Chapter Summaries

Durotan confronted Kilrogg over the Bleeding Hollow clan’s theft from the Shattered Hand and forced him to return the supplies. He left Kilrogg with a final warning and ordered the clan to work on the Horde’s new city in the Swamplands.

• An orc soldier told Kilrogg that Durotan had arrived with the Horde’s personal guards and surrounded the Bleeding Hollow clan.
• Durotan ordered Kilrogg to return the supplies stolen from the Shattered Hand and apologize, but Kilrogg defended his actions as orc tradition.
• When Kilrogg refused, Durotan struck him and challenged him to follow his own belief that the strong should prevail.
• Kilrogg yielded and agreed to return the supplies after Durotan threatened to replace him and warned that the Holy Church’s Enforcement Corps would come if he caused trouble again.
• Durotan ordered every Bleeding Hollow member to work on the new city in the Swamplands for standard wages, then left with his guards.

Kilrogg reconsidered the Bleeding Hollow clan’s resistance to change and agreed to help repair the new city. Meanwhile, Durotan learned that Gul'dan would pursue further training at Holy Church Headquarters, where students from many races and worlds were preparing for future expansion.

• After Durotan left, the Old Priest urged Kilrogg to adapt, and Kilrogg agreed to send the Bleeding Hollow clan to work on repairing the new city.
• At home, Draka told Durotan that Gul'dan was training for a chance to study at Holy Church Headquarters.
• Durotan became excited about the opportunity, believing it could open a larger future for the Horde beyond Azeroth.
• Durotan watched Gul'dan train and praised him for earning a place in the advanced training program.
• Gul'dan explained that students from humans, high elves, and other worlds would join the program to prepare for large-scale exploration of new worlds.

The Red Dragon Queen and Aegwynn investigated the fading fel eruption near the Dark Portal, then flew to Karazhan to find Medivh. He explained that the Holy Church had sealed Sargeras and transformed the Stormwind Kingdom, leaving Aegwynn and the Red Dragon Queen stunned by the Church’s power.

• The Red Dragon Queen reached the Dark Portal and found Aegwynn, who had also come to investigate the brief surge of evil power.
• The Red Dragon Queen and Aegwynn discussed recent eruptions of light and evil magic, then decided to ask Medivh about the green-skinned creatures.
• Aegwynn and the Red Dragon Queen noticed that Stormwind’s buildings resembled those of the faction they had investigated, and Aegwynn worried about Medivh.
• Medivh greeted Aegwynn and the Red Dragon Queen at Karazhan and explained that Sargeras had been hiding inside him.
• Medivh told them that the Holy Church had sealed Sargeras, lifted his apprentice’s curse, and brought the orcs under its control.
• The Red Dragon Queen doubted that Sargeras could have been sealed so easily, while Medivh insisted that the Holy Church was immensely powerful.

Medivh brought Aegwynn and the Red Dragon Queen to the Holy Church in Stormwind, where they were astonished by the people’s education and power of the Holy Light. After entering the branch and learning its ordinary warriors rivaled dragons, they were left wondering how powerful its elite forces were.

• Medivh promised Aegwynn and the Red Dragon Queen that he would take them to meet the Holy Church’s forces.
• Medivh brought the two women to Stormwind, where the Red Dragon Queen mistook the educated, well-mannered crowd for nobles.
• Aegwynn sensed that many people carried the power of the Holy Light, and Medivh explained that believers received it from the Holy Church’s own deity, not the Naaru.
• Medivh led Aegwynn and the Red Dragon Queen into the Holy Church, where clerics used Evil Detection to check everyone entering for demons.
• The Red Dragon Queen and Aegwynn learned that the impressive warriors guarding the hall were ordinary Holy Church soldiers, and Medivh confirmed it.

The Red Dragon Queen and Aegwynn learned that the Holy Church had twelve armies of twenty thousand powerful troops each and met Rich, whose strength they could not perceive. Rich revealed that the Holy Church came from another universe and promised that the holy light would protect Azeroth, leaving the Red Dragon Queen reassured and with a renewed sense of direction.

• The Red Dragon Queen was astonished to learn from Medivh that the Holy Church had twelve armies like the force in Stormwind Kingdom.
• Medivh brought the Red Dragon Queen and Aegwynn to meet Rich, whose power neither woman could sense.
• Rich told the visitors that the Holy Church came from another universe and had reached Azeroth through the holy light.
• The Red Dragon Queen asked whether the Holy Church intended to bring war, and Rich promised that the holy light would protect Azeroth.
• The Red Dragon Queen felt reassured by Rich's conviction and found renewed direction in her role as Azeroth's guardian.

