Chapter Summaries

Deren taught the Heart Sutra to Aegwynn and Ysera before Chromie interrupted the lesson with news from N'Zoth's Vault. After the others left, Jaina returned with a request from the Star Soul to study with Deren and form a closer connection.

• Deren explained the Heart Sutra's ideas about the self to his students, and Aegwynn and Ysera reflected on his lesson.
• Chromie arrived excited about the treasures in N'Zoth's Vault, then disrupted the class by mocking Deren's ability to teach.
• Deren ended the lesson early, and Aegwynn departed with Ysera after thanking him.
• Chromie told Deren that Alexstrasza was punishing the Black Dragon Egg Ragnaros, while Deren said he planned to eliminate remaining threats.
• After Chromie and Jaina left, Deren tried to comfort Onyxia, but Jaina returned and said the Star Soul wanted further lessons and a closer connection with him.

Jaina asked Deren to accept her on behalf of the Star Soul, which wanted to strengthen its bond with him through a child. After Onyxia settled the matter with Jaina, Deren returned to speak with her, and they grew intimate.

• Jaina told Deren that the Star Soul feared losing its connection to him and asked him to take her in, but Deren affirmed his loyalty while saying he loved Onyxia.
• Jaina revealed that the Star Soul hoped she would have Deren's child, and Onyxia sent Deren away so the two women could talk privately.
• Onyxia told Deren that the Star Soul's worries were justified and that it wanted to raise any child Jaina had with him.
• Onyxia pushed Deren back into the room, where he eased Jaina's nerves and talked with her about their pasts and different upbringings.
• Jaina thanked Deren for helping her understand the life she needed, and they embraced as the lights went out.

Jaina brought reports from Orgrimmar to Deren and discovered that another Jaina had joined the pact with the Star Soul. After Deren proposed using the Alliance to pressure Zandalar and prepare to purge its hostile Loa, Jaina set the plan in motion, while Onyxia asked when she could have Deren’s child.

• Jaina arrived at Deren’s home with administrative reports and found another Jaina beside him, who explained that she represented the Star Soul and wanted to strengthen the pact.
• Jaina told Deren that spies had reported unfamiliar, richly dressed Trolls arriving in Orgrimmar, and Deren suspected they were Zandalari Trolls testing the Horde.
• Deren proposed that the Alliance condemn Zandalar’s attacks and use its refusal to comply to justify action against the kingdom and its hostile Loa.
• Jaina contacted Varian and began setting the Alliance plan in motion, fearing that Thrall’s Horde would grow stronger.
• Onyxia teased Deren about his attention to Jaina, then asked him to find out when she could have a child with him.

Chromie discovered that Jaina had grown closer to Deren and lamented that his attention was being divided among more princesses. The dragons argued over who might claim a share of Deren next, leaving him trapped between Jaina and Anveena as they fed him pies.

• Chromie returned from the Time Rift, sensed traces of Jaina and Deren's recent intimacy, and cried that Deren had become smaller again.
• Chromie demanded to know how much of Deren remained and blamed Onyxia for failing to guard the house.
• Onyxia suggested that she and Chromie might win over the Star Soul and have Deren's child, cheering Chromie up.
• Jaina came from the kitchen with pies and fed one to Deren while Chromie tried to record his embarrassed expression for Windrunner.
• Onyxia stopped Chromie from inviting more women into Deren's life, but Chromie speculated that Anveena might claim a share too.
• Anveena joined Jaina in feeding Deren, and Onyxia said the dragons were discussing how to divide him up that night.

Queen Azshara arrived in Theramore seeking Deren’s help to restore her former beauty through Elune’s Divine Grace. Deren gave her three conditions, and Azshara struggled to accept them as Jaina and Aegwynn warned her to take him seriously.

• Chromie announced that Queen Azshara had arrived in Theramore and specifically requested to see Deren.
• Jaina brought Deren to City Hall, where he met Azshara after officials arranged a welcoming ceremony.
• Azshara explained that Vashj had promised she could receive Elune’s Divine Grace in Theramore and asked Deren whether her beauty could be restored.
• Deren offered to help if Azshara acknowledged her responsibility for the ancient conflict, made sufficient sacrifices to Elune, and became the Moon Goddess’s devout follower again.
• Azshara rejected the conditions as too difficult, but Jaina and Aegwynn warned her not to dismiss Deren’s advice.

