Chapter Summaries

Nathanos traveled to the Twilight Highlands to meet Grot, while Grot secretly fed young Wyverns imprisoned at Dragonmaw Camp. The two met in a coastal cabin, where Grot began explaining his past and handed Nathanos an amber stone.

• Nathanos sent his five guards to map the Twilight Highlands and look for a Red Dragons' nest, then continued toward his meeting with Grot.
• Grot fed fresh meat to four chained Wyvern hatchlings in the beast pens.
• Nathanos surprised Grot at the pens, and the frightened hatchlings huddled in a corner.
• Grot and Nathanos moved to a coastal cabin to talk, where Grot said he cared for the hatchlings and did not torture children.
• Grot recounted his experiences to Nathanos and gave him an amber stone entrusted to him by someone else.

Nathanos used his blood to break open the amber stone and found a crystal containing his memories and a portion of the Titans’ Time Guardian Power. Malygos explained that the power could help Nathanos defend himself against the Bronze Dragons, then challenged him about the ritual he planned and whether he could harm his son for its bloodline requirement.

• Nathanos examined the empty amber stone and used his blood to reveal a hexagonal crystal hidden inside it.
• When Nathanos touched the crystal, his memories surged through him and stirred a desire to change his past, but he resisted it.
• Malygos told Nathanos that the crystal held his collected time and some Time Guardian Power, which could help him stand against Nozdormu and the Bronze Dragons.
• Nathanos asked whether the power could control his body’s decay, and Malygos said it could not affect the wielder of time.
• Malygos confronted Nathanos about his plan to restore his body through a ritual requiring energy, a special location, and bloodline, asking whether he could bring himself to harm his son.

Nathanos received the power of the Guardian Dragons from Malygos and discovered it let him see what things had been like in the past. Grot chose to have the Dragonmaw Clan join the Horde, and Nathanos agreed to help.

• Malygos gave Nathanos the essence of the Guardian Dragons' power so Nozdormu could not see the future beyond the End of Time.
• After Malygos cut off contact, Nathanos used Time Power to reveal Grot's youthful appearance, though he could not actually turn back time.
• Grot asked Nathanos to honor the promise to help save the Dragonmaw Clan, and Nathanos clarified that the choice was between joining the Horde and replacing Mog'gor.
• Grot decided the Dragonmaw Clan should join the Horde, and Nathanos accepted his decision.

Regent Alleria led the Horde toward the Western Plaguelands while High Warlord Krum'ash watched her on Grommash's behalf. His remarks revealed that Grommash knew about Alleria's secret mission at Marius Farm, leaving her to suspect a source within Quel'Thalas.

• Scout Captain Elisia learned from Halduron that Krum'ash had been assigned to watch Alleria for Grommash.
• Alleria told Krum'ash that the troops would cross the Thondroril River, camp at Gahrron's Withering, and seize the Wailing Mansion as a stronghold.
• Krum'ash hinted that Grommash knew Alleria had fought the Crimson Crusade at Marius Farm during her secret mission to hunt her undead husband.
• Alleria realized that Grommash might also know she had cooperated with SI:7 leader Mathias Shaw, and feared he would distrust the Blood Elves.
• Krum'ash pointed toward Marius Farm and reminded Alleria of her past there, prompting her to suspect that someone in Quel'Thalas had revealed the secret.

Ohan watched the Twilight's Hammer threat in Feralas and met Meryl, who had come to help her carry out Nathanos's plan. They agreed that the cult would be driven into gathering so its members could be eliminated, though Ohan warned that Cho'gall was dangerous.

• Ohan watched over her Stone Fist Ogre camp and kept track of Cho'gall's Twilight's Hammer forces at Dire Maul.
• A hooded visitor appeared at the camp, but Ohan stayed still until the figure left without noticing her.
• Ohan met Meryl near Kaldorei Outpost and explained that Shandris had rescued High Elf-descended children from Dire Maul.
• Meryl told Ohan that Nathanos wanted them to eliminate scattered Twilight's Hammer members until the cult gathered to act together.
• Ohan approved of the plan and warned Meryl that Cho'gall was a cunning and powerful enemy.

