Recaps

Dick received Vaelastrasz at Valiance Keep and learned that Alexstrasza had summoned him to Wyrmrest Temple, where the Dragon Aspects would gather. As Dick traveled there, Alexstrasza prepared to discuss the dragons entering the war against the Scourge and sought his counsel about the Shadowlands.

• Tao Shi told Dick that a dragon had come to see him, and Dick greeted Vaelastrasz in the reception room.
• Vaelastrasz invited Dick to Wyrmrest Temple at Alexstrasza’s request and reported seeing mantid near the Obsidian Forest and Grim Batol.
• Dick assured Vaelastrasz that the mantid would not threaten the red dragons, then set out for Wyrmrest Temple while Vaelastrasz stayed to eat.
• Alexstrasza watched the Scourge attack the Ruby Holy Land and decided the dragons must respond to Arthas’s attacks on their kind.
• Alexstrasza waited for the other Dragon Aspects and planned to seek Dick’s opinion about the war and the Shadowlands gates.

Dick met with the Dragon Aspects at Wyrmrest Temple, where Malygos confronted him over his use of magic and the Dark Portal. The dragons agreed to join the war in Dragonblight, and Dick invited them to help reclaim Ulduar; Malygos then left for Azsuna after learning that Senegos and hundreds of blue dragons had survived.

• Malygos accused Dick of causing magical disturbances and threatened to revoke his access to the ley lines, but Dick challenged him over his anger about Sindragosa.
• Alexstrasza stopped their argument and proposed that the dragons fight the undead in Dragonblight to defend the dragons’ remains.
• Dick asked the Dragon Aspects to help reclaim Ulduar after the Northern Expedition War, then summoned Heimdall, Archaedas, Ironaya, and Stellagosa through a portal.
• Malygos learned from Stellagosa that Senegos and nearly eight hundred blue dragons, as well as hundreds of unhatched eggs, remained in Azsuna.
• Malygos apologized to Dick and teleported to Azsuna with Stellagosa, while Nozdormu confronted Dick about the altered number of blue dragons and their eggs.

Marshal Windsor escorted a secret expedition ship carrying a powerful creature and learned that Baron Deyerek would take part in trials tied to a plan against Arthas. After a tremor shattered the surrounding ice, the ship survived a devastating surge, and Windsor saw signs that the Lich King had awakened.

• Marshal Windsor and Ensign Bard Nedrek sailed aboard a secret ship behind a Kul Tiran icebreaker through frozen waters.
• Windsor visited the hold, where Baron Deyerek maintained sleep spells to keep a massive creature subdued.
• Windsor told Baron that the Dragonblight battle was a diversion and that Baron would represent Stormwind in a trial tied to the war and postwar colonies.
• A violent tremor broke the ice, and the Kul Tiran icebreaker sank as waves of shattered ice rushed toward Windsor's ship.
• Baron used holy light to melt the ice fragments, helping the ship survive the collision of the two waves.
• Windsor and Shaw saw an icy-blue beam above Icecrown Glacier, and Windsor declared that Arthas, the Lich King, had awakened.

Arthas awakened as the Lich King after breaking free of the Frozen Throne, then prepared to rebuild the Scourge and wage war against the enemies who had invaded Northrend. He empowered Renault Mograine as his Deathbringer and ordered his forces to revive fallen warriors and gather new armies.

• Arthas shattered the ice around the throne, rejected the chaos power in Kel'Thuzad's remains, and emerged as the awakened Lich King.
• Arthas met the diminished Scourge leadership, including Lady Deathwhisper, Lord Korth'azz, Doctor Putricide, Falric, Bronjahm, Taelan, Dar'Khan, and the captive Renault Mograine.
• Arthas pierced Renault Mograine with Frostmourne and granted him power as the Deathbringer.
• Arthas ordered his followers to prepare a reincarnation ritual and restore his fallen warriors.
• Arthas ordered Anub'arak to gather the nerubians, summoned the vrykul and Drakkari trolls to serve him, and called the Scourge to war.

