Recaps

Garona assassinated King Llane Wrynn, leaving young Varian and Stormwind in mourning. Anduin Lothar and Karin arrived at the city three days later and learned of Llane’s death, as Stormwind called on Lothar to take charge.

• Garona told King Llane that the orc clans had united under Blackhand, then stabbed him with a poisoned dagger.
• Garona disappeared into the shadows, and Varian watched his father die as Bolvar returned too late to stop the assassination.
• After traveling on foot from Karazhan, Anduin Lothar and Karin reached Stormwind and saw white flags flying over the city walls.
• Lieutenant Marcus Jonathan told Lothar that Garona had killed Llane three days earlier and that Bolvar and Varian needed him to take charge.
• Lothar sank to his knees in grief after learning that his friend Llane was dead.

After Gul'dan collapsed, Orgrim used the chance to accuse him of betraying the Horde and seized the Shadow Council. The chapter ended with Orgrim challenging Blackhand to a Mak'gora.

• Talongor discovered that Gul'dan was unconscious, while Grieve slipped away to report the news to Orgrim.
• Orgrim told Blackhand that Gul'dan had secretly made a deal with demons, and Blackhand authorized him to bring Gul'dan in for questioning.
• Orgrim led his allies to the Shadow Council, where Talongor surrendered the warlocks and Orgrim killed him before ordering his followers to kill the rest.
• Orgrim ordered his guards to bind Gul'dan, then confronted Blackhand over the massacre.
• Orgrim threw down a glove and challenged Blackhand to a Mak'gora.

After King Llane's death, Lothar and Karin warned King Varian and the nobles that the Orcs vastly outnumbered them and urged them to flee north. The nobles rejected the plan, and Karin revealed his authority as the Guardian of Azeroth.

• King Varian vowed to avenge his father, and Lothar promised to fight the Orcs.
• Karin told Lothar that the Orcs had at least ten times as many combat-ready soldiers and that Medivh's death had lifted his restraints on them.
• Lothar proposed relocating north, but the Council of Nobles opposed abandoning their lands and titles.
• Karin warned the Duke of Shadunbrook that staying meant death and threatened him with his power.
• Karin declared that he was the Guardian of Azeroth.

Garona was captured by the Horde after fleeing Stormwind and tortured into revealing what she knew about Gul'dan and the Shadow Council. Orgrim Doomhammer prepared to launch a major assault on the humans, while Garona was left injured in the Blackblood River and approached by an unknown figure.

• Garona fled through the Black Morass, but Broxigar and other orcs recognized her as Gul'dan's servant and captured her.
• Orgrim Doomhammer revealed that he was the new Warchief and ordered Kilrogg Deadeye to interrogate Garona about Gul'dan and the Shadow Council.
• Kilrogg tortured Garona until she revealed everything she knew, then ordered her thrown into the Blackblood River.
• Orgrim reviewed Garona's information, noted that the human mage and King Llane were dead, and ordered the clans to muster for war against the humans.
• Garona drifted down the river with broken limbs until a figure with a skeletal hand examined her injuries.

Karin traveled north to seek aid for Stormwind’s evacuation, warning the human kingdoms about the Horde. Terenas agreed to shelter Azeroth’s refugees and summon neighboring kings, while Derek Proudmoore promised Kul Tiras’s fleet would help rescue them.

• Karin arrived at Lordaeron with Lothar’s token and told Terenas that King Llane had died and Stormwind’s people needed shelter.
• Karin showed the court an illusion of the Orcs, and Terenas recognized the threat, agreed to take in refugees, and urged Karin to seek Kul Tiras’s help.
• Karin reached Kul Tiras with Terenas’s letter and explained the Horde’s attack to Rear Admiral Derek Proudmoore.
• Derek promised that Kul Tiras’s fleet would sail to rescue Azeroth’s refugees and fight the Horde.

The Horde captured Cho'gall, who promised to summon a powerful ally for Orgrim Doomhammer. The ally revealed a Golden Disk buried beneath the Redridge Mountains and identified himself as the Black Dragon Deathwing.

