Chapter Summaries

Yu Lin Bloodhawk read Alleria’s letter about the fighting and plans in Quel'Thalas, then considered how to coordinate his forces’ raid on Durnholde. Worried that Blizzard’s sparse account left gaps in his plans, he reflected on the war’s importance to Quel'Thalas.

• An Orc Wolf Rider commander sent five Death Knights and their Voidwalkers ahead to search for mines before advancing with the riders.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk read Alleria’s letter, which described the fighting in southern Quel'Thalas and proposed coordinating their operations.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk judged that the forces at Aerie Peak and the planned raid on Durnholde could align with Alleria’s campaign.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk stored Alleria’s letter and reviewed his plans, worrying that missing information could lead to heavy High Elf losses.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk compared Quel'Thalas’s war to China’s role in World War II and considered how the conflict would shape the kingdom’s future.

Yu Lin Bloodhawk learned that Wingblades could counter Orc heavy armor and wanted to replace the planned cannons at Quel'Danil's Valley Entrance Fortress with them. Christine warned him that Wingblades required rare specialists, blueprints, and enormous resources to build and empower.

• After reading Alleria's letter, Yu Lin Bloodhawk decided to consult Christine about countering the Orcs' heavily armored forces.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk learned that Wingblades fired magically enchanted bladed wheels that could ricochet through targets, making them effective against heavy armor.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk went to Christine's Bowmaking Department and asked whether he could manufacture Wingblades for Quel'Danil's Valley Entrance Fortress.
• Christine explained that making a Wingblade required several master craftsmen and specialists, complete blueprints, and a great deal of arcane magic and resources.

Yu Lin Bloodhawk discussed the costly specialists, materials, and blueprints needed to build wingblades, then turned to more immediate weapons projects. He asked Christine to prepare for ballista production and explore heavy crossbows for the Ranger Corps, while seeking equipment that could help Quel'Thalas in its war.

• Christine explained that wingblades required rare materials, magic-circle blueprints, an archmage, and a magic inscriptionist, though he could help build the vehicle body and bow body.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk decided to seek specialists through Old Charlatan, the Wildhammer Dwarves, and the Lyk Brothers, and asked Christine to list the wingblade requirements.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk told Christine that their work in Quel'Danil served Quel'Thalas and the high elves, and Christine agreed he could work with the Lyk Brothers on ballistae.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk proposed a semi-automated factory to produce many ballistae, and Christine considered the idea promising.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk asked Christine to develop powerful heavy crossbows or miniaturized ballistae to help rangers pierce orc plate armor, if they could be ready in time.

Christine proposed producing Armor-Piercing Arrows and Rare-grade War Bows to strengthen Quel'Thalas's Rangers. In the Southern Eversong Woods, a buried explosive destroyed a Voidwalker, and the Nightstalker leader sent word to Commander Sylvanas that the tactic could also work against Infernals.

• Christine urged Yu Lin Bloodhawk to prioritize Armor-Piercing Arrows made by the Wildhammer Dwarves and warned that equipping Rangers with Rare-grade War Bows remained crucial.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk learned the first batch of standard-issue War Bows would be ready in five days, with production expected to reach six hundred bows a day afterward.
• An explosive buried beneath the Orcs' route detonated and shattered the leading Voidwalker as the Orc Wolf Riders and Orc Wolf Soldiers followed its tracks.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader ordered an Owl Ranger to report the successful attack to Commander Sylvanas and suggested the method could cripple Infernals.
• Yu Lin Bloodhawk reflected on how land mines might counter the stone demons that had forced High Elf Mages and Rangers to divert so much firepower.

Yu Lin Bloodhawk’s experimental Anti-Tank Land Mine destroyed a Voidwalker, prompting the Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader to plan a larger attack. Nearby, ten Frostwolf Rangers continued to outmaneuver seven Orc Wolf Riders while Windrunner Burning Legion Rangers watched from the woods.

• Yu Lin Bloodhawk abandoned the idea of arming Gryphon Riders with extra Hammers of Moradin and instead devised portable, single-use cannon weapons called Anti-Tank Land Mines.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader’s squad tested the weapon by luring a Voidwalker into a pit, where the mine’s shot shattered it.
• After seeing the Orc Wolf Riders’ formation falter from the blast, the Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader ordered her squad to pull back and prepare another strike.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader called for the Deputy Leader, ten Frostwolf Rangers, and any available flank-covering Nightstalker squads to join her plan.
• Ten Frostwolf Rangers maneuvered around seven Orc Wolf Riders, repeatedly attacking while evading their ineffective blows.
• Ten Windrunner Burning Legion Rangers and an Owl Ranger watched the fight from nearby woodland.

