Recaps

Karin recorded what he had learned about troll tactics after a week of attacks on Quel'lithien. During the fourth attack, he exposed a concealed troll rogue, then proposed cauterizing Captain Lakari's poisoned wound after Aurora ran out of erosion potions.

• Karin discussed the trolls’ organization and fighting methods with High Priest Aurora Skycaller, who praised his diligence and agreed that his description of arcane parasites was fitting.
• Aurora and Karin went to the front lines as the trolls launched their fourth attack on Quel'lithien.
• Karin used Troll Detection and Imprisonment to reveal a hidden troll rogue, which Farstriders killed with arrows.
• Aurora said Captain Lakari’s poisoned wound required an erosion potion, but she had run out, and Lakari urged them to try anything that might help.
• Karin suggested burning the poison out of Lakari’s wound and formed a ball of flame.

Karin helped save the gravely wounded Farstrider Lakari, who was taken to Tranquillien for Liadrin to heal. After learning Karin was at dangerous Quel'lithien, Liadrin headed there, and Sylvanas discovered Lor'themar had gone with her.

• Karin burned the poison from Lakari's wounds, and Aurora arranged for him to be taken to Tranquillien for further healing.
• At Tranquillien, Liadrin treated wounded rangers while Lok'ma awkwardly tried to speak with her and explained the Farstriders' role.
• Liadrin healed the wounded Farstrider, who told her Karin had joined the Farstriders and was in Quel'lithien.
• Liadrin rushed off to Quel'lithien after hearing Karin was there.
• A scout told Sylvanas that Liadrin and Lor'themar had gone to Quel'lithien, prompting Sylvanas to call them both idiots and warn she would contact Hawkspear.

Karin and Halduron noticed a heavy fog that could let the Trolls launch a surprise attack, but their plans were interrupted by visitors from Tranquillien. Liadrin reunited with Karin, while Lor'themar joined the Farstriders at Quel'lithien.

• Karin and Halduron saw the thick fog and suspected the Trolls might use it to attack Quel'lithien.
• A Dragonhawk arrived carrying Liadrin and Lor'themar, and its rider said the fog made flying back impossible.
• Liadrin ran to Karin, embraced him, and said she would not leave him alone in the dangerous outpost.
• Lor'themar hugged Halduron in despair and said he wanted to die fighting the Trolls.
• Lord Hawkspear welcomed Lor'themar into the Farstriders, and the Rangers cheered.

With Quel'lithien cut off by dense fog and surrounded by an overwhelming troll force led by Zul'jin, Lord Hawkspear organized small breakout teams to seek help from Tranquillien. Karin, Halduron, and Liadrin prepared to leave with one of the teams.

• Lord Hawkspear sent ranger scouts to monitor the trolls as the fog cut off communication with Tranquillien.
• Lor'themar Thalorian returned wounded from the trolls' encirclement and reported that Zul'jin was leading a force at least ten times larger than Quel'lithien's defenders.
• Lord Hawkspear warned that Quel'lithien could hold out for about a week and proposed sending small teams to break through and alert Tranquillien.
• Lord Hawkspear and Lady Aurora volunteered to lead a breakout team, and several more teams of three to five members formed.
• Karin volunteered to join a team, Halduron offered to go with him, and Liadrin insisted on accompanying them.

Karin, Liadrin, and Halduron left Quel'lithien to reach Tranquillien, but they were ambushed near the settlement by powerful Trolls led by Zul'jin. Halduron was wounded, Liadrin was silenced, and Karin was knocked down as the three faced capture or worse.

• Karin, Liadrin, and Halduron left Quel'lithien with a small squad to report the situation to Tranquillien, while the remaining Rangers stayed behind.
• Karin used the All-Knowing Eye to track Trolls and guided his companions around several patrols as they traveled toward Tranquillien.
• Near Tranquillien, Halduron dismissed Karin's warning, and Troll javelins struck, pinning Halduron to a tree while Liadrin shielded Karin.
• Karin attacked the Trolls with a Fireball, but a Troll Witch Doctor blocked it with a totem and used strange magic to silence Liadrin.
• Zul'jin kicked Karin to the ground, mocked the three captured Elves, and was recognized by Liadrin.

