Recaps

Orgrim Doomhammer led the Horde through the mountains, planning a surprise attack on Quel'Thalas with the forest trolls while the Alliance was occupied in the Hinterlands. After learning of the threat, Anduin Lothar ordered Alliance forces to rush north and reinforce the elves.

• Orgrim ordered the Horde to abandon catapults and baggage so it could cross the mountains quickly, then explained his plan to attack Quel'Thalas with Zul'jin's Amani trolls.
• Zul'jin claimed the Amani scouts had found gaps in Quel'Thalas's defenses, while Orgrim said Gul'dan and his servants would counter the elves' spellcasters.
• Uther reported to the Alliance commanders in Stromgarde that the Horde and trolls had joined forces and were heading toward Quel'Thalas.
• Alleria feared for Quel'Thalas and her sister Sylvanas, who was defending the Ghostlands, while Lothar learned that Karin Sunfury had gone ahead to warn the elves.
• Lothar ordered the Alliance to travel light and reinforce Quel'Thalas within ten days.

After flying to Tranquillien, Karin Sunfury warned Sylvanas Windrunner that the Horde and Amani Trolls were preparing to invade Quel'Thalas. He left to seek Kane Sunfury’s help in warning the Silvermoon Council.

• Karin flew for three days and nights to Tranquillien and changed from a raven into an elf before the ranger scouts.
• Sylvanas met Karin and recognized him as the former apprentice who had become a powerful archmage.
• Karin marked Aerie Peak on a map and told Sylvanas that the Horde’s main army had gathered there and planned to attack Quel'Thalas.
• Karin warned Sylvanas that the Horde had allied with the Amani Trolls and urged her to prepare for the invasion.
• Karin flew away and decided to seek Kane Sunfury’s help in reaching the Silvermoon Council.

Karin returned to Sunfury Spire and reunited with Oliver and Tiffany Sunfury before seeking his mentor, Kane Sunfury. After Karin warned Tiffany that the Horde had gathered in the Hinterlands and allied with the trolls, she hurried to take him to Kane.

• Karin was stopped at Sunfury Spire by an Arcane Construct because he had lost his pass.
• Oliver recognized Karin, deactivated the construct's alarm, and caught up with his old friend.
• Oliver told Karin that his work at the Sunfury Library and Chief Tiffany's support had helped him prosper.
• Karin reunited with Tiffany and matched her mental pressure, showing that he had grown stronger than her.
• Karin told Tiffany about the Horde's forces in the Hinterlands and its alliance with the trolls, and she rushed to take him to Kane Sunfury.

Karin warned Kane Sunfury that Orcs and Trolls were joining forces to attack Quel'Thalas, and Kane agreed to report the threat to the king and convene the Council. After resting, Karin accompanied Kane to the Royal Court, where they encountered Lady Dawnblade.

• Karin reunited with his mentor, Kane Sunfury, at the top of Sunfury Spire, and Kane welcomed his advancement to Sixth Ring Blue Robe.
• Karin recounted his experiences after leaving Quel'Thalas and warned Kane that Orcs and Trolls planned to attack the kingdom.
• Kane said he would report the warning to the king and convene the Council, while telling Karin to rest before they met the Royal Court.
• After sleeping in his resting chamber, Karin joined Kane and they teleported to the Royal Court the next morning.
• Kane led Karin through the castle, where they greeted Lady Dawnblade.

Karin warned the Silvermoon Council that the Horde and Amani Trolls were preparing to invade Quel'Thalas. The king and council heard his report, but Lana'thel doubted the Horde could breach Quel'Thalas's magical defenses.

• Karin met Solanian Dawnblade, who praised his promise and wished him success in persuading the king and council.
• Kane brought Karin into the Silvermoon Council chamber, where Karin saw King Anasterian holding Flamestrike.
• Anasterian asked Karin about Kane's warning, and Karin said the Horde had joined forces with the Amani Trolls and could reach Quel'Thalas's borders within three days.
• Lana'thel dismissed Karin's warning and argued that Quel'Thalas's Rune Stone defenses would stop the Horde.
• Karin frowned as he realized the council might underestimate the danger.

Karin warned the Silvermoon Council that the Horde posed a serious threat, invoking Medivh’s death to overcome the High Elves’ confidence. King Anasterian ordered preparations for war and nominated Karin to the Silvermoon Council; as Karin learned what membership entailed, the Grand Archmage arrived at the Royal Court.

