Chapter Summaries

With Lord Arthur unable to attend the warship competition, Rowan prepared to win Lord Ashvane’s support and ordered a last-minute refit of the Norwington warship. He also approved Byron’s plan to expose the Underground City, while Ashvane and Moss arrived at Hook Point expecting to judge the contest.

• Rowan learned that Lord Arthur’s condition had stabilized but that he could not attend the competition, leaving his vote as an abstention.
• Rowan told Byron to stop gathering underworld intelligence and focus on the merchants’ guild, then approved Byron’s proposal to publish an exposé on the Underground City.
• Rowan ordered Leonard to have Kobi and his son refit the warship with the new cannons and make it ready by ten the next morning.
• Lord Ashvane and Moss arrived at Hook Point, where Moss celebrated the chance to decide the Norwington Family’s military industry while Ashvane warned him to put national interests first.
• Rowan and Jaina arrived in formal attire, and Rowan greeted Lord Ashvane, who expressed confidence in Morris Military Industry.

Rowan’s iron battleship lost the speed event to Lord Stormsong’s reinforced warships, which used Tidesages to gain an advantage. During the defense event, Jaina and Rowan’s crew test-fired a new cannon that struck its target with startling speed, leaving the match unresolved.

• Moss confronted Rowan about the newspaper exposé of the Underground City and worried that it threatened the Ashvane Family.
• Admiral Daelin, Lord Ashvane, Lord Stormsong, and Rowan attended the friendly match at Hook Point.
• Lord Stormsong’s reinforced warships won the speed race with help from Tidesages, while Rowan refused Rhonin’s offer of magical assistance.
• Jaina went to the iron battleship’s cannon deck as the defense event began and told the crew to use conventional cannonballs for the first test shots.
• Captain David fired the new cannon, and its shot hit a moving target at astonishing speed, surprising Admiral Daelin and Lord Ashvane.

Ellen and the spectators witnessed the Mage Hunter’s extraordinary speed and the warships’ uneven performance as the second match ended in a draw. The final head-on battle began with David preparing to fire the Mage Hunter at the reinforced warship.

• Ellen saw the Norwington Family’s cannon hit a target warship with a projectile faster than sound and realized how deadly it was against Class Practitioners.
• The reinforced warship hit its targets while the Iron Battleship sustained visible damage, though Lord Stormsong recognized the threat posed by its cannons and sent Bob to the gun deck.
• Fern admitted he had tampered with the targets, then learned from Bob that Brannon and Faye had gone beneath the Storm Temple’s altar before firing a Runic Darkblade-laced cannonball through two moving warships.
• David hit the final target nearly simultaneously with Fern’s shot, and Kainings ruled the second match a draw.
• Jaina and Rhonin took their places aboard the competing warships as preparations began for the unrestricted final match.
• Kainings started the head-on battle, and David prepared to fire the Mage Hunter at the reinforced warship.

Rowan defeated House Stormsong’s warship with Mage Hunter, then learned from Fern that Brannon and Faye may be trapped beneath the Storm Temple. Meanwhile, Valeera returned to Silvermoon City to meet Baron Sanguinar, intending to leave without fulfilling her engagement to Erastha.

• Rowan’s Mage Hunter destroyed the reinforced warship, and Lord Stormsong publicly congratulated him on the Norwington Family’s new cannon.
• Fern told Rowan that Brannon and Faye had entered the forbidden area beneath the Storm Temple’s altar, and Rowan warned Fern to stay inside the Norwington Merchants’ Guild.
• Valeera arrived at Sun Sail Harbor, where Aeldara Sanguinar recognized her and told her that Erastha was now Baron Sanguinar.
• Valeera asked Aeldara to arrange a ship for her departure, then entered the sanctum to meet Baron Sanguinar.

Valeera negotiated a spell-materials and construct trade with Erastha, who tried to rekindle their engagement and resented her praise of Rowan. Back in Kul Tiras, Rowan’s plans were interrupted by Daelin’s unexpected visit, and their conversation began with a complaint about Rowan’s tea.