Karin, Liadrin, and Halduron were imprisoned by Zul'jin and subjected to a smoke-filled Troll ritual. As Zul'jin began torturing Halduron and threatened Liadrin, Karin reached the Third Ring and shielded himself from the smoke.

• Karin woke in a cell beside Liadrin and the unconscious, badly wounded Halduron, while Liadrin said a Witch Doctor had sealed away her Holy Light.
• The Troll Witch Doctor placed a brazier in the cell, and its smoke left Karin and Liadrin confused and unable to concentrate.
• Zul'jin entered and accused the Elves of driving the Trolls from their homeland before stabbing Halduron in the eye in revenge for losing his own.
• Zul'jin approached Liadrin with his dagger as Karin focused on stopping him and remembered the All-Knowing Eye's explanation of inspiration.
• Karin grasped an inspiration, achieved the Third Ring, and raised a Mana Shield that kept the smoke from clouding his mind.

Karin received three seventh-ring spell slots from the All-Knowing Eye and used them to help Liadrin and the wounded Halduron escape Zul'jin's prison. They teleported to Tranquillien, leaving Zul'jin and his trolls too late to stop them.

• The All-Knowing Eye revealed that it had nearly abandoned Karin after calculating he had a 98.73% chance of dying, but his breakthrough to the third ring changed its assessment.
• The All-Knowing Eye granted Karin three seventh-ring spell slots for an hour, then entered hibernation as its energy ran low.
• Karin cast Time Warp to slow Zul'jin as he approached Liadrin, and sent her to bring Halduron.
• Karin unleashed Multiple Arcane Missiles, forcing Zul'jin and his followers to retreat while Liadrin brought over the wounded Halduron.
• Karin cast Mass Teleport and transported himself, Liadrin, and Halduron to Tranquillien.
• Zul'jin and the troll warriors rushed into the cell after the missiles faded, but the prisoners had already escaped.

After waking at Sunfury Spire from more than twenty days unconscious, Karin learned that the troll war had ended and that Zul'jin had survived. Tiffany told him his service in the Ghostlands was over and that Mentor Kane wanted to see him once he recovered.

• Karin woke in bed at Sunfury Spire, where Tiffany Sunfury explained that he had been unconscious for more than twenty days after overexerting his mental power.
• Tiffany said Liadrin had cared for Karin until two days earlier, and guessed he had escaped Zul'jin by forcing a fourth-ring Random Teleport.
• Tiffany told Karin that Lord Hawkspear had praised him for warning Tranquillien about the trolls and had thanked Mentor Kane on behalf of the rangers.
• Karin learned that the Ranger-General and the Council's mage troops had routed the trolls, though Zul'jin had survived and returned to Zul'Aman.
• Tiffany told Karin his Ghostlands service had ended and that he could return to the family; she brought him a healing potion and food before taking him to see Mentor Kane once he recovered.

Karin visited Mentor Kane at the top of Sunfury Spire, where Kane praised his talent and diligence and explained why Quel'Thalas kept the trolls as enemies. Kane then led Karin to a high platform overlooking Silvermoon City.

• Karin advised a First Ring apprentice to meditate, study, visit the library, and take part in real battles to advance.
• Tiffany brought Karin to the topmost floor of Sunfury Spire and waited outside while he entered the hall.
• Kane Sunfury arrived through an arcane passage and told Karin that he had once fought as a Spellbreaker in the Troll Wars.
• Kane praised Karin's papers, arcane instincts, creativity, and diligence, then explained that Quel'Thalas kept the trolls in check because the Quel'dorei needed enemies to stay prepared.
• Kane led Karin onto the elevated platform of Sunfury Spire, where they looked out over Silvermoon City.

Kane Sunfury discussed Quel'Thalas's complacent way of life and the heights of magical achievement with Karin, then advised him on his studies and future. Karin accepted Kane's suggestion to pursue further studies in Dalaran, and Kane offered to write him a letter of introduction to Prince Kael'thas.