• Karin challenged Lana'thel’s confidence by recalling the Troll Wars and warning of the Horde’s strength.
• Karin claimed that Medivh had died fighting the Horde, alarming the councilors and making Lana'thel uncertain.
• King Anasterian ordered Quel'Thalas to prepare its defenses and nominated Karin for the Silvermoon Council.
• Tiffany explained that Blue Robe councilors had limited voting rights and could miss meetings for up to fifty years before losing membership.
• A white-robed figure entered the Royal Court, and Tiffany identified him as the Grand Archmage.

The Horde reached the forest near Quel'Thalas as Doomhammer prepared a surprise attack after Gul'dan broke the elves' magical barrier. Alleria and Lothar hurried toward the kingdom, but their exhausted horses forced them to pause, leaving its defense to the warning Karin had carried ahead.

• Doomhammer and Zul'jin reached the edge of the forest with Witherbark and Vilebranch trolls joining the Horde, and Zul'jin vowed to destroy the elves.
• Alleria urged the Alliance cavalry onward, but Lothar ordered a two-hour rest because the horses could not keep galloping; he said Karin had already warned Quel'Thalas.
• The Horde's peons felled trees to make siege weapons as Doomhammer inspected their preparations.
• Gul'dan gave Doomhammer a rune stone and said he had broken the elves' magical barrier, while Zul'jin recognized the stones as a source of fear for the trolls.
• Doomhammer confirmed Talon Bloodmaw and Dekara were in position, ordered the Horde to prepare a surprise attack, and allowed Gul'dan to keep the stones under Broxigar's watch.

Zul'jin led Amani Trolls into Quel'Thalas to ambush an elven ranger squad, hoping to reclaim their homeland with the Horde's help. The ambush failed to catch the elves by surprise, and Zul'jin decided to warn the Warchief that their larger attack might be compromised.

• Zul'jin recalled the Amani Trolls' history of defeat by the elves and his hope that the Horde would help them reclaim their homeland.
• Zul'jin spotted a ten-elf ranger squad moving through the forest and sent dozens of trolls to attack.
• Zul'jin killed one ranger as the trolls fell upon the squad, but the elves quickly armed themselves and fled in several directions.
• The trolls killed several fleeing elves, but three escaped.
• Zul'jin recognized that the elves had been expecting an attack and set out to report the warning to the Warchief.

Orgrim ordered the Horde to abandon its failed surprise attack and assault the High Elves head-on, while the Horde swiftly overran the Ghostlands’ outposts. Sylvanas ordered the surviving Rangers to retreat toward Eversong Woods as the Horde closed in on Tranquillien.

• Orgrim ordered Rend and Maim to attack the forest and told Kilrogg and Grommash to advance ahead of schedule.
• Lor'themar led the Farstriders defending Deatholme, but Grommash’s warriors broke through their lines and captured the outpost.
• Grommash wounded Lor'themar during the fighting, and the Horde killed most of the defenders and raised its banner over Deatholme.
• Sylvanas received reports that Morningstar Tower, Deatholme, and Suncrown Village had fallen, while Lord Hawkspear’s force suffered devastating losses in an ambush.
• Sylvanas saw the Horde closing in on Tranquillien and ordered the remaining Ranger forces to retreat toward Eversong Woods.

Karin led the evacuation of the remaining High Elf villages in the Ghostlands as the Horde invasion began. He rescued the villagers of Windrunner Village, where Dar'Khan died, then ordered everyone to retreat north.

• Karin split his mages between Goldenmist Village and Windrunner Village to evacuate the last villagers.
• After spotting smoke rising near Windrunner Village, Karin sent the Goldenmist villagers away and flew south to investigate.
• Karin learned that Horde fighters had reached Windrunner Village and found Dar'Khan battling an Orc Warlock and a hellhound.
• Karin killed the hellhound and helped defeat the Horde invaders, but Dar'Khan died from his wounds.
• Karin told the gathered mages, villagers, and rangers to retreat north before the Horde's reinforcements arrived.

Sylvanas's rangers retreated to Morningwind Hold, where Kane Sunfury and the Spellbreakers saved the arriving civilians from a two-headed ogre. As Sylvanas reunited with Vereesa and Lirath, Kurdran's gryphon riders headed for Quel'Thalas and attacked a bronze dragon they believed belonged to the Horde.

