Recaps

A Seventh Legion escort brought Randolph Modok, Edwin VanCleef, and Iva Bloodfang to the Dark Portal for exile to demon-attacked Draenor. As the prisoners reached the busy neutral outpost, a Felguard charged through the portal, beginning another demon assault.

• A dozen Seventh Legion knights escorted the chained Randolph Modok, Edwin VanCleef, and Iva Bloodfang toward the Dark Portal.
• General Losenden told Modok that exiled criminals were unlikely to win freedom on Draenor and warned that he could become a slave there.
• The knights delivered the prisoners to the Dark Portal front, where soldiers and merchants gathered in a bustling neutral settlement.
• A Tauren warrior and a Quel'Thalas Paladin heard an alarm horn and rushed into town as a storm formed inside the Dark Portal.
• A Felguard wielding two War Glaives charged out of the portal and roared as the demon attack began.

VanCleef and Iva fought together against demons at the Dark Portal, then VanCleef asked Iva to turn him into a worgen so he could survive his five years of service and return to his daughter. Iva agreed on the condition that the Defias Battle Group join his Bloodfang Battle Group, leaving VanCleef confused about what that meant.

• Korman freed VanCleef, Iva, and Modok and ordered them to defend the artillery position as Stormwind soldiers.
• Modok urged the others to escape, but Iva refused, and VanCleef said he wanted to reach Draenor and return to his daughter.
• Iva transformed into a worgen and charged the demons, while VanCleef fought beside him as an assassin.
• VanCleef and Iva helped defeat the demons attacking the artillery position, and Korman commended VanCleef and gave him armor and assassin's weapons.
• VanCleef asked Iva to bite him and make him a worgen so he could gain the strength to survive and return to his daughter.
• Iva agreed to give VanCleef the chance in exchange for having the Defias Battle Group join his Bloodfang Battle Group.

VanCleef, exiled to Draenor after the Defias Brotherhood fell, sought out a contact in Honor Hold’s brutal slums to secure an opportunity that might help him survive and return to his daughter Vanessa. He left carrying a Black Leather Case, determined to control his fate and live through five years in Draenor.

• VanCleef remembered how the nobles’ betrayal of the Stonemasons’ Guild led him to form the Defias Brotherhood, and how King Varian exiled him to Draenor instead of executing him.
• VanCleef learned that his old comrades had taken him into the Defias Battle Group, where he needed to survive two more battles to become a full member.
• VanCleef crossed Honor Hold’s slums, where two Dark Iron Dwarves beat a troll to death and goblins stripped the corpse.
• VanCleef followed Iva’s directions to a hidden house marked 10086 and entered after knocking in a particular sequence.
• VanCleef emerged carrying a Black Leather Case and vowed to survive so he could return to Vanessa in five years.

Dick investigated the corrupted Emerald Dream, learned that N'Zoth and Xavius had been there long before the Green Dragonflight, and ordered the entrances sealed as the Guardians prepared to fight the Burning Legion. Meanwhile, naga arrived in Stormwind with prisoners returned and an invitation from the Queen of the Deep to establish diplomatic relations and attend a banquet.

• Dick touched the red-and-green portal at Bough Shadow and burned away the aggressive nightmare energy spreading from it.
• Ysera grieved over the Emerald Dream’s destruction, and Wolfwoman suggested that N'Zoth and Xavius had occupied the plane before the Green Dragonflight arrived.
• Dick concluded that the corruption had been planted long ago and ordered the Emerald Dream’s four mortal-world entrances sealed and guarded.
• Ysera and Eranikus volunteered the Green Dragonflight to guard the seals, while Dick summoned the Dragon Aspects to Ulduar to plan an offensive against the Burning Legion.
• Prince Anduin told King Varian that naga had returned their prisoners and General Taylor, delivered a letter from the Queen of the Deep, and invited faction rulers to a banquet in Tol Barad.

After General Taylor was rescued from Azshara’s illusion, Varian and the other rulers weighed whether to attend the Naga queen’s banquet, whose lavish gifts and personal leverage made refusal difficult. Tyrande agreed to attend to protect Shandris, as the Deepsea Kingdom’s return reshaped the balance of power.

