Chapter Summaries

A Cult of the Damned attacker killed a Syndicate patrol and used a Mage Hand to bring the soldiers’ bodies to the cave. Selend turned all ten into ghouls and led them inside to join the fighting force.

• A black-robed cultist ambushed the patrol, killing the captain and all ten Syndicate soldiers with shadow-wreathed fireballs.
• A Mage Hand swept the bodies into the cave while the area returned to silence.
• Selend returned from searching for corpses and found the ten dead soldiers at the cave entrance.
• Selend used necromancy to transform the corpses into ghouls.
• The newly risen ghouls became submissive to Selend, who led them into the cave.

A Syndicate lieutenant followed evidence of a missing patrol to the Cult of the Damned’s cave, where he killed Selend while demanding to see Amanenar. The Syndicate retreated as the cultists prepared to retaliate, and Rhode rallied them into calling for revenge.

• A Syndicate lieutenant and his soldiers found blood, signs of shadow magic, and a trail leading from the site of Stark’s squad’s disappearance to the Cult of the Damned’s cave.
• The lieutenant entered the cave and demanded to meet Amanenar, while Selend tried to turn him away and conceal his connection to the corpses.
• Selend threatened the lieutenant with magic, and the lieutenant stabbed him in the chest and demanded to be taken to Amanenar.
• Cultists raised the alarm, so the lieutenant led his men out of the cave and fled back to the Syndicate camp as undead approached.
• Amanenar questioned the cultists about Selend’s death, and Rhode urged them to avenge him, prompting the cultists to shout for revenge against the Syndicate.

Amanenar confronted Duke Falconcrest after the Cult of the Damned and Syndicate blamed each other for deaths and missing soldiers. As the leaders tried to postpone their dispute until after their joint campaign, Nagaz summoned a Doomguard, leaving both sides facing a powerful demon.

• Amanenar led the Cult of the Damned to the Syndicate camp to demand justice for Selend, while Afro and the Lieutenant rallied the Syndicate soldiers against them.
• Duke Falconcrest and Nagaz arrived, and both sides argued over Selend's death and Syndicate soldiers who had been turned into ghouls.
• Amanenar realized Selend's actions had put the Cult of the Damned in the wrong, and Falconcrest urged both sides to delay settling the dispute until after their campaign against Stromgarde.
• Shouts from both factions reignited their anger just as Nagaz began a summoning ritual.
• A Doomguard emerged from Nagaz's gray mist and announced that he would deal with the conflict.

Rhode secretly engineered a confrontation between the Syndicate and the Cult of the Damned, killing both Nagaz and Amanenar and turning their forces against each other. After the Doomguard plunged into the fighting and the battle left only a handful of survivors, Rhode prepared to end his work as the battle’s director and escape.

• Nagaz threatened the gathered factions with a Doomguard, but Rhode secretly killed him with a spell orb and let the Cult of the Damned suspect the Syndicate.
• Rhode warned Amanenar about a dart, then killed him from behind with a spear formed from Mage Hand and blamed the Syndicate, provoking the cultists into attacking.
• The Syndicate initially held off the undead with disciplined ranks, but the unrestrained Doomguard tore through their formation and turned the fight into a chaotic melee.
• Rhode secretly manipulated the fighting with spells to keep both sides’ losses balanced as the Syndicate, cultists, undead, and Doomguard battled.
• The Doomguard fell, leaving about a dozen Syndicate members and five cultists alive; Rhode, nearly out of mana, decided he had no reason to keep fighting Duke Falconcrest.

Rhode fled the battle between the Cult of the Damned and the Syndicate, then used a Demon Stone to remove the magical barrier on the prison cell and free his companions. After learning that King Thoradin was imprisoned nearby, Rhode and the others rescued him, and Thoradin joined them to confront the Dreadlord possessing Prince Galin.

• Rhode escaped the final clash between the cultists and the Syndicate, taking a green stone from Nagaz's corpse.
• Rhode returned to Stromgarde's prison and passed the stone to Arthas, who identified it as a Demon Stone that might dispel the cell's barrier.
• Rhode burned the Demon Stone, removing the barrier, then took a jailer's keys and freed Lilia, Arthas, Sally, and Kienlo.
• The jailer revealed that Prince Galin had imprisoned King Thoradin, and Rhode and the others opened the king's cell.
• Arthas told Thoradin that a Dreadlord had possessed Galin, and Thoradin vowed to kill the demon and avenge his son.

King Thoradin and Rhode confronted Mal'Ganis in Stromgarde's Throne Hall after Marshal Oslight joined the king and helped them reach the castle. Rhode exposed Mal'Ganis's conspiracy, and he and Arthas attacked the Dreadlord, who called Arthas to Northrend as he died.