After Arthas awakened, the Scourge launched coordinated attacks across Northrend, forcing the Alliance and Horde into heavy fighting while Goblins bought Dragonblight’s mines. Dick then arrived in the Storm Peaks with Heimdall and a Spirit Legion, planning to secure key strongholds before attacking Ulduar as Iron Dwarves closed in.

• Arthas’s return coordinated Scourge assaults across Northrend, causing heavy losses at several fronts and nearly costing Valiance Keep and other settlements.
• At Dick’s direction, Warren brokered a deal in which Goblin consortiums bought Dragonblight’s mines and sent mercenaries to protect them.
• Dick entered the Storm Peaks, killed an Iron Dwarf Spy, and summoned five hundred Vrykul Spirits through the Valarjar Gate of the Firmament.
• Dick explained to Heimdall that the Spirit Legion should secure Dun Niffelem, the Temple of Storms, and Ulduar’s barracks before confronting Yogg-Saron.
• Heimdall and Dick prepared to meet an approaching force of Iron Dwarves and Iron Vrykul, and Heimdall led the Spirits into battle.

Dick and the spirits fought off the Iron Burning Legion in the Storm Peaks while the Runemasters completed the Portal. Thorim arrived and battled Dick, but reinforcements poured through the Portal and secured the victory, leaving Dick wounded but alive.

• Dick and the spirits held their line against waves of Iron Dwarves, Iron Vrykul, and Frost Giants as the Runemasters worked on the Portal.
• Thorim appeared in a lightning strike, killed a Runemaster, and attacked the Portal before Dick drove him back.
• Dick caught Thorim's lightning and wounded him with Windfury, then clashed with him in the sky.
• Heimdall ordered the Runemasters to activate the Portal as Jianxi, Taixi, the Mogu Burning Legion, and other reinforcements joined the fight.
• Dick returned to the Portal injured and told his allies that he had wounded Thorim as their forces won the battle.

Brigadier General Matthew, Brigadier General Taylor, and Nazgrim led their ships through the North Sea to find landing sites for the Alliance Forces’ planned operations near Icecrown Glacier. After Taylor and Nazgrim fought off a sea monster, the fleet reached an abandoned dock on the glacier, leaving the commanders with a possible forward base near the Lich King.

• Brigadier General Matthew, Brigadier General Taylor, and Nazgrim sailed into the stormy North Sea and established Enterprise Island as a temporary logistical base.
• Matthew ordered the fleet onward to search for a second landing site on Icecrown Glacier while a small crew began building a fortress on the island.
• A sea monster attacked the Warchief's Fist, and Nazgrim leaped onto it to strike its eye and head.
• Taylor leaped onto the monster, wounded it with a burning harpoon, and caught Nazgrim as he fell; both generals escaped onto nearby ice.
• The Enterprise's cannons killed the sea monster, and the fleet later spotted Icecrown Glacier and the ruins of an abandoned dock.

Dick considered how to use his five spare artifacts while preparing for the coming war against Ulduar and weighing a secret letter about the Northrend campaign. In Northshire, Sir Maximillian decided to send his restless grandson to the Borean Tundra, while Rexxar sensed a familiar visitor approaching in Desolace.

• Dick reviewed his campaign against Ulduar, inspected the Strike of the Titans, and considered giving his five spare artifacts to worthy wielders.
• After reading Mograine's letter about the planned Northrend operation, Dick devised a bold idea involving the artifacts.
• Sir Maximillian read a letter bearing the seals of many kingdoms and organizations and learned that his grandson had been causing trouble while pursuing imagined quests.
• Sir Maximillian decided to send the Second to the Borean Tundra so he could experience war and become a true knight.
• Rexxar relaxed in Desolace with Misha, Huffer, and Sparky until he sensed a familiar visitor approaching.

Nathanos Marris recruited Rexxar and Hemet Nesingwary for a mission to fight the Lich King, while Garrosh Hellscream and his friends were ordered to compete in the Azeroth Silver Trial. Garrosh agreed to go to Wyrmrest Tower, hoping to prove himself and perhaps meet L Varian again.

