World of Warcraft chronicles (29-42)

Chapter 29: The battle of Grim Batol

Meanwhile, on the southern continent, where war had long since shattered the peace, the fragmented remnants of the orcs fought desperately to survive. Although Grom Hellscream and his Warsong Clan escaped pursuit, Death-Eye and his Bloodmaul Clan were imprisoned in Lordaeron's internment camps. They staged an uprising, but the camp guards quickly wrested control back from the orcs.

Even so, unbeknownst to Alliance scouts, a powerful orc force still controlled the wilderness of northern Khaz Modan. The Dragonmaw Clan's chieftain, the notorious warlock Nekros, used an ancient artifact known as the Dragon Soul to control the red dragon queen Alexstrasza and her red dragons. With the dragon queen under his control, Nekros built a secret army in the abandoned Wildhammer fortress of Grim Batol. He planned to use his troops and the powerful Red Dragonflight to launch a new war against the Alliance, reunite the scattered orc Horde, and continue their conquest of Azeroth. His plan never came to fruition, however. A small party led by the human mage Rhonin destroyed the Dragon Soul and freed Alexstrasza from Nekros's control.

The enraged red dragons utterly destroyed Grim Batol and burned most of the surviving Dragonmaw clansmen to ash. When the Alliance threw the surviving orcs into internment camps, Nekros's plans came to an end. The Dragonmaw Clan's defeat marked the demise of the orc Horde and the complete end of the orcs' frenzied bloodlust.

Chapter 30: The lethargy of the orcs

Several months later, more orc prisoners were thrown into the camps. As camps everywhere filled to capacity, the Alliance had to build new ones on the plains south of the Alterac Mountains. To better maintain and supply the growing number of camps, King Terenas of the Kingdom of Lordaeron levied new taxes on every Alliance member state. This new tax and escalating border disputes left the Alliance dangerously unstable. By all appearances, the treaties signed during the human kingdoms' darkest and most difficult hours could be torn apart at any moment.

Amid the political unrest, guards at many camps began to notice a bewildering change in their orc prisoners. Escape attempts, and even fights among the orcs themselves, declined sharply. The orcs grew increasingly apathetic and lethargic. Hard as it was to believe, the orcs-once the most aggressive race on Azeroth-were beginning to lose their desire to fight. This strange phenomenon baffled Alliance leaders and continued to afflict the rapidly weakening orcs.

Some believed a strange disease that infected only orcs had left them in this drowsy state. But Archmage Antonidas of Dalaran proposed another hypothesis. After studying all the orc history available to him, Antonidas discovered that the orcs had been influenced by demonic power for hundreds of years. He believed they had been seduced and corrupted by demonic power long before their first invasion of Azeroth. Clearly, demons had poisoned the orcs' blood, granting them extraordinary strength, endurance, and aggression in return.

Antonidas believed the orcs' abnormal lethargy was not a disease, but the consequence of the demonic magic that had long made them terrifying and bloodthirsty wearing off. Although the symptoms were plain, Antonidas could find no cure for their current condition, and many of his apprentices and several prominent Alliance leaders considered seeking a cure for the orcs a reckless undertaking. After carefully examining their mysterious condition, Antonidas concluded that the only way to heal the orcs was through the power of the spirit.

Chapter 31: The new Horde

Aedelas Blackmoore, chief warden of the internment camps, watched over the captive orcs from his prison fortress of Durnholde. One particular orc always caught his interest: the orphaned infant he had found eighteen years earlier. Blackmoore raised the young male orc into a gifted slave and named him Thrall. He taught Thrall tactics, philosophy, and combat, and trained him as a gladiator. From beginning to end, the wicked warden sought to forge the young orc into a weapon.

Despite the warden's harsh upbringing, young Thrall grew into a strong and intelligent orc, but he knew in his heart that he should never spend his life as a slave. Upon reaching adulthood, Thrall learned about his race and the kin he had never seen, who had been defeated in the war and mostly confined to internment camps. Rumor held that the orc leader Orgrim Doomhammer had escaped Lordaeron and gone into hiding. Only one exiled clan still attempted to evade the Alliance's watchful gaze and conduct military operations in secret.