The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Deputy Leader received orders to gather the Frostwolf Rangers and launch a larger plan. As the Nightstalkers dispersed and the Owl Ranger prepared to deliver the battle plans, an emergency signal reached the High Elf Rangers fighting the Orc Wolf Riders.

• A Nightstalker messenger delivered the leader’s orders, and the Mountain Lion Nightstalker Deputy Leader acknowledged them through the messenger’s pet mountain lion.
• The Deputy Leader sent six Mountain Lion Nightstalkers and their pets into Stealth to carry out the plan, then told the Owl Ranger to notify the Frostwolf Rangers and attribute the orders to Burning Legion Commander Sylvanas.
• The Owl Ranger wrote ten copies of the battle plan, attached them to her pet owl, and used Beast’s Eye while several Nightstalkers guarded her.
• A black owl circled over the battlefield and gave three cries, signaling an emergency to the High Elf Rangers being pursued by the Orc Wolf Riders.

A black owl delivered Commander Sylvanas’s orders to the ten High Elf Frostwolf Rangers while they fought seven Orc Wolf Riders. The Rangers regrouped beneath the owl before it flew east, and its handler canceled Beast's Eye.

• The Orc Wolf Riders and High Elf Frostwolf Rangers both mistook the owl’s arrival for a warning that Orc reinforcements were coming.
• The owl landed on a Ranger’s shoulder and delivered slips of paper to all ten Rangers.
• One Ranger read Commander Sylvanas’s order and obeyed by accelerating away from her pursuer.
• The owl circled low over the battlefield, and one Ranger rode beneath it and called the others with her Frostwolf’s howl.
• The ten Rangers gathered together, and the owl flew east as its handler canceled Beast's Eye.

The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Deputy Leader and her six unit members ambushed the charging Orc Wolf Riders with nets, while the High Elf Frostwolf Rangers waited in formation. The seven Orcs and their Worgs were brought down, and the Nightstalkers traded barbs with the Rangers after revealing their tactic.

• The High Elf Frostwolf Rangers formed a line with sabres drawn, and the Orc Wolf Riders charged them.
• Seven nets suddenly appeared in the Orc Wolf Riders' path, entangling all seven riders and their Worgs and sending them crashing to the ground.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Deputy Leader and her six unit members emerged from stealth after using the Net-Catching Technique.
• A Frostwolf Ranger complained about the Nightstalkers' ambushes, and the Deputy Leader defended stealth as their specialty while criticizing the Rangers' preference for direct fights.
• The Deputy Leader noticed that the Frostwolf Rangers showed no signs of exhaustion from their earlier fight with the Orcs.

The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Deputy Leader and her unit trapped seven Orc Wolf Riders with barbed nets, leaving them pinned beneath their mounts. She killed the Orc Wolf Rider Squad Leader and ordered her Nightstalkers to kill every surviving Orc.

• The Mountain Lion Nightstalkers used their Net-Catching Technique to trap seven charging Orc Wolf Riders and their mounts, killing at least two in the fall.
• The Orc Wolf Rider Squad Leader called the High Elves despicable, and the Deputy Leader told him that ambushes and traps were Nightstalker specialties.
• The Deputy Leader revealed that an explosion nearby likely meant the Orc reinforcements had fallen into the Nightstalker leader's trap.
• The Deputy Leader stabbed the immobilized Squad Leader through the gap in his armor and severed his throat and windpipe.
• The Deputy Leader ordered her unit to check every Orc and leave none alive.

The Mountain Lion Nightstalkers killed the surviving Orc Wolf Riders and worgs, while an Orc Wolf Rider Company Commander ordered his squadron to keep advancing after a Voidwalker exploded. The five death knights were forced to lead the way through possible traps, relying on summoned demons to take the first risks.

• The Mountain Lion Nightstalkers killed the surviving Orc Wolf Riders despite a Frostwolf Ranger's objections, then killed the surviving worgs.
• The Orc Wolf Rider Company Commander ordered the squadron to continue toward the Vanguard and sent a rider back to report what had happened.
• The five death knights realized the company commander expected them to face the traps, but they had to obey or risk being hunted as deserters.
• The death knights sent Voidwalker demons ahead and increased their distance from them after one exploded.
• The chapter explained that demons served their summoners under contracts paid for with souls, and that stronger demons required more Soul Shards.