Belmont received a coded warning from a spy in Orgrimmar that Grommash planned to send more than three thousand troops south toward Stoneclaw Mountain, threatening the Forsaken in Wailing Caverns. With the main army too far away and Maraudon lightly defended, Belmont sent Malcolm and Sansa to find their master in Twilight Highlands.

• A travel-worn Dark Ranger delivered Belmont a coded message from an agent in Orgrimmar.
• Belmont deciphered the diary entries, identifying Kargath, a force of more than three thousand, and Stonetalon Mountains.
• Belmont realized Grommash's planned southern invasion could expose the Forsaken in Wailing Caverns.
• Belmont judged that Maraudon had too few troops and the main army could not return in time.
• Belmont ordered Malcolm and Sansa to find their master in Twilight Highlands and deliver the warning.

Varian and the Alliance welcomed Danas Thoradin and the starving survivors of Stromgarde after their kingdom fell. Danas revealed that a powerful, organized Forsaken army had conquered Stromgarde, leaving the Alliance facing a new threat as war with the Horde loomed.

• Varian, Jaina, and Sylvanas watched the refugee ships arrive, and Varian ordered the people of Stromgarde welcomed ashore.
• Danas Thoradin told Varian that Stromgarde had fallen and Arathi had been lost.
• At a meeting the next day, Danas identified the Forsaken as the force behind Stromgarde's defeat.
• Danas reported that more than ten thousand Forsaken used tactics, siege weapons, and a navy, and had attacked Faelan Bay before Thoradin's Wall.
• Varian and the others realized the Forsaken posed a major threat while the Alliance prepared for war with the Horde.

Sylvanas suspected Nathanos’s plans in Arathi were connected to Deathwing and decided to investigate Quel'Thalas. Nathanos prepared to intervene in the fighting near Twilight Highlands, while Deathwing erupted from the Maelstrom and struck terror into Kezan.

• Sylvanas studied a map of Arathi and wondered whether Nathanos’s attack was tied to a threat against Quel'Thalas.
• Nathanos read the report from Orgrimmar, dismissed concerns about the Horde and Alliance, and recruited Malcolm and Sansa for an intervention in Twilight Highlands.
• Skagit watched Kezan endure a prolonged earthquake and realized Mount Kajaro might erupt.
• Deathwing burst from the Maelstrom, sending lava and destructive waves toward Kezan.
• Skagit recognized Deathwing and decided to flee with his belongings.

As the Cataclysm spread and the Alliance and Horde prepared to send forces to the Twilight Highlands, Nathanos anticipated the coming battle. At Crimson Bastion, Kaelen discovered the Twilight's Hammer had slaughtered Red Dragons, fought back against their pursuers, and escaped with Moostaz after two hidden attackers intervened.

• Nathanos reviewed reports of disasters across Azeroth and learned that the Alliance and Horde would send a great army to the Twilight Highlands.
• Lirathasza and Kaelen discussed Alexstrasza's warning, the threat of Deathwing, and whether the Red Dragons should seek mortal aid.
• Moostaz led Kaelen to Twilight Fortress, where they found their Red Dragon kin dismembered and displayed by the Twilight's Hammer.
• Kaelen attacked the Twilight Dragons guarding the fortress, then retreated with Moostaz as their enemies pursued them through the sky.
• Two unseen attackers shot down adult Twilight Dragons threatening Kaelen and Moostaz, allowing the Red Dragons to escape.
• Shali killed a dying Twilight Dragon, and Volt complained before Shali told him their boss had ordered them to meet with the master.

Volt learned to keep a sniper’s eyes on his prey’s eyes, while Shali and Volt completed a mission to kill Trade Prince Malti. Salamander and Pendulum then confronted Captain Norton over his unpaid debt, and Pendulum proposed a wager that left its outcome unresolved.

• Volt returned from secret training with bullets taken from the eyes of corpses, and Nathanos the Witherer praised them.
• Master Witherer sent Volt and Shali to Kezan to kill Trade Prince Malti and recover Shali’s extra pay.
• Shali lured Malti out by falsely reporting an attack on his stone yards, and Volt shot Malti when Shali exposed their position.
• Shali defeated Malti’s guards, stole Neesha’s valuables, and escaped to the meeting point with Volt.
• Pendulum and Salamander confronted Captain Norton in Free Town over 108 gold coins owed for cannons and ammunition.
• Pendulum offered to waive the debt and give Norton another hundred gold if his men could gather the amount owed.

