Chapter Summaries

The protagonist freed Atol’s damaged soul and recovered the second Curse Cipher fragment by killing Veneratus. While pursuing the final fragment outside Dragonmaw Fortress, the protagonist confronted Rul and discovered that their vision had been disrupted, leaving the fight unresolved.

• The protagonist found Atol’s soul bound by fel crystals in Illidari Outpost and agreed to help retrieve the second fragment.
• Atol gave the protagonist a shard of his soul, which revealed Veneratus near an altar south of the outpost.
• The protagonist killed Veneratus and took the second Curse Cipher fragment.
• The protagonist waited outside Dragonmaw Fortress for Rul, who arrived riding a Void Dragon and blocked the protagonist’s first arrow with the beast.
• Rul said Burak’s information had been unreliable and claimed he had come to lure the protagonist out on Illidan’s orders.
• The protagonist traded attacks with Rul, missed repeatedly, and realized that their vision had been disrupted.

Nathanos Maris defeated and killed Ruel after discovering a gemstone that had been interfering with his emotions. Ruel’s taunts about Alleria left Nathanos enraged, and the chapter ended with Nathanos recovering the final fragment and feeling envy.

• Nathanos saw through Ruel’s visual trick and realized Ruel had avoided attacking to conceal the item behind it.
• Ruel lunged at Nathanos, but Nathanos dodged, pinned him down, and found a patterned gemstone in the mud.
• Ruel told Nathanos that Alleria had a son named Windrunner, not Maris, and mocked Nathanos for believing she remembered him.
• Nathanos stabbed Ruel repeatedly with a poisoned arrow until the Blood Elf died and the magical mist left his body.
• Nathanos searched Ruel’s corpse, obtained the final fragment, and left feeling envy rather than satisfaction.

Nathanos returned the final Curse Cipher fragment to Orunok, who revealed his plan to face Lusken, King of Fire, and atone for the Orcs’ past. At Gul’dan’s Hand, Orunok confronted the ancient elemental, which prepared to attack.

• Nathanos returned to Orunok’s dwelling with the final Curse Cipher fragment and offered condolences for Atol’s death.
• Orunok said he would reassemble the fragments and reclaim an old Orc tradition by facing Lusken, King of Fire.
• Lusken emerged at the foot of Gul’dan’s Hand, and Nathanos recognized the elemental’s power as the force that had destroyed Shadowmoon Valley.
• Orunok told Lusken he had come to end it and answer for his people’s past mistakes.
• Lusken laughed, stepped onto the shore, and threatened to make Orunok pay for challenging the power of fire.

Nathanos and Orunok endured Senn'Rukhan's elemental fury to show that the Orcs had changed. Meanwhile, Danas received a Starcaller messenger's warning that Kael'thas had captured a Naaru and was secretly dealing with demons, prompting him to alert Sylvanas and the Horde.

• Orunok explained that they had to earn the elements' forgiveness rather than attack Senn'Rukhan.
• Orunok chose to face the Fire Lord's wrath for the Orcs' past, and Nathanos stayed to endure it with him.
• Danas received an exhausted Elf messenger who said he had joined Seer Vortar and Adal as one of the Starcallers.
• The messenger reported that Kael'thas had seized a Naaru and was secretly dealing with demons in Netherstorm.
• Danas ordered that Sylvanas be summoned and that the Horde at Thrallmar be informed.

Danas assigned Sylvanas to investigate Kael'thas and the Starcallers in Shattrath, while Nathanos weighed reports of discord between Kael'thas and Illidan. Meryl watched Sinestra and Onyxia search for Black Dragon essence in Blade's Edge Mountains, and Nathanos summoned Rassuvios after returning to his base.

• Danas, Krav, Felinthus, and Sylvanas discussed reports about Kael'thas, and Krav urged preparations while warning that the Blood Elves posed the least immediate threat.
• Nathanos learned that Blood Elves had attacked Shattrath without aid from Shadowmoon Temple, suspected a rift between Kael'thas and Illidan, and ordered continued surveillance.
• Danas burned the report revealing Sylvanas's identity, then tasked her with going to Shattrath to investigate the Starcallers and Kael'thas's actions.
• Meryl followed Sinestra and Onyxia to Blade's Edge Mountains, where they planned to extract essence from Black Dragon corpses while suspecting the site might be watched.
• Nathanos returned to Warhammer Mountain, treated wounds that his medicine could only slow, and ordered someone to bring Rassuvios to him.

