Chapter Summaries

Arthas and Halliwell organized the defense of Butcher Heights as the Order of the Silver Hand and the Third Army Corps prepared for the Scourge’s advance. The chapter ended with the Iron Fleet and Lord Uther’s Paladins swiftly crushing the undead at Guardwatch Ridge.

• The Combined Fleet carried the Order of the Silver Hand and the Third Army Corps to Butcher Coast, where Commander Thassarian assigned two columns to help haul the army corps’ heavy equipment.
• Arthas and Halliwell planned a semicircular defense at Butcher Heights, placing the Silver Hand on the key heights and the Third Army Corps on smaller positions as support.
• Maxwell and Jett climbed Mountain One together, shared their personal troubles, and agreed to ask Rowan for heavy machine guns after the battle.
• The troops dug in, and the first undead wave attacked at daybreak.
• David ordered the Iron Fleet to bombard the necropolis at Northern Guardwatch Ridge while Lord Uther led the Silver Hand ashore and routed the undead.
• The Iron Fleet destroyed the Necromantic Spires, and the surviving undead fled as the Undead Fortress retreated south of Guardwatch Ridge.

Tichondrius abandoned the Scourge’s failing campaign as the Burning Legion’s demons arrived to capture Butcher Heights and provoke the Alliance into seeking the Book of Medivh. After Guardwatch Ridge’s victory, Rowan brought Sylvanas enchanted armor, but she objected to its revealing design and challenged him to look while she wore it.

• The Lich King recalled the Undead Mages to build Teleportation Anchors, which brought more than thirty Nathrezim demons, including Tichondrius, to Butcher Gorge.
• Tichondrius told the Dreadlords that the Scourge’s failure forced them to capture Butcher Heights and provoke the Alliance into attacking Northrend so they could draw out the Book of Medivh.
• Rowan visited Sylvanas at the archery range and presented her with a set of newly developed enchanted mail armor.
• Sylvanas saw how little the armor covered and challenged Rowan, asking whether he dared look while she wore it.

Rowan recruited Sylvanas for a strike team bound for Northrend, and she secretly tried on the enchanted armor he had commissioned for her. At Butcher Heights, the Silver Hand repelled the undead until the Dreadlords broke their defensive line and Varimathras attacked Maxwell.

• Rowan explained his plan to strike at the will behind the Undead Scourge and asked Sylvanas to join the five-person team; she agreed after he praised her scouting skills.
• Sylvanas returned to her quarters, tried on the armor, and wondered how Rowan had made it fit her so perfectly.
• At Butcher Heights, Jett and the defenders used machine guns and flamethrowers against the undead while Maxwell led the Silver Hand’s Protection and Retribution Paladins in successive attacks.
• The Dreadlords unleashed Carrion Swarm, breached the Silver Hand’s line, and killed twelve Protection Paladins.
• Maxwell charged Varimathras, who struck him with Wraith Soul Embrace and began draining his Holy Light and will.

Talanji set sail with the King's Fleet to fight the Scourge after reshaping Zandalar’s politics and trade, while Rowan’s forces reinforced the collapsing defenses at Butcher Gorge. The chapter ended with Arthas demanding that casualties be limited to twenty percent as the allied line faced powerful demons.

• Talanji rejected the Troll Lords’ representative’s attempt to resist her reforms and ordered the lords to surrender their assets or lose their offices.
• Talanji departed Zandalar with the King's Fleet, and Dak'uru told her he had chosen her over his ideals.
• Rowan sent troops from Guardwatch Ridge to reinforce Butcher Gorge, where the undead could threaten the allied positions.
• Jett interrupted Varimathras’s attack on Maxwell, but demons and undead overwhelmed the first defensive line and forced Jett and Maxwell to retreat.
• Arthas urged the allies to find a way to stop the demons, while Halliwell warned that losing Butcher Gorge would expose the Inland Sea.
• Arthas set a twenty-percent casualty limit rather than immediately ordering a retreat.