Learned but inexperienced, Thrall decided to escape Blackmoore's fortress and seek his people. During his travels, he visited the internment camps and found that his once-mighty race had become listless and weak. He found none of the proud warriors he had hoped to discover there. Thrall continued searching for the last orc chieftain, Grom Hellscream. Though humans relentlessly pursued Grom, he still retained the orcs' fierce desire to fight. With the aid of his Warsong Clan, Hellscream fought tirelessly to free his oppressed kin. Unfortunately, Hellscream could never find a way to save them. Moved by Hellscream's resolve, Thrall vowed to reclaim the orcs' warrior traditions.

Seeking his own clan, Thrall traveled north, hoping to encounter the legendary Frostwolf Clan. He learned that Gul'dan had exiled the Frostwolves early in the First War. He also learned that he was the sole child of the orc hero Durotan, the Frostwolf chieftain murdered twenty years earlier.

Under the protection of the respected shaman Drek'Thar, Thrall learned the ancient shamanic culture the orcs had forgotten under Gul'dan's evil rule. In time, Thrall became a powerful shaman and chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan. With the elements' aid, he resolved to free the imprisoned clans and save them from demonic temptation.

During his journey, Thrall met the chieftain Orgrim Doomhammer, who had lived in seclusion for years. As Thrall's father's closest friend, Doomhammer decided to follow the promising young Thrall and help him liberate the imprisoned clans. With the help of many experienced chieftains, Thrall finally succeeded in revitalizing the orcs and establishing a new spiritual faith for his people.

As a symbol of his people's rebirth, Thrall returned to Blackmoore's Durnholde Keep and freed the orcs in the camps. But during the battle to liberate one camp, Doomhammer fell in combat. Thrall took up Doomhammer's legendary warhammer, donned his black plate armor, and became the orcs' new leader. Over the following months, Thrall's Horde swept through many camps, forcing the Alliance to expend enormous effort countering his clever tactics. Encouraged by his closest friend and adviser, Grom Hellscream, Thrall fought to ensure that no orc would ever again become a slave-to humans or demons.

Chapter 32: The war of the spider

While Thrall freed his brethren in Lordaeron, Ner'zhul continued strengthening his base in Northrend. He erected an enormous citadel above Icecrown to control his vast undead army. But as the Lich King expanded his territory, a solitary, secretive kingdom began to resist his forces. This ancient subterranean kingdom, known as Azjol-Nerub, had been founded by a race of ruthless humanoid spiders. They sent elite troops to attack Icecrown and made Ner'zhul abandon his mad notion of conquering them. To his frustration, Ner'zhul discovered that these spiders were completely immune to his mind control and strong enough to rival his undead armies.

The nerubian spider kings commanded vast forces and possessed a network of underground tunnels spanning half of Northrend. Their guerrilla tactics left the Lich King scrambling without gaining anything. Ultimately, Ner'zhul won a hard-fought war against the nerubians. Under the assault of raging dreadlords and countless undead warriors, the spider kingdom of Azjol-Nerub was reduced to ruins.

Although the nerubians were immune to Ner'zhul's mental powers, his formidable necromancy allowed him to control the corpses of their warriors and make them fight for him. He also built fortresses and structures suited to these spider warriors. Having united Northrend under his rule, the Lich King prepared to undertake his true mission. He extended his thoughts into human lands and summoned every dark soul willing to hear his voice...

Chapter 33: Kel'Thuzad and the founding of the Scourge

Around the world, powerful humans were willing to heed the Lich King's psychic summons from Northrend. The most notable was Archmage Kel'Thuzad of Dalaran, a former member of the Kirin Tor, the council of mages that ruled Dalaran. For years, Kel'Thuzad had been considered an outsider because he insisted on studying forbidden necromancy. After eagerly learning everything he could access in the magical world, Kel'Thuzad grew frustrated with his peers' outdated, unimaginative doctrines. Upon hearing Ner'zhul's summons, the archmage, hungry for dark knowledge, devoted himself to communicating with the mysterious voice. Ultimately, he vowed to learn everything he could from the powerful Lich King.

Kel'Thuzad abandoned all his possessions and status, leaving the Kirin Tor and Dalaran forever. At the Lich King's direction, he sold all his property and hid the money in a secret location. After a long, arduous journey, Kel'Thuzad finally reached Northrend's frozen shores. The archmage crossed the ruins of the war-ravaged kingdom of Azjol-Nerub, where he witnessed Ner'zhul's terrible power. He began to believe that joining the mysterious Lich King was a wise and profitable decision.