• Sylvanas's rangers fell back to Morningwind Hold after suffering heavy losses to the Horde.
• Sylvanas opened the gates for Vereesa and other civilians as a two-headed ogre pursued them.
• Kane Sunfury led the Spellbreakers down from the mountain and killed the ogre with a single strike.
• Sylvanas embraced Lirath and thanked Vereesa for bringing him to safety.
• Kurdran Wildhammer and Mankrik spotted a bronze dragon while leading gryphon riders north to reinforce Quel'Thalas.
• Kurdran ordered the Wildhammer gryphon riders to attack the dragon, and hundreds of gryphons swooped toward it.

Orgrim Doomhammer ordered Gul'dan’s two-headed ogres to lead an assault on the High Elves, with Kilrogg’s Bleeding Hollow Clan and Talon Bloodmaw’s death knights following. Sylvanas Windrunner and the defenders battered the ogres with cannons, arrows, and magic, but the surviving attackers reached the fortress as close combat loomed.

• Gul'dan showed Orgrim Doomhammer a force of about two hundred blue-skinned two-headed ogres, who demonstrated their spellcasting ability.
• Orgrim ordered the two-headed ogres to lead the charge and commanded Kilrogg’s clan and Talon Bloodmaw’s death knights to follow.
• Sylvanas Windrunner recognized the ogres approaching the fortress and ordered the rangers to wait until they were within two hundred yards before firing.
• Solarian ordered the arcane cannons to fire, and the Horde spread out to reduce the bombardment’s losses.
• The rangers and cannons killed more than half the ogres, while Sylvanas shot their two-headed commander and the survivors pressed toward the defenses.
• Kane Sunfury placed the Spellbreakers in front of the rangers as Solarian and her mages prepared to cast into the Horde’s lines.

The Orcs pressed into the High Elves’ positions, where Kane Sunfury defeated the Death Knight Talon Bloodmaw before Gul'dan entered the battle. Gul'dan struck Kane with soul-searing green flames, and Solarian rushed to help him only to be overcome by negative emotions.

• The Orcs charged the High Elves’ defenses, and Kane Sunfury led the Spellbreakers in holding them back.
• Kane Sunfury pierced Talon Bloodmaw with Arcane-charged blades, forcing the Death Knight to vanish.
• Orgrim Doomhammer ordered Gul'dan to kill the Elven spellcasters and secretly told Samuro to watch him.
• Gul'dan cast emerald-green flames that destroyed Kane’s defenses and left him in agony.
• Solarian Blinked to Kane’s side, but Gul'dan’s magic overwhelmed her with weakness, exhaustion, and fear.

King Anasterian Sunstrider intervened to save Kane Sunfury and Solarian, then fought Gul'dan alongside the Grand Archmage. Both sides' strongest mages fell, and Orgrim Doomhammer ordered eight clan chieftains to launch an all-out assault on the High Elves.

• Karin watched helplessly as Gul'dan defeated Kane Sunfury and Solarian, fearing the High Elves' position would fall.
• King Anasterian Sunstrider appeared, drove away the fel flames and curse afflicting Kane and Solarian, and confronted Gul'dan with Flamestrike.
• Anasterian battled Gul'dan, but Karin noticed the aging king gradually losing ground.
• The Grand Archmage ambushed Gul'dan, and the combined attack left Gul'dan badly wounded while Anasterian and the Grand Archmage collapsed.
• Orgrim Doomhammer ordered eight clan chieftains to lead an all-out attack on the High Elves' position.

The Horde’s assault threatened to overrun the Quel'dorei defenses at Morningwind Hold, but Alliance reinforcements arrived and attacked the Horde from the rear. Orgrim Doomhammer realized the Horde’s plan had failed and ordered his forces to withdraw to a prearranged location.

• Gul'dan and the two white-robed mages were carried from the battlefield, while Sylvanas Windrunner prepared the elves for a massive Horde assault.
• The Horde overwhelmed the elves’ first defensive line, forcing them to retreat as gryphon riders arrived as Alliance reinforcements.
• Bolvar Foxtain led Alliance cavalry into the Ghostlands, where hidden orcs ambushed them, and he fought Varok Saurfang after their weapons were broken.
• Orgrim Doomhammer watched the gryphon riders attack and learned from Broxigar that Alliance cavalry had attacked Varok’s forces from the rear.
• Orgrim Doomhammer concluded that the Horde’s plan had failed and ordered the front lines and rear forces to withdraw to the prearranged location.

The Horde retreated from Morningwind Hold when Anduin Lothar’s reinforcements arrived, allowing Quel'Thalas’s defenders to counterattack. After Karin reunited with Liadrin and Alleria met Vereesa, King Anasterian pledged Quel'Thalas to the Alliance as the leaders prepared to pursue the fleeing orcs.

