Chapter Summaries

Rowan adapted the Combined Fleet’s defense after Naxxramas froze the Inland Sea, then used Katrana and Mage Hunters to repel the Scourge’s aerial assault. The chapter ended with Talanji returning to Zandalar and reassuring the worried Dak'uru that she had been away on a mission.

• Naxxramas froze the Inland Sea and immobilized the Combined Fleet, so Rowan ordered the vanguard crews to abandon their ships and use them as cover while the fleet bombarded the Scourge.
• The Scourge sent waves of undead across the ice and Dreadbat Forces against the fleet, while Rowan’s crews used the empty forward ships to delay the ghouls.
• Rowan persuaded Katrana to transform into a black dragon and draw the gargoyles together, allowing Risen and the artillery crews to destroy many of them with Mage Hunters.
• Earl Terry and Marshal Valentin redeployed troops to retake the vanguard ships, and the Scourge’s second offensive ended as its gargoyles withdrew.
• Anub'arak decided to join the battle personally, while Dak'uru learned that Talanji and Oracle Zul had returned to Zandalar.
• Talanji greeted Dak'uru at the harbor and told him that her two-month absence had been a mission.

Xal'atath returned to the Underground World with Medivh, Saurfang, Archbishop Joseph, and Meryl Winterstorm to reach the Chamber of Heart, while the Old Gods taunted her through their shared minds. Vezax blocked their way as Medivh prepared a powerful attack, leaving the party fighting to protect him and stop Yogg-Saron's plan to corrupt Azeroth's world-soul.

• Xal'atath arrived in the Underground World and told N'Zoth, Yogg-Saron, and C'Thun she would soon kill them.
• Medivh led the party through the dark passage toward the Chamber of Heart, where they encountered Vezax and his shadows separated Saurfang and Archbishop Joseph from the others.
• Saurfang killed a Faceless One with his Black Dragon Axe, while Archbishop Joseph resisted the Dark Trial Officials' Void Ritual.
• Medivh opened Astral Realm Gates to flood the Underground World with arcane power, and the restored light revealed the Chamber of Heart hovering above the flesh-covered land.
• Vezax activated Yogg-Saron's Saronite Crystal to protect the corruption of the Chamber of Heart, and Medivh aimed Singularity Impact at it.
• Meryl Winterstorm and Saurfang attacked Vezax while Medivh continued casting.

After returning to Zuldazar, Talanji planned reforms to win the people’s support and prepare to challenge the empire’s powerful lords. Meanwhile, Anub'arak attacked the Combined Fleet, survived Mage Hunter fire, and faced Rhonin and Eileen as the battle continued.

• Talanji reflected on the people’s unity in Kul Tiras and decided that Zandalar’s people needed to choose their ruler for her to be powerful.
• Talanji refused to see Dak'uru, making clear in her thoughts that she wanted a governing partner rather than a husband.
• Talanji resolved to improve ordinary Zandalari lives by opening land and trade to the people and building factories, even if the changes brought her into conflict with the council and great troll lords.
• Anub'arak charged through the vanguard fleet, endured nine Mage Hunters with an emerald-green crystal defense, and attacked the flagship from beneath the ice.
• David signaled for the flagship to be protected, and Rhonin teleported it away just as Anub'arak forced it out of the ice.
• Eileen restrained Anub'arak with Frost Nova while Rhonin summoned a frost elemental giant; Anub'arak’s scarabs drained the elemental and began to evolve.

Uther learned that demons might be behind the Scourge and resolved to unite forces, using Arthas and his artifact to draw the Nathrezim toward Kul Tiras. Meanwhile, Jaina and Lucille reached their assignment at sea as Rowan’s forces fought an undead Flying Citadel, whose surviving attack unleashed venomous spiders aboard the carrier.

• Uther reported intelligence about demons to Alonsus, who showed him Kel'Thuzad's soul still resisting holy light within the Ash Urn.
• Uther and Alonsus considered whether the Scourge served a demonic invasion, and Uther decided to send Arthas with reinforcements to Kul Tiras to divert the Nathrezim.
• Jaina told Lucille she had volunteered for the Outer Sea mission, and Ellen announced that their ships had reached the designated coordinates.
• Rowan's forces struck the undead Flying Citadel with Mage Hunter rounds, bringing it down after it launched seventeen giant cocoons onto the carrier.
• Faerlina arrived on the carrier and split the cocoons, releasing Venomous Spiders, and Rowan ordered William to evacuate the soldiers and artillery to the control hall.