• Varian and Anduin restrained General Taylor while Baron used the Holy Light to calm him, then ordered that he be allowed to sleep undisturbed for three days.
• Varian’s ministers advised him to delay his decision about the banquet and, if he attended, bring elite guards and Baron.
• Magni learned that the other dwarven leaders and Mekkatorque would follow his choice, while Brann suggested asking Tyrande and Kael’thas what they would do.
• Kael’thas decided to attend after Azshara sent him an Arcan’dor seed and offered access to its cultivation records.
• Tyrande agreed to attend with Malfurion after Vashj revealed that Shandris was being held as a guest in Vashj’ir.

Dick visited Area 52 in Netherstorm, where Azeroth’s engineers were trying to replicate a demon starship capable of crossing the void. After Saget Fireplug explained that they needed an engine from the Ethereals to finish the design, Dick agreed to retrieve one and set out that night.

• Azshara’s banquet on Tol Barad marked the Deepsea Kingdom’s emergence into the civilized world, while Dick stayed focused on other work.
• Illidan and Ulduar established Area 52 in Netherstorm and gathered Azeroth’s leading engineers and mages to study the captured demon starship Fel Hammer.
• Dick arrived at the laboratory and found Saget Fireplug assembling components while the specialists worked to reproduce the ship’s void-travel capabilities.
• Saget told Dick that the engineers needed an Ethereal ship engine as a model to complete their starship design.
• Dick agreed to leave that night and retrieve an engine for the Void Aerospace Administration.

Dick arrived at the Ethereals’ eco-dome in Netherstorm intending to shop, but his overwhelming soul startled the guards until Nexus-Prince Haramad invited him to the Stormspire. After entering the dome and seeing its living ecosystem, Dick headed for the spire, where Haramad awaited him.

• Dick appeared outside the Ethereals’ eco-dome and was surrounded by five armed guards.
• Dick’s brief soul contact nearly overwhelmed the guards, and he told them he had come to shop.
• Nexus-Prince Haramad welcomed Dick and opened the barrier, inviting him into the Stormspire.
• Dick explored the dome’s thriving forest and lake, then frightened a giant black Tyrant King into fleeing with a glance.
• Dick transformed into silver lightning and vanished toward the top of the Stormspire, leaving the Ethereals to wonder about him.

Dick negotiated with Nexus-Prince Haramad for starship engine blueprints and learned that the Consortium and Ethereum were preparing a trap for Dimensius. He agreed to bring powerful allies in exchange for a starport and Eco-Dome technology.

• Dick met with Haramad through a projection and asked to buy ten starship engine blueprints and working examples.
• Haramad offered three sets of blueprints for the remains of Yogg-Saron and N'Zoth, then recognized Dick's Ata'mal Crystal pendant.
• Haramad proposed trading engines for Dick's help against Dimensius, whose destruction of K'aresh had united the Ethereals in a long campaign for revenge.
• Dick offered to recruit Illidan and other powerful fighters, and Haramad increased the offer to ten sets of blueprints and engines.
• Dick demanded a top-of-the-line starport and Eco-Dome technology, and Haramad accepted the deal.

Dick and the Ethereals lured Dimensius to a floating island in Draenor and trapped him with a device designed to weaken and contain the Void Lord. The battle began with the group locked in the cage, and the Ethereals warned that they had only ten minutes to kill him.

• Dick gathered Illidan, Saurfang, Tirion Fordring, Mograine, Uther, Velen, Odyn, and the three Nexus-Princes to help the Ethereals lure and capture Dimensius.
• Illidan complained that Dick had summoned him without warning, while Saurfang discussed leaving politics behind and returning to Draenor as a warrior.
• Haramad warned the group that Dimensius was approaching, and the gathered fighters transformed, armed themselves, and prepared for battle.
• Dick invoked Anveena and transformed into an Order Archangel as the Nexus-Princes activated the beacon and summoned Dimensius.
• Dimensius tore through a rift and unleashed a devastating shadow storm, but the Ethereal engineers activated their device and trapped him and the defenders together.
• Haramad told the group they had ten minutes to kill Dimensius or the Shattered World would be doomed.

