Chapter Summaries

Kel'Thuzad escaped the River of Souls, was recruited by Sire Denathrius, and agreed to become a Lich as part of a plan to infiltrate and weaken Maldraxxus. Meanwhile, Lady Coldnight, Thalara, and Moonberry traveled toward the Sanguine Depths, where they found clear evidence of a rebellion and realized they might have help.

• Kel'Thuzad survived the River of Souls, was captured and imprisoned in Revendreth, and befriended Mudfist while gathering anima.
• Baroness Freda assessed Kel'Thuzad, and he later agreed to become a Lich after Sire Denathrius offered him a sufficiently high price and proof of sincerity.
• Denathrius explained to Helya that Kel'Thuzad would help destabilize Maldraxxus and inherit the Primus's mantle, then welcomed him as Baron Kel'Thuzad.
• Lady Coldnight, Thalara, and Moonberry left Nathria Royal City for the Sanguine Depths, suspecting Prince Renathal but withholding judgment until they saw evidence of rebellion.
• The travelers saw Holy Light scorching the land and Stoneborn Gargoyles flying toward the Ashen Wilderness, where wreckage and wandering souls confirmed the rebels' presence.

Rowan and the Guardians detonated a massive arcane energy aggregate above the Maelstrom, demonstrating its world-shaking power. In Revendreth, the Winter Queen and Renathal confronted Denathrius as the River of Anima changed course and the Shadowlands faced the prospect of being drawn into the Maw.

• Rowan ordered the Guardians to begin the Maelstrom test while the aircraft carrier climbed clear of the arcane energy aggregate.
• The aggregate collapsed into a black singularity, then exploded in a flash that shattered the carrier's protective barrier and raised a vast mushroom of seawater.
• Khadgar observed that the blast had overturned the seabed, and the Guardians and Archmages celebrated the successful test.
• General Draven escorted the Chancellor and his Ardenweald guests to the Ashen Royal Court, where Lady Coldnight and Thalara met Prince Renathal.
• Renathal warned the Winter Queen that the River of Anima had changed course and said the Stoneborn Burning Legion would attack Nathria.
• Denathrius emerged from the Crimson Mirror, and Renathal called Carl a traitor and attacked Denathrius, who warned that everyone would soon enter the Maw together.

Malon and Rivfley tried to persuade Stratholme’s merchants to evacuate as Baron Rivendare kept the city’s residents complacent with cheap goods. Meanwhile, Arthas embraced his allegiance to the Maw, Calia fled with Faria’s help, and the Winter Queen’s party entered the Maw, where they sought a way out.

• Malon told Harmon that Baron Rivendare was subsidizing cheap goods to keep Stratholme’s residents in the city, and Harmon agreed to lead some people out toward Light’s Hope Chapel.
• Arthas regained his memories, attacked Calia, and was restrained by the remnant of his Paladin self while Calia escaped the Royal Court with Terenas’s body.
• Faria gave Calia a Traversing Mirror and helped her flee, warning that death would send her soul to the Maw under Arthas and the Jailer.
• The River of Anima swept the Winter Queen, Ysera, Sire Denathrius, and others through the In-Between and into the Maw.
• The Winter Queen’s party fought off Maw monsters and set out to gather grim veil and find a Beacon Stone to escape.

Rowan prepared to strike the Maw with Kul Tiras’s arcane nuclear bombs while Sylvanas urged him to let her come with him. As Stratholme’s dead were swept into the River of Souls and the Winter Queen weakened after confronting Denathrius, Ysera set out to follow the river back to the living world and find Rowan.

• Rowan named Kul Tiras’s arcane nuclear bombs Heaven's Punishment and Sinwashing, planned to send Guardians and Kirin Tor mages into the Maw, and decided to assess the situation in Lordaeron while preparations continued.
• Sylvanas returned from the Broken Isles, reunited with Rowan, and begged to accompany him on his final mission, but he refused and told her to wait for him.
• Rivfley and Malon died in Stratholme and were swept into the River of Souls, while Theo arrived too late to save anyone and hundreds of thousands of souls were sent toward the Maw.
• Denathrius defended his use of the River of Anima as the Winter Queen attacked him, and the Winter Queen’s essence was depleted in the confrontation.
• Ysera refused to let the Winter Queen fade away and transformed into a dragon to fly toward the River of Souls, hoping to reach Rowan in the living world.

Rowan led the Maw Reconnaissance Force into the Maw, where his team planned to infiltrate Temakulen as Zovaal reinforced the stronghold and sent hunters after the intruders. Meanwhile, Ysera struggled upstream through the River of Souls to save her mother, but the pursuing Soul Hounds unexpectedly abandoned her.

• Rowan split the force into three teams and led his group toward Temakulen, where Rhonin detected a huge concentration of Maw minions and Evans warned that the stronghold was heavily watched.
• Zovaal ordered elite forces to reinforce Temakulen after learning that the Winter Queen had entered the Maw, then sent Shadehounds and Twisted Constructs to hunt the intruders.
• Ysera flew over the River of Souls as Shadehounds from the Beastwarrens pursued her, mistaking her for prey while they had been sent to capture Rowan's party.
• The Soul Hounds caught Ysera and pinned her with Soul Chains, but she surged forward toward her mother and the hounds suddenly abandoned their attack.