Rowan and Katrana fought Faerlina aboard the Aircraft Carrier, while Rhonin and Eileen struggled against Anub'arak and his scarabs. Rowan summoned the Sea Fog as the spiders closed in, and Rhonin drew the scarabs toward a Phantasmal Crystal before asking Eileen to attack it.

• Faerlina taunted Rowan, but he refused to confront her until Katrana challenged her with black dragon flames and wiped out many Venomous Spiders.
• The surviving spiders poisoned Katrana's wings, forcing Rowan to leave the control room and help her as Faerlina continued attacking.
• Rowan revealed that no Archmage enforcers were aboard the deck, and Katrana crashed down after the neurotoxin weakened her flight.
• Faerlina sent the remaining spiders toward Rowan, who stood by Katrana and summoned the Sea Fog at the last moment.
• Anub'arak's scarabs absorbed arcane energy and grew stronger as Rhonin and Eileen tried to hold them off.
• Rhonin formed a Phantasmal Crystal to lure the scarabs away, then told Eileen to bombard it.

Garithos waited near the Inland Sea battle before deciding to flee with the Royal Fleet’s gold, while Rowan and Katrana fought Faerlina and her Venomous Spiders aboard the Aircraft Carrier. After Rowan helped Katrana recover from the spiders’ toxin, she unleashed her Black Dragon Flame against Faerlina’s forces.

• Garithos prepared an escape route through Freehold and waited to see whether the Kul Tiran Combined Fleet would win before choosing whether to flee or join the battle.
• As the Combined Fleet began to falter, Garithos decided to leave Boralus with Polina.
• Rowan used the Abyssal Scepter to engulf the Aircraft Carrier in sea fog, giving Katrana time to purge the Venomous Spiders’ neurotoxin.
• Faerlina used Mind Sharing to guide the spiders through the fog toward Rowan and Katrana, while Rowan realized he had no system points left to help.
• Katrana gathered the toxin in one place and Rowan sucked it out, then she ate her stored food and recovered her strength.
• Katrana attacked Faerlina with Earth Dragon’s Breath, burning away the Frost Spikes and killing or injuring most of the Venomous Spiders.

Medivh, Meryl Winterstorm, and Xal'atath unleashed an arcane storm to break Vezax’s tentacle forest while Vezax prepared to move the Chamber of Heart. The team teleported toward the palace as it fell into an underground fissure, and Xal'atath lost consciousness.

• Vezax took control of the revived Old God tentacles after the Saronite Crystal exploded, trapping the mission team beneath the Chamber of Heart.
• Medivh and Meryl Winterstorm persuaded Xal'atath to absorb the released shadow energy while they built an arcane storm to destroy the tentacles.
• Vezax tried to persuade Xal'atath to join Yogg-Saron, then began charging the obelisks to send the Chamber of Heart into a fissure.
• Medivh unleashed the Arcane Energy Destruction Storm, and Xal'atath absorbed the ownerless shadows while Saurfang and Bishop Joseph held off the remaining tentacles.
• Meryl Winterstorm cast a teleportation spell as Vezax's obelisks brought down the Chamber of Heart, and Xal'atath blacked out after the team teleported.

Katrana killed Faerlina and agreed to partner with Rowan, while Rhonin and Eileen faced Anub'arak in the Inland Sea. Rhonin survived the Phantasmal Crystal's explosion and glimpsed an inscription-covered gateway to the Death Realm.

• Katrana burned Faerlina to ash, then discussed Rowan's offer and agreed to work with him as Countess Katrana and his partner.
• Rowan spotted trouble on the Inland Sea battlefield and ordered William to deploy the aerial defenses.
• Rhonin amplified the Phantasmal Crystal with Arcane Blasts as Anub'arak attacked him and Eileen with scarabs and ice spikes.
• Ner'zhul overrode Anub'arak's will and forced him to drain his scarabs for power before charging Rhonin and Eileen.
• Rhonin told Eileen to teleport away, then the Phantasmal Crystal exploded and obliterated the ice around them.
• Eileen found Rhonin alive, and Rhonin saw a huge icy hand block Anub'arak's soul from entering the Death Realm and memorized the portal's inscriptions.