Deren negotiated with Elune to restore Azshara's beauty in exchange for the Tidestone and support for uniting the elven races. Elune agreed, and Deren began explaining why he had taken the Old God N'Zoth as a student.

• Azshara agreed to offer the Tidestone if Aegwynn could find another way to keep Nazjatar free of seawater, and Aegwynn offered to build a magical barrier with Theramore's Mage Corps.
• Deren went with Aegwynn to the Temple of the Moon and asked High Priestess Elaseth to contact Elune about restoring Azshara's appearance.
• Elune said the Tidestone alone was not enough, so Deren revealed it was one of the five Pillars of Creation and argued that Azshara could help unite the scattered elven races.
• Elune accepted Deren's proposal, and he told her that N'Zoth had survived and become his student.
• Elune demanded an explanation, and Deren began telling her the story.

Deren persuaded Elune to grant Azshara the Divine Grace ritual, and Azshara offered the Tidestone in exchange for being restored to her ancient elven form. After the ritual, she thanked Deren and promised an eternal alliance between Nazjatar and Theramore.

• Deren explained his teachings on emptiness and form to Elune, who agreed to perform the Divine Grace ritual for Azshara once the Tidestone was sacrificed.
• Azshara urged Jaina to arrange for the Mage Corps to return to Nazjatar and retrieve the Tidestone.
• Elaseth and the moon priests began the ritual as Elune's power painfully reshaped Azshara, removing her Naga features and restoring her elven body.
• Azshara emerged as an ancient Night Elf woman and thanked Elune for restoring her, then promised Deren that Nazjatar and Theramore would be eternal allies.
• Deren asked the naked Azshara to put on clothes, and Onyxia threw her a robe before Azshara could tease him further.

Azshara stayed in Theramore and became fascinated by its markets, where she clashed with Ysera, N'Zoth's incarnation, over beauty and the Void. After discovering that Deren was both their teacher and source of grievances, they set aside their hostility and went shopping together.

• Azshara chose to remain in Theramore, where she spent lavishly exploring its shops and luxuries.
• Ysera criticized Azshara's pursuit of sensory pleasure, and Azshara challenged Ysera's devotion to the Void.
• Ysera revealed that Deren had ordered her to write a Theramore fashion report, while Azshara complained that Deren had made her admit her mistakes and worship the Moon Goddess.
• Azshara and Ysera realized they shared grievances against Deren and began discussing fashion, perfume, and food instead of arguing.
• Azshara and Ysera shopped together as Chromie followed them and recorded their unexpected reconciliation.

Deren tried to prepare breakfast for Onyxia, but Jaina distracted him and the meal burned. At his morning lesson on “Personlessness,” an unexpected crowd of powerful women gathered to listen, leaving Deren overwhelmed as he began explaining nothingness.

• Deren freed himself from Onyxia and started making breakfast, but Jaina joined him in the kitchen and distracted him until the bacon burned.
• Onyxia questioned Deren and Jaina about the ruined breakfast, and Deren used the approaching lesson as an excuse to leave the awkward meal.
• Deren entered his classroom and found Ysera and Queen Azshara waiting, then Jaina, Aegwynn, and Elaseth arrived to attend the lesson.
• Deren faced the assembled listeners and began explaining “Personlessness” through the concept of nothingness.
• Ysera showed deep interest, Azshara became confused, Jaina nodded, Aegwynn looked pleased, and Elaseth appeared overwhelmed by the teaching.

Jaina reported that Princess Talanji of Zandalar had arrived in Theramore after Rezan guided her there, but Deren and Jaina rejected her appeal for peace. Talanji and her guards began plotting to loot the city, prompting Deren and Jaina to accelerate their plan to eliminate the Loa and deal with the Trolls.

• Jaina told Deren and Onyxia that a Zandalari Troll Princess had arrived in Theramore, and Talanji entered the city under Rezan’s guidance.
• Talanji met Deren and Jaina at City Hall and said she sought peace and the fate-changing opportunity Rezan had promised.
• Deren challenged Talanji’s authority to speak for Zandalar, insulted Rezan, and ordered her delegation to leave; Jaina also rejected them.
• After leaving City Hall, Talanji and her old Troll aides eyed Theramore’s wealth and began planning how to plunder it.
• Deren and Jaina watched the Trolls and decided to speed up their plan to take down the Loa, after which the remaining Trolls would convert or be destroyed.