Sinestra’s ritual was interrupted when Saberian attacked, and Gruul’s Gronn joined the battle as Meryl stole the Dragon Egg. Nathanos performed a secret experiment on the egg before Meryl returned it to Sinestra, who fled with it while the fighting continued.

• Saberian confronted Sinestra and Onyxia, and his attack disrupted the ritual as Onyxia fought him.
• Meryl stole the Dragon Egg, but Gruul and the Gronn arrived and attacked the black dragons.
• Sinestra and Saberian fought while Onyxia faced Gruul, and Sinestra discovered the egg was missing.
• Meryl teleported to Nagrand and gave the egg to Nathanos, who performed a painful experiment on it.
• Meryl returned the egg to a cliff during the battle, and Sinestra seized it and called for Onyxia to leave.

Alleria confronted Rommath over a report accusing Kael'thas of ties to the Burning Legion, then barred him and other close attendants from traveling to Outland while the matter was investigated. Meanwhile, Nathanos plotted to use Shattrath’s campaign against Kael'thas to seize Tempest Keep, and Sylvanas arrived in Shattrath searching for Vortar.

• Alleria showed Rommath Warchief Thrall’s report about Kael'thas and ordered him to account for the Prince’s actions in Outland.
• Rommath offered to travel to Outland and question Kael'thas, but Alleria revealed the travel ban and had Spellbreakers take him away.
• Belorell asked Alleria whether she was King, and she told him she was not before reassuring herself that she would protect him.
• Nathanos told Meryl that he wanted the Forsaken to acquire Tempest Keep as a mobile fortress and ordered Giznok to master Auchindoun’s Draenei technology within half a month.
• Sylvanas reached Shattrath after three days of travel and began searching for Vortar.

Sylvanas visited an inn in Shattrath, where Sephir used a Time Shard to rewind events and meet her again. Sephir reset time once more, determined to go further back and change what happened.

• Sylvanas noticed a silver-haired Elf woman named Sephir and sensed that someone was watching her before she left the inn.
• Larrik asked Sephir why she had not followed Sylvanas, and Sephir explained that time could give her many chances while erasing Larrik's memories.
• Sephir used a rag doll artifact to rewind the inn's events until Sylvanas returned to the moment she first arrived.
• Sylvanas spoke with Sephir, asked about the Starcallers, and left after Sephir directed her to the western side of the city.
• Sephir removed the Time Shard from the rag doll and decided to rewind time further.

Sephir failed to get Sylvanas to discuss Arthas's invasion and decided to seek another witness. Sylvanas reached the command post on Scryer's Tier, where Prophet Vortar revealed Kael'thas's demonic corruption and his plan involving the Sunwell.

• Sephir told Larrik that she had tried speaking with Sylvanas seven times but could not change the Ranger's departure or get her to discuss the invasion of Quel'Thalas.
• Sephir decided to approach Alleria Windrunner as another possible witness to the past.
• Sylvanas arrived at the Starcaller command post and introduced herself to Prophet Vortar, saying she came on behalf of Darius Thorne to learn about Kael'thas.
• Vortar told Sylvanas that Kael'thas had consumed demon-tainted magic and had spoken with Kil'jaeden about using the Sunwell to summon him.
• Sylvanas said the Sunwell had been destroyed, but admitted she was unsure and suggested her sister might know more since the Isle of Quel'Danas had been retaken.

Sylvanas learned that Vortar and the Starcallers were driven by devotion to Adal as they prepared to fight over leadership of the assault on Tempest Keep. Inside the fortress, Kael'thas accepted Kil'jaeden’s command after witnessing a magical spring more powerful than the Sunwell.

• Sylvanas explained to Vortar why she had left Quel'Thalas and refused to serve the Horde, while Vortar said the Starcallers had pledged themselves to Adal.
• Adal summoned Vortar to choose who would lead the assault on Tempest Keep, and Vortar left Sylvanas in Ennulil’s care.
• Ennulil told Sylvanas that Vortar regarded the battle as a chance to prove loyalty, leading her to suspect the Starcallers sought Adal’s favor above all else.
• Kael'thas spoke with the whispering Kil'jaeden in Tempest Keep, recalling his father’s death and his desire to prevent the past from repeating.
• Kil'jaeden urged Kael'thas to prove himself by revealing a magical spring, and Kael'thas agreed to obey him.

