Chapter Summaries

Ner'zhul's Orc caravan left Grim Batol with the Dragon Eggs as Deathwing approached, but Dwarves attacked before a red dragon swooped down on the Orcs. Rhonin and the others prepared to pursue the caravan by air, then realized Sylvanas was missing.

• Ner'zhul led the Orc caravan out of Grim Batol, keeping the Dragon Eggs guarded and the Demon Soul close.
• Dwarves from Ironforge attacked the Orcs, who rallied and fought back.
• A red dragon burst through the clouds and dove toward the Orcs, confusing Ner'zhul, who had expected Deathwing.
• Thastad summoned his Gryphon, and Alleria and Vareesa's Dragonhawks returned to the cliff.
• Alleria planned for Rhonin, Thastad, and herself to track the Orc army, then asked where Sylvanas was.

Sylvanas reunited with Nathanos as Ner'zul used the Demon Soul to cripple a Red Dragon, while Deathwing ignored the artifact and stole two wagons carrying Dragon Eggs. Alleria, Rhonin, and Thastad descended toward the fallen dragon as Sylvanas and Nathanos considered how to kill Ner'zul and seize the artifact.

• Alleria and Thastad discovered Sylvanas had climbed down the cliff, while Vareesa stayed behind to guard the Queen of Dragons.
• Sylvanas found Nathanos watching the battle, and he warned her that Ner'zul was wielding the Demon Soul.
• Ner'zul used the Demon Soul to torment a Red Dragon until it fell from the sky.
• Deathwing appeared, ignored the Demon Soul, and flew away with two wagons carrying Dragon Eggs.
• Sylvanas and Nathanos planned to kill Ner'zul and take the artifact.
• Rhonin spotted the fallen Red Dragon and led Alleria and Thastad toward it.

Rhonin learned the truth about the Demon Soul and Deathwing from Krasus and the three Guardian Dragons. Ysera tasked Rhonin with taking the artifact from the Orcs so he could free Alexstrasza, while the dragons prepared to help Krasus carry him to the battlefield.

• Krasus revealed himself to Rhonin and explained that Deathwing had created the Demon Soul, which held power over the other dragons.
• Ysera, Malygos, and Nozdormu explained how Deathwing had deceived the dragons, turned their own power against them, and now sought Alexstrasza’s eggs.
• The Guardian Dragons told Rhonin that Deathwing was their brother and that they could not use the Demon Soul themselves.
• Ysera ordered Rhonin to seize the Demon Soul from the Orcs, and said Krasus must fly him to the battlefield.
• Ysera, Malygos, and Nozdormu placed their hands on Krasus’s snout to strengthen him for the dangerous flight.

Nathanos seized the Demon Soul from Ner'zhul as Alexstrasza crushed the Orc and freed the artifact from Orc control. The dragons continued their battle against Deathwing, and Alexstrasza joined them as the mortals considered returning the Demon Soul’s power to its rightful owners.

• Ysera, Nozdormu, and Malygos transformed into dragons and flew to confront Deathwing while Rhonin prepared to act with Thar.
• Nathanos rushed out to challenge Ner'zhul, then knocked him down with Sylvanas and Alleria's help and took the Demon Soul.
• Alexstrasza arrived, crushed Ner'zhul, thanked the humans and Elves, and told Krasus to spread word that the dragons could resist their enslavement.
• Rhonin and the others proposed returning the Demon Soul’s power to the dragons after Alexstrasza said it could not be used against Deathwing.
• Deathwing overwhelmed Ysera, Nozdormu, and Malygos until Alexstrasza joined the fight and declared that his end had come.

Nathanos and his allies used a gem linked to Deathwing to cut the Demon Soul and release the power within. The dragons regained their strength, and Alexstrasza wounded Deathwing as the fight turned in their favor.

• Nathanos realized Rhonin and Thastad could not destroy the Demon Soul by ordinary means, and Alleria's magical arrow left no mark on it.
• Nathanos gave Rhonin the gem from Grot's emblem, and Rhonin used its power to cut open the Demon Soul.
• Rhonin channeled the energy released from the Demon Soul into four streams that flew toward the fighting dragons.
• Alexstrasza's strengthened attack injured Deathwing, while Malygos, Nozdormu, and Ysera announced that their power had returned.

Alexstrasza and the other Guardian Dragons restored their power and drove Deathwing to flee, then pursued him while the survivors prepared to leave Grim Batol. Nathanos and Alleria reunited at Windrunner Tower, where Alleria questioned him about her sister Sylvanas and asked him to focus on the woman in his arms.