Arthas ordered the Silver Hand and allied troops to withdraw from the collapsing defenses, but Foming’s charge inspired the soldiers to stand and fight on the final line. Their attack wounded Varimathras, who was rescued by Anetheron as he warned that something was wrong with the humans.

• After the second defensive line fell and casualties mounted, Arthas ordered the Silver Hand to withdraw, and Halliwell recalled the Kul Tiras troops to the final line.
• Foming insisted that the army defend Kul Tiras, and Halliwell assigned him to establish the last defensive position.
• Maxwell persuaded Arthas to let the Silver Hand help the Kul Tiras troops repel one more Scourge attack.
• As the Carrion Swarms advanced, Foming charged alone and was killed by Tichondrius, prompting Halliwell and the other soldiers to charge after him.
• Jett and the Kul Tiras warriors helped wound Varimathras, but Anetheron rescued him and warned that the humans were behaving strangely.

The allied forces recaptured the first high-ground defensive line at Butcher Heights after Kul Tiras's reinforcements arrived and Xal'atath and Onyxia drove back the Nathrezim demons. Rowan confronted Arthas over his failure to understand what the soldiers were fighting for, then ordered the battle to continue as the Undead Scourge's larger plan remained a threat.

• The allied forces broke through the Undead Scourge's attacks, reclaimed the first high-ground defensive belt, and forced the Dreadlords to retreat.
• Xal'atath wounded Varimathras with Shadow Lash, and Onyxia killed him with a blast of dragonfire.
• Rowan halted the costly counterattack, reinforced the defensive line, and helped his forces restrict the Nathrezim demons.
• Rowan rebuked Arthas for hiding from the front and failing to understand the soldiers' sacrifices, while Arthas accused Rowan of disregarding their lives.
• Rowan called Arthas an arrogant man-child, then ordered Commander William to deploy airborne artillery against the Scourge's continued advance.

Jaina’s party sailed through the Maelstrom and began teleporting to Northrend, capturing the naga Hajatan when he attacked their ship. Meanwhile, the allies drove the Undead Scourge from Kul Tiras, but Rowan feared the Scourge could return, while the Lich King sought another way to recover his position.

• Jaina guided the warship past the Maelstrom and opened a stable teleportation route to Northrend with Medivh and Meryl Winterstorm.
• Hajatan attacked the warship, but Meryl froze him in place and Jaina decided to send him to Rowan’s Industrial Zone.
• Mal'Ganis and Detheroc retreated after Varimathras died, and the allied troops secured the highlands before the Undead Scourge withdrew from Kul Tiras.
• Kainings reported that the Scourge had left the Outer Sea, and Rowan worried that its remaining millions of soldiers could still return.
• The Lich King sought another way to reverse the war’s course because he needed the Book of Medivh to help Tichondrius open a portal for the Burning Legion.

Kul Tiras celebrated its victory over the Undead Scourge, and Rowan promised to share steam power technology with the Alliance nations that had helped. Meanwhile, Tichondrius stole Kel'Thuzad's Ash Urn and helped Ner'zhul resurrect him as a powerful lich, while Arthas returned to sea still tormented by his choice at Butcher Heights and furious with Rowan.

• Kul Tiras ended its five-month war with the Scourge in victory, held celebrations, and declared November 3 through 5 annual Victory Days with paid leave and a gold coin for each household.
• Rowan toasted Uther and Arthas in remembrance of the fallen at Butcher Heights, then promised to share steam power technology with the participating Alliance nations for free.
• Jaina stayed with the drunken Rowan after Ilucia left, discovered he was pretending to be drunk, and confronted him privately.
• Tichondrius attacked Alonsus Faol at Light's Hope Chapel, used the distraction to steal Kel'Thuzad's Ash Urn, and carried it to Ner'zhul in Northrend.
• Ner'zhul resurrected Kel'Thuzad as a powerful skeletal lich, and Kel'Thuzad swore allegiance to him.
• Arthas sailed back toward the Eastern Kingdoms, drank aged Alterac liquor with Faria, and cursed Rowan over their debt and the Scourge's retreat.