• Erastha dismissed the maids and tried to draw Valeera into a private discussion about their past and a possible marriage, but she refused and focused on trade.
• Valeera presented Rowan’s terms: the Sanguinar Family would sell spell materials and constructs to the Norwington Family at three times market price, with delivery and exclusivity requirements.
• Erastha asked about Rowan and compared himself to him; when he reached for Valeera’s hand, she drew a dagger to his throat and then agreed only to discuss the trade further with Rowan.
• Rowan woke late after working on Morris Bank preparations with Hammer, and Number Zero brought word that Daelin had arrived.
• Daelin toured Morris Industries District and met Rowan in his office; after tasting the tea, he complained that Rowan had served him an unsuitable drink.

Rowan told Daelin that he planned to seize the aristocratic establishment’s wealth and put it under state control, and Daelin pledged his support while warning him about political opposition. The chapter ended with Illucia visiting Alex Barov, who ignored her report about the Norwington Family and asked instead about the merchants’ guild’s profits.

• Rowan served Daelin anchor weed tea, then explained that he would only transfer his new weapons technology in exchange for sufficient returns.
• Rowan laid out his plan to nationalize the aristocratic establishment’s interests and use a strict magical organization to protect workers from oppression.
• Daelin agreed to back Rowan’s reforms, warned him about Lordaeron’s hostility and the Southshore fighting, and urged him to use the coming conflict with the orcs to his advantage.
• Daelin left Morris Harbor with a supply of anchor weed tea for Catherine.
• Illucia told Alex Barov that she had rejected a technology agreement with the Norwington Family, but Alex asked only how much money the merchants’ guild had made that month.

Illucia and Alex agreed to deepen the Barov Family’s partnership with the Norwington Family to resist the Menethil Royal Court, and Alex urged Illucia to secure Rowan as a husband for the family’s sake. Rowan prepared the Combined Fleet for war at Southshore and took charge of its shared supply organization, while Lord Ashvane kept Moss in Kul Tiras to confront obstacles within their family.

• Illucia reported the Barov Merchants' Guild's earnings to Alex, who said the Royal Court's exploitation left the family in danger of losing its lands.
• Alex told Illucia that the Agamand Family had accepted a technology transfer agreement and ordered her to pursue cooperation with the Norwington Family despite the risk; he also urged her to consider marrying Rowan for the family's interests.
• Rowan met with Kainings and Halliwell before the Combined Fleet sailed and proposed a shared supply procurement organization to prevent embezzlement.
• Kainings and Halliwell agreed to Rowan's proposal, and Rowan accepted responsibility for running the supply organization.
• The Combined Fleet departed from Sailgather Harbor as Lord Ashvane explained to Moss that he had to remain in Kul Tiras to address internal family opposition.

After the defeat at Redemption Island, Garithos chose to hold Southshore while pursuing King Terenas’s political aims rather than seek an immediate offensive. Rowan arrived with the fleet, checked on Lord Arthur, and learned that Jaina had advanced her mass-teleportation research and reached Level Seven Archmage.

• Eric confronted Garithos over the failed assault on Redemption Island, while Goverilad urged him to focus on requesting reinforcements.
• Garithos revealed that the Royal Court had refused to send troops, and he decided to defend Southshore while helping King Terenas pursue an unstated plan.
• Rowan met Ellen, assigned Number Zero to dangerous Black Market intelligence work, and learned that Lord Arthur’s condition had not changed.
• Ellen delivered documents from Lucille, and Rowan continued to wonder who had cursed Lord Arthur after his inquiries into possible suspects found no evidence.
• Jaina showed Rowan her breakthrough in mass teleportation and told him that she had become a Level Seven Archmage.

Rowan and the Combined Fleet's commanders inspected spoiled food being served to wounded soldiers in Jadefire Town and confronted Marshal Garithos over his refusal to attack the Warsong Orcs. Garithos revealed he was waiting for reinforcements from Lordaeron's Royal Court, so Rowan, Kainings, and Halliwell agreed to wait for an opportunity.

