Recaps

Rowan gave Jaina a diamond necklace while Floyd handled the Norwington Merchants' Guild's trade business in Southshore and clashed with Mars, a former guild leader who had escaped custody. After Floyd reported Mars's provocation and the pirates' seizure of Norwington warships, Rowan asked where Mars was staying.

• Rowan fastened a crystal necklace around Jaina's neck, and she asked him to reserve that gesture for her alone.
• Floyd encountered Mars in Southshore, traded insults with him, and learned that he had become president of a small merchants' guild after leaving the Norwington Family.
• Floyd signed grain and rice wine trade agreements with Ironforge's dwarven merchants, using iron ingots as payment.
• Floyd told Rowan that Mars had provoked him and lamented that the Norwington Family could not punish criminals without a fleet.
• Rowan reassured Floyd that they would deal with the pirates after building their fleet, then asked where Mars was staying.

Rowan questioned the elven pirate Valeera Sanguinar and discovered that she wanted revenge on Orgrim for the Second War. The Alliance had imprisoned Orgrim instead of executing him, leaving Valeera determined to make him pay with his life.

• Byron and Leonard discussed why Rowan had ordered them to keep the captured elven pirate alive.
• Byron questioned the silent prisoner about her origins, and Rowan arrived to continue the interrogation.
• Rowan suggested that the elf had been displaced from Quel'Thalas during the Second War, provoking her to reveal her desire for revenge.
• Valeera named Orgrim as her target and insisted that he had to die, while Rowan explained that the Alliance had imprisoned him.
• Rowan asked the elf for her name, and she identified herself as Valeera Sanguinar.

Rowan interrogated Mars and Bright after capturing them in Southshore, uncovering the Water Rat Gang’s plan to use the Norwington Family’s criminals to supply the Iron Tide fleet. The report revealed that the Iron Tide Pirates were preparing a large-scale attack.

• Mars learned that the Norwington Family’s fleet had delivered cargo to Southshore and worried that the family would recover.
• Bright told Mars that Aldrius was in Lordaeron and had entrusted the Norwington Family’s affairs to Rowan.
• Rowan’s forces captured Mars and Bright and brought them to a cell, where Rowan confronted Mars about his crimes.
• Rowan had Mars and Bright interrogated separately and received a report about the Water Rat Gang’s supply network.
• Rowan learned that the Iron Tide Pirates were preparing a large-scale attack.

Rowan waited for Jaina’s teacher, Rhonin, to join the fleet leaving Southshore, then met the awkward Archmage and learned about his defensive magic and divination. As they sailed, Rhonin teased Rowan about Jaina and offered to introduce him to Vereesa’s unmarried sister, prompting Jaina to shut him down.

• Floyd told Rowan that Mayor Maleb had neither refused nor agreed to the Norwington Family’s invitation.
• Jaina explained that Rhonin was considering his future in Dalaran, and Rowan complained about the delay.
• Rhonin teleported to the harbor in blue-and-white plate armor and introduced himself to Rowan.
• Rhonin explained that he wore plate armor because he believed magical defense was a mage’s most important specialty, and Jaina said he could also foresee visions of the future.
• Rowan, Jaina, and Rhonin boarded the ship, and Rowan ordered the fleet to set sail from Southshore.
• Rhonin asked whether Rowan was Jaina’s boyfriend and offered to introduce him to Vereesa’s unmarried sister, so Jaina told him to stop meddling.

Priscilla met with Admiral Halaa to discuss the failed assassination of Rowan, then Halaa assigned Captain Kulrag and an old orc wizard to kill him. As Rowan's fleet neared Kul Tiras, Rhonin heard a parrot squawking insults nearby.

• Priscilla demanded two hundred thousand gold coins in compensation from Halaa, who agreed and proposed another assassination.
• Priscilla warned Halaa that Rowan was dangerous, but refused to pay for a new mission and said he could not withdraw from their partnership.
• Halaa summoned Kulrag and an old orc wizard, then named Rowan as their target at sea.
• Kulrag accepted the mission, driven by his hatred of the Norwington Family over the battle at Tidefall Island.
• As Rowan's fleet approached Kul Tiras with powerful mages and ten Steam Warships, Rhonin noticed a parrot speaking insults.

Rowan’s fleet discovered that an unseen enemy was gathering sea elementals, and Rhonin identified the fugitive orc shaman Zuluhed as the likely threat. Rhonin insisted on fighting, and Rowan proposed engaging the enemy to see what happened.

• A foulmouthed parrot alerted the fleet to danger, though Rhonin could detect no enemy ships nearby.
• Rhonin reported that sea elementals were gathering in response to a will, and Rowan suggested an orc shaman might be involved.
• Rhonin identified Zuluhed, chief of the Dragonmaw Clan, as the orc shaman likely behind the elemental activity.
• Rhonin argued that the Alliance should fight Zuluhed, while Number Zero and Number Seven favored retreating with Rowan to Boralus.
• Jaina silently urged Rowan not to fight, but Rowan suggested they engage the enemy and see how it went.