• Marshal Oslight recognized Thoradin as his true king, ordered the guards to let him pass, and accompanied him to the royal castle.
• Thoradin, Rhode, and their companions confronted Prince Galen Trollbane, whom Rhode identified as Mal'Ganis.
• Rhode explained that the Syndicate and Cult of the Damned had planned to attack Stromgarde with Mal'Ganis's help, and Oslight sent someone to verify the claim.
• Mal'Ganis revealed his Dreadlord form after Arthas called upon the Holy Light.
• Rhode impaled Mal'Ganis with arcane spears, and Arthas struck him with a Holy Hammer.
• As Mal'Ganis dissolved, he warned Arthas that the Lich King's armies were endless and urged him to go to Northrend.

Rhode explained Mal'Ganis's scheme to seize Stromgarde and urged Arthas and King Thoradin to prepare carefully before confronting the Scourge. The leaders agreed to report the threat and organize a meeting of the kingdoms, while Thoradin offered Rhode a reward for saving Stromgarde.

• Rhode told King Thoradin and the others that Mal'Ganis had planned to exploit an invasion to take control of Stromgarde and its army.
• Rhode persuaded Arthas and Thoradin that an expedition to Northrend required careful planning and a united coalition.
• Rhode argued that the coalition should include orcs and other races, and Lilia vouched for her teacher Thrall.
• Rhode proposed reporting the Cult of the Damned's activities and calling a meeting of the kingdoms to prepare a joint campaign.
• Arthas and Thoradin agreed to the meeting, and Thoradin offered Rhode a reward for saving Stromgarde.

Rhode accepted Northridge Farm and the title “Pride of Stromgarde” as rewards from King Thoradin, then explored the Cult of the Damned’s tomb chamber for research materials. After Arthas disarmed the rune traps with Holy Light, Rhode recovered several books and settled in for the night, teasing the frightened Lilia with a story.

• Rhode asked King Thoradin for Northridge Farm and received the land along with the honorary title “Pride of Stromgarde.”
• Rhode led Lilia and the others into the tomb chamber, where Arthas detected rune traps protecting a necromantic spellbook.
• Arthas used Holy Light through Mira’s Song to destroy the runes, allowing Rhode to take the Foundational Theory of Necromantic Spells.
• Rhode searched Amanenar’s room and found books on Image Projection, magic herb cultivation, and refining, while Kienlo gathered grave moss and ghost mushrooms outside.
• Rhode brought the group back to the tomb chamber for the night and told Lilia a frightening story about Mr. Puzik and a goblin lady’s doll.

Rhode searched the Hillsbrad Foothills for land suitable for growing rare herbs and discovered a fertile patch in a failing peanut field, likely enriched by an old battlefield grave. He claimed the plot for an herb research base and promised food and fertilizer to the struggling farmers.

• Mayor Marebu told Rhode that the residential district and school were nearly finished, and Rhode renamed the school Darrow Hill Technical School.
• Arthas and Calia said farewell to Rhode and returned to Lordaeron so Arthas could report on Stromgarde and arrange a conference.
• Rhode, Kienlo, and Marebu inspected remote farmland while Rhode argued that building roads would encourage settlement.
• At a small settlement, Rhode saw that the farmers' peanut crops were failing except for one healthy patch in the middle of a field.
• Kienlo found that the healthy patch had corpse-enriched soil resembling the soil in the Tomb Chamber, and Marebu suggested it might be an old burial site from the Second War.
• Rhode requisitioned the plot for an herb research base and promised the farmers food and fertilizer, prompting Old Rain to praise him.

Rhode studied Image Projection in hopes of making movies, but he could only project still images. After Lilia and Sally’s Gomoku board was blown apart, he realized he could use the spell to create a floating, untouchable board for them to play on.

• Mayor Marebu, Kienlo, and Puzik’s goblins took charge of fertilizing fields, testing herbs, and establishing a soil-analysis laboratory for Rhode’s farming plans.
• Rhode practiced Image Projection and learned to display a stable hologram, but repeated attempts to project moving scenes produced only static images.
• Lilia and Sally’s game of Gomoku was interrupted when the wind scattered their paper board and pieces.
• Rhode studied the board and playing pieces, then projected a glowing Gomoku board that floated in the air and could not be touched.

Rhode created magical game-playing constructs, including a crude Hearthstone machine, and took it to the Southshore Tavern to see how people would respond. The crowd gathered to watch Rhode beat Lilia, while Millhouse Manastorm arrived for a beer and witnessed the game.