Talanji accepted Rezan’s demand to seek Theramore’s forgiveness and returned to the city to beg Jaina and Deren for help. After kneeling and offering to accept any conditions, she faced Deren’s questions about Zandalar’s alliance with the Horde and Theramore’s view of her nation.

• Rezan warned Talanji that her pride threatened Zandalar’s survival and demanded that she seek Theramore’s forgiveness, but he fell silent when she questioned his judgment.
• Talanji decided to return alone, disguised herself as an ordinary Troll, and slipped into Theramore.
• Talanji took a city official hostage to summon Jaina, who arrived from the mage tower with Deren nearby.
• Talanji released the official, knelt before Jaina and Deren, apologized, and offered to accept any conditions on behalf of herself and Rezan.
• Deren questioned why Zandalar sought an alliance with the Horde, while Jaina and Deren criticized the Horde and Zandalar; Talanji fell silent.

Deren demanded that Zandalar reform, abandon the Horde, join the Alliance, and convert to Elune, while Rezan warned that the Loa had become prey and urged Talanji to accept. Rezan pledged himself to Elune, and Talanji agreed to guide Deren to Zandalar to persuade her father and the other Loa.

• Deren told Talanji that Zandalar needed sweeping political reforms, an Alliance alliance, and conversion to Elune.
• Rezan appeared and panickedly ordered Talanji to accept Deren's plan, warning that the Loa were now prey and Zandalar faced destruction if it did not change.
• Deren insisted that Zandalar reform or face divine punishment, and Rezan admitted that King Rastakhan and the high priests would resist.
• Rezan pledged to submit to Elune and asked Deren to accompany Talanji to Zandalar to persuade the other Loa.
• Talanji agreed to accept reform and lead Deren to Zandalar to persuade her father and the Loa.

At the Temple of the Moon, Rezan underwent Elune’s naturalization rite, and Talanji watched the Loa become a peaceful guardian devoted to the Moon Goddess. Deren introduced the formidable team heading to Zandalar, leaving Talanji convinced her homeland had no choice but to accept their arrival.

• Deren brought Talanji and Rezan to the Temple of the Moon, where High Priestess Elaseth invoked Elune and presented Rezan for naturalization.
• Elune’s moonlight transformed Rezan’s spirit, calming his wildness and filling him with peace and a new sense of guardianship.
• Deren told Talanji to study under Elune and introduced the team that would go to Zandalar: Aegwynn, Onyxia, Illidan, Maiev Shadowsong, and Elaseth.
• The team described their plans for the Loa, and Talanji realized their proposed persuasion could mean transforming or destroying Zandalar’s gods and city.
• Talanji bowed her head and told Deren that Zandalar would welcome his arrival, admitting that her homeland had no choice.

Talanji returned to Zuldazar with foreign guests and declared that she had rejected the old Loa and embraced Elune, urging Zandalar to abandon its traditions. King Rastakhan and the councilors reacted with fury and called for her and her companions to be seized.

• King Rastakhan heard councilors argue over whether Zandalar should wage war on Kul Tiras or focus on defense.
• A guard announced that Talanji had returned with several guests, and Rastakhan ordered her to enter the throne hall.
• Talanji entered with human and Night Elf companions and told Rastakhan she had returned from Theramore, not Orgrimmar.
• Talanji declared that she had embraced the Moon Goddess Elune and urged Zandalar to break from its old faith and traditions.
• Rastakhan and the councilors denounced Talanji as a blasphemer and called for her and her guests to be seized.

Talanji proved that Rezan supported embracing the Moon Goddess as Zandalar’s only chance to survive, while her powerful guests subdued the Royal Guard and forced Bwonsamdi to declare his conversion. King Rastakhan quickly abandoned his opposition and offered Talanji the throne.

• Talanji summoned Rezan, who confirmed that Zandalar’s old path had ended and urged the kingdom and the Loa to embrace the moonlight.
• Rastakhan called Rezan’s appearance an illusion and ordered the Royal Guard to seize Talanji and her guests.
• Aegwynn knocked the charging Troll warriors unconscious with a shockwave, while the councilors began reconsidering their opposition.
• Aegwynn and Elaseth challenged Bwonsamdi, and Rezan pulled the death god from his divine realm to face them.
• Bwonsamdi welcomed the Moon Goddess’s emissaries and announced that he would convert to Elune’s faith.
• Rastakhan abruptly praised Talanji and offered her the throne, prompting the councilors to resent that he had acted first.

