Chapter Summaries

Arthas offered to use his own fortune to settle Stormwind City's debt to the Stonemasons' Guild and gave Varian funds from the Blackwater Trading Company. Varian summoned Edwin VanCleef, who feared for his life and pleaded for the guild's unpaid workers.

• Onyxia's scheme to pit Varian, the nobles, and the Stonemasons' Guild against one another left Stormwind City without a way to pay the guild's million-gold debt.
• Arthas revealed that he secretly controlled the Blackwater Trading Company and offered to cover the debt with his own money.
• Arthas gave Varian magical notes for a million gold coins and an extra five hundred thousand as a gift for Anduin, and Varian accepted.
• Arthas asked Varian to arrange a meeting with Edwin VanCleef, the head of the Stonemasons' Guild.
• Varian summoned VanCleef to Stormwind Keep, where VanCleef feared he would be killed and pleaded for the guild members and their families.

Arthas gave Varian a million-gold loan to pay the Stonemasons' Guild and recruited Edwin VanCleef to lead construction projects in Lordaeron, protecting him and his family from retaliation. Varian then told Arthas that one envoy would represent both Kul Tiras and Dalaran, while Onyxia, disguised as Katrana, plotted to toy with Arthas and the kingdoms.

• Varian gave VanCleef a Blackwater Company banknote worth one million gold, which VanCleef accepted on behalf of the Stonemasons' Guild.
• Arthas offered VanCleef work as Lordaeron's chief engineer and urged him to bring his family there for protection from the nobles' retaliation.
• VanCleef agreed to serve Arthas, and Varian pledged that Stormwind would remain Lordaeron's loyal ally.
• Varian told Arthas that the envoy from Kul Tiras and Dalaran would be the same person, prompting concern that she might be angry because he had not visited her in a year.
• At the Prestor residence, Onyxia, posing as Katrana, reflected on Arthas and considered stirring up trouble between Stormwind and Lordaeron.

Arthas’s advice helped Jaina face the history of the orcs without letting hatred or misplaced compassion guide her, while also moderating Daelin’s views. After a mishap delayed her journey, Jaina arrived at Stormwind Keep for Varian and his son’s private banquet and went to change before joining them.

• Arthas reassured Jaina that she should remember the orcs’ past crimes without inheriting blind hatred or letting others exploit her kindness.
• Jaina reconsidered her views on the orcs, and Daelin gradually moderated his hard-line stance after speaking with Arthas.
• A malfunction in Jaina’s magic circle delayed her departure from Dalaran and caused her to miss the midday banquet.
• Jaina reached Stormwind Keep near sunset and apologized to Tiffin for arriving late.
• Jaina accepted Tiffin’s offer of a dressing room and prepared to change into the gown she had brought.

Arthas planned his expansion into Kalimdor and caught up with Jaina, who had recently joined the Kirin Tor. Jaina told him that Kel'Thuzad had been expelled from Dalaran for researching necromancy and had sailed north toward Northrend, leaving Arthas to suspect the Lich King had summoned him.

• Arthas considered establishing a foothold at Theramore and seeking an alliance with the Tauren while preparing to unite forces against threats to Azeroth.
• Jaina joined Arthas in the corridor, explained that a malfunctioning magic array had delayed her, and told him she had recently joined the Kirin Tor.
• Jaina said Kel'Thuzad had been stripped of his titles and expelled from Dalaran for secretly researching necromancy.
• Jaina told Arthas that Kel'Thuzad had headed south after his expulsion and was last seen at Southshore's harbor.
• Arthas recalled intelligence that Kel'Thuzad had boarded a ship for Northrend and suspected the Lich King had summoned him.
• Arthas took Jaina to join Varian for dinner, and she hurried along after hearing that Kul Tiras specialties and tiramisu were being served.

Arthas and Jaina left Stormwind City to travel through Elwynn Forest, stopping at Goldshire before heading toward Northshire Abbey. After Arthas healed an injured hunter, the grateful hunter prayed that Arthas and Jaina would enjoy peace and good fortune.

• Arthas and Jaina persuaded Varian to let them travel without guards, while he warned them to avoid Redridge Mountains, Duskwood, and Karazhan.
• Arthas and Jaina visited the Lion's Pride Inn in Goldshire, where they heard locals discuss kobolds, bandits, gnolls, and rising prices.
• Jaina chose to visit Stone Cairn Lake, and Arthas suggested they first spend the night at Northshire Abbey.
• Arthas and Jaina heard a cry for help and found an old man carrying his injured son, who had been attacked by wolves.
• Arthas healed the hunter, and Jaina teleported them and the injured man to Northshire Abbey for further care.
• The old man offered Arthas and Jaina his silver coins, but Arthas refused them, and the old man remembered their names and prayed for their good fortune.