• Kainings and Halliwell found rotten, moldy food being distributed to the wounded in Jadefire Town, and Hilton admitted that supplies were scarce.
• Halliwell urged Rowan to help feed Lordaeron's soldiers, and Rowan agreed that food aid could be worthwhile despite concerns about the Combined Fleet's own supplies.
• Rowan proposed attacking the Warsong Orcs on Redemption Island, but Garithos said the orcs had begun withdrawing and refused to act until reinforcements arrived.
• Garithos's remarks revealed that he was following the Royal Court's orders to wait, and Rowan warned him not to turn the battlefield into a political power struggle.
• After Halliwell stormed out of the meeting, Rowan, Kainings, and Halliwell agreed to wait for an opportunity.

Rowan met Illucia in Southshore to arrange military supplies, but their business discussion turned into a direct romantic pursuit that Jaina interrupted. Meanwhile, Zuluhed, Zul, and Grom prepared an offensive against Jadefire Town, planning to use the threat to Southshore’s civilians to draw the Combined Fleet away.

• Illucia arrived in Southshore, and Rowan discussed the Combined Fleet’s supply needs with her and agreed to a procurement deal without haggling over the price.
• Illucia told Rowan she wanted their relationship to advance and confessed that she liked him, but Rowan reminded her he was engaged to Jaina and tried to dissuade her.
• Illucia insisted that she accepted Rowan’s habits and believed he liked her, then approached him until Jaina arrived and confronted her.
• On Redemption Island, Zuluhed, Zul, and Grom discussed the Warsong corps’ next move after learning the Combined Fleet was in Southshore and procuring supplies.
• Zul proposed using the danger to Southshore’s civilians as bait, while the troll fleet feinted at Jadefire Town and the Shadra Guard attacked Southshore to draw the Combined Fleet away.

Rowan, Kainings, and Halliwell prepared the Combined Fleet to meet the Zandalari fleet near Jadefire Town, while Illucia and Southshore’s militia faced a surprise assault at the harbor. Ricky confronted the troll assassin Yazir, who had targeted Illucia, and was poised to strike him down.

• Rowan, Kainings, and Halliwell agreed to fight the approaching Zandalari fleet, while Rowan worried that Lordaeron’s City Guard might fail to stop the Warsong army.
• Illucia supervised the delivery of grain at Southshore’s harbor as Ricky warned that danger might be approaching and Mayor Maleb sent militia to reinforce them.
• Ricky found one of his bodyguards murdered, killed a troll assassin, and returned to find orc and troll forces landing at the harbor.
• Ricky urged Illucia and the guild workers to retreat while Mayor Maleb and the militia defended the warehouses and unloading area.
• Ricky used Revealing Dust to expose Yazir, who revealed that he had intended to capture Illucia to torment Rowan.
• Ricky and Yazir fought with daggers and witchcraft, and Ricky prepared to stab Yazir in the head.

Rowan’s Combined Fleet fought the Zandalari King’s Fleet offshore from Jadefire Town, where a trainee’s Mage Hunter shot destroyed the enemy flagship and the battle escalated at sea and on land. As Number Zero arrived with news that Southshore was under attack, Jaina sensed a strange whisper approaching Rowan, and Number Zero began to report what had happened to Miss Ilucia.

• David directed Lisen Zhu to fire the Mage Hunter at the enemy flagship, and Lisen’s first shell narrowly missed but stripped a Troll warship of its divine protection.
• After Rowan urged him not to worry about wasting the costly ammunition, Lisen fired again and destroyed the Zandalari flagship with a direct hit.
• Rowan’s Combined Fleet engaged the Zandalari King’s Fleet as the Orcs landed and the Shadra Fleet attacked the Combined Fleet’s right flank.
• Zuluhed and Zul planned to support the Orc advance into Jadefire Town, while Rowan ordered David to target enemy ships carrying Thunderous Explosive Cannonballs.
• As the naval battle intensified, Jaina warned Rowan that a strange whisper was approaching him, and Number Zero reported that Southshore was under attack and began to mention Miss Ilucia.