Arthas dreamed that Frostmourne led him to shatter an icy coffin and claim a crown, while Rowan collected shadow healing potions and discussed marriage, love, and family with those close to him. Rowan gave Lord Arthur the potions and arranged for Lucille to care for him through treatment, leaving the family hopeful that he would recover.

• Arthas dreamed that Frostmourne guided him to an ice coffin containing the core of the Scourge's will, and he shattered it before waking as an icy crown fell from view.
• Rowan collected the shadow healing potions from Xal'atath, who asked him to bring back skincare products from Dalaran.
• Elena urged Rowan to hold a wedding with Jaina and discussed his feelings for Illucia, while Rowan said he was grateful to her.
• Lucille confessed her feelings to Rowan, who told her he liked her and would not take back his promise, and she agreed to wait.
• Rowan gave Lord Arthur the potions and asked Lucille to stay with him during treatment; Lord Arthur and Lady Meredith expressed gratitude and hope that he would recover.

Rowan traveled to Dalaran with Katrana for an Alliance leadership meeting while Arthas prepared his own campaign against the Scourge. The chapter ended with Rowan finally being recognized at the Violet Citadel after a guard mistook him for an impostor.

• Katrana questioned Rowan about his new wife, then reluctantly transformed so he could ride her to Dalaran.
• Arthas planned to invade Northrend and wrote to Grand Archmage Delandon seeking an unconventional way to get ahead of Rowan.
• Rowan and Katrana toured Dalaran, shopped, and spent most of Rowan’s remaining money on travel portals.
• A Kirin Tor guard denied Rowan entry to the Violet Citadel because he lacked valid identification and did not believe he was Kul Tiras’s leader.
• Arthas arrived, confirmed Rowan’s identity, and prompted the guard to apologize and ask Rowan for an autograph.

Rowan attended the Alliance leadership meeting, where he sought to obtain the Book of Medivh for large-scale transportation while the nations arranged an expedition to Northrend. Arthas maneuvered the leaders to grant Lordaeron access to the book, and Rowan objected as the meeting turned to a vote.

• Rowan met Krasus in Dalaran, invited him to visit the Morris Industries District, and learned that Krasus suspected Katrana’s unusual nature.
• Krasus warned Rowan about Katrana, while Katrana angrily called Krasus her enemy and then went to wait in the reception room.
• The Alliance leaders agreed to send troops to Northrend and discussed the Book of Medivh, which Rowan wanted for transporting supplies and building a portal network.
• Arthas asked Rowan to provide warships, and Liam, Bolvar, Aedin, and Delandon named the ships their forces needed.
• Arthas requested that Delandon lend the Book of Medivh to Lordaeron, after secretly persuading the other representatives to keep it from Rowan.
• Rowan objected to the plan and asked Delandon to entrust the book to him instead, prompting Delandon to call for a vote.

Rowan failed to stop Arthas from obtaining the Book of Medivh, then warned Katrana to keep her identity and appetite from attracting trouble in Dalaran. Meanwhile, Sylvanas infiltrated Icecrown Glacier and brought the Decapitation Squad into a Vrykul city, where their arrival alerted the Scourge.

• The Alliance representatives voted to give Arthas the Book of Medivh, and Rowan worried he would use it to summon the Burning Legion.
• Rowan confronted Arthas about the vote and warned him to use the book responsibly, but Arthas dismissed his concerns.
• Katrana’s enormous meal bill revealed her appetite to Dalaran’s mages, and Olanna sent a message reporting her suspicions about Rowan’s companion.
• Rowan warned Katrana to stay discreet in Dalaran and threatened to send her back to Blackrock Mountain if she caused trouble.
• Sylvanas scouted Icecrown Glacier, found the Scourge building the Wrathgate, and discovered a Vrykul city with fewer undead defenders.
• Sylvanas activated a teleportation anchor that brought Medivh and the Decapitation Squad into the city, but Reanimated Dragons and Undead Mages detected them.