• Orgrim Doomhammer ordered the burial of three militia who died defending Eastvale Keep as the Horde destroyed it.
• A Dragonmaw scout captured Cho'gall, and Orgrim demanded that the warlock share his valuable information.
• Cho'gall offered to summon a powerful ally, and Orgrim agreed to hear him out.
• The summoned figure told Orgrim and Varok Saurfang that a Golden Disk lay beneath the Redridge Mountains and could grant control over servants and the skies.
• The figure revealed that Lord Dav al Prestor was his human name and that he was the Black Dragon Deathwing.

Karin sailed with Derek Proudmoore’s fleet toward Stormwind City as the orcs advanced on the kingdom. Stormwind’s defenses prepared for an assault while more than a hundred priests remained trapped at Northshire Abbey.

• Karin and Derek discussed the orcs’ strength and whether they might have allies in the air as the fleet neared Stormwind City.
• Durris reported that the orcs had captured Eastvale Keep, Goldshire’s civilians had evacuated, and the road to Northshire was blocked with over a hundred priests still at the abbey.
• Varian asked Anduin Lothar to send troops to rescue the priests, but Lothar said Stormwind had no forces to spare.
• Lothar and Varian watched the orc army approach Stormwind’s walls, and Lothar raised Quel'Zaram to face the attack.

Orgrim Doomhammer led the Horde’s assault on Stormwind, and Lord Prestor caused an earthquake that forced the defenders off the city walls. As the Horde pressed into the city, human reinforcements arrived and Orgrim ordered a retreat.

• Grommash Hellscream led the Warsong Clan’s charge against Stormwind’s walls, while human weapons inflicted heavy casualties on the Horde.
• Orgrim ordered more clans to support the attack, then called on Cho'gall to summon Lord Prestor after Eitrigg warned that the walls had to be brought down.
• Lord Prestor flew above the battlefield and caused an earthquake, forcing the human defenders to abandon the walls.
• Orgrim led the Horde’s final assault into the exposed human forces and fought a white-haired human warrior who was protecting a boy.
• An elven mage appeared above the battlefield, explosions sounded from within Stormwind, and Orgrim ordered the Horde to fall back as reinforcements arrived.

Anduin Lothar and the refugees from Stormwind arrived in Southshore aboard Kul Tiras's enormous fleet after escaping the Horde. Lothar set out for Lordaeron to meet the king, while Karin returned to Dalaran to report what had happened.

• Herni Mareb spotted a vast fleet approaching Southshore and raised the alarm, prompting the militia and residents to prepare for danger.
• Southshore's people realized the ships carried disciplined refugees, including Anduin Lothar, Varian, Derek Proudmoore, and Karin.
• Lothar told Derek that Kul Tiras's help had saved the Kingdom of Azeroth, and he identified himself to Southshore's mayor as the kingdom's regent.
• The mayor offered the refugees temporary shelter and arranged horses for Lothar's journey to Lordaeron.
• Lothar departed for Lordaeron with Varian and a small retinue, while Karin left for Dalaran to inform its mages about Karazhan and the events in the south.

Karin returned to Dalaran, where Antonidas tested his strength and heard his account of Karazhan and the orcs. Antonidas said the seven human kingdoms would meet in five days and planned promotion ceremonies for two students.

• Karin took a boat across Lake Lordamere and returned to Dalaran, where Khadgar told him Antonidas was waiting.
• Antonidas tested Karin’s mental strength and confirmed that he had reached the Sixth Ring.
• Karin recounted his experiences in Karazhan, including defeating Sargeras with the help of the Astral Plane Mage’s soul.
• Antonidas said he would take no more students, and Karin reported that the orcs threatened their world and that Lothar was organizing an Alliance.
• Antonidas revealed that King Terenas had invited him to a summit of the seven human kingdoms in five days and that he planned two student promotion ceremonies.

Karin and Khadgar received blue robes at their sixth-ring Promotion Ceremony in Dalaran. Afterward, Karin traded Archmage Ruin a passage about the Antimagic Field spell and accepted his apology for their past conflict.

• Khadgar told Karin that he had also broken through to the sixth ring, prompting Karin to hit him for advancing while lazing around.
• Karin and Khadgar received blue mage's robes at a Promotion Ceremony in Ruin Square attended by Antonidas, Modera, and Drenden.
• Capernian explained that Prince Kael'thas had been summoned by the king and sent his congratulations to Karin.
• Archmage Ruin asked Karin for information about the Antimagic Field spell in Karazhan's records.
• Karin exchanged the passage he remembered for an ounce of arcanite, and Ruin apologized for offending him years earlier.