Yazir’s forces broke through Southshore’s defenses, set the town ablaze, and shattered the Holy Light barrier around the Monastery to capture Illucia. Rowan learned of the attack and ended the naval battle, then ordered Jaina and Rhonin to teleport back with him to Southshore.

• Yazir defeated Ricky with the Destruction Doppelganger, then his Shadra assassins overwhelmed Maleb’s militia and forced it to retreat.
• Yazir ordered his troops to spread Prophet Zul’s fire through Southshore, setting houses alight as the townspeople fled to the Monastery.
• Yazir used Shadra’s blood to break the Monastery’s Holy Light barrier and ordered his troops to capture Illucia alive.
• Illucia told Maleb she would surrender to spare the civilians, but Maleb chose to face the trolls beside her.
• Rowan learned Southshore was under attack, fired five Mage Hunters at the King’s Fleet, and forced Zul and Zuluhed to withdraw.
• Rowan recalled Jaina and Rhonin and ordered them to teleport with him to Southshore.

Rowan returned to Southshore as the town burned, and Drek'Thar helped Rhonin contain the flames while Rowan and Jaina rescued Illucia from the trolls. The raiding force was defeated, but Southshore was left badly damaged and Illucia remained attached to Rowan.

• Rowan arrived in burning Southshore and accepted Drek'Thar's help after Rhonin confirmed the shaman was from the Frostwolf Clan.
• Drek'Thar drew the fire elementals away from the blaze while Rhonin destroyed Shadow Minions, allowing them to stop the fire from spreading further.
• Drek'Thar used Far Sight to reveal Illucia negotiating with the trolls at the Monastery, so Rowan teleported there with Jaina and their companions.
• Rowan's group rescued Illucia and fought alongside the militia against Yazir's troll and orc raiders.
• Rowan trapped Yazir in the Abyssal Scepter's mist, and the defenders wiped out the raiding force after Rhonin arrived.
• Mayor Maleb surveyed Southshore's ruins while Illucia clung to Rowan after the battle.

After Southshore’s harbor was devastated, Rowan investigated Durnholde’s inaction, supported Illucia, and negotiated a role in the town’s reconstruction. Meanwhile, Valeera discovered Ricky’s body in a strange caravan and was confronted by someone outside the carriage.

• Mayor Maleb surveyed the destruction of Southshore and despaired over the cost of rebuilding.
• Rowan reviewed Ellen and Number Zero’s reports, learned that Blackmoore would not aid Southshore, and studied the intelligence on Thrall.
• Rowan promised Illucia compensation for her lost supplies and discussed Ricky’s presumed death with her.
• Rowan offered reconstruction funding to Mayor Maleb in exchange for land and favorable terms for warehouses, factories, and a marketplace.
• Valeera followed a hooded caravan near Southshore, found Ricky’s body in an ice coffin, and heard a cold voice challenge her from outside.

Valeera uncovered a Cult of the Damned caravan and brought its dead mage to Rowan, whose researchers confirmed the presence of necromancy and prompted Rhonin to alert the Kirin Tor. As Rowan considered the threat of the Scourge, he learned more about Kel'Thuzad's history and settled Valeera's arrangements for trade with Silvermoon City.

• Valeera killed the black-robed mage who discovered her, and the six living dead with the caravan collapsed and burned away.
• Valeera reached Southshore, met Ellen, and brought news of the living dead to Rowan, who had the mage's corpse and Ricky examined.
• Rhonin and Jaina extracted necromantic energy from the mage's corpse, and Rhonin left to report the discovery to the Kirin Tor.
• Jaina told Rowan that Kel'Thuzad had studied necromancy despite Archmage Antonidas's opposition and shared what she knew about Dalaran's research.
• Valeera told Rowan that she had once been Erastha's fiancée and agreed to escort trade shipments to Silvermoon City once every two months.

Hilton secured more reinforcements from Blackmoore while the Lordaeron and Durnholde forces suffered a disastrous defeat at Lordanmere Internment Camp. Rowan prepared to force the divided commanders into action, then joined Kainings in denouncing their failures at a military conference in North Mountain Town.