Meryl captured his undead former student Sakia while Rowan’s Decapitation Squad fought its way toward the Lich King, prompting Tichondrius to seek help from the Titan-forged in Ulduar. In Dalaran, Rowan’s allies condemned the Alliance representatives for helping Arthas and suggested Rowan take control of the Alliance.

• Meryl recognized Sakia as his former student, but their confrontation over her resurrection and his abandonment ended with him freezing her and carrying her away.
• Meryl emerged from the ruined tower to find Frost Wyrms and frost Vrykul converging on the Decapitation Squad, while Medivh learned Sakia had not yet yielded useful information.
• Tichondrius learned that Rowan’s squad had entered Icecrown Glacier and that Arthas had obtained the Book of Medivh, then decided to seek allies at Ulduar.
• Tichondrius activated a Titan surveillance device with a crystal taken from a Metal Sentinel and used it to locate Loken’s area in the Halls of Lightning.
• Rowan’s companions in Dalaran criticized the Alliance representatives for helping Arthas, and Valeera suggested making Rowan the Alliance’s High King.

Rowan supported Valeera after Baron Erastha Sanguinar tried to pressure her into marriage and ended their trade, while Number Zero received a mission concerning Arthas and the Book of Medivh. Meanwhile, Medivh and Rowan’s Decapitation Squad reached Ner'zhul at Icecrown Citadel but could not break through his defenses and had to withdraw.

• Rowan told Caponia and Valeera to keep magical supplies flowing to the Morris Industries District, while Caponia and Katrana argued over Rowan and Valeera urged them to be practical.
• Caponia learned that Valeera loved someone and later heard that Erastha had threatened to cut off supplies unless Valeera married him.
• Rowan and Number Zero saw Valeera meet Erastha, who burned their business agreement after Valeera admitted she liked Rowan; Rowan promised to find another Quel'Thalas trading partner.
• Rowan instructed Number Zero to monitor the Book of Medivh and make a scene if Arthas used it without authorization, and Number Zero agreed to consult Uther.
• Valeera visited Rowan after the meeting, and Rowan told her he understood she had only claimed to like him to anger Erastha.
• Medivh examined Ner'zhul's icy prison at Icecrown Citadel but could not overcome its defenses, so the Decapitation Squad departed to seek another solution.

Tichondrius entered the Halls of Lightning and persuaded Loken to consider helping the Burning Legion against human forces. In Dalaran, Valeera confessed her feelings to Rowan and delivered him a letter, while Erastha obtained a vial of desire-inducing blood from Dar'Khan.

• Tichondrius killed the guards outside the Halls of Lightning, entered with their crystals, and asked to meet Loken.
• Loken admitted Tichondrius into his chamber, where Tichondrius urged him to join the Burning Legion against the human forces and their Decapitation Squad.
• Rowan praised Valeera's long dress, and Valeera confessed that she had fallen for him before giving him a letter from the Silvermoon Council.
• Rowan advised Valeera to give her feelings time, and she returned to her room.
• Erastha abandoned his plan to attack Rowan after Dar'Khan warned him about Rowan's powerful subordinates, then accepted a vial of blood that inflamed desire.

Rowan met with Krasus, who gave him a magical prism that could swap appearances, then used it to impersonate Valeera during negotiations with Dar'Khan. After Dar'Khan poisoned Rowan with succubus blood, Valeera rescued him and kissed him while trying to save his life.

• Rowan packed Archmage Ansirem's belongings and books, then met Krasus, who gave him a spellbook and a prism that could swap appearances.
• Rowan and Valeera used the prism to exchange appearances so Rowan could handle Dar'Khan's magical-material negotiations.
• Dar'Khan invited Rowan to inspect samples, and Rowan began feeling strange after drinking wine at Dar'Khan's lodgings.
• Erastha revealed that Rowan had drunk succubus blood and warned that he would die unless someone saved him.
• Valeera carried Rowan away, took him to a room, and kissed him after he told her not to speak.