• Lilia beat Sally at Gomoku and asked Rhode for a magical board of her own.
• Rhode built the Automatic Chess System Type 001 and Reconnaissance Robot Type 008, then began developing a more complex game machine.
• Millhouse Manastorm visited the Southshore Tavern for Black Lager and turned an insulting ogre into a sheep before sending him away.
• Rhode brought his rudimentary Hearthstone Test Version to the tavern, where a crowd gathered to watch him play Lilia.
• Rhode defeated Lilia with a Fireball, and she demanded another match.

Rhode introduced Millhouse Manastorm to Hearthstone, and the gnome mage became fascinated by the magical game and challenged Lilia. After losing five matches, Millhouse faced a decisive sixth game and drew Frostbolt instead of the damage spell he needed to win.

• Rhode explained why his mana-dependent game could not be sold and planned to earn money by showing films instead.
• Millhouse examined Rhode's automated card-playing construct, learned it was magical, and agreed to play Lilia.
• Lilia and Millhouse began a Hearthstone match while Rhode explained the game's classes, hero names, and character lines.
• Millhouse lost five games to Lilia, then entered the final turn of their sixth match with a chance to win by drawing a damaging spell.
• Millhouse drew Frostbolt, leaving him without the Fireball or Pyroblast he needed to defeat Lilia.

Millhouse Manastorm won a Hearthstone match against Lilia, then learned about Rhode’s plans to expand the game. Millhouse revealed that a rune could extend the arcane golem’s lifespan and strengthen Rhode’s Image Projection, leaving Rhode eager to use it to improve Hearthstone.

• Millhouse Manastorm drew two Frostbolts and defeated Lilia, celebrating his first Hearthstone victory.
• Rhode invited Millhouse Manastorm to his room and described plans for more classes, customizable decks, and additional cards.
• Millhouse explained that a rune could keep Rhode’s arcane golem running for a year or two, but admitted he had only one and asked Rhode to make him a machine.
• Millhouse said magic herbs were scarce, making runes difficult to obtain, and Rhode considered investigating the rune traps in Amanenar’s tomb for clues about growing them.
• Millhouse explained that runes could boost a mage’s mana and mental power, allowing more continuous Image Projection, and Rhode realized one could give Hearthstone animated card effects.

Rhode and Milhouse upgraded Hearthstone’s visuals and tested more complex card effects using rune-based programming. Rhode recruited Milhouse to seek magic-herb seeds and invited him to teach at the school, promising to create a powerful Milhouse Manastorm card.

• Rhode and Milhouse improved Hearthstone’s animations, and Milhouse said the painter Rivelle would provide portraits and card artwork; Rhode recognized her painting Love and Family as Tirion Fordring’s family portrait.
• Milhouse explained how runes amplified magic, and Rhode used one to improve the arcane golem’s processing ability.
• Rhode programmed Knife Juggler, and its effect correctly triggered after Harvest Golem summoned a Damaged Golem.
• Rhode explained that rune storage limited the number of decks, proposed card boxes and card draws, and persuaded Milhouse to ask his friends for magic-herb seeds.
• Rhode invited Milhouse to teach at the school and offered extra card draws, then negotiated a two-mana legendary card for him with the effect that enemy spells would cost zero next turn.

Rhode received Antonidas's summons to attend King Terenas's conference on uniting the nations against the Scourge, forcing him to postpone Darrow Hill Technical School's opening ceremony. At the conference, Arthas described the undead threat and introduced Rhode, leaving him to address the assembled leaders.

• Rhode recruited Milhouse to teach at Darrow Hill Technical School and promised him a ten-pull for bringing an artist and magic herbs.
• A Mana Bird delivered Antonidas's letter asking Rhode to travel to Lordaeron City and explain the threat, so Rhode postponed the school's opening ceremony.
• Rhode attended King Terenas's conference with leaders and representatives from Lordaeron, Stormwind, Stromgarde, Gilneas, Kul Tiras, Dalaran, Quel'Thalas, Ironforge, Aerie Peak, and Gnomeregan.
• Terenas called for the nations to reform the Alliance, but Magni, Gelbin, and Genn questioned the danger and the need to send troops.
• Arthas recounted his encounters with the Scourge and introduced Rhode as an expert witness, drawing the assembled leaders' attention to him.

Rhode demonstrated the Scourge’s ghouls to the Alliance leaders and explained their strengths, weaknesses, and the need for preparation against them. He revealed that protective potions could help counter the undead, but Daelin Proudmoore objected when Rhode called for more ships, leaving the Alliance’s support uncertain.