• Nathanos Marris showed Rexxar Thrall's sealed letter and asked him to join the fight against the Lich King alongside Hemet Nesingwary.
• Rexxar agreed to join after dealing with a hidden Dreadlord in Desolace.
• Garrosh Hellscream remembered learning about his father Grom's redemption and promised L Varian not to use Gorehowl dishonorably.
• Dranosh Saurfang told Garrosh that he, Garrosh, and Jorin Deadeye had been ordered to represent Orgrimmar in the Azeroth Silver Trial.
• Garrosh agreed to attend the tournament with Dranosh and Jorin, and the three friends began playfully arguing.

The Orc Expedition Force fought to capture Ymiron, the Dragonflayer Clan’s stronghold in Howling Bay, so it could advance into Dragonblight. Garrosh, Dranosh, and Jorin killed the Vrykul champion Skovald Ingvar and seized the platform, while Overlord Saurfang prepared to lead the next assault.

• Garrosh Hellscream ordered Jorin Deadeye to take the Orc Wolf Riders around the flank as he and Dranosh Saurfang led the frontal assault on Ymiron's great platform.
• Skovald Ingvar broke through Dranosh's infantry line and forced Dranosh to block his attack head-on.
• Garrosh intervened to protect Dranosh, and the brothers worked together to drive Ingvar back.
• Jorin stripped Ingvar's defenses with fel energy, allowing Garrosh to kill him and cut off his head.
• The Vrykul lost their morale and retreated as Garrosh and Dranosh led the Horde onto the platform, capturing Ymiron's first district.
• Overlord Saurfang took up his Spine War Axe and declared that he would lead the next fight against the evil gaze watching from Ymiron's tower.

Saurfang led the Kor'kron through Ymiron's defenses and fought Sylvana, a Val'kyr who was infusing souls into corpses. After Saurfang defeated her, he ordered his warriors to capture her and announced that the road to Dragonblight was open.

• Garrosh withdrew from the blocked stairs while Saurfang prepared to lead the Kor'kron against the Vrykul defenders.
• Saurfang broke through the Vrykul formation, killed their officer, and opened the way to Ymiron's highest level.
• Saurfang found Sylvana infusing souls into corpses and attacked her after she refused to leave.
• Garrosh, Dranosh, and Jorin rushed to help Saurfang, but Sylvana was blasted out of the fight and knocked them down.
• Saurfang told them to capture Sylvana, trade her to the paladins, and tell the warriors they had won.
• Saurfang announced that the road to Dragonblight was open and that they would set out for Angrathar Camp the next morning.

Major Bard led Senxia and a company of Treasure Hunters across Dragonblight to find a hidden cave, with the troll guide Griftah warning that it held a deadly curse. Senxia agreed to enter with Bard and Griftah, while the mysterious employer’s power remained unclear.

• Senxia caught Griftah trying to escape and forced Bard to explain why the troll was on the expedition.
• Bard and Eldara revealed that Griftah had been recruited for a dangerous mission backed by a powerful employer, and Bard promised him a reward for cooperating.
• After the blizzard eased, Griftah consulted his dice and led the party northeast through the mountains, where Senxia and Gibbs fought off giant ice worms.
• The party found a cave beneath the ice, and Griftah warned that it contained a curse and an indescribable death.
• Griftah demanded that Senxia enter the cave with him and Bard, and Senxia agreed while threatening them if they obstructed his master's business.

Senxia, Bard, and Griftah entered Chillfrost Cave to retrieve a warhammer tied to Arthas, discovering it was a Legendary Weapon Prototype with the potential to oppose Frostmourne. Bard and Griftah escaped with the hammer as the cave collapsed around Senxia, while Gibbs sealed it in a Crimson Wooden Box and led them away.