• Alexstrasza, Malygos, Nozdormu, and Ysera attacked Deathwing with their restored powers, but he broke free and escaped.
• Alexstrasza thanked Nathanos and the other mortals, then joined the other Guardian Dragons in pursuing Deathwing.
• Thoras left for Aerie Peak, Rhonin returned to Dalaran, and Alleria persuaded Nathanos to accompany her to Quel'Thalas.
• Two days later, the remaining Orcs at Grim Batol surrendered and were sent toward Alliance internment camps.
• Nathanos and Alleria spent the night together at Windrunner Tower, where Alleria asked whether Sylvanas was prettier and told Nathanos to forget the others while she was with him.

After Grim Batol was recaptured, the Alliance celebrated while Dalaran faced questions about the operation and Lord Prysto disappeared. In Quel'Thalas, Nathanos spent time with Alleria and Sylvanas, whose unsettling words about sacrifice and fate left him unable to move.

• Rhonin reported on Grim Batol's recapture while concealing Krasus's identity, and the councilors learned that Lord Prysto had vanished.
• Genn Greymane, Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, and Terenas questioned Prysto's identity, while rumors of his engagement to the princess faded.
• Rhonin learned that Krasus had resigned from the Kirin Tor to accompany his wife, and he accepted Krasus's decision to support Alexstrasza.
• Nathanos stayed near Windrunner Tower with Alleria, and Sylvanas asked him whether he had discussed marrying Alleria.
• Sylvanas told Nathanos that Alleria would not sacrifice everything for him, then asked whether he would do so for her; Nathanos answered yes.
• Nathanos tried to touch Sylvanas but found himself unable to move as voices filled his mind with the word fate.

Five years later, Prince Arthas rode through Lordaeron to the Cathedral of Light for his paladin investiture, struggling with doubts about whether he deserved the honor. Guided by Nathanos's advice to see knighthood as a responsibility, Arthas took the Silver Hand's oath before the assembled guests.

• Arthas rode beside King Terenas through Lordaeron, remembering the death of his former horse Invincible and worrying about his readiness to become a paladin.
• Arthas recalled Nathanos telling him that no one began prepared and that a paladin's calling was a responsibility, not an honor.
• Arthas arrived at the Cathedral of Light and found King Genn Greymane, Thoras Trollbane, Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, and other distinguished guests waiting, while Nathanos was absent.
• Archbishop Alonsus Faol led the ceremony as Uther and another paladin presented Arthas with a warhammer and ceremonial pauldrons.
• Arthas rose and swore to uphold the Silver Hand's principles, spread the Holy Light's mercy and wisdom, fight evil, and protect the innocent.

Nathanos visited Southshore, where he witnessed three children’s cruel game of torturing a frog in the name of the Holy Light. After burying the frog, he worried that Prince Arthas might be blinded by faith on the day he became a paladin.

• Nathanos noticed two hooded men with powerful magical auras walking cautiously through Southshore.
• Nathanos saw Sally, Vesath, and Renault Mograine pretending to judge and fight a frog, then stomping it mercilessly.
• Nathanos shoved Sally aside and took the badly injured frog from Vesath, telling the children they were demons.
• Nathanos buried the dead frog and wondered how worshippers of the Holy Light could act so cruelly.
• Nathanos thought of Arthas becoming a paladin and feared that faith might blind the prince.

Nathanos searched Southshore for Larein but instead found Rilas Windrunner fishing with Nat Pagle and overheard Nat describing strange dreams about Azeroth’s future. He recognized Rilas and confronted him about leaving his family, then agreed to continue the conversation at an inn with Nat joining them.

• Nathanos searched Southshore for Larein and approached Nat and Rilas, who were discussing Nat’s dreams about a giant tree, an escaped Orc, and Arthas turning evil.
• Nathanos interrupted the conversation and warned Nat about slandering Prince Arthas, while Rilas defended his friend.
• Nathanos introduced himself as Nathanos Maris, and Rilas recognized him as the man who had found him despite his attempt to conceal his identity.
• Nathanos asked Rilas why he had left his family and whether Nat was involved, and Rilas denied it.
• Rilas invited Nathanos to the Southshore inn and offered to treat him; Nathanos agreed and told him to bring Nat along.

Nathanos confronted Rilas about why he had vanished from Quel'Thalas and learned that Rilas had fled the expectations placed on him as a Windrunner. Nathanos decided to let Rilas prepare to return, then met with Larein and Bigal, who discussed Lordaeron's taxes and Prince Arthas's priorities.