After traveling through the frozen wilderness for months, Kel'Thuzad finally reached Icecrown. He entered Ner'zhul's dark citadel, deeply awed when the silent undead guards allowed him to pass. He followed the path downward until, at the glacier's lowest depths, he beheld the Frozen Throne and offered his soul to the Lich King. The Lich King was delighted with his new follower. He promised Kel'Thuzad immortality and great power in exchange for loyalty and obedience. Craving dark knowledge and power, Kel'Thuzad immediately accepted his first mission: to infiltrate the human world and establish a new cult that worshipped Ner'zhul as a god. To help the archmage complete his mission, Ner'zhul allowed him to retain his human body. The archmage performed his task brilliantly, using illusions and the power of religion to attract large numbers of exiled Lordaeronians. He described a beautiful new society to them-and gave each of them a figurine through which they could contact the Lich King at any time...

Kel'Thuzad secretly returned to Lordaeron and operated there for three years. Using his wealth and intelligence, he gathered humans willing to follow him and founded a sect called the Cult of the Damned. He promised his followers equal social standing and eternal life in exchange for their obedience to Ner'zhul. Within months, many people disillusioned with life joined his cult. Kel'Thuzad easily achieved his goal of turning people away from their faith in the Light to worship Ner'zhul's dark power. As the Cult of the Damned continued to grow, Kel'Thuzad also had to ensure that Lordaeron's rulers did not discover their secret activities.

While Kel'Thuzad enjoyed tremendous success in Lordaeron, the Lich King made his final preparations to attack the human world. Ner'zhul poured his plague energies into numerous artifacts known as the Plague Cauldrons and ordered Kel'Thuzad to take them to Lordaeron and hide them in villages controlled by the cult. Protected by loyal cultists, these cauldrons would serve as sources of the plague, continually releasing it to sweep through northern Lordaeron's towns and villages.

The Lich King's plan worked remarkably well. Many villagers in northern Lordaeron were infected almost instantly. As in Northrend, humans touched by the plague died, then became slaves utterly obedient to the Lich King. The followers led by Kel'Thuzad eagerly hoped to die and serve their master, seeking immortality through this means. As the plague spread, ever more zombies appeared in northern Lordaeron. Kel'Thuzad commanded this growing army and called it the Scourge-before long, it would march through Lordaeron's gates and erase humanity from the world forever.

Chapter 34: The fracturing of the Alliance

After the orcs' defeat, the leaders of the Alliance nations began arguing endlessly over territory and politics. King Terenas of the Kingdom of Lordaeron suspected that the fragile treaties signed in desperate times would not endure. He persuaded the Alliance leaders to contribute money and labor to rebuild Stormwind Keep, which the orcs had destroyed. These expenses, combined with the high cost of maintaining the orc internment camps, made many leaders-particularly King Genn Greymane of the Kingdom of Gilneas-feel they would be better off leaving the Alliance and no longer bearing those costs.

To make matters worse, the high elves of Silvermoon City suddenly announced that they were renouncing every treaty with the Alliance, claiming that humanity's poor military performance had led to vast stretches of their forests being burned during the Second War. Although Terenas tactfully reminded them that they would have nothing left if hundreds of brave humans had not given their lives defending Quel'Thalas, the elves stubbornly insisted on parting ways with the Alliance. After the elves' withdrawal, the Kingdom of Gilneas and the Kingdom of Stromgarde seized the opportunity to leave as well.

Although the Alliance had fractured, King Terenas still did his utmost to preserve his alliances with the other nations. King Admiral Proudmoore of the Kingdom of Kul Tiras and Azeroth's young king, Varian Wrynn, remained staunch supporters. The Kirin Tor council of mages, led by Archmage Antonidas, likewise declared its firm support for Terenas and the Alliance. Perhaps most heartening of all, the mighty dwarven king Magni Bronzebeard swore that the dwarves would never forget the Alliance's outstanding contribution to the liberation of Khaz Modan.

Chapter 35: The Scourge of Lordaeron

After long months of preparation, Kel'Thuzad led his Cult of the Damned in its first attack on Lordaeron, unleashing the undead plague. Uther and his paladins investigated the infected regions, hoping to find a remedy. Despite their continued efforts, the plague spread and even threatened the Alliance's unity.

As the undead threat swept across Lordaeron, King Terenas's only son, Prince Arthas, took on the burden of fighting the undead Scourge. Arthas successfully destroyed Kel'Thuzad, but the undead armies did not diminish. Instead, more fallen human soldiers became new undead. Faced with an unstoppable force and the frustration of defeat, Arthas adopted increasingly extreme measures of resistance. At last, his comrades warned him not to lose his noble character in the process.