Khadgar sought out a martial arts teacher after Karin gave him a black eye, while Karin warned Kel'Thuzad that a vision showed orcs riding enslaved red dragons to attack Dalaran. Back at the Violet Citadel, Antonidas told Karin that the Council of Six had deadlocked on declaring all-out war against the Horde.

• Kel'Thuzad noticed Khadgar's black eye, and Khadgar fled before Karin could explain what had happened.
• Khadgar asked a battlemage to take him to a Pandaren monk so he could become the monk's apprentice and learn to fight bare-handed.
• Karin told Kel'Thuzad that his vision showed orcs enslaving red dragons and attacking Dalaran, and suggested that Lady Daisy move to Silvermoon City.
• Kel'Thuzad agreed to persuade Lady Daisy to leave for Silvermoon City.
• Antonidas told Karin that the Council of Six had split 3-3 on declaring all-out war against the Horde, as most members believed the Horde would not march north soon.

Anduin Lothar brought King Varian Wrynn and Stormwind’s surviving nobles to Lordaeron, seeking to unite the human kingdoms against the Horde. After King Terenas welcomed them, Lothar warned him that the threat endangered the survival of their race.

• Lothar vowed to unite the continent’s rulers and ordered Reginald to raise the ancient Flag of the Arathor Empire.
• Lothar and Varian arrived in Lordaeron City, where Garithos welcomed them and escorted them to the royal palace.
• King Terenas greeted Varian and promised to help him reclaim his homeland, while the queen invited Varian to meet Calia and Arthas.
• Terenas asked Lothar what he intended to do, and Lothar clarified that he had come not for refuge but to warn of a threat to humanity’s survival.

Arthas met the exiled Varian Wrynn, who had become king after his father Llane died defending Stormwind City. The two princes grew close while training and playing together, until Calia told them the leaders of the Seven Kingdoms had arrived at the Royal Palace.

• Uther told Arthas that exiles from Stormwind City had arrived and that Anduin Lothar was bringing the newly crowned King Varian to meet Terenas.
• Arthas welcomed Varian and heard him vow to avenge Llane, who had been killed by a traitor, and to kill the orcs.
• Arthas and Varian went to bathe, then became close companions as they fenced and played over the following days.
• Varian repeatedly defeated Arthas in their practice bouts, though he reassured Arthas that he would grow stronger with age.
• Calia told Arthas and Varian that the leaders of the Seven Kingdoms of Men had arrived at the Royal Palace and asked if they wanted to see them.

Karin accompanied Antonidas through a portal to Lordaeron for a meeting with the kingdom’s leaders. He met Alonsus Faol and Turalyon, then watched King Terenas welcome Daelin Proudmoore and Genn Greymane as Antonidas warned him about the rulers’ political characters.

• Karin and Antonidas arrived in Lordaeron, where Karin met Alonsus Faol and learned that most of Faol’s Northshire colleagues remained in the south.
• Faol introduced his student Turalyon before he and Antonidas entered King Terenas’s meeting room with Karin.
• Antonidas privately warned Karin not to mistake Terenas’s benevolent appearance for kindness and advised him to stay alert around the king.
• Daelin Proudmoore arrived, and Antonidas described him as an admiral-minded king with a disorderly private life.
• Genn Greymane arrived, and Antonidas told Karin that the King of Gilneas was clever but put his kingdom and family first.

Thoradin Trollbane arrived at the conference and pledged Stromgarde’s loyalty to Anduin Lothar as a descendant of Arathor’s emperors, but Lothar refused the imperial title and stressed that he was only Stormwind’s regent. Aiden Perenolde then arrived last, revealing the poor relations between Alterac and Stromgarde.

• Thoradin Trollbane entered the conference room, wept at the sight of Arathor’s royal banner, and knelt to pledge Stromgarde’s loyalty to Lothar.
• Lothar helped Thoradin rise and refused to claim the emperor’s authority, saying he had raised the banner to unite humanity against the Horde.
• Terenas urged Thoradin to take his seat, and Thoradin joined High Priest Alonsus Faol.
• Aiden Perenolde arrived late, and Daelin Proudmoore criticized him for always being last.
• Thoradin snorted at Aiden and moved closer to Faol, while Karin inferred that Stromgarde and Alterac had poor relations.

