Chapter Summaries

Blackmoore welcomed the Dalaran mage Karin and his attendant, Mankrik, into Durnholde Manor while concealing the orc infant he had secretly raised. Once alone, Mankrik revealed himself to be Khadgar and used magic to sneak away in search of the thing Karin had mentioned.

• Blackmoore worried that the Horde’s advance and the secret orc infant on his estate could put him in danger.
• Karin arrived at Durnholde Manor with his supposedly ill attendant, Mankrik, and asked Blackmoore to let him rest there.
• Blackmoore agreed and warned Tammis Foxton to keep Mankrik away from the hidden orc infant.
• After Tammis left, Mankrik dispelled his feigned illness and revealed himself as Khadgar.
• Khadgar created a Mirror Image, turned invisible, and set out to search for the thing Karin had mentioned.

Karin told Alleria that the Frostwolf Clan, a powerful Horde clan, had been exiled and settled in the Alterac Mountains, and asked for her help finding them. Alleria doubted his account but agreed to help, suspecting his claim about Lord Lothar was his only lie.

• Alleria asked where Karin's Monk companion was, and Karin claimed he had fallen ill and been left at Durnholde Keep.
• Karin and Alleria led the Rangers north toward Alterac City while the Monk was absent.
• At the edge of the South Alterac Mountains, Karin showed Alleria a scrap bearing the Frostwolf chieftain's emblem and said the clan was in the Alterac Mountains.
• Karin explained that the Frostwolf Clan could have reached the mountains years earlier after being abandoned and exiled by the Horde.
• Karin said Medivh had opened the Dark Portal and claimed Lord Lothar knew about the Frostwolf Clan.
• Alleria accused Karin of lying but agreed to help, believing his statement about Lord Lothar was his only lie.

Karin arrived in Alterac with Quel'Thalas Rangers to help defend the kingdom against the Horde and met King Aiden Perenolde. After Perenolde mocked Lothar’s defeats, Karin asserted that he would stay in Alterac until he received new orders, and the king agreed to have General Hass show him the defenses.

• Karin reached Alterac with more than fifty Rangers who had served under Alleria, while the rest had gone with her on a secret mission.
• General Merrick Hass welcomed Karin as an Alliance envoy and brought him to meet King Aiden Perenolde.
• Karin learned that Lothar had lost battles at Faldir's Cove, the Thandol Span, and Refuge Pointe, and Perenolde ridiculed him.
• Karin released his spiritual power to make clear that he would remain in Alterac to fulfill his orders, frightening the king and drawing the court mage's attention.
• After the court mage spoke with Perenolde, the king accepted Karin's help and sent him with General Hass to inspect Alterac's defenses.

Karin arranged for Terosha and a force of High Elf Rangers to help Alterac defend the mountains, then learned about the Barov family and considered visiting Caer Darrow. Meanwhile, Alleria’s search for the Frostwolf Clan found a large footprint near Dandred Peak.

• Karin introduced Terosha to General Hass and said nearly five hundred Rangers would soon arrive to assist Alterac.
• Karin asked Hass about Alterac’s noble families and learned that Duke Aliden Barov controlled extensive lands, including Caer Darrow.
• Alleria divided her Rangers into squads to search the Alterac Mountains for the Frostwolf Clan, but they found no trace for nearly two weeks.
• A Ranger scout reported tracks at Dandred Peak, and Alleria hurried there to inspect them.
• Alleria saw a footprint much larger than an Elf’s or a human’s.

Karin visited Janice Barov at Caer Darrow Castle and offered her part of a powerful self-suggestion spell in exchange for a dangerous favor. After their discussion, Karin left the castle as a raven, and the All-Knowing Eye calculated that Janice was very likely to accept his terms.

• Karin transformed into a black raven, flew to Caer Darrow Island, and introduced himself to the Barov servants as a Kirin Tor mage seeking Lady Janice.
• Janice learned that the visitor wore a blue robe and received Karin in the castle's reception room.
• Karin introduced himself as Karin Sunfury, and Janice recognized his influential connections.
• Karin showed Janice part of the Self-Suggestion Spell and explained that he wanted a favor rather than her betrayal of her husband.
• Karin flew away from the castle as a raven, and the All-Knowing Eye estimated a 99.45% chance that Janice would accept his terms.