Arthas's fear and determination brought about his eventual downfall. He traced the plague's source to Northrend, seeking to eliminate its threat entirely. Yet Prince Arthas ultimately became the Lich King's prey. He drew the cursed runeblade Frostmourne, firmly believing it could save his subjects. Although the sword granted him unfathomable power, it also stole the prince's soul and transformed him into the Lich King's mightiest death knight. Having lost his mind completely, Arthas led the undead Scourge back to his kingdom. Ultimately, he murdered his father, King Terenas, then led the Lich King's armies in overrunning all of Lordaeron.

Chapter 36: The Sunwell-the fall of Quel'Thalas

Although Arthas had defeated all his current enemies, he could not rid himself of Kel'Thuzad's ghost. The ghost told Arthas that he had to be resurrected for the Lich King's next plan. To accomplish this, Arthas had to carry his remains to the Sunwell in the high elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

Arthas and the undead Scourge invaded Quel'Thalas, trapping the elves behind their fragile defenses. Sylvanas Windrunner, ranger leader of Silvermoon City, fought valiantly but still proved no match for Arthas. He crushed the elven forces with overwhelming ease and reached the Sunwell. As a demonstration of his power, he transformed Sylvanas's remains into a banshee, making her forever undying and forever loyal to Arthas, the conqueror of Quel'Thalas.

At last, Arthas immersed Kel'Thuzad's remains in the Sunwell's sacred waters. Though the eternal waters were polluted in the process, Kel'Thuzad was resurrected as a lich of immense magical power. Reborn, he explained the Lich King's next plan to Arthas. As Arthas and his undead army marched south, Quel'Thalas lay deathly silent. The high elves' royal city, which had stood for more than nine thousand years, was no more.

Chapter 37: Archimonde's return and the journey to Kalimdor

After Kel'Thuzad's resurrection, Arthas led the undead Scourge against Dalaran. There, they sought the Book of Medivh, which they would use to summon Archimonde, who would personally lead the Burning Legion's final assault. Not even the Kirin Tor's mages could prevent Arthas's army from stealing the book. Soon, Kel'Thuzad gathered everything required for the spell. Ten thousand years after the failed first invasion of Azeroth, the mighty demon Archimonde and his forces appeared in the skies above Azeroth once again. Dalaran, however, was not their ultimate target. At Kil'jaeden's command, Archimonde and his demons followed the undead Scourge to Kalimdor, planning to destroy the World Tree, Nordrassil.

Amid the chaos, a lone, mysterious prophet offered guidance to the vulnerable races in peril. This prophet was none other than the last Guardian, Medivh, who was striving to make amends for his mistakes. Medivh warned the orc Horde and the human Alliance that danger was imminent and that they should unite immediately. But generations of hostility made cooperation impossible. Medivh had no choice but to warn the orcs and humans separately, using prophecy or even deception to guide them across the sea to the legendary continent of Kalimdor. Before long, the orcs and humans encountered the long-secluded Kaldorei civilization.

Thrall led the orcs through countless hardships as they explored Kalimdor's wastelands. Despite the generous assistance of the friendly tauren Cairne Bloodhoof and his mighty tauren warriors, many orcs began succumbing to the lust for slaughter that had tormented them for years. Thrall's lieutenant, Grom Hellscream, even betrayed the Horde and yielded to this demonic desire. Grom Hellscream and his Warsong Clan encountered the sentinels of the ancient night elves in Ashenvale. After confirming that the orcs had once again displayed their warlike nature, the demigod Cenarius came personally to drive them out. Yet Hellscream and his followers, consumed by boundless hatred and rage, killed Cenarius and defiled the ancient forest. In the end, Hellscream regained his honor by helping Thrall defeat Mannoroth, the demon lord who had originally cursed the orcs with his blood, filled with hatred and rage. With Mannoroth's death, the orcs were freed from the demonic curse forever.

While Medivh persuaded the orcs and humans to form an alliance, the night elves fought the Burning Legion alone with their own strength. The night elf high priestess Tyrande Whisperwind fought unaided, holding the demons and undead outside Ashenvale. Feeling that she too needed reinforcements, Tyrande went to awaken the druids who had slept for a thousand years. With the help of her beloved Malfurion Stormrage, she strengthened the defenses and drove back the Burning Legion. With the druids' aid, nature routed the Burning Legion and the undead Scourge.