• Nathanos recognized Alexandros Mograine and Tirion Fordring among the guests at Southshore's inn before sitting down with Rilas and Nat Pagle.
• Rilas claimed he had escaped the Dragonmaw attack by jumping into a river, but Nathanos challenged his story and pressed him to explain why he had stayed away.
• Rilas said he had fled the duties and lack of freedom imposed on him by his Windrunner family, and Nathanos told him to prepare himself before returning home.
• Nathanos left the inn and considered whether bringing Rilas back would only lead him to flee again, while writing a letter to Alleria.
• Larein arrived with Bigal, and the three discussed complaints about Terenas's taxes and rumors that Prince Arthas focused more on Jaina Proudmoore than on state affairs.

Nathanos got lost in Dalaran while accompanying Arthas and unexpectedly encountered Jaina, whom he had not recognized. Jaina hurried away after refusing to see Arthas, leaving Nathanos puzzled about their history and still unable to find the embassy.

• Larein told Nathanos and Bigal that he had seen Lord Alexandros riding south with a wooden box, and the group discussed rumors of the dead returning to life.
• Jaina enjoyed a walk through Dalaran's gardens, turned a squirrel into a sheep with a spell, and caught it before it fell from a branch.
• Nathanos wandered Dalaran's confusing streets after accompanying Arthas on his visit to the city and heard Jaina's sheep bleat nearby.
• Jaina recognized Nathanos, but he initially failed to recognize her; they talked about her magic and his past at Grim Batol.
• Nathanos told Jaina that he had come with Arthas, who planned to attend Kael'thas's homecoming banquet, but Jaina refused to see Arthas and hurried away.
• Nathanos wondered why Jaina was angry with Arthas and realized she had left without giving him directions to the embassy.

At a banquet in Dalaran, Arthas, Kael'thas, and Antonidas argued over the Orcs in the prisoner-of-war camps and whether they could be freed from demonic corruption. Afterward, Arthas ordered Nathanos to stop questioning his views, leaving Nathanos worried about how the prince might rule and wondering what had happened between Arthas and Jaina.

• Antonidas hosted Arthas and Kael'thas at a lavish dinner, while Nathanos stood behind the prince.
• Kael'thas condemned the Orcs and argued that executing them would keep people safe, while Antonidas suggested their condition came from losing demonic energy.
• Arthas invoked King Terenas's position on the camps, then grew angry when Antonidas discussed Garona's account of the Orcs' corruption.
• Antonidas redirected the conversation to Arthas's induction and future marriage, and Arthas said it was still early to discuss wedding plans.
• After dinner, Nathanos challenged Arthas over his remarks about the Orcs, but Arthas ordered him to be silent and called him as foolish as Jaina.
• Nathanos watched Arthas leave and wondered how he would treat the Orcs as king, while realizing that Jaina and Arthas had also argued about the issue.

Nathanos interrogated Lieutenant General Edras Blackmoore about Thrall’s escape and uncovered evidence that Blackmoore had secretly trained and educated the Orc for years. Terenas ordered a covert investigation into Blackmoore and sent Arthas to prepare to capture Thrall and the other Orcs.

• Nathanos questioned Blackmoore about being sober, Thrall’s escape, suspected gambling fraud, and the funds meant for Durnholde Castle’s security.
• Blackmoore denied wrongdoing and claimed Thrall’s escape had been an unfortunate accident, while Terenas warned him to account for the money.
• Nathanos revealed that Blackmoore had acquired Thrall as an infant and taught him to read and study military strategy, based on testimony from Taelan Foxglove.
• Nathanos reported that Lieutenant Draak and Captain Scarrok were missing after the fire and that Scarrok had ties to Oriden Perenolde and the Syndicate in Alterac.
• Terenas ordered Arthas to prepare with Uther to capture Thrall and the other Orcs, while he arranged to investigate Blackmoore in secret.

Nathanos and Alleria celebrated Winter Veil together, admitted their love, and promised not to leave each other. Years later, in Northrend, Nathanos remembered their promises as he prepared to attack a heavily armed group for something he needed.

• Nathanos welcomed Alleria to his family, where she helped Daphne prepare for Winter Veil.
• Watching Stephan and Jonathan play in the snow, Nathanos considered Stephan’s coming-of-age gift and imagined marrying Alleria.
• On Winter Veil night, Alleria hinted at their future child, and Nathanos embraced her in answer to her implied proposal.
• After dinner, Nathanos begged Alleria not to leave him, and she promised she never would.
• Years later in Northrend, Nathanos spotted an armed group with red totem banners and ordered his companion to kill them for something he needed.