Dick, Odyn, and their allies attacked Dimensius while the Ethereals’ Suppressive Field prevented it from replenishing its shield or fully wielding shadow magic. After the shield broke and Dimensius split into smaller Void Lords, Uther and Dick contained the Shadow Torrent as Odyn hurled his spear at the weakened Void Lord.

• Odyn blocked Dimensius’s dark spears while Dick struggled to hold the Aegis of Aggramar against the attack.
• Saurfang struck Dimensius’s shield with Heaven-Opener and shattered it by hammering the embedded axe with Earth-Opener.
• Saurfang’s Bladestorm tore into Dimensius, and Illidan charged into its body and detonated fel fire within it.
• Tirion Fordring and Mograine cut into Dimensius with Holy Light, but the fragments transformed into smaller Void Lords that formed the Shadow Torrent.
• Uther summoned a soul army while Dick and the Spirit Legion contained the Shadow Torrent, and Odyn hurled the Spear of Judgment at Dimensius.

Odyn, Dick, and their allies weakened Dimensius until its core appeared, allowing the Nexus-Princes to sacrifice themselves to destroy it in a massive explosion. Two days later, Dick collected his payment from Haramad, who then offered him news about the Void Dragon Clan.

• Odyn's full-force Spear of Judgment strike tore through Dimensius, and the Nexus-Prince ordered the attackers to expose its core and escape before the floating island collapsed.
• Tirion Fordring, Mograine, Saurfang, and Velen evacuated while Odyn, Dick, Illidan, and Uther continued attacking Dimensius.
• Haramad and the other Nexus-Princes rushed the exposed core, triggering an explosion that annihilated Dimensius and the surrounding rubble belt.
• Dick reunited with the survivors and reflected on the scale of the universe compared with Azeroth's wars.
• Two days later, Haramad paid Dick with thirteen mechanical cores and Eco-Dome assistance, then told him about the Void Dragon Clan.

Dick accepted Haramad’s bounty to stop Sinestra from disrupting the Consortium’s void dragon business, then learned from the Dragon Aspects that she might be connected to Deathwing’s return. The chapter ended with Dick heading to Shadowmoon Valley while the Aspects searched Draenor for Deathwing.

• Haramad told Dick that Sinestra had attacked Consortium employees while protecting the void dragons and asked him to remove her interference.
• Dick accepted the bounty and received a Recording Crystal showing the void dragons’ lair near Shadowmoon Valley.
• Dick brought the Recording Crystal to Ulduar, where Alexstrasza recognized Sinestra and the Aspects discussed the possibility that Deathwing was in Draenor.
• Nozdormu explained that Deathwing’s earthen power would be less effective in the Shattered World, making it a chance for the Aspects to confront him.
• Alexstrasza described Sinestra’s history and asked Dick to help her escape Deathwing if she was under his control.
• Dick planned to search for Sinestra in Shadowmoon Valley while the Dragon Aspects searched Draenor for Deathwing, especially in the Blade’s Edge Mountains.

Rhonin and Vereesa followed Dragonmaw Orcs into Netherwing Ledge aboard a Goblin-built void rocket while Dick attacked the Orcs’ forward base to free the captive Void Dragon Mother, Karynaku. As Dick confronted Zuluhed, a mysterious Blood Elf killed Lord Mogor and revealed Dragon Eyes after Rhonin and Vereesa witnessed her meeting.

• Rhonin and Vereesa identified Dragonmaw Orcs riding Void Drakes and took the X-53 Type Void Sightseeing Rocket to follow them into Netherwing Ledge.
• Nailas watched Dick lead the Iron Burning Legion in an assault on the Dragonmaw forward base, where Zuluhed held Karynaku captive.
• Dick fought Zuluhed, disarmed him, and said Alexstrasza had sent her regards before preparing to deliver the warlock’s soul to her.
• Lord Mogor refused a mysterious Blood Elf’s demand for Void Dragons, and she killed him with Shadow Dragon Breath.
• The Blood Elf noticed Rhonin and Vereesa hiding nearby and ordered them to come out, her eyes transformed into yellow Dragon Eyes.