The Goblin Squad fought through Twilight’s Hammer forces and blasted open the gate on the road to Grim Batol. Nathanos the Witherer arrived as Alexstrasza departed to face Deathwing, and ordered the squad to prepare a magic formation outside Grim Batol instead.

• Patch led the Goblin Squad in an attack on Twilight’s Hammer cultists blocking the road to Grim Batol.
• Pendulum used a new explosive from Orgrim to destroy the gate, and the blast sent the squad flying while wrecking the entrance.
• The Goblin Squad advanced toward Grim Batol and hid when they saw Alexstrasza meet Kaelen and announce her plan to destroy Deathwing at the Crimson Sanctuary.
• Nathanos the Witherer appeared before the squad and told Patch that Deathwing would not stay at the Crimson Sanctuary.
• Nathanos gave Patch scrolls and ordered the Goblin Squad to carve a magic formation outside Grim Batol.

Alexstrasza fought Deathwing above Grim Batol and appeared to defeat him, but as Kaelen began healing her, Deathwing returned unharmed and declared that the Hour of Twilight had arrived.

• Alexstrasza ordered Kaelen to retreat and prepared a ritual in the Crimson Sanctuary to draw out Deathwing.
• Nathanos sensed Deathwing approaching Grim Batol and ordered Patch and the Goblins to hide and wait.
• Alexstrasza battled Deathwing, trading magic and brutal physical attacks until she knocked him over a cliff.
• Kaelen reached the gravely injured Alexstrasza after Deathwing's apparent fall and began to channel life energy into her.
• Deathwing reappeared unharmed and announced that the Hour of Twilight had arrived.

Alexstrasza faced death at Neltharion’s hands until Nathanos arrived and used a magic array to weaken Deathwing’s armor. Neltharion escaped Grim Batol after breaking free, leaving Nathanos and the rescued dragons behind.

• Alexstrasza realized she had underestimated Neltharion as he prepared to kill her and Kaelen.
• Nathanos appeared between Alexstrasza and Deathwing’s flames, then activated a magic array beneath the Black Dragon Aspect.
• The array loosened Deathwing’s armor, and five devices bound his neck and limbs while Goblins approached.
• Nathanos protected the Goblin squad from Deathwing’s flames as the dragon damaged a restraint and broke the array with his blood.
• Neltharion freed himself from the remaining restraints and flew away from Grim Batol.

Nathanos and the Goblin squad escaped after disrupting Deathwing’s attack on Alexstrasza, who thanked the mysterious Forsaken leader. Nathanos sent his squad to train against the Air Elementals in Uldum while he set out to visit Neptulon’s domain, leaving Gilneas alone for now.

• Deathwing used his cursed blood to break Nathanos’s magic circle and escape, while Nathanos recognized that Deathwing’s armor was his weakness.
• Alexstrasza thanked Nathanos for saving her, but he left without revealing his identity and flew away with the Goblin squad.
• Nathanos spotted Sylvanas among Alliance soldiers near the Bastion of Twilight and resolved to speak with her someday.
• Pendulum reported that fleets near Tol Barad had vanished amid Naga and Water Elemental activity, and Volt reported that Al'Akir’s Air Elementals had appeared in Uldum.
• Nathanos ordered the Goblin squad to Uldum to train against the Air Elementals and chose to visit Neptulon’s domain himself.
• Nathanos decided not to intervene in Gilneas, noting that the kingdom would not fall quickly and that a Forsaken was already there.

Alexstrasza considered Deathwing’s next move and listened as Christalyssa offered to explain the Forsaken. In Black Mire Forest, Veronalara killed a Worgen, narrowly avoided infection, and encountered Lord Godfrey and his hunters investigating the corpse.

• Alexstrasza returned to Crimson Sanctuary, sensed traces of dark magic, and worried that Deathwing would strike elsewhere.
• Christalyssa told Alexstrasza that an Undead called Forsaken had helped her and offered to talk about the Forsaken.
• Veronalara hunted in Black Mire Forest with the Moon God Scythe and killed a Worgen that had nearly bitten her.
• Lord Godfrey and two hunters found the Worgen’s corpse beneath the tree where Veronalara was hiding.
• Mistermantho identified the cause of death as an accurate arrow shot through the Worgen’s heart and lungs.