Jaina was sent by Antonidas to investigate a plague spreading through Lordaeron and joined Arthas and Nathanos on the road. After Jaina demonstrated her magic against two Ogres, Arthas blamed the Orcs and revealed that they had sacrificed villagers to demons.

• Jaina overheard a black-feathered prophet warn Antonidas that the Dark Tide was rising, but Antonidas dismissed him and explained that reports of a plague in Lordaeron had prompted him to send Jaina to investigate.
• Nathanos waited with Arthas for Jaina, who arrived pursued by two Ogres and killed them with fire magic.
• Arthas, Jaina, and Nathanos set out to question villages along King's Road about the plague.
• Arthas suggested the plague might be connected to the Orcs and told Jaina that Orcs had sacrificed three villagers to demons near Strahnbrad.

Arthas rejected Nathanos's challenge to spare the Orcs and ordered the group onward, leaving Nathanos to question why he stayed at Arthas's side. His thoughts returned to the day he witnessed Tirion Fordring lose his place in the Silver Hand and be exiled for defending Eitrigg.

• Jaina and Nathanos debated whether the Orcs were like Alterac and recalled Thrall's leadership and the Orc rebellion.
• Arthas declared that the Orcs should all be killed, but Nathanos challenged him by asking whether slaughter made him any different from the Orcs.
• Arthas recalled Uther's warning against letting conviction become bloodlust, then ordered everyone to move on without explaining his decision.
• Jaina told Nathanos that he had changed and questioned whether duty was his only reason for staying with Arthas.
• Nathanos realized that another purpose bound him to Arthas, then remembered Tirion Fordring's trial and exile after he defended Eitrigg.
• Nathanos watched Tirion smile at his family as the crowd condemned him and the Silver Hand stripped him of the Holy Light.

Arthas left camp alone to investigate the plague, gathered soldiers under Saurfang, and approached an abandoned farmhouse where a horrifying creature emerged. Nathanos and Jaina pursued him, but Nathanos persuaded Jaina to stop following Arthas and let Farek and Marvin search for him instead.

• Arthas returned to camp with Nathanos after scouting, then secretly left during the night while Nathanos sent a hunting hound to follow him.
• Jaina learned that Arthas had gone alone, and Nathanos said he could not bring himself to oppose the prince’s wish to protect his people.
• Arthas recruited Saurfang and other patrolling soldiers, then found an abandoned farmhouse with a broken gate and missing livestock.
• Arthas and his soldiers approached the farmhouse, where a terrible stench revealed signs of slaughter and a creature suddenly charged out.
• Nathanos told Jaina he wanted Farek and Marvin to search for Arthas while he and Jaina stopped following him, and Jaina agreed after he promised to explain why.

Arthas’s soldiers encountered undead villagers and burned the village, while Nathanos and Jaina met a raven-shifting prophet who warned that the continent would fall. Nathanos believed the warning but continued toward Hearthglen to complete Jaina’s mission, uncertain whether his choice would lead to disaster.

• Arthas and his soldiers fought undead villagers, and Saurfang helped trap them inside a house that they burned down.
• After Farek reported that Nathanos and Jaina had gone ahead, Arthas ordered his men to burn every house in the village.
• Nathanos and Jaina encountered a mysterious prophet who urged them to flee west and warned Nathanos that staying would bring unbearable pain from those he cared about.
• Nathanos recognized clues to the prophet’s identity, believed his warning, and hesitated before choosing to continue toward Hearthglen with Jaina.

Nathanos and Jaina investigated the plague while traveling toward Andorhal, where they discovered a decaying undead creature inside an abandoned grain silo. Nathanos suspected the person had been transformed into an undead while still alive.

• Nathanos told Jaina that King Terenas had not ignored the plague and that the prophet’s appearance had given him a reason to investigate further.
• Nathanos and Jaina set out for Andorhal with two Quel'dorei priests, who led them to an abandoned grain silo surrounded by dying land.
• Nathanos shot at something inside the silo, and an undead creature burst through the door and attacked him.
• Nathanos crushed the creature’s head, then went to the river to wash while Jaina examined the corpse.
• Jaina identified the creature as undead and argued that the Orcs were unlikely to be responsible.
• Nathanos examined the corpse and concluded that the person had been turned into an undead while still alive.