• Griftah used incense to reveal death manifestations guarding the warhammer, and Senxia identified it as a Legendary Weapon Prototype once wielded by Arthas.
• Senxia explained the hammer's significance and ordered Bard and Griftah to take it while he held off the largest death manifestation.
• Senxia fought the creature with his enchanted rapier and shield as Bard and Griftah seized the warhammer and ran for the exit.
• Griftah heard Arthas's voice affecting his mind, but Senxia told him to keep moving and take the hammer to Gibbs.
• Bard and Griftah escaped just before the cave collapsed, and Gibbs secured the warhammer in a Crimson Wooden Box.
• Gibbs urged Bard and Griftah to flee the shaking snowfield, insisting Senxia would be fine.

Senxia returned from the Shadowlands and received Dick’s orders to travel to Outland, while Dick began preparing to forge Shadowmourne to counter Arthas’s ability to resurrect his undead. In the Borean Tundra, Mograine and Tirion Fordring planned to use draenei reinforcements to catch up with the orcs at Angrathar.

• Senxia led Bard, Griftah, and the others aboard the Black Demon King after the Kul Tiras navy held off the pursuing undead, then revealed that he had returned from the Shadowlands by using a seed of the Bloody Oak.
• Dick ordered Senxia to collect potions, pick up a guest at Sunsail Anchorage, travel to Outland, and find three demons before returning within a month; he also told Senxia to visit Pandaria for an enhancement.
• Dick opened the wooden box and found Arthas’s warhammer, Holy Light's Vengeance, then decided to forge Shadowmourne to prevent Frostmourne-bound undead from returning after death.
• Dick used C'Thun stomach acid and Storm Peaks saronite as materials for the planned weapon, confident after forging his first epic item, the Lionheart Executioner.
• Mograine and Tirion Fordring worried that the orcs had reached Dragonblight ahead of them and agreed to send the draenei reinforcements into battle.
• Tirion Fordring questioned the orc val'kyr and its connection to Arthas, while Mograine said the matter belonged to Dick.

Anub'arak led the Nerubians against the Alliance Forces, but Maraad and the Draenei Vindicators unleashed a devastating elekk charge that shattered the defensive line. Anub'arak withdrew into the northern permafrost as Maraad looked over the battlefield, glad the Draenei had finally stopped fleeing and begun to fight.

• Anub'arak attacked the Alliance Forces, using his burrowing and strength to disrupt their formations while Mograine and Tirion Fordring challenged him.
• A Draenei standard-bearer raised a purple banner, and Maraad led the Vindicators on armored elekks into the open space in the Alliance line.
• Maraad's Draenei paladins formed a Holy Light Barrier and charged through the Nerubian army, crushing its warriors, spellcasters, brutes, and defensive walls in repeated passes.
• Anub'arak fled with his surviving elite Nerubians after seeing the Draenei reform for another charge.
• Maraad watched Anub'arak disappear into the northern permafrost and felt at peace with the Draenei's decision to fight rather than flee.

Baron Derylek arrived at the Alliance fortress to join the candidates for the Trial, where Mograine tested his resolve and assigned him a dangerous mission in Azjol-Nerub. Darion volunteered for the Shadow Vault assault and learned that he and the other young leaders would be responsible for holding Dragonblight if the older warriors failed at Icecrown.

• Darion brought Baron Derylek to Mograine, who explained that the final Trial would take place at Wyrmrest Temple and warned that its candidates must represent the civilized world's interests against the Lich King.
• Baron accepted Mograine's challenge to prove himself by bringing back three Crypt Lord Nerubian remains from Azjol-Nerub within a day, with scouts assigned to guide and observe him.
• Darion told Mograine he wanted to join the coming operation, and Mograine assigned him to the team attacking the Shadow Vault rather than Icecrown Citadel.
• Mograine explained that the older warriors would attack Icecrown while Darion and other young leaders would hold the line at Angrathar and take command if the assault failed.
• Mograine told Darion that breaching the Four Ziggurats would open the way to the Dark Cathedral and Icecrown Citadel, where the final battle would decide the world's fate.