Rowan reassured Valeera after she gave up her chastity to save him, then ordered Number Zero's team to arrest Erastha and Dar'Khan. Meanwhile, the Decapitation Squad chose to seek the Blue Dragonflight's help in breaking the ice coffin that held the Lich King's soul, and Medivh led them toward the Nexus.

• Valeera tried to clean up after her night with Rowan, but he woke and promised to take responsibility, telling her not to feel guilty.
• Rowan cooked breakfast for Valeera, then summoned Number Zero and his team to capture Erastha and Dar'Khan.
• Number Zero, Number Six, and Number Seven subdued Erastha and Dar'Khan at their home and arrested them for Kul Tiras.
• Medivh and Meryl Winterstorm explained that the Lich King's ice coffin could be broken by entering the Shadowlands or by using stronger arcane power, and the Decapitation Squad chose the latter plan.
• Medivh proposed that the Decapitation Squad travel to the Nexus to seek the Blue Dragonflight's knowledge and retrieve his mother's staff.

Medivh and his squad reached the Nexus, where Kalecgos and Tarecgosa received them and Medivh met Malygos. Medivh learned that Aluneth had been banished into the void, and Malygos offered to reveal its location in exchange for help completing the Focusing Iris's final task.

• Medivh brought the squad to the Nexus, where Kalecgos and Tarecgosa greeted them and questioned their purpose.
• Tarecgosa grew wary after Sylvanas mentioned that a black dragon served their leader, Rowan.
• Kalecgos escorted Medivh into the Nexus and introduced him to Malygos in the Eye of Eternity.
• Malygos refused to help with the Scourge at Icecrown Glacier, but Medivh said he had come to reclaim his mother's staff.
• Malygos revealed that Aluneth had drained the Nexus's energy and been banished to an anchor point in the void, then offered its location in exchange for Medivh completing the Focusing Iris's final task.

Rowan returned to Boralus, reunited with Lucille, and continued his journey while Ellen took Erastha and Dar'Khan into custody. In the Nexus vault, Medivh and Azuregos found that ethereals had invaded the prison where Aluneth was kept, and Medivh confronted a mutated Nexus-Prince who appeared to have devoured it.

• Rowan arrived in Boralus, gave Lucille Black Lotus skin cream, and kissed her before his warship departed.
• Ellen handed Erastha and Dar'Khan over to Eileen, who placed them in cells beneath the military stronghold.
• Medivh traveled with Azuregos to the Nexus vault to find Aluneth, but discovered its Void prison was empty and invaded.
• Medivh and Azuregos fought the Voidwalkers emerging through the prison's teleportation passages.
• A mutated Nexus-Prince appeared and refused Medivh's demand to surrender Aluneth.

Rowan prepared Kul Tiras's Northern Northrend expedition, helped Brittany confess her feelings to Hammer, and discussed whether Xal'atath could make a body for a soul. Meanwhile, Medivh destroyed the Ethereal Servants in the Void Prison, leaving the enraged Nexus-Prince to unleash Aluneth's power against him and Azuregos.

• Hammer told Brittany he would go to Northrend, and Rowan's attempt to set him up with another woman prompted Brittany to confess her love; Hammer said he loved her like a little sister, and Rowan urged him to go comfort her.
• Rowan watched the Liberator Fighters move onto the aircraft carrier, while Xal'atath stopped him from smoking and demanded the present he had promised her.
• Xal'atath accepted Rowan's Black Lotus Hand Cream and explained that she could recreate a body for a soul using refined Old God flesh, though she was unsure whether the remains near the Chamber of Heart would work.
• At lunch, Katrana announced she was dieting, and she and Xal'atath traded insults about their figures.
• The Nexus-Prince trapped Medivh and Azuregos in the Shadow Formation, but Medivh used a Mass Disintegration Spell to kill the Ethereal Servants.
• With the Shadow Formation failing, the Nexus-Prince poured Aluneth's arcane energy into the prison, intending to overwhelm Medivh and Azuregos.