Chapter Summaries

Deren advised Jaina on how to help the Night Elves disrupt the Horde’s Ashenvale offensive without Theramore entering the war directly. He also explained the Scarlet Crusade’s delusions and outlined a quarantine-first response to the plague at Stratholme.

• Deren told Jaina to obtain Glyph Bombs from Dalaran and teach Night Elf Holy Light Students to use them against the Orcs’ supply lines, while Theramore’s Horde workers stayed put.
• Jaina told Deren that Lordaeron had asked Stormwind for help dealing with the Scarlet Crusade, whose members rejected the new government and killed its envoys.
• Deren explained that the Scarlet Crusade had been brainwashed and revealed that its leader was a disguised Pit Lord.
• Deren argued that the Holy Light had failed to expose demons disguising themselves as trusted figures, and criticized Arthas’s handling of the plague in Stratholme.
• Deren said he would first secure Uther’s support and establish a quarantine zone rather than massacre the infected residents.

Deren explained to Jaina that the Stratholme plague was likely a staged plot to lure Arthas into investigating, then proposed inviting the Naaru to examine and reform the Scarlet Crusade. Jaina agreed to contact Varian, while Deren warned that the Scourge invasion may have involved a force from the Shadowlands.

• Deren argued that the Stratholme plague spread through contaminated grain in an unusually limited way and was likely staged to accompany Arthas's fall.
• Deren proposed inviting the Naaru to conduct a Holy Light review of the Scarlet Crusade, with elite Alliance Paladins surrounding its strongholds under the guise of providing protection.
• Jaina agreed that the Naaru would likely accept the invitation and supported sending both the Crusade's fanatics and unstable believers to Outland.
• Deren warned Jaina to tell Varian not to investigate the Crusade's possible crimes, and Jaina agreed to contact him.
• Jaina described how few Lordaeronians had survived the Scourge invasion, and Deren said the invasion may have involved a force from the Shadowlands.

Redpath contacted Velen to invite a Naaru to Azeroth and explained the Scarlet Crusade crisis. After Sacrolash teased him, Redpath warned her and Aurelia that Shattrath’s envoy might pass through Zandalar, leaving Aurelia to decide whether to meet them despite the risk of being recognized as Draenei Broken.

• Redpath contacted Velen and asked Shattrath to send a Naaru to help guide the Scarlet Crusade away from extremism.
• Velen agreed to convey the request to Adal, and Redpath explained that the envoy could travel through Zandalar’s Portal to Theramore.
• Sacrolash tricked Redpath into falling beneath her and teased him until Aurelia intervened.
• Redpath warned Sacrolash and Aurelia that a Naaru might soon arrive in Zandalar on the way to Azeroth.
• Aurelia asked Redpath what they should do and decided to risk meeting the Shattrath envoy.

Prophet Velen and Adal arrived at the Zandalar Paladin camp to travel to Theramore, where they planned to assist with the purification of faith. Velen recognized Sacrolash and Aurelia but said nothing, leaving the twins to suspect he had a secret agreement with Kil'jaeden and resolve to investigate Deren.

• Redpath received Velen's message announcing that he and Adal would travel to Azeroth, then prepared to welcome them at the Zandalar camp.
• Velen and Adal arrived through the camp's teleportation array, and Redpath greeted them before leading them toward the Portal to Theramore.
• Sacrolash and Aurelia approached disguised as Draenei Broken, and Velen recognized them without exposing or attacking them.
• The twins interpreted Velen's calm response as tacit evidence of an agreement with Kil'jaeden, while Velen and Adal departed for Theramore.
• Sacrolash and Aurelia realized Deren had likely deceived them, decided they could not safely interrogate him, and considered seducing him to uncover more secrets.

Highlord Whitemane used a tortured envoy and a public execution to convince the Scarlet Monastery that the Alliance’s calls for surrender were Undead lies. She left the fortress’s soldiers and civilians terrified and ordered them to resist the outside forces without wavering.

• Whitemane accused soldiers and civilians who trusted the Alliance’s news of being corrupted traitors.
• Renault Mograine’s attendants dragged in a tortured envoy, who was forced to claim that the Alliance army was fake and the outside remained under the Lich King’s control.
• Whitemane sentenced the accused waverers to death, and the Scarlet Vanguard executed them before the assembled crowd.
• Whitemane called the massacre Holy Light purification, while ordinary soldiers and civilians watched in fear.
• Renault and the crowd affirmed Whitemane’s order to resist the outside forces and reject any further doubts.