Rich wondered why the Holy Church had kept its main forces in Azeroth as hidden threats gathered and the human kingdoms grew alarmed by the Church’s influence. In Lordaeron, Deathwing, disguised as Lord Prestor, tried to turn King Terenas and the nobles against the Church, then used Stormwind’s situation to inflame their fears.

• Rich wondered why his big sister had not withdrawn the Holy Church’s main forces, unaware that the Old Gods, Deathwing, and Kil'jaeden were preparing for future conflicts.
• Nobles across six human kingdoms discovered that the Holy Church had become deeply established in remote villages and that its clerics could defeat their private forces.
• King Terenas Menethil II heard Lordaeron’s nobles demand military action against the Church, while Arthas urged him to consult Archbishop Alonsus Faol.
• Lord Prestor accused the Church of threatening royal authority, but Arthas argued that hearing Faol’s response would reveal the Church’s intentions.
• Prestor reminded the nobles that the Holy Church controlled Stormwind, alarming them and prompting memories of the nobles who had been driven from the kingdom.

Nehil II summoned Archbishop Faol to answer accusations that the Holy Light Grand Cathedral was spreading Holy Churches across noble lands. Faol denied the Cathedral’s involvement and revealed that mysterious priests had once approached him, leaving the nobles and Prestor without grounds to blame the Church.

• Nehil II followed Arthas’s advice and sent him to bring Archbishop Faol to the palace.
• The nobles accused Faol of expanding the Church of the Holy Light across their territories, but he said the Holy Light Grand Cathedral lacked the priests to do so.
• Faol read the king’s report and learned that an organization outside the Cathedral had spread Holy Light Protection across the Seven Kingdoms and assimilated Stormwind.
• Faol recalled that unfamiliar priests had visited him years earlier and left without explanation, while Prestor tried to cast doubt on his account.
• Nehil II concluded the Holy Light Grand Cathedral was not responsible and had Arthas escort Faol back.

Menethil II sent Jaina to seek help from Dalaran and the Seven Kingdoms as Lordaeron faced a brewing rebellion. Meanwhile, Ner'zhul raised an undead army in Northrend, and a cultist in Lordaeron planned to offer Arthas as a vessel for the Lich King.

• Menethil II persuaded the nobles to seek a negotiated solution and chose Jaina to approach the Kirin Tor and the Seven Kingdoms.
• Jaina agreed to the mission, and Arthas accepted her decision despite his reluctance to involve her.
• Kil'jaeden turned his attention to Ner'zhul, who had been imprisoned within the Frozen Throne and wanted revenge.
• Ner'zhul raised armies of undead across Northrend and sent them marching toward Lordaeron.
• A black-and-red-robed cultist in Lordaeron rejoiced at the Lich King's coming and chose Arthas as a potential vessel for his master.

Jaina returned to Dalaran to report Menethil’s warning about the Holy Church, while Stratholme faced a plague and riots that sent Arthas there with elite troops. As Arthas traveled, Holy Church clerics investigated reports of a moving corpse, and Anthony and Jaina went undercover to inspect the Church’s territory in Dalaran.

• Jaina left Lordaeron for Dalaran, and Menethil learned that a plague had struck Stratholme and sparked riots.
• Menethil sent Arthas to Stratholme, and Arthas observed well-kept villages governed by the Holy Church before continuing onward.
• A Holy Light Cleric squad learned of a moving corpse near Back Mountain and set out to investigate.
• Anthony and Jaina disguised themselves as commoners and walked toward a village to inspect the Holy Church’s territory in Dalaran.
• A carriage driver offered Anthony and Jaina a free ride after they discovered they had no copper coins.

Anthony and Jaina rode a remarkably comfortable carriage and learned from its passengers how the Holy Church had improved village life. A boy’s holy power revealed how ordinary people embraced the Church’s clerics, leaving the two spellcasters unsettled by the contrast with how commoners viewed mages.