• Hilton discussed Thrall with Drak before outlining plans to reinforce Lordanmere Internment Camp to Blackmoore, who agreed to send two more columns.
• Rowan reviewed the report of the joint army’s heavy losses after Grom and Saurfang attacked its rear and destroyed its supplies.
• Rowan ordered David to redeploy troops and weaken the coastal defenses, intending to force the orcs and joint army into action.
• Hilton invited Rowan and Kainings to the military conference in North Mountain Town, where Kainings condemned the commanders’ earlier decisions.
• Rowan joined Kainings in accusing Garithos and Blackmoore of mishandling the war, and Kainings threatened to leave when the meeting failed to address their criticism.

Thrall left Durnholde for the front after Blackmoore temporarily lifted his confinement, while Rowan and Kainings discussed plans to counter the Warsong Clan Army Corps. Talanji prepared the Zandalar fleet to help the Orcs return to the Outer Sea, then learned Rowan had captured Yazir.

• Moray told Thrall that Blackmoore had suspended his confinement and ordered him to go to the front; Thrall accepted and packed to leave.
• Thrall met Theresa on his way out, reassured her he would return, and gave her his Orc-tusk necklace to keep safe.
• Thrall and Moray reached North Mountain Town and encountered Rowan and Kainings; Thrall prompted Moray to challenge their insults against Blackmoore, but Rowan and Kainings moved on without apologizing.
• Rowan and Kainings discussed their two possible battle plans, while Rowan predicted that the Warsong Clan Army Corps would return to the Outer Sea.
• Talanji met Zul and Zuluhed near Redemption Island and agreed that the Warsong Clan Army Corps should not be abandoned; she said Rezan had agreed to support the King's Fleet with the New-Style Weapon.
• Talanji asked where Yazir was, and Zul told her Rowan had captured him and they did not know whether he was alive or dead.

Rowan prepared to confront the growing Warsong Orc army while Garithos rejected Prince Liam’s request to join the frontline, leaving Liam and Tess to debate acting independently. Rhonin then told Rowan that Kel’Thuzad was behind Northrend’s unnatural cold, and Rowan approved Rhonin’s investigation.

• Rowan urged Number Six and Number Seven to locate the Warsong Orcs’ main force, hoping the Combined Fleet could destroy the army offshore near Jadefire Town.
• Garithos grew impatient at Southpoint Watchtower and planned to move south, but Prince Liam arrived with a small force seeking to join the campaign.
• Garithos refused Liam a place in the frontline assault and assigned him to the reserves; Liam returned to Tess, who argued they should target the Orcs independently.
• Liam warned Tess not to act alone, and Tess claimed she could beat him in a fight because her stealth training had made her stronger than him.
• Rhonin told Rowan that Kel’Thuzad was likely causing Northrend’s extreme cold and said the Kirin Tor was trying to find him.
• Rowan freed Rhonin to investigate Kel’Thuzad and offered to provide resources after the naval battle.

Talanji prepared to force Rowan into negotiations by targeting Southshore and the Combined Fleet, while Rowan faced a Warsong Orc breakthrough and a renewed naval battle. After Yazir was executed and joined Bwonsamdi’s Necropolis, the chapter ended with Talanji’s hidden weapon striking as Rowan ordered Jaina to teleport everyone away.

• Talanji learned that Yazir had attacked Southshore and feared that Rowan would use him as leverage, though Yazir had already died.
• Rowan and Rhonin attended Yazir’s execution in Southshore, where arcane flames killed him and he later accepted Bwonsamdi’s summons to guard the Necropolis.
• Rowan learned that Warsong Orcs had bypassed the Southpoint Watchtower and chose to hold the Jadefire Town defensive line rather than abandon his forward troops.
• Talanji took command of the King’s Fleet and prepared to protect the withdrawing orcs, while Rowan and his commanders suspected the Zandalari fleet’s decision to fight without sea fog concealed a new threat.
• The King’s Fleet and Combined Fleet exchanged heavy fire as Talanji’s Stealth Warships attacked the enemy’s right wing, and Rowan ordered Jaina to teleport everyone just before a bolt of lightning struck.