Veronalara discovered evidence that King Genn had fought a Worgen before Godfrey escorted him away, while Nathanos searched the sunken ruins for the source of a mysterious voice. Nathanos found a fragment of a shattered polearm and prepared to uncover its history.

• Veronalara followed Godfrey and his men, overheard them discuss their mission against the Northgate Rebels, and saw them find the injured King Genn.
• After Godfrey led Genn away, Veronalara searched the area and found a bloodstained Worgen corpse hidden in the bushes.
• Nathanos explored wreckage and a sunken Alliance ship, finding signs that the Alliance had been driven from the flooded cabin by the Naga.
• Nathanos followed a hollow voice to the ruins of the Night Elf empire and found a fragment of a shattered polearm.
• Nathanos sensed that the weapon's owner was the source of the voice and attempted to see the weapon's past.

Val'kyr fought the Vrykul in Vashj'ir and was assigned to protect Nazjatar's ritual. After Nathanos witnessed her memories, he decided to investigate how she died and where her body was.

• Val'kyr killed Vrykul in Vashj'ir under Kingaroth's orders and learned that Nazjatar wanted to see her.
• Val'kyr remembered the ruined Night Elf city and suppressed thoughts of her lost lover, reaffirming her loyalty to Queen Azshara.
• Nazjatar told Val'kyr to hold off the Vrykul while sorcerers performed a ritual that would summon allies from the abyss.
• Val'kyr swam into the darkness to hunt the Vrykul as the vision ended.
• Nathanos withdrew the Time Guardian Power and decided to find out how Val'kyr died and where her corpse was.

Nathanos used his power to force the captured Deepwater Lord Kingaroth’s memories from him while a Val'kyr answered Queen Azshara’s summons to the Eternal Palace. There, Azshara revealed the Val'kyr’s long-lost beloved, transformed into a Naga, and ordered her to prove her loyalty.

• Nathanos abandoned threats and temptations and used dark power to enter Kingaroth’s mind.
• The Val'kyr followed Queen Azshara’s summons through the abyss to the Eternal Palace.
• Azshara praised the Val'kyr’s battle and presented her with a silver pendant she recognized as her own.
• Azshara brought forth the Val'kyr’s beloved, transformed into a Naga, and revealed that he had resisted their reunion.
• Azshara ordered the Val'kyr to prove her loyalty after her beloved cursed the Queen.

The Val'kyr killed her former lover under Azshara’s command, then was consumed by guilt and hatred. Later, Nathanos nearly awakened the Val'kyr’s soul before Azshara appeared and confronted him.

• The Val'kyr urged her former lover to accept his Naga form, but he blamed Azshara for destroying their people and refused to open his eyes.
• Azshara threatened the Val'kyr, who called her lover a traitor and stabbed him repeatedly with the Quivering Venom Spear.
• Her lover opened his eyes and told the Val'kyr he was ready to die; she ran him through, then caught him as he fell and realized what she had done.
• Azshara mocked the dying lovers and praised the Val'kyr's loyalty, while the Val'kyr turned her hatred inward and resigned herself to endless battle and death.
• At the ruins of the Vrykul capital, Nathanos chanted an ancient spell to claim the Val'kyr's soul, but Azshara's projection interrupted him just before he could awaken her.
• Azshara recognized Nathanos, and he warned that the Val'kyr's spear would be aimed at her once he revived the Val'kyr.

Nathanos fought Azshara’s giant creature, Vik'marra, in the Vrykul ruins until a Whale Shark’s arrival forced Azshara to withdraw. Afterward, Nathanos resurrected the Val'kyr and prepared to continue his work.

• Nathanos taunted Azshara and faced Vik'marra, whose attacks were dangerous in the water.
• Nathanos transformed into black mist and clashed with Vik'marra, but neither gained a decisive advantage.
• Nathanos warned that the unnatural light could attract dangerous predators, and the approaching Whale Shark made Azshara retreat with Vik'marra.
• The Whale Shark searched the ruins and left, while Nathanos recovered from his injuries.
• Nathanos used a fragment of the Quivering Venom Spear to locate the Val'kyr's soul and resurrected her, and she agreed to obey.