• Anthony and Jaina boarded a smooth, modern carriage and heard a woman praise the Holy Church’s comfort and plans for faster travel.
• The woman described how Holy Church clerics had eased village hardships, improved farming and animal care, and built roads and irrigation structures.
• When Jaina asked why the Church helped people, a young woman repeated a saying about passing the light of hope down through generations.
• A shy boy explained that education and knowledge helped children grow into people who could build a better life, then revealed his holy power.
• Anthony and Jaina watched the passengers praise the boy and realized commoners treated Holy Light Clerics with affection rather than the fear they showed mages.

Anthony and Jaina visited Emerald Village, where its thriving commoners and the Holy Church’s influence made Anthony realize Dalaran had no choice but to side with the Holy Church. He told Jaina to report that Dalaran would stay out of the human conflict and might support the Church.

• Anthony and Jaina arrived at Emerald Village, and Anthony urged Jaina to face the changes of the era rather than avoid them.
• Anthony and Jaina entered the village and saw commoners living comfortably and children training with Rock Lee to become Holy Light Clerics.
• Anthony realized the villagers respected and hoped for the children who could join the Holy Church, unlike how commoners viewed those who rose through the nobility.
• Anthony concluded that opposing the Holy Church would make Dalaran an enemy of humanity and recognized that Dalaran had no real choice.
• Anthony told Jaina to report to Menethil II that Dalaran would not join the human conflict and might stand with the Holy Church.

Jaina learned that Arthas had massacred the infected people of Stratholme and returned to Lordaeron carrying Frostmourne. Welcomed as a hero, Arthas killed his father, King Menethil II, beginning the Burning Legion’s conquest of Azeroth.

• Jaina received a bloodstained letter and reacted in horror to the news of Arthas’s actions.
• At Stratholme, Arthas killed infected citizens despite Uther’s opposition, then followed Kel'Thuzad to Northrend to seek Frostmourne.
• Arthas took Frostmourne, while the Church of the Damned portrayed him as a hero who could save the kingdom from the plague.
• Menethil II welcomed Arthas back to Lordaeron, disregarding Uther’s warning about his strange behavior.
• Arthas seized Menethil II and killed him with Frostmourne, awakening the Dreadlord’s will as demons watched and celebrated.

Arthas unleashed a vast undead invasion on Lordaeron, while the Holy Church discovered the threat and mobilized its forces from the Holy City of Hope. Alleria, Vereesa, and Sylvanas realized that a catastrophe close to the return of the demons had begun.

• Arthas activated the magic circles across Lordaeron, and undead flooded the city, killing its guards and turning its people into a terrified crowd.
• The Holy Church investigated reports of undead near Northrend, and drone reconnaissance revealed vast armies on the march.
• The Holy Church placed the Holy City of Hope under military control and sent Holy Light Clerics, weapons, aircraft, and Sky Carriers toward the crisis.
• Vereesa asked Alleria whether the Holy Church was preparing to conquer Azeroth, and Alleria dismissed the idea.
• Sylvanas suspected that demons had returned, and Alleria said the disaster was not that, but was close to it.

The Windrunner sisters joined the Holy Church’s Auxiliary Forces after Alleria warned Marshal Axel that the Burning Legion might target the Well of Eternity. They left eager to serve the Church, while Alleria hoped they could eventually overcome their people’s prejudice and become true members.

• Sylvanas suggested that the Windrunner sisters join the Holy Church’s Auxiliary Forces so their family could support the campaign and seek help if Quel'Thalas faced danger.
• Alleria, Sylvanas, and Vereesa went to the command headquarters and asked Marshal Axel to accept them into the Auxiliary Forces.
• Alleria told Axel she feared the demons would attack the Well of Eternity and explained that some High Elf elders distrusted the Church.
• Axel welcomed the sisters, and all three gave him a formal Holy Church military salute.
• After leaving headquarters, Alleria and Sylvanas shared their excitement about serving the Church, while Vereesa remained puzzled by their conversation.

Uther and Faol fought to evacuate Lordaeron as Arthas commanded the undead, but the Holy Light Clerics and their Wolf Riders arrived to rescue civilians. Arthas resolved to spread his forces across other kingdoms, while Uther recognized the Wolf Riders as the heretics nobles had wanted destroyed.

• Faol urged Uther to escape and warn the other human kingdoms, but Uther refused to abandon Lordaeron.
• Arthas watched Uther through the undead and ordered him to be turned into part of his army.
• The Holy Light Clerics split into teams and rode into the city to rescue civilians as Arthas sent legions of undead after them.
• Uther and Faol saw the undead surrounding them withdraw, and Uther decided to join the newcomers to evacuate the people.
• Arthas found that the Wolf Riders' armor and weapons made them formidable against his undead, so he decided to spread his army across other kingdoms.
• Uther met the Wolf Riders and recognized them as the heretics the nobles had once wanted to destroy.