As King Perenolde and Alterac's nobles prepared for a hunt, Karin evaded the king's spies and met Khadgar, who had stolen an orc infant. Karin sent Khadgar to Alterac as his companion while he took the infant to Caer Darrow Island to continue the plan.

• King Perenolde felt reassured by the Alliance envoy's friendly conduct and joined Duke Alexi Barov's planned hunt, which drew nobles from across Alterac.
• General Hass sent elite archers to guard the hunt while Terosha and Karin declined to attend.
• Karin flew past Alterac's defenses and evaded the mages Perenolde had assigned to watch him.
• Khadgar gave Karin a sleeping orc infant he had stolen, and Karin explained why they had waited more than two months to take it.
• Karin told Khadgar to go to Alterac as his companion and set off for Caer Darrow Island with the infant.

After learning that Durotan and Draka’s son Go’el might still be alive, Drek’Thar ordered Snowsong to track him through the Alterac Mountains. The Frostwolf Clan prepared to find its future chieftain before the humans could take him north.

• Jabbar brought a captured woman to Drek’Thar after finding her in the mountains.
• Drek’Thar recognized a scrap of Frostwolf chieftain’s banner on the woman and stopped Jabbar from killing her.
• The woman explained that she and her companions had found an Orc infant with the banner in a castle west of the Alterac Mountains.
• Drek’Thar identified the infant as Go’el, son of Durotan and Draka, and resolved to prevent the northern humans from taking him.
• Drek’Thar kept the woman imprisoned and gave the banner scrap to Snowsong so she could track Go’el’s scent.

Janice Barov brought baby Alex to a royal hunt in the Alterac Mountains, where a horde of orcs ambushed the party. As Janice tried to escape with her child, a giant frostwolf revealed that the baby had turned into an orc.

• Janice Barov brought her feverish baby Alex to the hunt, and Thalnos inspected the Barov carriage before the party set out.
• King Aiden Perenolde and the nobles hunted a goat, then killed a pack of frostwolves that charged toward them.
• Orcs attacked the hunting party, killing nobles who had ridden ahead to claim the frostwolves.
• Janice realized the elf mage and Alliance envoy might be involved in the attack and rushed out of her carriage to save Alex.
• A giant frostwolf pounced on Janice, and she watched it lick Alex as his face turned green and revealed him to be an orc.

Karin’s altered Suggestion spell led Janice Barov to bring Thrall (Go'el) to the Alterac hunt in place of Alex, where the orcs seized the infant and killed Janice. Drek'Thar killed Alterac’s chief court mage, while Duke Falqueresta and the Syndicate assassins prepared to defend King Aiden Perenolde as the orcs surrounded them.

• Karin used the All-Knowing Eye to subtly tamper with Janice Barov’s Self-Suggestion Spell scroll and secretly switch Alex with the sleeping Thrall (Go'el).
• Janice realized Karin had manipulated her and that she had brought the orc infant to the hunt, but the huge white wolf and approaching orcs left her surrounded.
• Janice cast spells at the attackers and fell into a pool of blood.
• Drek'Thar defeated Alterac’s chief court mage, Thalnos, though the fight left him injured.
• Duke Falqueresta and six Syndicate assassins surrounded King Aiden Perenolde as the orcs blocked their escape routes, and Falqueresta called them to fight for Alterac.

High Elf Rangers reported Orcs in the Alterac Mountains, and General Hass rushed to rescue King Aiden Perenolde after learning the king was under attack. Drek'Thar's Frostwolf forces overwhelmed the king's escape party, while the infant Go'el was caught by an earth elemental.

• Alleria's adjutant told Karin that Orcs had been found in the Alterac Mountains and that Alleria had gone alone to investigate their camp.
• An assassin reported that Orcs had attacked King Aiden Perenolde, and General Hass assembled Alterac's soldiers to rescue him.
• Duke Falconcrest's Syndicate assassins fought through Orcs while escorting Perenolde, and Falconcrest killed Snowsong after she charged them carrying the infant Go'el.
• Drek'Thar summoned an earth elemental, which struck down Falconcrest and caught Go'el as the Orcs pursued the humans.
• Jabbar of the Frostwolf Clan caught King Aiden Perenolde and beheaded him.