Deren and Jaina brought Velen and Adal to Lordaeron to persuade the Scarlet Crusade to stop its violence. As Whitemane’s followers witnessed Adal’s arrival, they believed the true Holy Light had come.

• Jaina and Deren welcomed Velen and Adal in Theramore, where Adal sensed an unusual disorder in Deren’s fate.
• Deren explained that the Scarlet Crusade was concentrated in Lordaeron and had rejected negotiations, so the Alliance hoped Adal could persuade its members to surrender peacefully.
• Jaina led Velen, Adal, Deren, and Redpath through a long-range teleport to meet King Varian at the Lordaeron front and begin at Scarlet Monastery.
• Whitemane held another execution at Scarlet Monastery, drawing lots to select ten people and preaching that the Holy Light guided the faithful.
• A powerful, gentle light filled the monastery, and a sentry reported that the real Holy Light had arrived.

Velen and Adal brought the Naaru’s Holy Light to the Scarlet Crusade, exposing the leaders’ corruption and ending the faction’s unrest without a battle. The surrendered soldiers returned to Lordaeron, while Whitemane and the other leaders were handed over to Velen for exile to Outland.

• Varian welcomed Velen and Adal outside Scarlet Monastery and led them to confront the Scarlet Crusade.
• Adal’s Holy Light calmed the soldiers, while Whitemane and Renault Mograine resisted and their guilt and corruption were revealed.
• Varian ordered the Alliance forces to advance, but most Scarlet soldiers surrendered and pledged allegiance to Lordaeron and the Alliance.
• Velen accepted the Crusade’s most extreme believers into the Naaru’s care after they confessed their sins.
• Deren persuaded Velen to take Whitemane and the other criminal leaders to Outland, where they would remain near the Naaru and learn from the Holy Light.

Varian’s allies sought Tirion Fordring to break the deadlock at Hearthglen and rescue his son, Taelan. Restored by Adal’s Holy Light, Tirion agreed to lead them there.

• Bolvar reported that Grand Crusader Dathrohan had seized control of Hearthglen, where Taelan Fordring was in danger and the Scarlet forces rejected Alliance negotiations.
• Deren proposed recruiting Tirion Fordring, and Velen and Adal agreed to help restore his faith and power.
• Jaina teleported the group to the Eastern Plaguelands, where they found Tirion living as a recluse in a hidden valley.
• Adal enveloped Tirion in Holy Light, awakening his dormant power and renewing his conviction.
• After learning about Hearthglen, Tirion recovered his broken greatsword and agreed to go there to save Taelan.

Adal’s Holy Light purified Hearthglen and helped Tirion Fordring rally its people against Dathrohan, who revealed himself as the demon Balnazaar. After the Alliance and Fordring defeated Balnazaar, Hearthglen returned to Lordaeron’s rule.

• Adal’s radiance dispelled the Scarlet Crusade’s fanaticism, and Hearthglen’s people welcomed Tirion Fordring as he arrived.
• Dathrohan ordered Taelan Fordring brought out as a hostage, but Bolvar Fordragon, Redpath, and Jaina’s allies rescued Taelan from the castle.
• Balnazaar revealed his demonic form after learning his hostage was gone, and the awakened Crusaders joined the Alliance against him.
• Tirion Fordring and Bolvar struck down Balnazaar, whose body turned to ash, ending the resistance.
• Under Adal’s witness, Hearthglen returned to Lordaeron, while its most fanatical leaders went with the Naaru to Shattrath.

At a banquet in Hearthglen, Deren asked Prophet Velen to contact the Holy Light Legion and help Alleria’s Expeditionary Force return to Azeroth before a secret plan to end the Burning Legion. Velen agreed to deliver the message, while Deren kept the plan’s details from him and Jaina.

• Varian hosted Velen, Adal, Deren, Jaina, and the commanders at a banquet celebrating the defeat of the Scarlet Crusade.
• Deren told Velen that the Holy Light Legion and Alleria’s Expeditionary Force should leave the Twisting Nether before Theramore’s planned strike against the Burning Legion.
• Velen said Adal could contact the Holy Light Legion and promised to pass on Deren’s warning and help guide Alleria’s forces home if they agreed to return.
• Velen offered Deren a captain’s rank in the Army of the Light, but Deren gave no answer.
• Jaina visited Deren that night and asked about his plan to end the Burning Legion, but he said its details were still secret and depended on future conditions.