Uther and the survivors at the Holy Light Grand Cathedral received reinforcements from the Holy Church, whose fighters held off the undead while preparing an air evacuation. The chapter ended with Faol agreeing to calm the civilians as they waited for the regiment and its airship.

• A Holy Light Cleric saved Uther from a Ghoul, and Uther revealed that survivors were sheltering at the Holy Light Grand Cathedral.
• Uther led the Holy Light Clerics to Faol, who learned that the small group was only a vanguard from a regiment of nearly a thousand troops.
• Ten Holy Light Clerics held the Church entrance against the undead, and their weapons and abilities astonished Faol, Uther, and the civilians.
• The Regiment Commander reported that the city had been searched and ordered preparations to evacuate the survivors by airship.
• A Holy Light Cleric told Faol to keep the civilians calm during the air evacuation, and Faol agreed while Uther remained confused.

Holy Light Clerics in overwhelming numbers routed the undead besieging the church, forcing Arthas to abandon his original plan and secretly disperse his forces. Kel'Thuzad discovered that their golden weapons destroyed undead souls, then watched a gigantic Sky Carrier arrive at the church entrance.

• Holy Light Clerics riding white wolves cleared the church entrance and formed a defensive line that the Undead Army could not cross.
• Uther watched the undead fall and felt both satisfaction at Arthas’s defeat and guilt over failing as his teacher.
• Arthas raged at the clerics’ strength, then sent more than half his undead forces outside the city and quietly fled the Royal Palace.
• Kel'Thuzad reached the battlefield and saw golden attacks extinguish undead soul flames so they could not reform.
• A colossal Sky Carrier stopped in front of the church, lowered its bay door, and extended a silver-white stairway to the ground.

Faol led the survivors of Lordaeron aboard the Sky Carrier while the demons debated their next move. After the demons chose to target Quel'Thalas, Mickey used the Mothership to destroy Lordaeron with a devastating blast, leaving Uther staring at the devastation.

• Faol organized the survivors and led them aboard the Mothership, which took off with Uther among its passengers.
• Kel'Thuzad and the demon lords watched the Mothership depart, and Kil'jaeden ordered a squad to raid Quel'Thalas and establish a Portal at the Well of Eternity.
• The Mothership stopped outside Lordaeron, and Mickey told Uther it would deliver a destructive gift to the undead.
• Mickey fired the Mothership's weapon, flattening Lordaeron in a tremendous explosion.
• Uther asked if the destruction was divine punishment, and Mickey called it justice's judgment on evil.

After the destruction of Lordaeron, the Burning Legion chose Archimonde to invade despite the Mothership’s terrifying power, while Arthas escaped and Jaina and Anthony arrived too late to confront him. As undead forces overwhelmed the human kingdoms, people fled to Holy Church villages, and nobles spread rumors that the Church had allied with the undead.

• After the Mothership’s blast silenced the demons, Archimonde volunteered to invade Azeroth and Kil'jaeden promised to report his valor to the Master.
• Arthas escaped Lordaeron with more than half his forces lost and vowed that the armies of death would one day engulf the world.
• Jaina and Anthony reached the ruins of Lordaeron, where Jaina grieved for the dead and resolved to keep searching for Arthas.
• The human kingdoms panicked as undead armies seized territory, while villages protected by Holy Light Clerics became refuges for fleeing people.
• Nobles failed to gain special treatment from the Holy Church and spread rumors that it had allied with the Undead Army.

The Holy Church broadcast a speech attacking noble privilege and promising a fairer society, winning the support of commoners displaced by the Undead Army. Anthony and Jaina recognized that the Holy Church had made its stance clear and went to meet its leaders.

• The Holy Church broadcast Miller Gal's speech across the Human Kingdoms, denouncing nobles' power and urging commoners to trust the Church.
• Anthony and Jaina listened to the broadcast in a village restaurant and considered the Holy Church's growing influence and military strength.
• The rescued villagers applauded the speech, having found food, shelter, paid work, and schooling in the Church's camps.
• Anthony told Jaina that they had no choice but to act, and Jaina agreed that the commoners would likely not support a restored Lordaeron monarchy.
• Anthony and Jaina decided to meet the important figures in the Holy Church.