• Sylvanas ordered Quel'Thalas’s defenders to counterattack when she heard approaching hoofbeats, and they pursued the retreating orcs alongside gryphon riders.
• Karin found Liadrin healing the wounded, and they embraced as he reassured her that the battle was won.
• Alleria and Sylvanas’s rangers caught orcs trying to cross a river, where Vereesa and her rangers helped prevent any from escaping.
• Anduin Lothar met King Anasterian at Morningwind Hold, and Anasterian praised him for saving Quel'Thalas.
• King Anasterian declared that Quel'Thalas would join the Alliance, and Lothar vowed to stop the orcs from escaping by sea.

Orgrim Doomhammer ordered the Horde to retreat by sea after admitting it could no longer win, while he prepared the Dragonmaw Clan to ambush the advancing Alliance forces. Kurdran Wildhammer encountered Zaela and a host of red dragons as they unleashed flames over the battlefield.

• Orgrim Doomhammer explained that the Horde lacked the supplies and reinforcements to capture the elven city, and Grommash Hellscream and Zul'jin reluctantly accepted the retreat.
• Orgrim revealed the Horde fleet offshore, and Zul'jin pledged that the Forest Trolls would leave with the Horde and return to destroy the elves.
• After a scout reported that humans and elves were attacking, Orgrim ordered Zaela to use the forest as a battlefield and burn the pursuers.
• Kurdran Wildhammer and Skare fought alongside the Alliance forces, and an elven ranger killed the orc they had targeted before Kurdran could strike.
• Kurdran saw Zaela riding a huge red dragon, followed by dozens more dragons that breathed flames.

Kurdran and the Alliance forces fled as dragons set Quel'Thalas ablaze, while Sylvanas and Alleria reached the northern ice wall. Alleria learned Windrunner Village had been evacuated and vowed revenge on the Horde, especially the orcs.

• A red dragon engulfed two dwarves and their gryphons, then swallowed Faland and his gryphon as Kurdran watched.
• Kurdran ordered the humans, dwarves, and elves to retreat when he realized the dragons were setting the forest on fire.
• Alleria climbed to the treetops and saw dragons spreading flames across Quel'Thalas, then fled north with Sylvanas.
• Sylvanas and Alleria crossed a massive ice wall maintained by Quel'Thalas mages, where Lana'thel said the wounded king and Lord Biluo Hua could only stop the fire from spreading farther north.
• Alleria feared her family was trapped in Windrunner Village, but Sylvanas told her the residents had already been evacuated.
• Alleria blamed the Horde, especially the orcs, for the disaster and vowed to make them suffer.

The Alliance learned that the Horde had escaped Quel'Thalas by sea, and Derek Proudmoore's fleet intercepted the Horde ships. Dragons attacked the Kul Tiras fleet, destroying the Jaina as Derek fought back.

• Lana'thel reported that the Alliance had contained the dragonfire, while Sylvanas said the evacuated civilians had escaped harm.
• Kurdran reported that the Horde had departed by sea with the dragons, and Karin urged the Alliance to support the Kul Tiras fleet.
• Derek Proudmoore pursued the Horde fleet toward Quel'Thalas and ordered his ships to attack after spotting orcs aboard its vessels.
• The Kul Tiras fleet sank a Horde warship, but at least thirty dragons swooped down and set the Jaina ablaze.
• Derek took control of the Tiragarde's main cannon and fired at the attacking dragons.

The Gryphon Riders and Dragonhawk Riders reached the wreckage of Kul Tiras’s fleet and rescued the survivors. Karin found Derek mortally wounded, and after Derek asked him to protect his younger sister, he died before Karin could bring him to the priests.

• Karin, Kurdran Wildhammer, and the riders found seven red dragon corpses and the shattered remains of Kul Tiras’s fleet.
• Kurdran ordered the riders to rescue the surviving Kul Tiran sailors and soldiers from the sea.
• Karin found Derek beside the wrecked Tiragarde and carried him away as Derek told him he had killed three dragons.
• Derek asked Karin to take his younger sister to Dalaran and died before they reached the Sun Temple.
• Liadrin examined Derek and told Karin that he was dead.

After the Alliance’s costly victory in Quel'Thalas, Karin and the leaders mourned Derek Proudmoore, while the Horde returned to the Arathi Highlands and withdrew for the winter. The war paused until spring, when both sides expected the fighting to resume.