Dick killed Zuluhed, freed Karynaku, and learned that Sinestra was negotiating with the Dragonmaw orcs at Netherwing Ledge. He rushed there after realizing Rhonin and Vereesa might be in danger, but a violent explosion struck the warlord’s camp as he arrived.

• Dick killed the wounded Zuluhed and captured his soul in a Soul Crystal.
• Dick gave Nailas the key to free Karynaku and promised to save her in exchange for information about Sinestra.
• Anveena healed Karynaku enough to revive her, and Nailas told Dick that Sinestra had gone to Netherwing Ledge to negotiate with the orcs.
• Dick ordered Nailas to seek Illidan and place the void dragons under the Guardians’ protection, then rushed to Netherwing Ledge.
• Sinestra confronted Rhonin and Vereesa, who told her they were allies of Dick Tang, and dark red flames and arcane magic clashed as silver lightning arrived.
• An explosion destroyed the warlord’s camp and left a large crater, obscuring what had happened to Sinestra, Rhonin, and Vereesa.

Dick fought Sinestra in Shadowmoon Valley and defeated her with the Order Angel · Solar Lance. Afterward, Sinestra awoke from a nightmare of Deathwing destroying the world, and Dick identified him as her greatest fear.

• Dick arrived in Shadowmoon Valley with Rhonin and Vereesa as Sinestra swooped down to attack them.
• Rhonin tried to stop Dick, but Dick charged Sinestra and exchanged blows with her in the sky.
• Sinestra attempted to flee, but Dick restrained her with Order Angel-Code of Humility and battered her with rapid attacks.
• Dick pierced Sinestra's abdomen with the Order Angel · Solar Lance, forcing her to fall from the sky.
• Sinestra woke from a nightmare of Deathwing destroying the world, and Dick asked whether Deathwing was her greatest fear.

Dick questioned Sinestra in Ulduar and persuaded her that cooperation could protect the remaining black dragons and stop Deathwing’s twilight dragon experiments. Sinestra revealed Deathwing’s progress and location, but asked to see Blackhorn before fully committing to their alliance.

• Dick confronted Sinestra in Ulduar and offered her sanctuary in exchange for information about Deathwing.
• Dick provoked Sinestra by claiming Nefarian and Onyxia were dead, then admitted he had lied about Onyxia and explained Nefarian’s death.
• Dick told Sinestra that Blackhorn was an uncorrupted black dragon, giving her hope for the Black Dragonflight.
• Sinestra revealed that Deathwing had created a short-lived twilight dragon and was using void dragons in further experiments.
• Sinestra warned Dick that mature twilight dragons could shift cities into the Twilight Realm, and she explained that she had sought to control the void dragons to keep them from Deathwing.
• Dick proposed joining forces with the Dragonflights to kill Deathwing, and Sinestra agreed to reveal his location after seeing Blackhorn in Ogri’la.

Sinestra secured an agreement with Varian over Onyxia and joined the Dragon Aspects’ preparations to hunt Deathwing in Draenor. As the plan unfolded in Blade’s Edge Mountains, Iva Bloodfang received orders to attack the ogres while Valstann learned the gronn would be captured and the black dragons framed.

• Sinestra met Blackhorn, brought him to see Onyxia, and agreed with Varian that the Black Dragonflight would advise House Wrynn as long as it endured; she postponed removing Onyxia’s seal until Deathwing was dead.
• Sinestra visited Nefarian’s resting place before returning to Draenor with Dick, who informed the Dragon Aspects that their trap for Deathwing was taking shape.
• Iva Bloodfang met Edwin VanCleef in Blade’s Edge Mountains, where VanCleef warned him about the planned campaign and asked him to protect Vanessa in Westfall.
• VanCleef delivered Illidan’s order for Bloodfang and the Twilight’s Hammer Warband to destroy the Bladespire Ogres Horde and capture at least two-thirds of its members within five days.
• Senxia reported to Valstann that Gruul ruled the gronn and ogres, and Valstann ordered the ogre battle finished within three days.
• Senxia explained that the gronn were to be wounded and captured so the black dragons could be blamed and a war provoked, while someone else would handle Gruul.