Anduin Lothar warned the gathered rulers that the Horde would threaten their kingdoms and urged them to unite. Aiden Perenolde rejected Lothar’s account, but Antonidas confirmed that Lothar was right.

• Terenas Menethil introduced Anduin Lothar, who described the Horde’s destruction of Stormwind and warned that it would attack other kingdoms.
• Daelin Proudmoore, Genn Greymane, and Thoradin Trollbane considered possible routes of invasion, while Aiden Perenolde dismissed the danger to Alterac.
• Lothar urged the human kingdoms to unite and seek help from their former allies.
• Aiden Perenolde accused Lothar of exaggerating the threat and blamed him for Stormwind’s fall.
• Thoradin Trollbane drew his sword against Aiden, but Antonidas stopped him with a shield and Trollbane defended Lothar’s lineage.
• Antonidas ended the dispute and confirmed that Lothar was right.

Antonidas and Lothar warned the human rulers that the Horde’s warlocks made the orcs too dangerous for any kingdom to face alone. The Seven Kingdoms and the Brotherhood of the Light formed the Alliance, chose Lothar as its grand marshal, and ended the meeting with a toast.

• Antonidas confirmed that the Horde and its warlocks posed a serious threat, while Lothar described how orc spellcasters supported the Horde’s troops.
• Terenas proposed uniting the human kingdoms into an Alliance, and Stromgarde, Kul Tiras, Gilneas, the Kirin Tor, and Alterac agreed to join.
• Terenas nominated Lothar as grand marshal, and six leaders supported him while Greymane and Perenolde abstained.
• The leaders raised glasses and toasted, “For the Alliance!”

Zaela arrived in Stormwind with a red Dragon and reported that Zuluhed’s Dragonmaw Clan had enslaved Dragons using the Dragon Soul. Gul'dan presented Orgrim with Talon Bloodmaw and other Death Knights, and the chapter ended with Orgrim rallying the Horde’s army.

• Zaela introduced herself to Orgrim and reported that Zuluhed’s warriors had found the Dragon Soul and captured Dragons at Grim Batol.
• Zaela demonstrated her Dragon’s fiery breath, and she said the Dragonmaw Clan had five Dragon Riders with plans to increase their number tenfold within six months.
• Gul'dan and Cho'gall arrived in chains, and Gul'dan showed Orgrim human corpses raised as Death Knights, including Talon Bloodmaw.
• Talon Bloodmaw refused to swear personal allegiance to Orgrim but pledged loyalty to the Horde, and Orgrim accepted him.
• Orgrim raised Doomhammer atop Stormwind’s walls as Orcs, Death Knights, and Dragons answered his rallying cry: “For the Horde!”

Karin befriended Turalyon during the Alliance summit, sparred with him, and traded Thunder Hemp Seeds for swordsmanship lessons. After the summit, Anduin Lothar asked Antonidas to let Karin serve as his adjutant, and Antonidas agreed after Karin returned briefly to Dalaran.

• Karin struck up a friendship with Turalyon, who told him about his humble upbringing and training under a prison guard lieutenant before becoming Faol's student.
• Karin and Turalyon skipped the remaining summit sessions and spent their time wandering the Royal Palace and talking.
• Karin and Turalyon sparred with swords, and Turalyon taught Karin his techniques while Karin gave him Thunder Hemp Seeds.
• A dwarf messenger reported that the Horde had occupied Dun Morogh's mines, prompting Daelin Proudmoore, Aiden Perenolde, and Thoradin Trollbane to return to their kingdoms.
• Terenas Menethil took charge of Alliance logistics, while Genn Greymane became deputy supreme commander without troops.
• Anduin Lothar asked Antonidas to make Karin his adjutant, and Antonidas agreed to send him after a brief return to Dalaran.

Karin returned to Dalaran through an unstable portal and met Prince Kael'thas at Sunstrider Spire after learning Kael'thas wanted to discuss the orcs. The chapter ended as Kael'thas asked Karin what he thought of the orc threat.