While searching for more sleeping druids, Malfurion discovered the stone prison holding his own brother, Illidan. Believing Illidan would aid them, Tyrande released him. Although Illidan did help them for a time, he ultimately followed his own path.

The night elves stood united, resolutely resisting the Burning Legion. Yet the Legion never ceased coveting the Well of Eternity, continually dreaming of claiming the World Tree's power. If their plans succeeded, the world would be utterly destroyed at these demons' hands.

Chapter 38: The Betrayer's triumph

During the Burning Legion's invasion of Ashenvale, Illidan's nearly ten-thousand-year imprisonment came to an end. He tried his best to reassure his companions, but soon revealed his true nature by absorbing the energies of a powerful warlock artifact called the Skull of Gul'dan. Afterward, Illidan transformed into a creature with a demonic appearance and immense power. He also gained some of Gul'dan's memories, particularly those concerning the Tomb of Sargeras-the legendary dungeon on a small island that held the remains of the Dark Titan Sargeras.

With his power and freedom restored, Illidan was eager to prove his worth. But he encountered Kil'jaeden, who made him an offer difficult to resist. Kil'jaeden was furious over Archimonde's defeat at Mount Hyjal, but he had more important matters than revenge to attend to. Realizing that his creation, the Lich King, had grown too powerful to control, Kil'jaeden ordered Illidan to destroy Ner'zhul and eliminate the undead Scourge's power forever. In exchange, Illidan would receive enormous power and a place among the Burning Legion's leaders.

Illidan accepted the plan and immediately began preparing to destroy the block of ice imprisoning the Lich King's soul: the Frozen Throne. Knowing that he needed a powerful artifact to destroy it, Illidan planned to use the knowledge gained from Gul'dan's memories to find the Tomb of Sargeras and obtain the Dark Titan's relics. He summoned the serpentine naga from their dark lairs in the ocean depths. Led by their cunning leader, Vashj, the naga helped Illidan search for the Broken Isles, where the legendary Tomb of Sargeras lay.

As Illidan and the naga departed, Warden Maiev Shadowsong began hunting him. Maiev had guarded Illidan for ten thousand years and believed she could capture him again. But the cunning Illidan thwarted Maiev and her sentinels and successfully stole the Eye of Sargeras. Carrying the powerful artifact, he traveled to the magical city of Dalaran. The city's energy installations amplified his power, and he began using the Eye of Sargeras to cast a devastating spell against the Lich King in distant Northrend. Illidan's spell shattered the Lich King's defenses and tore apart the roof of the world. At the last moment, Malfurion and Priestess Tyrande, who had come to support Maiev, stopped the destructive spell.

Knowing full well that Kil'jaeden would never forgive his failure, Illidan fled to the desolate Outland, the remnants of Draenor, once the orcs' homeland. He decided to lie low there and plan his next move. Having successfully stopped Illidan, Malfurion and Tyrande returned to their home in Ashenvale to tend to their people. Maiev, however, refused to let the matter rest. She followed Illidan to Outland, determined to bring him back to face judgment.

Chapter 39: The rise of the blood elves

By this time, the undead Scourge had transformed Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas into utterly poisoned plaguelands. Only small pockets of Alliance resistance still clung to life there. One such group consisted primarily of high elves led by Prince Kael'thas, the last member of the Sunstrider Dynasty. An accomplished mage, Kael cautiously developed his position within the nearly destroyed Alliance. Grieving deeply over their homeland's fall, the high elves renamed themselves blood elves in honor of their fallen kin. As they struggled to contain the Scourge's advance, they suffered from their separation from the Sunwell, the source of their power. To ease his followers' innate hunger for magic, Kael did the unthinkable: he accepted the aid offered by their high elven ancestors and joined Illidan and his naga forces, hoping to find a new source of magical power. The remaining Alliance leaders condemned the blood elves as traitors and banished them forever.

With nowhere else to turn, Kael and his blood elves had no choice but to follow Illidan to Outland and help him fight Warden Maiev. Maiev had already captured Illidan, but the combined forces of the blood elves and naga defeated her and freed him once more. Making Outland his base, Illidan gathered strength for another assault on the Lich King and his fortress at Icecrown.

Chapter 40: Civil war in the Plaguelands

The Lich King Ner'zhul knew his time was running out. Imprisoned within the Frozen Throne, he suspected Kil'jaeden would send servants to destroy him. The damage caused by Illidan's spell had compromised the Frozen Throne, and the Lich King's power diminished with each passing day. Desperate to preserve himself, Ner'zhul summoned his strongest servant, the death knight Arthas, to his side.