After helping a poor Stormwind family, Arthas explained his plan to move the orcs to Kalimdor by encouraging Orgrim to lead them out of the Eastern Kingdoms. In Alterac, Drek'Thar gave Orgrim new hope by telling him that Go'el, Durotan’s son, was alive and nearby.

• Arthas and Jaina discussed Stormwind’s poverty and the growing conflict that would follow if the orcs remained in internment camps.
• Arthas told Jaina he had deliberately arranged Orgrim Doomhammer’s escape, hoping Orgrim would lead the orcs across the ocean to Kalimdor.
• Drek'Thar warned Orgrim that ogres threatened the Frostwolf Clan’s hunting grounds and that they needed to find a safer home before winter.
• Orgrim blamed himself for the Horde’s defeat, but Drek'Thar told him the elemental spirits had revealed that Go'el was alive and had been raised by a human near the Alterac Mountains.
• Orgrim seized on the news and resolved to find Durotan’s son, whom Drek'Thar believed could bring change to the Frostwolf Clan.

Arthas and Jaina visited Ironforge after arranging to meet Muradin, who had fallen asleep drunk and had to be woken by Brann. Muradin apologized and told Arthas he had recently returned from visiting friends and was planning an expedition to Northrend.

• Jaina and Arthas honored the dead at Stone Cairn Lake before Muradin contacted Arthas and urged him to visit Ironforge.
• Arthas and Jaina traveled to Ironforge, where Brann came to meet them after finding Muradin asleep beside a keg.
• Brann woke Muradin by dumping water on him, startling him into grabbing for his warhammer and shouting about an ambush.
• Muradin apologized to Arthas for oversleeping and explained that he had been drinking Thunderbrew.
• Muradin told Arthas he had visited old friends and planned to travel with them to Northrend after hearing of an incredible discovery.

Arthas asked Muradin and Magni to forge him a new suit of armor from ancient elven thorium, with Jaina enchanting it. After the dwarves finished the armor, Magni agreed to repair Arthas's warhammer and offered to forge more equipment for him in the future.

• Arthas learned Muradin planned to explore ancient ruins in Northrend and warned him to be careful.
• Arthas gave Muradin a pouch of precious metals and asked him to forge a full suit of armor and possibly a shield.
• Magni insisted on helping with the armor, so he and Muradin forged it together at the Great Forge while Jaina inscribed magical runes.
• Muradin showed Arthas the finished enchanted armor, which offered strong protection against physical attacks and elemental magic.
• Arthas asked Magni to repair his worn warhammer, and Magni agreed without taking the leftover thorium as payment.

Arthas learned that the clash of Holy Light and death had badly damaged his warhammer, and Magni repaired it while suggesting he find or forge a weapon suited to him. After Jaina returned to Dalaran, Arthas heard that his expedition in Kalimdor had lost its goblin guide and invited Muradin to join a future voyage.

• Magni examined and repaired Arthas's warhammer, warning that its material had suffered serious damage and might not survive another such clash.
• Magni and Brann suggested that Arthas find a suitable weapon or forge one himself, while Muradin invited him to travel to Northrend with the dwarves.
• Jaina received a letter ordering her back to Dalaran, said goodbye to Arthas, and reminded him to visit for Winter Veil.
• Arthas told Muradin that quilboar had attacked his Kalimdor expedition, killing two people, including its goblin guide, but the remaining team planned to continue.
• Arthas offered to notify Muradin when he sent a fleet to Kalimdor, and Muradin eagerly accepted the invitation.

Arthas investigated the plague near Brill with Jaina, whom Dalaran had sent as a mage advisor. As they set out to confront the outbreak, Arthas resolved to hunt down Kel'Thuzad and then Mal'Ganis, the dreadlord secretly driving the plague.

• Arthas led Secret Council Knights toward Brill to investigate reports of a plague, which he knew the Cult of the Damned had caused.
• Arthas waited for Dalaran's advisor, and Jaina arrived after defeating ogres in the nearby forest.
• Arthas introduced Jaina to the knights, and the pair rode toward Brill to investigate the plague.
• Jaina worried that exiling Kel'Thuzad had been a mistake, and Arthas said they would correct it by killing him.
• Arthas revealed that Mal'Ganis was the plague's true instigator and that his agents were searching for the dreadlord.