General Merrick Hass led Alterac’s army into the mountains and found King Aiden Perenolde dead, while Duke Aliden Barov survived. Drek'Thar escaped with the infant Go'el as Jabbar and the Frostwolf warriors prepared to hold off the pursuing cavalry.

• General Hass’s cavalry attacked a group of orcs and frost wolves, then pursued them after seeing the slaughtered hunting party and Lady Janice’s body.
• Drek'Thar recognized the rescued orc baby as Go'el, Durotan’s son, and ordered the Frostwolf Clan to retreat when Nuosili warned that a large human army was approaching.
• General Hass found King Aiden Perenolde and Duke Falconcrest dead, while Aliden Barov survived; Hass rode on to avenge the king.
• Jabbar urged Drek'Thar to take Go'el to safety and led more than two hundred Frostwolf warriors to face the approaching cavalry.
• Drek'Thar transformed into a dire wolf and fled into the mountains with the awakened Go'el on his back.

Karin and Khadgar searched for Alleria Windrunner after she was captured by Frostwolf orcs, while Alleria fought to survive. Karin and Khadgar rescued her, and she agreed to keep the events secret before returning to her ranger.

• Karin and Khadgar followed a female ranger to the place where Alleria had first tracked the orcs, then began searching for her.
• Alleria waited for a chance to escape her captors, but the orcs accused her of leading them into a trap and attacked her.
• Alleria killed the orc leader with a hidden dagger before the others knocked her down.
• Karin's protective barrier shielded Alleria as Khadgar and others attacked the orcs, while Karin pursued one who escaped.
• Khadgar told Alleria that Karin considered their debts even and asked her to keep what happened secret; Alleria agreed and left with her adjutant.

After the Horde killed King Aiden Perenolde and many Alterac nobles, Merrick Hass mourned the dead and vowed to take the war to the Horde. His plan to march east depended on Lordaeron defending Alterac, leaving Duke Aliden Barov alarmed that King Terenas would gain influence over the kingdom.

• Merrick Hass ordered the orc dead burned and buried, then returned to Alterac City with the king's and nobles' remains.
• Hass insisted on a solemn funeral for King Aiden Perenolde, Queen, and the other dead despite Duke Aliden Barov's objections.
• At a memorial service a week later, Hass declared the Horde Alterac's mortal enemy and announced an all-out war and a march into the Arathi Highlands.
• Duke Aliden Barov protested that Alterac would be vulnerable if its army left, but Hass said King Terenas would send troops to defend the snowy mountains.
• Barov realized that Terenas's involvement might undo the preparations he had made.

Anachronos flew to the Eastern Kingdoms to stop a threat to the timeline, but Zaela and the Dragonmaw Red Dragon Riders attacked him. Wounded and fleeing over the Great Sea, he was mistaken for an enemy by Derek Proudmoore’s fleet and shot down.

• Anachronos left Tanaris and flew north toward the snowy mountain where he sensed a threat to history.
• Zuluhed allowed Zaela to lead the twenty Red Dragon Riders north to join the Horde’s war effort.
• Zaela ordered the Red Dragon Riders to attack Anachronos, and the Orcs wounded him as he tried to escape.
• Anachronos fled west over the Great Sea, where Derek Proudmoore ordered his fleet to fire on the approaching dragon.
• Derek fired the flagship Tiragarde’s main gun, striking Anachronos in the head and sending him into the Great Sea.

Turalyon prepared for his first real battle as the Alliance gathered to defend Stromgarde. Alterac arrived seeking revenge for King Perenolde, and the chapter ended with Turalyon overcoming his fear and joining the charge against the Horde.

• Turalyon admitted his nervousness to Tirion Fordring, who encouraged him to fight for Stromgarde.
• Alleria Windrunner arrived with elven rangers and revealed that Alterac would no longer remain in the mountains.
• General Merrick Hass brought Alterac’s forces and told Lothar that orcs had killed King Perenolde and Alterac’s nobles.
• Lothar and the Alliance honored Perenolde before the Horde army charged the positions at Stromgarde.
• Alleria’s rangers shot at the approaching orcs, then Lothar led the Alliance charge with Turalyon and the paladins following.

