and would keep its agreement with Ysiel.
• Ysiel announced that she wanted to settle in Theramore for its food and entertainment, but Deren questioned her motives and urged her to leave for Outland.
• Ysiel asked how trust could be established, and Deren admitted he did not know how to trust an Old God.
• Aegwynn suggested that Ysiel offer a Soul Contract like Nefarian had, but Ysiel hesitated.
• Deren offered to let Ysiel stay a few more days and take Theramore goods with her to Outland, and Ysiel said she had made up her mind.

Deren challenged Ysera’s belief that all things must return to the Void by teaching her philosophical sayings about time, emptiness, and the self. Ysera began to reconsider the relationship between the Void and the material universe, while Deren argued that order and chaos shared the same essence.

• Ysera refused to sign a contract surrendering her freedom and insisted she would go to Outland.
• Deren quoted a sage’s words about the past, present, and future, prompting Ysera to reflect on whether anything could truly be grasped.
• Deren recited more sayings about illusion and nothingness, and Ysera became overwhelmed as she felt her Void power evolving.
• Aegwynn reminded Ysera that they had not established trust, but Deren continued teaching after Ysera pleaded with him.
• Ysera reconsidered her assumptions about the Void, life, death, and the self after hearing Deren’s sayings about the Thus-Come One.
• Deren told Ysera that form and emptiness were one, then argued that the material universe and the Void shared an essence despite their apparent opposition.

Deren explained that order and chaos were fundamentally one, and his words triggered a dangerous evolution in Ysera’s Void power. After he helped her recover, Ysera chose to stay and become his disciple rather than go to Outland.

• Deren told Ysera that chaos contained every possibility, including order, and that names and descriptions could not express the world’s true nature.
• Ysera’s Void power began erasing her body, so Deren held her and urged her to repeat verses from the Heart Sutra.
• Ysera repeated Deren’s words, stopped disappearing, and thanked him for helping her understand the Void.
• Deren told Ysera to decide whether she would go to Outland, while Aegwynn urged her to consider staying with him.
• Ysera offered to sign a Soul Contract and become Deren’s disciple, and Deren accepted her decision.

Deren made Ysiel Nightshadow his student after she signed a Soul Contract with Aegwynn, then sent the demon twins to intercept Sargeras’s avatar in Outland. Back home, Ysiel agreed to live independently and attend weekly lessons while Onyxia questioned her about Deathwing.

• Deren warned Ysiel to restrain her temperament, and she eagerly asked him to teach her the sages’ words.
• Deren showed the demon twins the Orcs transporting Sargeras’s avatar and persuaded them to steal it and divide its power.
• The twins opened a Fel Energy Portal to Outland, while Aegwynn praised Deren for depriving the Orcs of their trophy.
• Deren, Aegwynn, and Ysiel returned home, where Deren introduced Ysiel as his apprentice to a shocked Onyxia.
• Ysiel told Onyxia that Deathwing was near death and would have shattered without the Old God’s power.
• Deren arranged for Ysiel to live in her former place, write Theramore fashion reports for a salary, and attend weekly lessons with Aegwynn.