(Actually, I saw some comments from readers who didn't quite understand why the protagonist didn't kill Dar'Khan ahead of time, so here's the answer.
Also, are there any bit-part characters who want a Wind Sword or the Firelord Hammer?)
If a behind-the-scenes organization (the Sunstrider family) controlled the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, it would certainly have your various parties check one another and fight among themselves. Only that way could no one challenge its power behind the scenes.
But once the Council faction was fully integrated into a single party or family, it would inevitably challenge the Sunstrider family's authority. At that point, the Sunstrider family's control over the Council would dwindle toward nothing.
And if a united Council faction entertained ambitions of getting its hands on the Sunwell, civil war would not be far off.
That was why, before Arthas's invasion, Patrick could do nothing about Dar'Khan and did not dare move against him directly.
If Patrick and the Cabrolon family could defeat the combined armies of the Council faction and Royalists, there would be no need for Patrick to break that taboo. He might as well lead his troops straight into a declaration of war against Lordaeron, turn the entire Kingdom of Lordaeron into Quel'Thalas's territory, divert domestic tensions, and eliminate Arthas's future invasion at the same time.
That would give him the best of both worlds. Patrick would have complete control over the newly conquered territory of Lordaeron. In the new territory established in Tirisfal Glades, Patrick would place one of the Discs of Norgannon to serve as a power source. Then the entire Cabrolon family would become a regional power. Never mind the Council's councilors-even if a Sunstrider came in person, Patrick could refuse to oblige.
Later, with the Sunwell shattered, Kael'thas felt a profound sense of