Baron reunited with his childhood friend Maximillian and met the womanizing knight Marcus before heading alone into Azjol-Nerub to hunt Crypt Lord Nerubians. After defeating two spellcasters and many lesser enemies, Baron was pinned by a warrior, and Maximillian and Marcus rushed in to save him.

• Baron met Maximillian and Marcus in the quartermaster’s tent, where Maximillian enthusiastically greeted him and Marcus recounted his romantic exploits.
• Baron selected priestly equipment, then rode toward Azjol-Nerub with an SI:7 rogue rather than team up with Maximillian and Marcus.
• Baron found two Nerubians Spellcasters and killed them with Holy Fire, Holy Nova, and Smite.
• Baron used Halo to burn back the surrounding spiders and ordinary nerubians, but lost focus after casting several powerful spells.
• A Crypt Lord Nerubians Warrior sprang from the wall and pinned Baron as Maximillian and Marcus shouted that they were coming to save him.

The Earthen commander Kuren’s forces struggled against the Iron Dwarves at Thor Modan until Das intervened and rescued him. Grand Marshal Vanndar Stormpike then led his cavalry into battle as Das demanded that Thor Modan’s Iron Dwarves abandon Loken and join the new Iron Burning Legion.

• Kuren ordered the Earthen to retreat toward the Mountain Giants while he stayed behind to cover them, but the Iron Dwarves and Iron Golems surrounded him.
• Kuren fought off several Iron Golems and Iron Dwarves, then fell wounded and was about to be executed by the Iron Dwarves’ leader.
• Das descended in a burst of lightning, destroyed the enemies surrounding Kuren, and sheltered the unconscious commander beneath his wings.
• Grand Marshal Vanndar Stormpike signaled his Dwarven heavy cavalry to charge into the battle.
• Das declared that Thor Modan’s Iron Dwarves had to sever their ties with Loken and join the new Iron Burning Legion, or die.

Uther negotiated with Golaya to help the Drakkari trolls fight their Scourge and traitor enemies in exchange for the remains of the Loa Sseratus and Quetz'lun. The deal made Uther the Drakkari trolls' new ally, though he claimed the three Scourge necropolises for the Ebon Blade.

• Golaya explained that Drakkari traitors had stolen Loa power and that Drakuru had joined the Lich King and seized Drak'Salon Keep.
• Golaya spared the priests Slad'ran and Moorabi for the duration of the war, while Uther impatiently demanded a target and a reward.
• Uther asked for Sseratus's corpse, and Golaya offered Quetz'lun's bones as well if Uther helped retrieve them from her prophet at the altar.
• Uther agreed to help defeat the enemies at Drak'Salon Keep and claim the fortress for their alliance.
• Golaya declared Uther the Drakkari trolls' new friend, and Uther claimed the three Scourge necropolises as spoils for the Ebon Blade.

At Ebon Watch, Koltira confronted Thassarian over the death of his brother Falthora, while Uther prepared the Knights of the Ebon Blade to attack Scourge strongholds. Thassarian learned that Lireesa was involved in news from Theoxis and approached Koltira before their first mission together, though he did not explain why.

• Koltira accused Thassarian of killing his brother Falthora and swore he would end Thassarian after they killed the Lich King, but Thassarian dismissed him.
• Uther announced that the Knights of the Ebon Blade would attack Drak'Tharon Keep and the Scourge necropolises, assigning Lor'themar to infiltrate Kolramas alone.
• Theoxis teased Thassarian and revealed she had news about Lireesa and Koltira, then secured a kiss from him in exchange for telling him.
• Thassarian found Koltira preparing for his first battle as a death knight and told him to get ready to move out.

Uther led the Ebon Blade Knights and their summoned undead against Drakuru’s forces at Drak'Salon Keep, breaking through its gates and launching an assault. As Thassarian saved the inexperienced Koltira from Troll warlords, Uther and Drakuru began a decisive duel that would determine the battle.