Rowan honored the fallen after Kul Tiras won the Inland Sea battle, while Lordaeron faced public pressure to aid its ally against the undead. Arthas met with Uther to plan the expedition, which Uther intended to use to prepare Arthas for greater command.

• Rowan spared the fleeing undead fortresses, visited the wounded and fallen aboard the warships, and explained to Katrana why he mourned despite the victory.
• Kul Tiras celebrated its victory, and Moss returned to the Morris Industries District, reflecting on Rowan's reforms and industrial strength.
• Public pressure and Uther's advocacy pushed Terenas to send Lordaeron's forces to Kul Tiras, with Arthas and Uther assigned to discuss the campaign plan.
• Arthas traveled to the Military Camp and criticized Lordaeron's inadequate fleet and lack of industry as he prepared for the expedition.
• Uther told Arthas that the expedition would require him to master Frostmourne and accomplish more, while privately intending to let Arthas succeed him as commander if they won.

Medivh and the mission team restored the Chamber of Heart’s defenses, recovered the Heart of Azeroth, and helped Xal'atath recover, while the Maiden of Vigilance asked them to investigate the two great forges. After returning to the surface, Jaina and Lucille finished building the offshore oil derrick foundations and traded teasing remarks.

• Medivh and Meryl defeated the corrupted Maiden of Vigilance, and Medivh restarted her defense directives and activated the Chamber of Heart’s console.
• Medivh collected the Heart of Azeroth and channeled Azerite into the Oshu'gun Crystal, then used some to soothe Xal'atath’s violent shadow energy.
• The Maiden of Vigilance granted the team permission to establish a Teleportation Beacon and asked them to investigate the failing Forge of Origination and Forge of Wills.
• Medivh agreed to the Maiden of Vigilance’s request for the time being, set up the beacon, and teleported the team back to the surface.
• Jaina and Lucille finished securing the offshore oil derrick foundations with Anchoring Inscriptions, and Jaina teased Lucille about her interest in Rowan.

Byron learned that Garithos had seized medical-supply ships at Freehold and joined General Santos's fleet to pursue them. Rowan arrived in Freehold, promised justice for the injured, and ordered the convoy intercepted, while Garithos tried to shift blame onto Polina.

• Byron discovered that Tilly and the other former sex workers had opened a dessert shop with Lucille's help, then returned to reviewing military supply lists.
• Yulia reported that Garithos's troops had seized cargo ships carrying medical bandages, and Byron ordered her to contact Clark while he went to Freehold to seek General Santos's help.
• Rowan learned of the seizure, ordered Kainings to prepare for battle, and traveled with Rhonin to Freehold, where he vowed to punish Garithos and reassure the wounded.
• Byron joined Santos's fleet, and three Iron Warships fired warning shots until Garithos's cargo ships raised white flags.
• Garithos panicked as the Iron Fleet approached and told Polina she would have to suffer, prompting her to accuse him.

After Sylvanas lost her post over the Southern Eversong Woods campaign, she sailed toward Kul Tiras with Capernian and Valeera, worried about Rowan amid the Scourge invasion. In Freehold, Rowan publicly executed Garithos, while Polina confessed and surrendered the convoy’s gold as relief supplies.

• The Royal Court removed Sylvanas as leader of the Ranger Corps and appointed Lor'themar, while the Silvermoon Council gave no firm answer about reclaiming the territory north of Tranquillien.
• Capernian and Sylvanas boarded Valeera’s merchant fleet bound for Kul Tiras, and Sylvanas worried whether Rowan could withstand the Scourge for the twenty-day voyage.
• Santos’s fleet captured Garithos’s convoy, and Garithos blamed Countess Polina for ordering the merchant-ship robberies.
• Byron brought Garithos and Polina to Freehold, where Rowan killed Garithos with an Arcane Blast in front of the crowd.
• Polina blamed Garithos, confessed, and handed Rowan the gold aboard the cargo ships as relief supplies; Rowan warned her to change her ways.