Velen, Adal, and Alliance troops reached Stratholme, where Commander Marlam and the remaining Scarlet Crusade fought the Undead. After Adal proved the power of his Holy Light, Marlam pledged loyalty to true hope, and the allies purged the city, beginning its recovery.

• Velen and Adal arrived in Stratholme with Alliance forces and met Commander Marlam, who demanded proof of their intentions.
• Adal's Holy Light healed wounded crusaders and eased the soldiers' fear, convincing Marlam that it was genuine.
• Velen told Marlam about Hearthglen and the Scarlet Crusade's chance for redemption, and Marlam pledged loyalty in return for help cleansing Stratholme.
• Adal guided the Alliance and crusaders as they reclaimed the Scarlet District and purified the undead leaders at little cost.
• Deren and Jaina watched the city being secured, and Deren reflected that reclaiming Stratholme marked the first step toward rebuilding.
• Marlam directed her former crusaders as they helped establish a camp and prepare for Stratholme's reconstruction.

After Marlam persuaded the Alliance to let her approach Tirisfal Glades first, Grand General Abbendis rejected her report and ordered her arrested. Adal’s Holy Light changed the fortress’s mood, and Abbendis opened its gates and submitted to the true Holy Light without bloodshed.

• Marlam left the Alliance army to warn Grand General Abbendis in Tirisfal Glades that Lordaeron had been rebuilt and the Undead defeated.
• Abbendis accused Marlam of treason and ordered the guards to seize her and her companions.
• Brigitte Abbendis intervened and pointed out the Holy Light spreading across Tirisfal Glades as Adal arrived with Velen and the Alliance leaders.
• The Naaru’s light calmed the Scarlet warriors and made Abbendis reconsider his beliefs.
• Abbendis dropped his warhammer, ordered the gates opened, and bowed before Adal.

Thrall decided to invade Ashenvale despite concerns from Saurfang, and Night Elf sentinels sabotaged the Horde’s siege engines before its planned assault. The Orcs attacked a Night Elf outpost the next day, overwhelming its defenders as Lunara fled to warn the High Priestess.

• Thrall told the Horde leaders that the Orcs needed Ashenvale and ordered a full-scale attack, while Saurfang questioned the risks of provoking the Alliance and Theramore.
• Night Elf sentinels on Gryphons dropped frozen Glyph Bombs into the Orc camp, destroying or damaging many siege engines and causing chaos.
• Thrall chose to attack as planned, ordering the Orcs to make wooden shields from the siege engines’ lumber.
• The Orc army assaulted a Night Elf forward outpost, overwhelmed its defenders, and destroyed the watchtower and nearby ancient trees.
• Lunara ran toward headquarters to warn the High Priestess after the outpost captain stayed behind to hold off the Orcs.

Tyrande and Shandris struggled to defend the Night Elf camp in Ashenvale while Orc attacks continued and reinforcements remained delayed. After the Orcs withdrew from a failed assault, Tyrande received a moonlit message about unity, while Thrall ordered preparations for a fire attack.

• Tyrande restrained her anger at the Orcs’ display of fallen Elves and agreed with Shandris to avoid being lured into open battle.
• Shandris told Tyrande that Illidan and Maiev were away and that Holy Light Students were attacking Orc supply lines, while the Night Elves awaited reinforcements.
• Shandris commanded the Sentinel archers as the Orcs filled the trenches and attacked the palisades, forcing Thrall to order a retreat.
• Tyrande prayed to Elune and interpreted a beam of moonlight as a call to unite everyone against the crisis.
• Thrall rebuked the arguing Orc chieftains and ordered them to gather firewood and grease for a fire attack.

The Orcs used grease and fire to breach the Night Elf camp’s palisade, but Druids and Tyrande’s Starfall halted their advance at devastating cost. The camp barely held, and Thrall faced the prospect of sending his battered forces back into battle.

• Thrall ordered an attack using oil jars and torches, and Shandris directed the Sentinels to target the Orcs carrying them.
• Orc warriors set several sections of the palisade ablaze, and the main force charged through the burning breaches.
• Shandris sent giant-bear Druids to block the gaps, where Orcs and Druids suffered heavy casualties until one defense line collapsed.
• Orcs broke into the camp and overwhelmed the Sentinels in close combat.
• Tyrande unleashed Starfall, striking Orcs and elves alike and forcing King Saurfang to order a retreat.
• The Night Elves extinguished the fires and sealed the breaches, while Shandris supported the exhausted Tyrande and Thrall silently surveyed the casualties.