• Kane Sunfury showed Karin Silvermoon's celebrations and explained that its people had grown comfortable since the Troll Wars.
• Kane Sunfury described the mage spires and floating towers, and told Karin that he saw hope in him as a future mage.
• Karin recounted his experiences in the Ghostlands and gave Kane Sunfury his records about the trolls for the Council.
• Kane Sunfury advised Karin to limit the spells he learned after reaching the third ring and gave him a scroll with four spells suited to his fields.
• Kane Sunfury suggested Karin study in Dalaran, and Karin accepted; Kane offered to write him a letter of introduction to Prince Kael'thas.

Karin prepared to travel to Dalaran, where Tiffany warned him that some mages were hostile toward Quel'dorei. Before leaving, he reunited with Oliver, met Halduron on the road, and visited Liadrin at the Sun Temple, where she promised to protect him the next time they met.

• Tiffany warned Karin that some Dalaran mages envied the Quel'dorei and might treat him with hostility.
• Karin returned to Fairbreeze Village, learned Oliver had become a First Ring mage, and offered to help him.
• Karin set out for Dalaran and met Halduron Brightwing, who joined him with a group of rangers as an escort.
• Karin and Halduron traveled to the Sun Temple, where Karin met Liadrin and told her about Kane Sunfury's advice and his plans.
• Liadrin told Karin she would protect him the next time they met.

Karin and Halduron traveled south through Lordaeron toward Dalaran, stopping in Stratholme and Darrowshire along the way. Karin left Nathanos a letter of introduction to Lord Hawkspear, and the travelers ended the chapter drinking to Prince Arthas’s health.

• Karin and Halduron crossed into Eastern Lordaeron and stopped overnight in Stratholme, where Karin reunited with Nathanos and other members of Leguli’s Caravan.
• Karin gave Nathanos magical gems and a letter of introduction to Lord Hawkspear, encouraging him to pursue the ranger’s path in Quel'lithien.
• Halduron hired a guide and led the party south toward Dalaran, while the elves struggled to ride unfamiliar human horses.
• After several days on the road, the party reached Darrowshire and rested in a tavern.
• Karin raised a toast to Prince Arthas’s health and freedom from disease and plague, and the tavern’s patrons joined him.

Karin traveled from Lordaeron across the Alterac Mountains and reached the Kingdom of Dalaran, carrying a letter for Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider. Halduron parted ways with him, and a battlemage prepared to take Karin to Dalaran by teleportation circle.

• Karin observed the poverty of Lordaeron's commoners and recorded his impressions as he traveled through the region.
• Karin's group passed Andorhal and continued to Icecrown, where they chose the shorter route through the Alterac Mountains.
• Karin and his companions bought mountain goats and spent nearly five days crossing the cold mountains.
• A Dalaran battlemage inspected Karin's letter for Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider and agreed to escort him to the city.
• Halduron said goodbye to Karin, who followed the battlemage to a teleportation circle bound for Lake Lordamere.

Karin arrived in Dalaran and explored the magical city, learning about its culture and a project to make it fly. He settled into an inn and wrote “Hello, Dalaran!” in his notebook.

• Karin reached Lake Lordamere and took an unmanned boat to Dalaran after a Battlemage explained that teleportation wards prevented him from using a Teleportation Circle.
• A Dalaran guard performed Magic Detection on Karin, then let him enter the city.
• Karin walked through Dalaran, admired its architecture, and compared it to Silvermoon City.
• Sorrel Goldbeard told Karin that Archmage Modera and Archmage Kalai were leading a project to make Dalaran a floating city.
• Karin followed Sorrel to The Pig and the Whistle, rested in a guest room, and wrote “Hello, Dalaran!” in his notebook.

Karin visited Kael'thas Sunstrider in Dalaran with a letter of introduction from Kane Sunfury and sought help continuing his magical studies. Kael'thas gave him letters of introduction to several abjuration mages, then judged Karin promising but too young to be of greater consequence.