Khadgar tried to end the Aldor and Starcallers’ dispute over who would lead the campaign against Kael'thas by proposing a commander from outside both factions. Vortar brought Sylvanas as a candidate, and Khadgar recognized her as Alleria’s younger sister.

• Ishana and Vortar argued over which faction should lead the troops, while Adal asked whether they could trust one another and unite.
• Khadgar warned that their quarrel benefited Kael'thas and insisted the Aldor and Starcallers needed to fight together.
• Khadgar proposed choosing a commander from outside both factions, explaining that neither Ishana nor Vortar would satisfy the other side.
• Vortar named a suitable candidate and returned with Sylvanas, whom Khadgar mistook at first for her sister Alleria.
• Sylvanas greeted Adal and confirmed that Vortar had roughly explained why she had been summoned.

Sylvanas joined the Shattrath forces preparing to fight Kael'thas, determined to prevent another catastrophe. In Quel'Thalas, Alleria learned that Kael'thas had betrayed the Blood Elves and sent Lor'themar to Outland to declare their position.

• Vortar introduced Sylvanas to Adal as an experienced fighter who understood Kael'thas's army.
• Sylvanas told Khadgar and Adal that she would risk her life to prevent the horrors of the past from repeating.
• Adal ordered the warriors to gather and prepare for war in Outland.
• Lor'themar told Alleria that Horde investigators had found evidence of Kael'thas conducting fel infusion experiments on Blood Elves aboard Nethergarde Keep.
• Alleria sent Lor'themar to Outland to meet Nazgrel and inform him of the Blood Elves' position.

Sylvanas led a successful assault on Manaforge: Bunar and captured two Sunfury prisoners, while Regent Lord Alleria ordered the Sin'dorei told of Kael'thas's crimes and summoned the Farstriders to Silvermoon. Sylvanas prepared to interrogate the prisoners for information about the mana forge and Kael'thas's plans.

• A shadow visited Sylvanas and told her that the answers lay in Nethergarde Keep and that she had to save Uldar.
• Alleria decided the Sin'dorei needed to learn the truth about Kael'thas and ordered Alleria to prepare the people and bring the Farstrider forces into Silvermoon City.
• Sylvanas surveyed the devastation of Netherstorm after her forces and their allies captured Manaforge: Bunar in a two-hour battle.
• Kaelia told Sylvanas that the attackers had captured a Sunfury captain and a chief technician.
• Arathas accused Sylvanas of betraying Prince Kael'thas, and Sylvanas turned her attention to the quieter technician as a likely source of intelligence.

Sylvanas questioned the captured foreman Ansanael and learned that four other manaforges remained in Netherstorm, then struggled to manage the Starcallers and Aldor as they argued over their strategy. Khadgar arrived with an ancient Staff Fragment and began explaining the history of Archmage Vargoth and the Kirin Tor in Outland.

• Sylvanas interrogated Ansanael, who explained that the manaforges extracted Warp Energy and revealed that four more stood in Netherstorm.
• Sylvanas summoned the Starcallers and the Aldor to plan further attacks, but Sarodien, Kaelia, Aurielis, and Laenna argued over whether to shut down the manaforges or investigate them.
• A Draenei soldier told Sylvanas that Khadgar had arrived and requested a private meeting, so she left the representatives to continue their discussion.
• Khadgar handed Sylvanas an ancient Staff Fragment and told her that Archmage Vargoth had once led a Kirin Tor mage force in Outland.
• Khadgar began explaining that Netherstorm had been the Kirin Tor's main center of operations before Kael'thas arrived.

Sylvanas agreed to search for Vargoth in exchange for Khadgar’s promise of Dalaran’s support, while ordering the Aldor and Starcaller to continue opposing Kael’thas. In Maraudon, Belmont sent Giznok to Outland with a mysterious female orc who had been tasked with killing a black dragon.

• Khadgar told Sylvanas that Kael’thas had likely abducted Vargoth to obtain his research on Outland’s ley lines, and offered Dalaran’s support if she rescued him.
• Sylvanas agreed to find Vargoth on a floating island southeast of Netherstorm and took the Staff Fragment Khadgar gave her.
• Sylvanas ordered the Aldor to investigate Kael’thas’s plans, the Starcaller to sabotage the remaining mana forges, and both groups to avoid bloodshed.
• Belmont found Giznok testing plans for a compact catapult and an incendiary agent sent from Orgrimmar.
• Belmont ordered Giznok to leave for Outland within a week with a cloaked female orc, who revealed her strength by swiftly holding her greatsword over his head.
• Belmont explained that Giznok and the female orc had separate missions, and that she was going to deal with a black dragon.