• Daelin Proudmoore, Anduin Lothar, Anasterian Sunstrider, and Uther the Lightbringer attended Derek Proudmoore’s funeral in Silvermoon City, where Daelin swore vengeance on the Orcs.
• Karin watched the funeral with Liadrin, remembered Derek, and vowed that explosives would soon bring the Thandol Span down on the Horde.
• Orgrim Doomhammer returned to the Arathi Highlands and learned from Kilrogg Deadeye that the Horde had lost nearly thirty thousand warriors, many more wounded, and eleven Red Dragon Riders.
• Orgrim Doomhammer ordered the Horde clans to withdraw from the Thandol Span for the winter, despite Grommash Hellscream’s suggestion to attack the Alliance city.
• The Horde retreated to the Dwarven wetlands, bringing the fourth year of the Dark Portal war to an end as both sides prepared for spring.

Karin visited Liadrin at the Sun Temple, where Grand Archmage Biluo Hua tested his resolve and magical skill. Biluo Hua ended the confrontation by reassuring him that Vondelor only needed time to accept their relationship.

• Karin entered the Sun Temple and awkwardly greeted Vondelor, who snubbed him as he left.
• Liadrin told Karin that Biluo Hua wanted to meet him, and the Grand Archmage asked how serious their relationship was.
• Karin took Liadrin's hand and declared he wanted to spend his life with her, prompting Biluo Hua to threaten him with Time Stop and Light of Truth.
• Karin used Imprisonment to contain the Light of Truth, transformed into a raven, and pressed Glamdring against Biluo Hua, who had deliberately held back.
• Biluo Hua ended the spell and told Liadrin that Vondelor was not truly opposed to them, but needed time to accept their relationship.

Liadrin decided to travel to Stratholme for a Paladin baptism, and Karin gave her Glamdring as a gift. Meanwhile, Talon Bloodmaw tortured Gul'dan on Orgrim Doomhammer's orders and killed him, preparing to turn his soul into a Death Knight.

• Vondelor and Biluo Hua discussed Liadrin's decision to leave for Stratholme and Vondelor's difficulty accepting it.
• Liadrin told Karin she planned to seek a Paladin baptism from Bishop Faol in Stratholme.
• Karin gave Liadrin Glamdring as a present for the tenth anniversary of their meeting.
• Talon Bloodmaw tortured Gul'dan and revealed that Orgrim Doomhammer ordered his punishment for killing Durotan.
• Talon Bloodmaw stabbed Gul'dan through the heart and ordered Cho'gall to bring a human Knight's corpse for Gul'dan's transformation into a Death Knight.

After the Horde retreated from Quel'Thalas, the high elves and Aerie Peak joined the Alliance, while Karin stayed behind to study. Sylvanas visited Karin to apologize for her past treatment of him, and he slapped her once before declaring their score settled.

• The Horde withdrew from Quel'Thalas, and Silvermoon City and Aerie Peak joined the Alliance.
• Anduin Lothar led the Alliance armies to the Arathi Highlands, while Anasterian pledged to send high elf forces south in the spring.
• Liadrin left for Stratholme to seek paladin baptism, while Karin remained in Quel'Thalas to study at Sunfury Spire.
• Sylvanas visited Karin and thanked him for saving her family and warning Quel'Thalas about the Horde invasion.
• Sylvanas apologized for sending Karin into danger years earlier and asked how they could settle their dispute.
• Karin reminded Sylvanas of the past, slapped her once, and declared the score settled.

Kel'Thuzad arrived in Quel'Thalas to bring his wife, Daisy, and Karin back to Dalaran. After confronting Khadgar over his treatment of Mr. Bigglesworth, Kel'Thuzad secured Khadgar’s promise to meditate for twelve hours a day, and the group prepared to return to Dalaran.

• Khadgar noticed Sylvanas leaving Karin’s room and teased Karin about what had happened between them, while Karin warned him to keep it secret.
• Kel'Thuzad arrived with Kane Sunfury, who had helped settle Daisy with Tiffany, and Karin learned Kel'Thuzad had taken Alexis’s seat on the Council after reaching the Eighth Ring.
• Khadgar tried to sneak away, but Kel'Thuzad recognized him despite his shaved head and reminded him that he had injured Mr. Bigglesworth.
• Karin and Kel'Thuzad agreed that Khadgar would avoid punishment if he meditated for twelve hours each day, and Kel'Thuzad said they should return to Dalaran to plan against the Horde.