While Onyxia was away, Deren found himself caught between Chromie’s teasing and Jaina’s increasingly bold advances. Jaina invited him to visit Theresa at the Mage Tower, and Deren hoped the trip might bring him some peace.

• Chromie woke Deren by treating him like a midnight snack and threatened to reveal what she had seen him and Jaina doing in the kitchen.
• Jaina asked Deren to make pancakes with her again, and they panicked when Anveena entered the kitchen.
• Jaina brought Deren Orgrimmar documents to review, then went to rest in Onyxia’s bedroom.
• Jaina invited Deren to the Mage Tower to visit Theresa, and he agreed to go with her that afternoon.
• Jaina offered to make nourishing soup for dinner, and Deren accepted.

Aegwynn led the God-Slaying Squad into Odyn to destroy G'huun, the Blood God corrupting Nazmir. After her new Arcane spell demolished the facility and its guardian, she sealed G'huun's phantom, leaving Talanji resolved to change Zandalar's future.

• Aegwynn opened Odyn's entrance and led the group through the Titan facility, where Illidan and Maiev destroyed a mechanical construct.
• The group reached G'huun's chamber, and Elaseth used Starfall to wipe out the monsters summoned by the Blood God.
• Aegwynn protected the group while Onyxia, Illidan, and Maiev attacked G'huun, but they could not inflict a fatal wound.
• Aegwynn trapped G'huun, cast Arcane Singularity, and teleported the group away before the spell destroyed Odyn in a massive explosion.
• G'huun's phantom tried to flee, but Aegwynn shattered it with a forbidden sealing spell.
• Rezan showed Talanji that the old fear was gone, and Talanji resolved that Zandalar's future had to change.

Talanji declared Zandalar’s old political order finished and claimed the throne with Aegwynn’s intimidating support. The ruling class knelt to acknowledge her as queen, as she prepared to steer Zandalar toward a new era.

• Rastakhan formally passed the throne to Talanji, and she addressed Zandalar’s leaders about the dangers facing the kingdom.
• Talanji cited Rezan’s oracle and new form as support for change, while Aegwynn’s presence reinforced her authority.
• Talanji dissolved the Zanchul Council, replaced it with a Privy Council, and announced that Rastakhan would retire to rest.
• Talanji swore to become queen and crush anyone who obstructed Zandalar’s progress.
• Rezan’s high priest knelt first, followed by the other leaders, and the ruling class accepted Talanji as queen.

Talanji uncovered a conspiracy to assassinate her and used it to expose and suppress a wider rebellion. The Royal Guard seized the conspirators, while a general agreed to send troops against the rebels.

• A mysterious Troll persuaded disgraced Zandalari leaders to plot Talanji’s assassination and reclaim power.
• Talanji and her Royal Guard Captain watched the conspirators through a Water Mirror, then prepared to use the plot to purge her enemies.
• The assassins entered the palace through a supposed secret passage and were ambushed by Talanji’s Royal Guard.
• Talanji ordered a fire to make the rebels believe she had been killed, prompting them to begin an uprising.
• Royal Guard soldiers confronted a military general and a former Zanjuli councilor; the general agreed to dispatch troops to suppress the rebellion.

Queen Talanji crushed the rebellion by arresting and executing nobles, priests, and chieftains in a public purge that forced the survivors to swear loyalty. As Talanji turned away from the bloodshed, her father Rastakhan burned secret letters and hoped the past would remain buried.

• After the rebels failed to reach the Royal Palace, Talanji's guards swept through Zuldazar and arrested suspected conspirators and other powerful figures.
• The guards brought prisoners to the palace square, where Talanji's decree condemned them to death for treason and plotting against the queen.
• Executioners killed the prisoners as surviving nobles watched, then the survivors knelt and declared loyalty to Talanji and the new era.
• Talanji left the terrace without showing any joy, while Rastakhan secretly watched the executions from a room above.
• Rastakhan retrieved a stack of covertly delivered letters and burned them, believing their secrets would remain hidden.