After Kul Tiras began preparing a counteroffensive against the Scourge, Rowan and the mages advanced their azerite-powered research while Xal'atath revealed that her strength had grown. Medivh then brought Rowan a strange artifact from the Chamber of Heart, which Rowan recognized as the Heart of Azeroth.

• Jaina welcomed Liam and Tess's relief supplies at Snowforest Harbor, then arranged caravans to carry them toward the Inland Sea.
• Liam and Tess heard how Rowan had led Kul Tiras to victory, and Lucille and Jaina tried to keep Tess from becoming too impressed with him.
• Rowan learned that Xal'atath had absorbed shadow energy in the Chamber of Heart and had become powerful enough to challenge Medivh; she agreed to help lift Lord Arthur's curse.
• Rowan suggested an external cooling device to Rhonin and Medivh as they tested azerite-made turbofan engine components.
• Medivh gave Rowan a glowing artifact from the Chamber of Heart, and Rowan recognized it as the Heart of Azeroth.

Rowan met Azeroth’s world soul through the Heart of Azeroth and agreed to help her while insisting that neither she nor the people of Azeroth should be sacrificed for her ascension. Meanwhile, Alliance supplies reached Kul Tiras, and Illucia’s costly support for Rowan and the war became clear as her relationship with him drew attention.

• Rowan spoke with the World Soul Girl, learned that she was Azeroth, and proposed that she could become a life-form other than a Titan after the Old Gods were destroyed.
• Rowan welcomed Liam and the Alliance aid shipment at Arrowvale Town, learned that Ilucia had gathered supplies despite Arthas seizing half of them, and asked Jaina to bring Ilucia to him after the war.
• Weldon helped Valeera, Capernian, and Sylvanas load military supplies onto ships bound for Kul Tiras.
• Illucia met Capernian and Sylvanas at the harbor and explained that donating supplies was her way of helping Kul Tiras.
• Weldon called Rowan his brother-in-law, and Sylvanas felt displeased at the revelation.

Modor and Vokar opposed Princess Talanji’s reforms and her plan to send troops to Kul Tiras, while Talanji turned to the Loa and commoners as her allies. Meanwhile, Rowan prepared a counteroffensive against the Scourge, developed the Industrial Zone, and continued trying to persuade Xal'atath of his ideals.

• Modor complained to Vokar that Talanji’s land-clearing policy had driven residents from his territory, and Vokar warned that the lords and council members might unite against her reforms.
• Vokar told Modor that Drol'ti and Ral supported Talanji, while Prophet Zul’s position remained unclear, and urged the lords to unite against her.
• Drol'ti reported that the council and lords opposed Talanji’s reforms and Kul Tiras expedition, but Talanji refused to delay her land-clearing plan and sought support from the Loa and Zandalar’s people.
• Rowan sent Marshal Valentin’s vanguard fleet toward Guardwatch Ridge as he prepared a counteroffensive and considered how to improve the Industrial Zone’s weapons and supply of skilled workers.
• Rowan had Xal'atath study his political textbook, and she questioned his ideals and his willingness to give up wealth and authority for others.
• Xal'atath objected to Katrana eating at the research institute without working, and Rowan praised her growing understanding of his ideas.

Arthas and Uther arrived in Kul Tiras and learned that Garithos had been executed, but they chose to investigate before taking action against Rowan. Meanwhile, Rowan and Illucia grew closer, and Jaina accepted Illucia’s place in Rowan’s life while insisting that she have a child first.

• Arthas criticized Rowan’s rule and argued that Lordaeron would have handled the Scourge invasion better, while Uther cautioned him against judging Rowan too harshly.
• Madus reported that Garithos had been killed by the Family Council, and Arthas demanded an explanation before Uther urged him to investigate rather than act impulsively.
• Uther and Arthas continued the Knight Order’s relief mission despite Garithos’s death, while Madus considered more extreme ways to provoke conflict between Lordaeron and Kul Tiras.
• Rowan comforted Illucia, admitted that he liked her, and grew closer to her before she encountered Jaina in the corridor.
• Jaina accepted that Illucia could stay in the Industrial Zone, asserted her position as Rowan’s primary wife, and asked Rowan to help her have a baby before Illucia did.