Sylvanas reached the Mage Tower in Kirin'Var Village and learned from Vargoth that Kael'thas's curse had trapped him inside for seventeen years. Vargoth told her to find Saranis on the Ecology Ship in Tempest Keep to discover how to lift it, while he began repairing his staff.

• Sylvanas entered the Mage Tower and struggled against a curse that drained her strength.
• Vargoth explained that Kael'thas's barrier had kept him trapped in the tower since the attack on Kirin'Var Village.
• Sylvanas learned that Khadgar had sent her because Shattrath's assault on Netherstorm had not yet begun when Vargoth needed help.
• Vargoth told Sylvanas to find Commander Saranis on the Ecology Ship in Tempest Keep, since she held the key to lifting the curse.
• Sylvanas returned Vargoth's Staff Fragment, and Vargoth said he needed time to repair his staff.

Nathanos led the Forsaken in a surprise assault on two Demonforge Bases, hoping to destroy the demons before Kael'thas learned of their presence. The battle was still underway as Nathanos brought down the Gorgon Technomancer Leader, while Meryl and his force remained out of sight.

• Nathanos learned that Demonforge Base: Annihilation and Demonforge Base: Inferno were defended by a Gorgon Technomancer Leader and an Abyssal Lord.
• Nathanos sent Meryl north to circle the bases and attack from behind, while ordering Deathstalkers to block the road to Stormspire.
• Nathanos led the Forsaken into battle, and they cut through the demon horde to meet Meryl's forces between the bases.
• Nathanos ordered a Terror Guard to gather soldiers around the Gorgon Technomancer Leader, then charged toward the demon himself.
• Nathanos dodged the Gorgon Technomancer Leader's chainsaw and drove his blade deep into the demon after it fell.

Nathanos and the Forsaken captured the Demon Forge Base and recovered evidence of Kael'thas's collusion with the Burning Legion. Nathanos planned to use the letter to gain influence in Quel'Thalas and revealed that he intended to capture Onyxia, leaving Meryl angry that he had kept the plan secret.

• Nathanos's forces defeated the demons at the Demon Forge Base, and a Deathstalker reported that no Blood Elf reinforcements had appeared.
• Meryl told Nathanos he had encountered Socrethar and handed him a letter found on the Eredar Lord that could prove Kael'thas had colluded with the Burning Legion.
• Nathanos agreed to use the letter to recruit a Blood Elf from Shattrath who could return to Quel'Thalas and gain status by presenting it.
• Nathanos told Meryl that he planned to capture Onyxia and said another member of the Twelve Blades was coming while Rassuvios acted as a double agent.
• Meryl confronted Nathanos for keeping the plan from him, and Nathanos promised that he had never distrusted the Forsaken.

Rassuvios met one of Nathanos’s elite Forsaken agents at Twilight Camp and was ordered to help capture Onyxia alive. At a new Forsaken base in Netherstorm, Nathanos showed Giznok a Fel Cannon and asked him to examine it.

• Rassuvios attacked a cloaked female orc at Twilight Camp, then learned she was a Forsaken agent sent by Nathanos.
• The female orc told Rassuvios to find a cage and reminded him that Onyxia had to be captured alive; Rassuvios reluctantly left her to the task.
• The female orc recalled how Nathanos had trained her and tasked her with monitoring Blackmoore and reporting that he was secretly training Thrall.
• Giznok arrived at the Forsaken base on a floating island in Netherstorm and offered to meet Nathanos’s needs.
• Nathanos showed Giznok a Fel Cannon from the Demon Forge Base, and Giznok eagerly agreed to examine it.

Sylvanas returned the key to Vargoth, then Alleria struggled to steady Silvermoon City amid rumors about Kael'thas. A letter delivered by Seredun gave her evidence of the Prince's collusion with demons, leaving her to consider whether he could be trusted.

• Sylvanas gave Vargoth the key to lift the Mage Tower's seal and left him to decide whether to escape.
• Alleria received a Horde envoy's report about Outland but heard no useful news about Kael'thas.
• A Spellbreaker brought Alleria to meet the Ranger-General, who delivered a letter from the Starcallers.
• Alleria read evidence that Kael'thas had colluded with demons and questioned Seredun's motives.
• The Ranger-General explained that Seredun had once served Kael'thas before joining Vortar's faction and bringing the evidence out.