• Uther summoned towering Necromancer Servants as the Ebon Blade Knights raised their Armies of the Dead, and Thassarian called in Frost Wyrms.
• Uther shattered the gates of Drak'Salon Keep after his first strike weakened them, allowing the Death Knights and undead to charge inside.
• Koltira struggled against five Troll warlords until Thassarian intervened and killed them with Death Strike, Strangulate, Frost Strike, and Frostscythe.
• Thassarian told Koltira he owed him for saving Lireesa, while Koltira insisted Thassarian owed him for his brother Falthora too and vowed to kill him himself.
• Uther and Drakuru joined battle as the fighting spread through Drak'Salon Keep.

Uther defeated Drakuru atop Drak'Tharon Keep, but Drakuru's burning mojo summoned a phantom of Arthas, who struck at Uther and warned that Angrathar would be his final graveyard. After Arthas vanished, Uther saw burning Scourge Necropolises across Zul'Drak and recognized that his side had won.

• Uther fought Drakuru through a fierce battle of darkness and frost, repeatedly wounding the Troll with Apocalypse.
• Drakuru ignited a brazier with mojo, but Uther froze him and pierced his heart with a Bone Runeblade.
• Drakuru died after begging his master to save him, while Uther realized the brazier's power had summoned Arthas.
• Arthas's phantom attacked Uther and warned him that Angrathar would be his final graveyard before vanishing.
• Uther watched burning Scourge Necropolises across Zul'Drak and took their destruction as proof of victory.

Baron, Maximillian, and Marcus completed their final trial by attacking the necromancer excavating Galakrond's Tomb. As dragons struck the camp, Rogelio Starstrider recommended the three for inclusion in “Breaking the Ice.”

• Baron, Maximillian, and Marcus reached their final assignment after rising to ninth place in the trials and were tasked by the Red Dragon Queen with punishing the undead excavating Galakrond's Tomb.
• Baron warned that the necromancer would summon reinforcements, but Maximillian charged the undead Storm Giant and Marcus followed to attack Antiowok.
• Baron protected his companions with Holy Light while Maximillian fought the Storm Giant and Marcus killed Antiowok, causing the giant to collapse.
• Rogelio Starstrider watched the fight, recorded the trio's recklessness, teamwork, faith, and luck, and recommended them for “Breaking the Ice.”
• Marcus sounded the horn, and a dozen dragon whelps flew over the camp and scorched it with their breath as the three watched.

Dick interrupted a battle between Ironaya’s Earthen and the Frost Dwarves after their leader, Yogg Stormheart, wounded Ironaya and proved powerful enough to stop her attack. He recognized Yogg and offered to protect his people and explain his origins.

• Dick worked to reforge Holy Light's Vengeance into Shadow's Edge and realized he needed an assistant.
• Tao Shi reported that Frost Dwarves had attacked patrolling Earthen, and Dick learned Ironaya had gone to confront them.
• Ironaya faced the Frost Dwarves and was challenged by their leader, a Bronzebeard Dwarf named Yogg Stormheart.
• Yogg struck Ironaya, then stopped her earth attack as the Frost Dwarves and Earthen began fighting.
• Ironaya raised the ground to threaten the Frost Dwarves, but Dick caught Yogg's lightning-wreathed hammer and forced the earth back down.
• Dick shattered Yogg's hammer and told him he could keep his people safe and learn his origins if he stopped fighting.

Dick revealed that Yogg Stormheart was Muradin Bronzebeard, though Muradin could not remember his past and chose to protect the Frost Dwarves. After Brann and Magni learned Muradin had been found, they traveled to Frosthold, where the brothers finally faced each other.

• Yogg Stormheart refused Dick’s invitation to visit Frosthold, explaining that his people’s safety mattered more than learning about his past.
• Dick called Yogg by his real name, Muradin Bronzebeard, and promised to send people to meet him; Muradin remained confused but returned home with the Frost Dwarves.
• Brann told Magni that Dick had found Muradin in the Storm Peaks, and Magni decided to go there with him.
• Brann and Magni arrived in disguise at Frosthold and examined the Frost Dwarves’ hidden settlement beneath the ice.
• Yogg entered the Ice Rock Hall and recognized Magni and Brann, while they recognized him as Muradin.