Orc Wolf Riders and Death Knights advanced through a forest while Voidwalkers triggered mines, but High Elf Gryphon Riders ambushed the column with bombs. The Orcs’ armored riders survived the first barrage better than their unarmored Worgs, which were wounded and thrown into panic.

• The Orc Wolf Rider squadron commander and the five Orc Death Knights widened the gap behind the four Voidwalkers as they led the column through the forest.
• A Voidwalker fell into a High Elf mine and was blown apart, while the Orcs remained safely behind it.
• The squadron commander spotted at least fifty High Elf Gryphon Riders and shouted for the Orcs to scatter.
• The Gryphon Riders dropped bombs on the Orc column, filling the road with explosions and smoke.
• The Orc Wolf Riders struggled to control their wounded, panicked Worgs, while their plate armor protected them from much of the shrapnel.

High Elf Gryphon Riders and Rangers ambushed the Orc Wolf Rider Squadron, killing Worgs and throwing the column into chaos while the Death Knights and Voidwalkers stayed out of the fight. The squadron commander ordered a warning sent to the main vanguard as the Gryphon Riders returned overhead.

• High Elf Rangers fired poisoned arrows from the woods at the panicking Worgs, worsening the Orc Wolf Riders' confusion.
• The five orc Death Knights and three Voidwalker demons watched the ambush without attacking the High Elves, and one Death Knight said the Orc Wolf Riders did not need their help.
• The High Elf Gryphon Riders returned, and the Orc Wolf Rider Squadron's commander recognized the attack as a coordinated ambush.
• The commander urgently ordered his troops to send an enemy warning signal to summon reinforcements from the main vanguard.
• The commander considered how the Horde lacked effective defenses against flying units and recalled rumors about the Dragonmaw Clan and orc Flying Forces.

The Orc Wolf Riders deployed Smoke Bombs to hide from the returning High Elf Gryphon Riders, but the Gryphon Riders dropped poisoned caltrops into the smoke instead. The Worgs were poisoned and collapsed, while dismounted Orcs stumbled through the smoke with no clear way to find a Shaman for treatment.

• The Orc Wolf Rider company commander ordered his squadron to deploy Smoke Bombs after a signaler fired an enemy-contact signal.
• The smoke obscured the Orc Wolf Riders from the High Elf Rangers and Gryphon Riders, reducing the Rangers’ arrows as the Orcs took cover.
• The High Elf Gryphon Riders circled overhead, swooped down, and dropped large quantities of poisoned caltrops into the smoke.
• The caltrops pierced the unarmored Worgs, poisoning many until they collapsed and forcing their Orc riders to dismount.
• The dismounted Orc Wolf Riders risked stepping on caltrops in the smoke, while poisoned Orcs struggled to find a Shaman who could treat them.

The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader ordered the High Elf Rangers to add their own smoke bombs and poisoned caltrops to the battlefield, turning the orc smoke screen into a chaotic barrier. The Orcs Vanguard Commander reached the smoke’s edge after a fifty-strong detachment vanished inside, and he began examining the ground.

• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader decided the Rangers would deploy smoke bombs behind the Orc Wolf Riders, spread poisoned caltrops, and attack until the retreat signal sounded.
• After receiving the enemy-contact signal, the Orcs Vanguard Commander ordered the main body of the Vanguard to advance at full speed.
• The High Elf Rangers deployed their remaining smoke bombs, expanding and joining their screen with the orcs’ smoke before retreating into it.
• The Orcs Vanguard Commander sent fifty Wolf Riders into the smoke to investigate, but they stopped communicating after entering.
• The Orcs Vanguard Commander brought the main body to the smoke’s edge, heard fighting and cries within, and examined the ground just inside.

The Orcs Vanguard Commander discovered that poisoned caltrops had trapped several Orc Wolf Riders and sent Death Knights and Shamans to rescue them and clear the smoke. The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader countered by ordering Frostwolf Rangers to target the Shamans while hunting teams continued attacking isolated riders inside the smoke.

• The Orcs Vanguard Commander found a poisoned caltrop and realized it had immobilized Orc Wolf Riders whose mounts had stepped on the traps.
• The Orcs Vanguard Commander ordered Death Knights to summon Voidwalkers and Shamans to disperse the smoke.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader sent an Owl Ranger to tell the Frostwolf Rangers to attack the approaching Shamans instead of the Death Knights.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker Leader explained that the smoke and caltrops were meant to trap the Orc Wolf Riders and give High Elf hunting teams time to kill them.
• A High Elf Gorilla Ranger and three Mountain Lion Nightstalkers advanced through the smoke to hunt isolated Orc Wolf Riders.