Rowan led his fleet toward the elemental barrier concealing the pirates, and Rhonin revealed their position with an Arcane Blast. As the pirate fleet opened fire and a sea elemental sent a wave at Rhonin’s ship, Rhonin raised a vast Arcane Barrier that stopped both threats, leaving Rowan stunned.

• Rowan chose to confront the hidden pirates, positioning Rhonin at the fleet’s head while Jaina and Earl Terry prepared the ships for battle.
• Rhonin approached the elemental concealment and fired an Arcane Blast through its towering water wall, exposing the pirate fleet and Zuluhed.
• Zuluhed urged Kulrag and Captain La'u to retreat, but Kulrag charged Rhonin’s ship while Zuluhed summoned two sea elementals.
• Earl Terry and Captain La'u ordered their fleets to fire, and Zuluhed’s sea elemental sent a massive wave toward Rhonin.
• Rhonin raised a wide Arcane Barrier that stopped the cannonballs and held back the wave, astonishing Rowan.

Rowan’s fleet defeated the Iron Tide Pirates’ ambush, but Zuluhed escaped across the sea as a Purple War Wolf. After the battle, Rowan had Shark Bait knocked unconscious while Kulrag protested.

• Rowan’s fleet used Rhonin’s Arcane Shield and rapid cannon fire to withstand the pirates’ opening attacks and sink one of Lau’s ships.
• Lau ordered his fleet to retreat, leaving Zuluhed and Kulrag behind as Rowan’s warships concentrated their fire on Zuluhed’s ship.
• Rhonin’s spells destroyed both Giant Sea Elementals, but Zuluhed escaped across the sea as a Purple War Wolf while Kulrag leaped into the water after Shark Bait.
• After the battle, Rowan ordered Byron to silence Shark Bait, and the bird was knocked unconscious as Kulrag shouted in protest.

Zuluhed escaped Freehold with Yazir’s help, while Rowan’s safe return revived the Norwington Family’s trade and drew several women’s attention. The chapter ended with Rowan accepting Jaina’s invitation to dinner, provided he could bring a younger girl along.

• Zuluhed accepted a Shadra-blessed robe from Yazir and escaped Freehold by boat.
• Jaina thanked Valeera for her company and tried to reassure her that she deserved feelings and hope.
• News of the Norwington Family’s safe return spread, and merchants quickly resumed buying its goods.
• Rowan cut taxes for guilds that joined the voyage, prioritized their supplies, and increased Floyd’s bonus eightfold.
• Illucia reminded Rowan that he owed her a date, but he declined her invitation for that night.
• Jaina asked Rowan to spend the evening with her, and he agreed on the condition that he bring a younger girl along.

Moss learned that Rowan had returned safely and watched Lord Ashvane confront Priscilla over her actions against the Norwington Family. Rowan then brought Jaina, Lucille, Valeera, Illucia, and Aika to the Starfall Tavern, where they encountered Moss and saw Broll Bearmantle perform.

• Moss heard that Rowan's fleet had reached port safely and reported the news to Lord Ashvane's estate.
• Lord Ashvane accused Priscilla of undermining Kul Tiras and struck her, while Priscilla insisted she acted for her son and family.
• Rowan took Jaina, Lucille, Valeera, Illucia, and Aika to dine at the Starfall Tavern, where Broll Bearmantle was its star attraction.
• Moss spotted Rowan at the tavern, grew angry, and stormed out after Rowan greeted him.
• Broll performed a display of nature magic, and someone in the crowd exclaimed that they had found a druid in Boralus.

Rowan watched Broll use druidic magic to grow Icecap Fruit, then offered him a position farming at the Norwington Estate. Broll accepted Rowan’s offer and agreed to report the next day.

• Broll used nature magic to grow Icecap Fruit and prepare food for Rowan’s party.
• Rowan followed Broll into the kitchen while Jaina, Lucille, Illucia, and Aika stayed in the tavern.
• Rowan offered Broll ten times his Goblin Trade Company pay, but Broll refused because he did not want to fight or kill.
• Rowan invited Broll to use his druidic powers to farm at the Norwington Estate, and Broll eagerly accepted.
• Rowan offered Broll twenty gold coins a month and told him to report tomorrow.

Admiral Daelin convened Kul Tiras’s military leaders to assess intelligence that the Iron Tide Fleet had left Freehold, but the reports raised concerns that Freehold was preparing for an attack. Meanwhile, Illucia visited the Norwington Merchants’ Guild and learned Rowan had gone to Morris Town to build ships.

• Daelin asked Arthur, Ashvane, and Stormsong what they knew about the Iron Tide Fleet, and Ashvane reported that it had left Freehold six months earlier.
• Daelin revealed that Rowan had obtained a detailed report from a pirate, including a map of Freehold and evidence that the Iron Tide Fleet had departed.
• Ashvane and Daelin questioned why Freehold was urgently gathering supplies and preparing to attack despite lacking its strongest fleet.
• Arthur urged the lords to attack Freehold, while Stormsong argued for a defensive counterattack from positions near Old Drustvar and King’s Bay.
• Illucia arrived at the Norwington Merchants’ Guild with Lusen Sackhoff and learned that Rowan had left for Morris Town to build ships.
• Illucia dismissed Rowan’s shipbuilding venture and turned her attention to the day’s ore trade.