• Karin vomited after crossing the unstable portal, and the portal administrator explained that its use cost thousands of gold coins per minute.
• Antonidas told Karin that Kael'thas had written asking to see him, likely to discuss the orcs, and Karin chose to visit Sunstrider Spire.
• Baron Sanguinar welcomed Karin, and Archmage Rommath escorted him to meet Kael'thas.
• Karin recounted some of his experiences in the South while Kael'thas listened and asked questions.
• Kael'thas chatted with Karin before asking what he thought of the threat posed by the orcs.

Karin warned Kael'thas that Quel'Thalas's refusal to join the Alliance could leave it vulnerable if the Horde allied with the Amani Trolls. Kael'thas could not overturn Silvermoon's decision, but he planned to strengthen the volunteers and watch the trolls while Karin maintained his ties with Anduin Lothar.

• Kael'thas told Karin that Silvermoon's leaders had decided against joining the war or the Alliance, sending only volunteers to Lordaeron to honor their ancient oath.
• Karin explained that the High Elves' inconsistent conduct could fuel future human hostility and warned that an alliance between the Horde and Amani Trolls might threaten Quel'Thalas.
• Karin said his visions of Karazhan had shown trolls resembling Forest Trolls among the Horde's future army, and Kael'thas thanked him for warning the Quel'dorei.
• Kael'thas said the Council's decision could not be changed, but proposed increasing Alleria Windrunner's volunteer force and monitoring the Amani Trolls.
• Kael'thas asked Karin to use his relationship with Anduin Lothar to help Quel'Thalas if danger arose, and Karin vowed that he would always belong to Quel'Thalas.

Karin Sunfury returned to Lordaeron and learned that the Horde had conquered most of Khaz Modan, killing King Modan Bronzebeard with the help of mysterious death knights. As Lothar considered how the Alliance could counter their fearsome powers, High Priest Alonsus Faol arrived with an idea to protect priests and others from the Horde.

• Karin Sunfury returned to Lordaeron and learned that the Horde had defeated the dwarves, killed Modan Bronzebeard, and occupied most of Khaz Modan.
• Muradin Bronzebeard delivered Magni Bronzebeard's letter asking Ironforge to join the Alliance.
• Muradin explained that black knights had used terrifying cries and powerful spells to rout the dwarven defenders and kill Modan.
• Karin identified the black knights as death knights summoned through necromancy and suggested the Holy Light might counter them.
• Lothar worried that priests could not safely fight on the front lines, but Alonsus Faol arrived and said he had an idea to help them survive the war.

High Priest Alonsus Faol introduced four candidates for his new order of Holy Light-wielding warriors, the Paladins, to Lothar and Karin. After Turalyon sparred with Lothar, Karin predicted that he or Tirion Fordring had the most promise, leaving Lothar puzzled by Tirion’s inclusion.

• Faol explained his plan to create the Paladins and introduced Uther, Saidan Dathrohan, Tirion Fordring, and Meralas Turalyon to Lothar and Karin.
• Uther pledged to fight for Lothar and the Alliance while explaining his devotion to Faol.
• Lothar challenged the Paladins to spar, and Turalyon fought him until Lothar disarmed him after a dozen exchanges.
• Lothar praised Turalyon’s skill and said battle experience might make him a match for Lothar.
• After the Paladins left for prayers, Karin named Turalyon or Tirion as the most promising, and Lothar questioned why she favored Tirion.

Karin prepared to go to Alterac, where a hidden secret might help turn the war against the Horde. Khadgar arrived disguised as a monk and begged Karin for help after accidentally kicking Mr. Bigglesworth into the air along with his food bowl.

• Lothar ordered Genn to strengthen Gilneas's coastal defenses, Uther to join the Wildhammer Dwarves at Aerie Peak, and Karin to take a small force to Alterac.
• Karin began planning for Alterac and its secret, then went to meet a bald young visitor who turned out to be Khadgar.
• Khadgar explained that he had become a pandaren monk's apprentice after Karin wounded his pride, and that his master had taught him Drunken Fist and Crane Kick.
• Khadgar confessed that he had accidentally kicked Mr. Bigglesworth into the air with his food bowl while practicing Crane Kick.
• Karin advised Khadgar to admit his mistake to Kel'Thuzad, though he doubted Kel'Thuzad would forgive him.