• Karin found Kael'thas's tower in Dalaran and presented his letter from Kane Sunfury to the secretary, Capernian.
• Capernian brought Karin to meet Kael'thas, who introduced his adviser Rommath and welcomed Karin to Dalaran as a student.
• Karin said he specialized in abjuration, and Kael'thas explained he could not take another student because he already taught Aethas and Fenna.
• Kael'thas offered Karin letters of introduction to Landalock Dawnstrider, Ansirem Runeweaver, and Gilbert Kalieri.
• After Karin left, Rommath and Kael'thas discussed Karin's talent, effort, and youth.

Karin sought an archmage mentor in Dalaran so he could remain there as a formal student. After two mages turned him away, he found that Ansirem Runeweaver had an opening, though Runeweaver lay drunk on a sofa.

• Kael'thas had Capernian prepare three letters of introduction for Karin to potential mentors in the School of Abjuration.
• Landalock Dawnstrider welcomed Karin but refused him because he already had three students.
• Gilbert Kalieri turned Karin away after accepting a student from Stormwind City three days earlier.
• Karin visited Ansirem Runeweaver's laboratory and learned from a young human mage that Runeweaver had a vacancy.
• Karin looked at the drunken man on the sofa and wondered whether he was his potential mentor.

Karin was rejected by the drunken Archmage Ruin, who insulted Quel'Thalas, and later received Ruin's apology through Capernian. After declining to pursue the mentorship, Karin discovered Archmage Kaliri had posted a student vacancy despite previously claiming none were available, then headed toward the Violet Citadel to find somewhere to cool off.

• Karin asked Archmage Ruin to take him as a student, but Ruin refused and disparaged the Elves while drunk.
• Karin left Ruin's residence and returned to The Pig and the Whistle, where he meditated to calm his anger.
• Capernian delivered Ruin's apology and asked whether Karin still wanted to become his student; Karin declined and said students also chose their mentors.
• Karin found Archmage Kaliri's notice recruiting students, despite Kaliri having told him earlier that there were no vacancies.
• Karin left the notice board and walked toward the Violet Citadel, hoping to find somewhere to blow off steam.

Karin became one of Dalaran’s wandering mages and spent his days studying in the crowded Violet Library, where he found neither a mentor nor the attention he had hoped for. He remained in Dalaran, uncertain how to respond to Liadrin’s plan to visit him.

• Karin entered the vast Violet Library and discovered that its crowds and rules differed greatly from the quiet Sunfury Library.
• He failed to find a powerful mage disguised as a librarian who might take him as an apprentice.
• Karin joined the wandering mages, studying at the library each day after helping Soriel open the tavern.
• He gave up on finding a new mentor without Prince Kael'thas's letter of introduction and wondered whether the prince had forgotten him.
• Tiffany wrote to ask how Karin was doing, and he replied vaguely that he was well.
• Liadrin wrote that she would visit after finishing her work at the Sun Temple, leaving Karin unsure what they would do together.

Karin struggled to make progress in his Third Ring studies in Dalaran until Archmage Modera’s lecture sparked a startling discovery. He hurried to the Violet Library to investigate what he believed was the essence of arcane magic.

• Karin lamented that he had barely advanced beyond a slight grasp of Arcane Barrier and felt the absence of the All-Knowing Eye.
• Karin learned that Modera was giving a public lecture and rushed to the hall at Ruin Square.
• Modera discussed Fireball and its derivative spells, including Flame Shock, Pyroblast, and Forbidden Flame.
• Karin left the lecture early after Modera’s words inspired him to question the essence of arcane magic.

Karin tried to analyze Arcane magic mathematically, using observations and calculations to determine how much mental power different spells required. After repeated tests, he successfully cast Flame Shock for the first time.

• Karin used Modera’s lecture to consider how spells were connected and whether mathematics could explain their power.
• Karin compared descriptions of Fireball, Flame Shock, and Pyroblast in the Sunfury Library and drafted a formula for their relationships.
• Karin tested Fireball’s impact in a Dalaran training room and used black powder to estimate how phlogiston affected its power.
• Karin spent two hours using calculus to estimate the mental power needed to cast Flame Shock.
• Karin adjusted his calculated mental-power value through repeated attempts until he cast Flame Shock, leaving a dent roughly three times larger than his Fireball’s.