Rowan piloted the first Liberator Type-A Fighter on its successful test flight, proving the new aircraft could fly and helping establish the Morris Military Industry Air Force. He passed out from oxygen deprivation but recovered, and Jaina confronted him over the risks he had taken before they were left alone together.

• Xal'atath inspected the completed Liberator while Ansirem's research into electricity and arcane control systems supplied its control module.
• Clark and the workshop staff installed the Turbofan Engine, but the hired goblin test pilot, Binspeed, disappeared before the ceremony.
• Rowan volunteered to pilot the Liberator, reassured Jaina that Medivh could teleport him to safety, and climbed into the cockpit.
• Rowan took off, flew the Liberator successfully, and landed, after which the cheering crowd caught and tossed him until Binspeed warned that he had fainted from oxygen deprivation.
• Jaina stayed with Rowan while he recovered at the hospital, then confronted him about his dangerous test flight, and the two were left alone in his room.

Rowan learned that Arthas had acquired Frostmourne and suspected the artifact was part of the Lich King’s corruption scheme, while Kul Tiras launched its counteroffensive against the undead. As Arthas traveled toward the Inland Sea, Frostmourne encouraged his resentment of Rowan, and Arthas vowed to expose him.

• Rowan reviewed the planned fleet counteroffensive against Guardwatch Ridge and worried about pollution from Kul Tiras’s wartime factories.
• Number Zero reported that Lord Uther and Prince Arthas had arrived at Snowforest Harbor, and Rowan recognized Arthas’s artifact as Frostmourne.
• Byron and Leonard’s Vanguard Fleet bombarded the coast, but the Scourge’s necropolises continued sending energy to Naxxramas and the undead made no organized response.
• Arthas traveled across Kul Tiras while Frostmourne disparaged Rowan and deepened Arthas’s determination to prove himself better than him.
• Arthas vowed to tear apart Rowan’s supposed lies.

Ner'zhul and Tichondrius agreed to change the Scourge's strategy and accelerate the Burning Legion's invasion by using Ner'zhul as bait to obtain the Book of Medivh. In Kul Tiras, Arthas encountered Illucia at Morris Harbor, and Jaina arrived as he confronted her.

• Ner'zhul's power continued to fade as sunlight pierced the clouds over Icecrown Glacier and warming temperatures melted the surrounding snow.
• Tichondrius met Ner'zhul, and they agreed that the Scourge could no longer defeat the Alliance's main forces directly.
• Tichondrius proposed accelerating the Legion's invasion and said he would seek the Book of Medivh, using Ner'zhul as bait.
• The Order of the Silver Hand arrived at Morris Harbor with twenty thousand soldiers, and Arthas surveyed the Inland Sea Industrial Zone.
• Arthas encountered Illucia and criticized her for serving Kul Tiras while representing Lordaeron's Barov Merchants' Guild.
• Jaina came upon Arthas confronting Illucia and prepared to defend her.

Jaina defended Illucia against Arthas, then explained that Rowan could marry her only if he gave up his leadership of Kul Tiras, though she offered hope that he might eventually leave power behind. Rowan clashed with Arthas over Garithos’s execution as the Alliance prepared its forces for war, while Jett returned to duty at sea.

• Jaina rejected Arthas’s accusations that Illucia was transferring Lordaeron’s wealth and led Illucia away, then told her that Rowan could marry only one woman while he ruled Kul Tiras.
• Jaina reassured Illucia that Rowan had said he might give up everything and live an ordinary life once the crisis was over, and Illucia agreed they should keep working together.
• Arthas confronted Rowan about executing Garithos, but Rowan defended the execution because Garithos had killed Kul Tiras citizens, insisting that the people came first.
• The Order of the Silver Hand split into two corps, with Arthas leading four columns to help defend King’s Bay, while Kul Tiras’s troops relied on cannons and heavy machine guns.
• Jett rejoined the fleet after recovering and traded healing potions for candy with a young commander from the Second Column of the Third Army Formation.