Thrall used Orc Shamans to disrupt Tyrande's connection to Elune, allowing the Orcs to break the Night Elf defenses and surround her. Verina rescued Tyrande and a wounded Sentinel, and Tyrande reunited with Shandris before confronting Azshara among the reinforcements.

• Thrall ordered more than a hundred Shamans to disrupt Tyrande's magic during the next day's battle.
• The Shamans destabilized Tyrande's spells, and the Orcs overwhelmed the Night Elf defenses as Tyrande ordered a retreat toward Darkshore.
• Tyrande stayed behind to cover the retreat, but the Orcs surrounded her and her remaining Sentinels.
• Verina appeared, smashed the charging Orcs with a Mage Hand, and teleported Tyrande and a wounded Sentinel to Shandris's troops.
• Shandris explained that Watchers and other elven reinforcements had driven off the Orc pursuers, and identified Verina as a High Elf from Quel'Thalas.
• Azshara approached Tyrande, who accused her of being a sinner and demanded to know how she dared appear before her.

Azshara and Tyrande agreed to unite the elves against the Orc invasion, while Thrall prepared the Horde to expand its territory before the Alliance arrived. Thrall sent Eitrigg to seek Zandalari Troll support against the Alliance fleet.

• Azshara offered the Night Elves aid from Quel'Thalas, her Naga Forces, and the Holy Light Students, and Tyrande agreed to set aside their old grudges.
• Tyrande chose to strengthen the defenses of Felwood Forest and the Black Coast while waiting for the Druid forces to arrive.
• A messenger told Thrall that the Alliance had resolved the Scarlet Crusade crisis and was assembling forces to cross the sea to Kalimdor.
• Thrall ordered the Horde clans to rest for two days and then seize more territory before the Alliance arrived.
• Thrall asked Eitrigg to travel to Zandalar and persuade the Trolls to use their fleet against the Alliance's transport ships.

High Elf mages and Theramore’s Gryphon riders helped the Night Elves halt Thrall’s advance, but the arrival of Malfurion and the Druids brought a bitter dispute over Azshara and the High Elves. The chapter ended with Azshara preparing to leave while Tyrande tried to persuade her to stay.

• High Elf Arcane Masters strengthened the Night Elves’ defenses, while Theramore’s Gryphon riders attacked Thrall’s supply lines and forced his army to forage.
• Malfurion Stormrage arrived with the Cenarion Circle’s Druids and condemned Tyrande for accepting help from Azshara and the High Elves.
• Tyrande defended her wartime choices, reminding Malfurion that the sentinels had protected their lands while the Druids were away.
• Cenarius declared that Azshara was unwelcome, and Azshara decided to leave with her followers.
• Tyrande asked Azshara to wait while she tried to persuade Malfurion to change his mind.

Tyrande failed to persuade Malfurion and Cenarius to accept Azshara and the High Elves as allies, and the High Elves departed after Tyrande agreed to let them go. Malfurion led the Druids toward the Orcs, leaving Tyrande and her depleted forces behind as she questioned what to do.

• Tyrande pleaded with Malfurion and Cenarius to work with Azshara and the High Elves, but they rejected the alliance and ordered the High Elves to leave.
• Tyrande suspected the Druids had arrived late to weaken her authority, while Azshara gave her a Communication Crystal and advised her to wait and see how the battle went.
• Tyrande agreed to let Azshara, Verina, and the High Elf mages depart to prevent conflict among the elves.
• Malfurion led the Druid army toward Ashenvale to fight the Orcs, while Tyrande said her injured Sentinels needed to recover.
• Malfurion left Tyrande and the surviving Sentinels behind, and Tyrande wondered what Elune wanted her to do.

Malfurion and Cenarius led the Druids in a counterattack that overwhelmed Thrall’s depleted Orc army and forced it to retreat from the reclaimed Night Elf camp. Thrall withdrew toward Splintertree Post, determined to regain the initiative despite the Horde’s costly defeat.

• Malfurion Stormrage led the Feral Druids and War Trees into the Orc-held camp, tearing through the vanguard and forcing Thrall to commit his main forces.
• Thrall used oil jars to set the Druids and War Trees ablaze, turning the battle back in the Orcs’ favor.
• Cenarius arrived, summoned treants, healed the Druid forces, and used Thorns Aura to disrupt the Orc assault.
• Thrall saw that his forces were close to collapse and ordered a retreat toward Splintertree Post, with the Kor'kron covering the rear.
• Malfurion and the Druids reclaimed the camp while Thrall withdrew, burdened by the Horde’s losses and determined to regain the initiative.