Chapter Summaries

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.

Karin asked Khadgar about Mr. Bigglesworth, and Khadgar began to explain what had happened. The account ended before he finished.

• Khadgar was described as being in serious trouble.
• Karin asked how Mr. Bigglesworth was.
• Khadgar paused and began answering, but did not finish.

Anduin Lothar welcomed Alleria Windrunner and a few hundred High Elf Rangers sent by Quel'Thalas to aid the Alliance. The chapter ended as Alleria greeted Karin, whom she already knew.

• Gavinrad Doom told Lothar that High Elf reinforcements had arrived at the camp.
• Lothar ordered the gawking soldiers to disperse and apologized to Alleria for their behavior.
• Alleria introduced herself as the leader of the Rangers and said she brought greetings from Anasterian Sunstrider and the Silvermoon Council.
• Alleria told Lothar that her few hundred Rangers were all the support Quel'Thalas could provide.
• Alleria asked Lothar to call her by her name, then greeted Karin when he arrived.

Karin met Alleria Windrunner and escorted her Rangers to their quarters, then returned to his tent with Khadgar, who was disguised as Mankrik. Just as Karin thought he would soon leave Alleria behind, Gavinrad Doomhammer delivered Lothar’s order assigning her Ranger Corps to Karin for the march to Alterac.

• Karin introduced Alleria Windrunner to the Alliance camp and showed her Rangers to the tents Lothar had prepared.
• Khadgar removed his borrowed armor, teased Karin about Alleria, and was lifted into the air by Karin’s magic when he tried to flee a duel.
• Karin acknowledged that Alleria disliked him and thought their paths would soon separate when the army marched for Alterac.
• Gavinrad Doomhammer told Karin that Lothar had assigned Alleria’s Ranger Corps to him and ordered them to depart for Alterac at once.

Karin Sunfury led an elven ranger contingent from Southshore toward Alterac, but deliberately chose a route that troubled Alleria Windrunner. He considered King Aiden Perenolde’s likely betrayal of the Alliance and the disastrous consequences awaiting Alterac.

• Twelve elven ships docked at Southshore, and Karin Sunfury led the Alliance contingent inland toward Alterac.
• Karin avoided sharing a ship with Alleria Windrunner and declined the romantic advances of several rangers.
• Alleria questioned the contingent’s northwestward route, but Karin insisted he had planned it and she returned to her rangers.
• Karin reflected on Antonidas’s judgment that Aiden Perenolde was foolish and recalled how Aiden would secretly guide the Horde through Alterac.
• Karin concluded that Aiden’s betrayal would bring ruin to Alterac whether the Alliance or the Horde won the war.

Karin led Alleria and her Rangers toward Durnholde Manor instead of Alterac City, prompting a confrontation over their detour from the war. He parted from the Rangers and asked Khadgar to help with his plans.

• Karin recalled that Aiden Perenolde's defection could open Lordaeron to the Horde and resolved to stop him.
• Alleria confronted Karin when she learned he was taking the column toward Durnholde Manor rather than directly to Alterac City.
• Karin argued that his detour was part of Lothar's mission and released Alleria's Rangers from his command.
• Alleria chose to camp by the river and wait for Karin to return, while Karin and Khadgar continued toward Durnholde Keep.
• Karin told Khadgar that he would need his help with the plans ahead, and Khadgar agreed.