A High Elf Ranger hunting squad cautiously searched the smoke-filled forest for Orc Wolf Riders, using an armored gorilla as bait while the Nightstalkers prepared to strike from stealth. They found a fourth rider unharmed and wandering through the traps, leaving the squad poised to attack.

• The High Elf Rangers and their mountain lion pets advanced through the smoke in Stealth, while the armored gorilla remained visible.
• Three Mountain Lion Nightstalkers led the squad, guiding the gorilla behind them as it drew the Orc Wolf Riders' attention.
• The squad's ambush tactic had already let them kill three isolated Orc Wolf Riders.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalkers found a fourth Orc Wolf Rider by listening to his worg's growls.
• The Orc Wolf Rider and his mount had avoided every Poison Needle Trap and poisoned caltrop as they wandered through the smoke.

An Orc Wolf Rider mistook a gorilla in Battle Pet Armor for a High Elf Ranger’s pet and tried to trap it, while the Ranger struck his Worg with an Arcane Shot. The Worg threw the rider as the net brought down the gorilla, leaving the fight unresolved.

• The Orc Wolf Rider saw the armored gorilla emerge from the smoke and suspected it was a High Elf Ranger’s pet.
• The Worg grew fearful, and the Orc Wolf Rider wondered whether a High Elf Ranger was hiding nearby.
• As the gorilla charged, the Orc Wolf Rider threw his net over it and reached for his sword.
• A High Elf Ranger fired an Arcane Shot from the smoke and hit the Worg, which bucked and threw the Orc Wolf Rider.
• The net snagged the gorilla’s Battle Pet Armor, causing it to fall and roll across the ground.

The High Elf Gorilla Ranger wounded the Orc Wolf Rider’s Worg, then evaded his Charge and trapped him in a net. As the Wolf Rider considered a desperate counterattack, a High Elf Nightstalker appeared nearby.

• The High Elf Gorilla Ranger’s Arcane Shot blasted the Worg’s neck, and the wounded mount fled into the fog.
• The Orc Wolf Rider advanced toward the Ranger and then launched Charge, but she used Disengage to evade and hit him with Concussive Shot.
• A huge net fell over the slowed Orc Wolf Rider, trapping him before he could dodge.
• The Orc Wolf Rider held still inside the net and considered a desperate counterattack as a High Elf Nightstalker emerged nearby.

The High Elf Mountain Lion Nightstalkers killed an Orc Wolf Rider after he tore free of their net, while the Gorilla Ranger struggled to understand their ambush tactics and their claim that they were all big bad guys. As a Nightstalker freed her gorilla battle pet, she told the Gorilla Ranger that she deserved to die, leaving the reason unexplained.

• The Orc Wolf Rider tore through the net and dodged the Mountain Lion Nightstalker's Arcane Shot, but the blast staggered him.
• A hidden Nightstalker stabbed the Orc Wolf Rider in the throat, and he died from the wound.
• The Nightstalkers explained that they had treated the calm, dangerous orc cautiously and repeated Lord Bloodhawk's saying about big bad guys talking too much.
• The Gorilla Ranger questioned how the orc had escaped the net and objected to being called a big bad guy.
• A Nightstalker cut the net off the gorilla battle pet and told the Gorilla Ranger that she deserved to die.

The Mountain Lion Nightstalker explained how the Orc Wolf Rider escaped a net and warned the Gorilla Ranger to stay alert on the battlefield. After the orcs lost two shamans, their Vanguard commander abandoned the plan to disperse the smoke screen.

• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker helped the Gorilla Ranger free her gorilla battle pet while criticizing her for chattering instead of paying attention.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker explained that the Orc Wolf Rider had pinned the net with his blade and cut his way free with an upward sweep.
• The Gorilla Ranger realized Milia had fired an Arcane Shot because she recognized the Orc Wolf Rider could escape, but the Mountain Lion Nightstalker clarified that none of them had expected his trick.
• The Mountain Lion Nightstalker warned the Gorilla Ranger that calm, cunning enemies could still counterattack, even when trapped.
• A cold Mountain Lion Nightstalker urged the group to move on, and their leader agreed.
• After losing two shamans, the orc Vanguard commander abandoned the plan to quickly disperse the smoke screen.