As the Lich King weakened, Arthas's power gradually drained away, and he became embroiled in a civil war in Lordaeron. The banshee Sylvanas Windrunner led half the undead army in a coup intended to overthrow Arthas's rule. As the fighting spread throughout the Plaguelands, the Lich King summoned Arthas, and command passed to his lieutenant, Kel'Thuzad.

Ultimately, Sylvanas and her undead rebels, known as the Forsaken, claimed the ruins of Lordaeron's capital for themselves. The Forsaken established their base beneath the city's wreckage and swore to defeat the Scourge and drive Kel'Thuzad and his servants from the continent.

Despite his diminished power, Arthas remained determined to save his master. Upon reaching Northrend, however, he discovered that Illidan's blood elves and naga had arrived ahead of him. Arthas and his nerubians thus had to race Illidan's forces to reach Icecrown Glacier first and protect the Frozen Throne.

Chapter 41: The Lich King's triumph

Even in his weakened state, Arthas ultimately outmaneuvered Illidan and reached the Frozen Throne first. With his runeblade Frostmourne, Arthas shattered the icy prison holding the Lich King and obtained the helm and breastplate inhabited by Ner'zhul's soul. Arthas placed the helm of limitless power upon his head and became the new Lich King. Just as Ner'zhul had always planned, his soul and Arthas's merged into one powerful being. Illidan and his army were forced to retreat to Outland in disgrace, while Arthas became one of the most powerful beings in the world.

Arthas now occupied Northrend as the new, immortal Lich King. He was said to be rebuilding Icecrown Citadel there, while his trusted lieutenant Kel'Thuzad commanded the Scourge forces in the Plaguelands. Sylvanas and her rebel undead forces controlled only Tirisfal Glades, a small portion of the war-torn Kingdom of Lordaeron.

Chapter 42: Ancient hatreds-the settlement of Kalimdor

Despite their victory in the war, the races of Azeroth found that their world had already been ravaged by conflict. The undead Scourge and the Burning Legion had destroyed Lordaeron's civilization, and Kalimdor had nearly suffered the same fate. Scarred forests needed healing, boundless hatred needed forgetting, and the people needed new homes in which to settle. War had dealt every race a heavy blow, but they cooperated selflessly, hoping to create a new beginning. It all began with the painfully hard-won truce between the Alliance and the Horde.

Thrall led the orcs to Kalimdor, where they established a new homeland with the help of their tauren brethren. Naming this new nation Durotan after Thrall's murdered father, the orcs settled down and tried to rebuild their once-glorious civilization. With the demonic curse now ended, the Horde changed from a belligerent, fanatical force into a loose alliance whose foremost concerns were survival and prosperity. With the help of the noble tauren and the cunning trolls of the Darkspear tribe, Thrall and his orcs looked forward to a new era of peace.

The surviving Alliance forces under Jaina Proudmoore settled in southern Kalimdor. Near Dustwallow Marsh on the eastern coast, they founded the modest port city of Theramore. The allied humans and dwarves worked together to survive in this dangerous land. Although the defenders of Durotan and Theramore maintained a temporary truce, the fragile colony's calm did not mean lasting peace.

Peace between humans and orcs was shattered by a vast Alliance fleet arriving in Kalimdor. Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, Jaina's father, had led this fleet away before Arthas destroyed Lordaeron. Months of sailing had been exhausting, but Proudmoore continued searching for whatever Alliance survivors he could find.

Admiral Proudmoore's fleet posed a grave threat to the region's stability. A celebrated hero of the Second War, Jaina's father was the Horde's sworn enemy, determined to destroy Durotan before the orcs could establish themselves firmly.

Proudmoore forced Jaina into a difficult choice: support him against the orcs and betray her new allies, or fight her own father to preserve the fragile, hard-won peace between the Alliance and the Horde. After an inner struggle, Jaina chose the latter and helped Thrall defeat her crazed father. Unfortunately, the admiral died in battle before Jaina could prove to him that the orcs were no longer bloodthirsty monsters and reconcile with him. In recognition of Jaina's loyalty and friendship toward the Horde, the orcs agreed to let her forces return safely to their home in Theramore.

It was in this very year that our male protagonist, Diago Asnar, arrived in the beautiful, magnificent world of Azeroth.