Arthas killed Kel'Thuzad in a plague-ridden village, then ordered Jaina to burn it as they pursued Mal'Ganis. The story shifted to the First Legion's camp, where physician Mait Whitemane grew suspicious of strange behavior among the soldiers and went to speak with new recruit Thassarian.

• Kel'Thuzad raised the dead in a village near Brill and sent a ghoul to attack Arthas's party.
• Jaina and Arthas defeated the undead, and Arthas strangled Kel'Thuzad, who had expected to die as part of the Lich King's plan.
• Arthas told Jaina that Mal'Ganis was their next target and ordered her to burn the plague-ridden village.
• Arthas's party left for Andorhal, while masked figures arrived and carried off Kel'Thuzad's body.
• Mait Whitemane noticed soldiers at the First Legion's camp suffering headaches and mental fog, and saw Colonel Carl Wesley acting strangely.
• Mait warned his daughter Sally to stay close, then went to find new recruit Thassarian.

Mait worried that a mysterious illness at Colonel Wesley's camp threatened him and his daughter, while Thassarian began to take his warning seriously. After learning that the illness might be linked to a Dreadlord, Arthas chose to investigate the southern camp and requested reinforcements from Uther.

• Mait told Thassarian that something was wrong at the camp and voiced his fear for Sally, and Thassarian agreed that protecting Lordaeron's people was a soldier's duty.
• Jaina read that Dreadlords could spread a plague that raised the dead and disguise themselves by possessing others, and Arthas confirmed that a demon might be behind the outbreak.
• Arthas questioned Falric about the First Legion's strongholds near Andorhal and learned that Colonel Wesley's camp had reported cases of headaches and mental confusion.
• Jaina suggested investigating Wesley's camp, and Arthas decided to ride there the next day and asked her to send Uther a magical letter requesting reinforcements.

Mait heard soldiers murder two army priests and feared that the camp had been overrun by monsters. Thassarian secretly reached Mait’s room, confirmed that Carl and other soldiers were eating something in the woods, and they began preparing to escape with Sally.

• Mait heard someone kill the two army priests in the room next door, then lied to Corporal Carl when she questioned him at his door.
• Mait suspected the Holy Light protected priests from the corruption and feared that he and Sally would be targeted next.
• Thassarian tapped at Mait’s window and used their earlier exchange about two cigars to prove his identity.
• Thassarian told Mait he had smelled blood and seen Carl and others gnawing on something in the woods.
• Mait offered Thassarian spare leather armor and asked whether he could use the greatsword hanging on the wall.

Thassarian and Mait tried to escape the southern camp, only to find its soldiers transformed into undead and Mal'Ganis seize Mait and Sally. Rescued by Arthas's party, Thassarian revealed the camp's fall, and Arthas realized Mal'Ganis had deliberately sent him a message to lure him there.

• Thassarian and Mait attempted to flee the camp at dawn but found its patrols gone and its exits surrounded by undead soldiers.
• Mal'Ganis appeared, incapacitated Mait and Thassarian, and carried off Mait and Sally while the undead overwhelmed Thassarian.
• Arthas's party found the badly wounded Thassarian by the roadside and revived him.
• Thassarian told Arthas and Jaina that the southern camp's three hundred soldiers and commander Wesley had become undead, and that Mait and Sally had been captured.
• Arthas concluded that Mal'Ganis had spared Thassarian to lure him to the southern camp, where Mait and Sally might still be alive.

Arthas went alone to the South Camp and defeated its undead, but Mal'Ganis escaped after beginning a ritual that endangered Mait and Sally. Arthas saved Sally, while Mait died from his injuries, leaving Arthas with the doctor's keepsake.

• Jaina reluctantly let Arthas ride alone to the South Camp, promising to wait only half an hour before following him.
• Mal'Ganis tortured Mait and used a blood ritual to drain Sally's life force and transform her.
• Arthas stormed the camp with powerful Holy Light, destroyed the undead, and drove Mal'Ganis away.
• Arthas suppressed the ritual's effects on Sally, but he could not save Mait from his wounds and broken soul.
• Arthas found Mait's pocket watch engraved with Mary Whitemane and Sally Whitemane and placed it in Sally's hand.

Arthas saved Sally Whitemane from Mal'Ganis's attack on the South Camp, mourned the three hundred and twelve soldiers who died, and prepared to pursue the demon in Northrend. Jaina agreed to travel to Theramore for talks with the tauren, while Arthas led his fleet north.