• Rhode brought three ghouls into the Throne Hall and demonstrated that they kept fighting after being stabbed until their heads were destroyed.
• Uther and Tirion Fordring showed that the Holy Light could destroy ghouls almost instantly and pledged the Silver Hand to the Alliance.
• Rhode explained that Scourge troops needed no food, could infect fallen soldiers, and included powerful abominations that could overwhelm elite warriors.
• Rhode told the leaders that his potions could prevent infection or grant immunity, but that producing them widely required herbs and support from every kingdom.
• Rhode urged the Alliance to gather soldiers, supplies, equipment, and ships before fighting the Scourge, prompting Daelin Proudmoore to question why Kul Tiras should provide warships.

Rhode persuaded the assembled rulers to form a new Alliance built on military aid, shared trade, and coordinated herb cultivation to fight the Scourge and Burning Legion. The Alliance was established, and Rhode was appointed its Chief Economic Executive.

• Rhode proposed that Alliance members buy one another’s supplies at market prices and explained that Scourge necropolises could carry troops across the sea.
• Madam Dorothy Egan explained how grave moss and ghost mushroom could be cultivated with specially formulated fertilizer, while Rhode warned that the Burning Legion also threatened them.
• King Terenas called for a vote, and Stromgarde, Ironforge, Quel’Thalas, Gilneas, Dalaran, Kul Tiras, Stormwind, the Wildhammer dwarves, Gnomeregan, and Lordaeron agreed to join the new Alliance.
• Rhode promised Ironforge a supply of Southshore drinks in exchange for land to grow herbs, winning Magni Bronzebeard’s support.
• Terenas nominated Rhode as the Alliance’s Chief Economic Executive, and Rhode accepted after Antonidas, Bolvar, and Arthas endorsed him.

Rhode visited Dalaran to obtain teleportation runes and learn about magic herbs, then received a bag of seeds from Mrs. Dorothy Egan to experiment with back in Southshore. Antonidas prepared to teleport him home, hoping Rhode could perform the spell himself on his next visit.

• Rhode stayed in Lordaeron after the Throne Conference to advise the nations on trade and herb cultivation, including purchasing black lotus and distributing plans for growing grave moss and ghost mushrooms.
• Rhode traveled to Dalaran with Antonidas and Mrs. Dorothy Egan to collect runes and seek magic herb seeds.
• Antonidas gave Rhode Teleportation Runes and his book on spatial teleportation, and explained how runes and magical equipment worked.
• Rhode asked Mrs. Dorothy Egan about growing magic herbs, and she explained that dreamfoil needed Dalaran's magical conditions while the felweed-growing instructions in his books were vague.
• Mrs. Dorothy Egan gave Rhode a bag of magic herb seeds so he could test whether they would grow or change in other environments.

Rhode recruited Rivelle to illustrate Hearthstone and received magic herbs from Millhouse as he prepared to develop the game and open his school. He organized dreamfoil cultivation across his territory and set aside felweed for rune research, with the school opening ceremony planned for the next morning.

• Rhode brought Millhouse and the painter Rivelle to his home, where he hired her to draw Hearthstone’s interface and card artwork.
• Rhode explained that some planned cards depicted characters or groups that did not yet exist, and promised Rivelle written descriptions so she could begin drawing familiar subjects.
• Millhouse gave Rhode dreamfoil seeds and felweed, earning the promised card-game rewards and agreeing to attend the school’s opening ceremony.
• Rhode gave Kienlo the seeds, told her to distribute dreamfoil among local farming households, and offered five gold coins to any household that successfully grew it.
• Rhode ordered Kienlo to keep the felweed seeds secret and planned to turn the available felweed into runes for his card-box research.

Rhode opened Darrow Hill Vocational Skills Training School and organized its students into vocational and magical departments. After Millhouse Manastorm challenged him to demonstrate magic, Rhode overwhelmed him in a duel and forced him to surrender.

• Rhode declared Darrow Hill Vocational Skills Training School open, and students began interviews for its various academies and departments.
• Rhode assigned Sally Whitemane to lead the Healing Department and sorted aspiring Mages into frost, flame, arcane, or foundation classes.
• Rejected candidates asked Rhode to demonstrate his magic, and Millhouse Manastorm volunteered to duel him.
• Millhouse Manastorm surprised Rhode with Arcane Missiles and Frost Nova, but Rhode used Blink to escape and absorbed Millhouse Manastorm’s attacks with his Mana Shield.
• Rhode battered Millhouse Manastorm with Mage Hands until Millhouse Manastorm’s Mana Shield broke and he surrendered.