Karin derived mathematical rules for fire spells and realized that mathematics could help analyze other magic, but he burned his paper to hide his discoveries. He then used a three-dimensional coordinate system to learn Blink far faster than expected, bringing him another step closer to the truth.

• Karin left the Violet Library distracted by his new understanding of magic and returned to the Pig and the Whistle.
• Karin wrote a paper describing the shared rules behind Fireball, Flame Shock, and Pyroblast, including formulas for calculating the mental power each spell required.
• Karin decided his findings were too dangerous to reveal before reaching the eighth ring, so he tore up and burned the paper.
• Karin applied a three-dimensional coordinate system to Blink and went to Violet Square to practice the spell.
• After three days of practice, Karin gained an initial grasp of Blink and recorded that he had taken another step closer to the truth.

As spring brought Dalaran’s annual Mental Strength Test, Karin received an invitation and took the test after a year of training. He scored eight points under Gilbert Kalieri, the Gnome Mage who had once rejected him, leaving his progress recognized but his next step undecided.

• Karin heard that Dalaran’s Mages were leaving, completing their studies, or seeking mentors as spring arrived, but he remained calm about his prospects.
• An owl delivered Karin an invitation to the Mental Strength Test, which was scheduled for that afternoon.
• Karin arrived last among sixty Mages and watched others receive scores ranging mostly from four to eight points.
• Karin entered the testing room and discovered that Gilbert Kalieri, who had once rejected him, was conducting the test.
• Karin resisted Gilbert Kalieri’s mental attack for about ten minutes, and Gilbert gave him a score of eight points.

After scoring eight on the mental strength test, Karin learned that the young mage Khadgar had scored ten and received an invitation to a banquet at the Violet Citadel. There, he met Polly Moni, slipped away from her, and realized his high-elf appearance might explain her enthusiasm.

• Karin overheard tavern patrons discussing Khadgar, a young mage from Stormwind City who had scored ten on the mental strength test.
• Karin found an invitation from Kael'thas Sunstrider to a banquet for young mages who had excelled in the test.
• Outside the Violet Citadel, Karin met Polly Moni, who had also scored eight, and entered the banquet hall with her.
• Polly told Karin that the banquet was likely arranged for Khadgar and that the Council of Six might seek to mentor him.
• Karin slipped away from Polly and, seeing his reflection, concluded that his high-elf looks might account for her friendliness.

Karin attended a gathering of Dalaran’s mages with Polly, where they saw Khadgar and the Council of Six. After Karin and Polly were given seats near the front, Archmage Modera called Khadgar to the platform before the banquet began.

• Polly pointed out Khadgar and Archmage Modera, then introduced Karin to the members of the Council of Six, including Kael'thas Sunstrider and Krasus.
• A battlemage escorted Karin and Polly to seats in the second row, near Khadgar and other strong candidates.
• Polly leaned over to ask Khadgar how his mental power was so strong, but he was too nervous to answer.
• Archmage Modera silenced the hall and called Khadgar to the platform before the banquet began.

At Dalaran’s welcome banquet, Khadgar’s exceptional magical ability earned him an apprenticeship with Antonidas after Kael'thas yielded. Karin and Polly then prepared for the annual dueling exercise, which began with Polly matched against Hoffman.

• Modera asked Khadgar about his studies, and he said he had reached the fourth ring in less than three years.
• Antonidas offered to take Khadgar as an apprentice, and Kael'thas withdrew his own offer after a brief private discussion with Antonidas.
• Khadgar accepted Antonidas as his mentor, and they signed an apprenticeship contract onstage.
• Modera announced a public dueling exercise for high scorers on the mental strength test, and Polly explained its purpose and safety rules to Karin.
• Modera transformed the hall into a battlefield and paired Polly with Hoffman, then explained that their protective robes would turn red as they took damage.