• Mal'Ganis fled after Arthas's Holy Light burned his arm, convinced Arthas's power showed that his plan had succeeded.
• Jaina, Thassarian, and the Secret Council Knights found Arthas alive with Sally Whitemane, the sole surviving child, while Doctor Mait and the camp's soldiers were dead.
• Arthas and the knights gathered the fallen soldiers' insignia, and Arthas promoted Thassarian to commander of the Thirteenth Battalion and pledged to pursue Mal'Ganis in Northrend.
• Arthas read reports that Uther had driven Grommash Hellscream and Thrall's orcs into retreat, and that VanCleef had arranged for tauren envoys to meet in Theramore.
• Jaina recognized that Arthas was keeping a plan from her but agreed to support him, then accepted a mission to negotiate with the tauren alongside Muradin Bronzebeard and Varian Wrynn.
• After Jaina and the others departed, Arthas led his fleet toward Northrend to hunt Mal'Ganis.

Arthas prepared to sail for Northrend, where Medivh warned him that the Burning Legion would soon invade Kalimdor. After arriving at Daggercap Bay, Arthas encountered Brann Bronzebeard and told him he was hunting a Nathrezim.

• Arthas told Thassarian that Calia was caring for Sally and warned him not to face Mal'Ganis without orders.
• Medivh revealed himself to Arthas, explained that he was now only a mage, and warned that the Burning Legion would return soon and target Kalimdor.
• Arthas ordered his soldiers to set sail for Northrend.
• Several days later, Arthas arrived at the fortress in Daggercap Bay and learned that Brann Bronzebeard had been rescued from frost trolls.
• Arthas told Brann that he was hunting a Nathrezim, and Brann asked to join him.

Varian, Jaina, and Muradin sailed toward Northrend while discussing its dangers, as Arthas’s expedition reached the snowfields in search of Mal'Ganis. Brann told Arthas about a rumored artifact that might help defeat the demon, but Arthas recognized the story as a trap.

• Varian teased Jaina about thinking of Arthas, and Jaina and Muradin warned him that Northrend was dangerous and cold.
• Muradin began recounting an earlier Northrend expedition in which naga attacked his party shortly after they landed.
• Thassarian spotted ancient elven ruins, and Brann wanted to explore them, but Arthas refused to risk provoking the naga.
• Arthas ordered his troops to camp safely and investigate reports of undead activity as they entered the snowfields.
• Brann told Arthas that Muradin's party had heard of a powerful artifact buried in an ancient cave, and Arthas said the rumor was a trap set by Nathrezim and his allies.

Arthas explained that Brann’s strange thoughts and fear came from an elven wraith’s curse, then warned him that Frostmourne was a demonic runeblade that devoured souls. Meanwhile, Hamuul Runetotem met Edwin VanCleef in Theramore to discuss the Alliance’s offer of help to the tauren, leaving the reason for the humans’ arrival under scrutiny.

• Arthas used the Holy Light to dispel Brann’s chill and identified an elven wraith’s influence as the cause of his hallucinations.
• Arthas explained that Frostmourne devoured the souls of its victims and described how demons’ souls returned to the Twisting Nether after death.
• Brann realized Arthas might be considering a connection between Frostmourne and the difficulty of destroying demons permanently.
• Edwin VanCleef received Hamuul Runetotem and the tauren delegation in Theramore with a lavish meal.
• Hamuul studied VanCleef and weighed the humans’ offer of an alliance against his doubts about their origins and knowledge of the tauren’s plight.

Hamuul Runetotem waited in VanCleef’s city for the Alliance’s envoys, while weighing whether an alliance could help the Tauren withstand centaur raids. Across the sea, Thrall and Grommash planned to lead the Orcs from Lordaeron to Kalimdor, as Uther and Alexandros Mograine noticed the Orcs had abandoned Hillsbrad.

• VanCleef told Hamuul that Prince Arthas wanted to unite forces and that Alliance negotiators would explain their intentions when they arrived.
• Hamuul recalled the centaurs’ raids on Tauren villages and considered an alliance as a possible way to protect his people.
• Thrall argued that the Orcs should leave for Kalimdor, and Grommash agreed that they could build ships and reach the coast through Silverpine Forest.
• Thrall and Grommash gathered the rescued Orcs and secretly led them from southern Lordaeron toward Silverpine Forest.
• Uther and Alexandros Mograine noticed the Orcs had stopped raiding Hillsbrad and set out to pursue them.