After retreating from Stromgarde, Orgrim Doomhammer met Zul'jin, leader of the Amani Trolls, and agreed to ally with them in exchange for their allegiance to the Horde. The alliance would guide the Horde through the forests to attack Quel'Thalas first.

• Orgrim ordered the Horde to withdraw from Stromgarde and sent the red dragons back to Grim Batol rather than deploy them.
• Kilrogg's scouts encountered forest trolls, and Kilrogg joined forces with Daakara to defeat nearby human villages.
• Zul'jin invited Orgrim to meet and offered a route through Amani forests toward the human kingdoms.
• Zul'jin proposed that the Horde destroy the elves of Quel'Thalas in return for the Amani Trolls' allegiance.
• Orgrim agreed on the condition that the forest trolls join the Horde, and Zul'jin accepted.

Karin and Khadgar traveled to Southshore and joined Derek Proudmoore’s fleet to reach the Hinterlands. Derek revealed that his ships had shot down a red dragon and offered Karin its recovered parts as spellcasting materials.

• Karin and Khadgar abandoned their exhausting flight plan and flew to Southshore to look for gryphons.
• Karin discovered that the gryphons had been requisitioned and met Derek Proudmoore at the harbor.
• Derek invited Karin and Khadgar aboard the Tiragarde, which was sailing to the Thandol Span to disrupt the Horde’s supply lines.
• Khadgar was carried aboard the flagship and became seasick as soon as it set sail.
• Derek told Karin that his fleet had shot down a red dragon using cannons fitted with anti-aircraft mounts.
• Derek offered Karin the dragon’s recovered eyes, heart, and scales as spellcasting materials.

Karin and Khadgar parted ways with Derek after the Alliance fleet bombarded the Horde supply convoy at Thandol Span. At Grim Batol, Zuluhed assigned Zaela and the Dragonmaw Clan a new mission to strike back at the Alliance navy.

• Derek ordered the Alliance fleet to bombard Thandol Span and the nearby harbor, scattering the Horde supply convoy.
• Karin told Derek about his unstable liquid gunpowder, which could one day make cannons powerful enough to destroy the bridge.
• Khadgar transformed into a dove and flew toward the Hinterlands, and Karin followed as a raven after saying farewell to Derek.
• At Grim Batol, Zuluhed told Zaela that the Warchief wanted the Dragonmaw Clan to punish the Alliance navy for attacking the convoy.
• Zaela vowed that the Red Dragon Riders would not disgrace the clan again.

Kurdran Wildhammer and his Gryphon Riders fought a Horde force invading the Hinterlands near Aerie Peak. Karin and Khadgar arrived to help, and Kurdran led the Wildhammers into the attack.

• Kurdran spotted green-skinned invaders in the Hinterlands and ordered his Gryphon Riders to attack.
• Kurdran's riders struck the Horde force, but the Orcs retreated into the forest and shot down Fegul's Gryphon.
• Karin and Khadgar reached the battle, transformed from a raven and a dove, and attacked the Orcs with magic.
• Kurdran watched Karin and Khadgar's attacks and ordered the Wildhammers to join their allies.

Karin and Khadgar helped Kurand Wildhammer defeat a group of Orcs, and Kurand agreed to join the Alliance and send warnings about the Horde. After Gryphon Riders found Trolls traveling north with the Orcs, Karin suspected they were heading for Quel'Thalas and left to respond.

• Karin and Khadgar helped Kurand Wildhammer and the Gryphon Riders kill the Orcs, then explained the Horde's invasion to Kurand.
• Kurand agreed to join the Alliance and sent Faland to inform Uther and warn Lord Anduin Lothar that the Horde might attack Quel'Thalas.
• Karin and Khadgar traveled with Kurand to Aerie Peak, where Kurand arranged a feast and sent Gryphon Riders to search for the Horde.
• A Gryphon Rider reported finding Trolls traveling north alongside Orcs, and Kurand and Karin feared they were heading toward the Elves' homeland.
• Karin left Aerie Peak, saying he needed to act but did not need the Wildhammers' help.