Senxia raided the Dragon Worshippers’ camp and forced their leader, Draeka Longtail, to guide him to Baron Sabotmain, the black dragon near the Ring of Blood. After reaching the dragon’s concealed cave, Senxia entered while Draeka followed, having chosen to rely on him.

• The Dragon Worshippers’ leader, Draeka Longtail, learned that Senxia had captured a human and threatened her camp, then Senxia ambushed and injured her.
• Senxia threatened Draeka with death or the Cannon Fodder Legion until she identified Baron Sabotmain as the black dragon leader and revealed where he could be found.
• Senxia persuaded Draeka to guide him by promising to send her back to the Exodar, then ordered the captured cultists sent to the front as cannon fodder.
• Senxia and Draeka traveled to the Ring of Blood and found Baron Sabotmain’s cave, which Draeka had concealed with a magic circle.
• Senxia crushed a Message Stone and entered the cave, and Draeka followed him after deciding she had no way back to the black dragons.

Senxia delivered Sinestra’s message to Baron Sabotmain, who learned that his mother was alive and seeking his help against Deathwing. After Deathwing dismissed and struck him down, Sabotmain resolved to pursue the hope his mother offered.

• Senxia entered Sabotmain’s cave with Draeka and gave him a steel emblem bearing a message from Sinestra.
• Sabotmain read Sinestra’s letter, which told him she had returned to Azeroth, that Nefarian was dead, and that she wanted him to meet her near Shattrath City.
• Sabotmain reflected on Deathwing’s neglect and the deaths of the Black Dragons under his command.
• Sabotmain asked Deathwing for help clearing a route through the Blade’s Edge Mountains, but Deathwing called him useless and struck him out of the chamber.
• Sabotmain left Ogri'la, increasingly determined to act against Deathwing’s rule.

Sinestra and Dick persuaded Sabotmain and Mazielan to join the fight against Deathwing by promising that the black dragon eggs could be purified after his defeat. Sabotmain agreed to help lure Deathwing toward Gruul, while Dick said the others would handle the rest.

• Dick and his companions welcomed Sabotmain and Mazielan to Alleria's Stronghold, where Sinestra revealed that Blackhorn was an uncorrupted black dragon.
• Sabotmain and Mazielan urged Sinestra to flee Draenor with Blackhorn, but she explained that she had found a way to restore purity to corrupted dragon eggs.
• Dick described the red dragons' egg-purification efforts and said they could succeed fully once Deathwing's corrupting inheritance was cut off.
• Alexstrasza promised to help restore the Black Dragonflight after Deathwing died, and she declared that the monster wearing Neltharion's body was not Sabotmain's father.
• Mazielan pledged to fight for Sinestra, and Sabotmain agreed to help by leading the enraged Gruul to Deathwing.
• Dick told Sabotmain that he only needed to wait for the right moment, while the others would handle the rest.

The Iron Brotherhood and Black Dragon forces ambushed the Sons of Gruul, killing several and capturing Mag'gok. Their attacks roused Gruul, who pursued Sabotmain in a rage and rushed straight into the trap.

• General Biyagri led the Iron Brotherhood, with mages and Blackhorn, in an assault that left Mag'gok gravely wounded and captured.
• Gruul awoke to warnings from his Sons, then found Baron Sabotmain attacking the dying Skulloc the Soulgrinder.
• Sabotmain tore off Skulloc's head and taunted Gruul, who hurled stone spikes and a boulder at him.
• A streak of golden light shattered Gruul's boulder, and Sabotmain fled toward Orgrimmar.
• Gruul chased Sabotmain through the earth, firing boulders as he went, and charged into the trap.

Dick negotiated with Ogri'la’s leader, Mog'dorg, to rebuild the Ogre Empire and establish the Ogri'la Ogre Kingdom with his support. Mog'dorg agreed to provide troops and mages in exchange for Dick defeating Gruul and the black dragon threatening their territory.

• Dick and Rexxar visited Ogri'la, where Mog'dorg welcomed them and Dick assessed the civilized ogres and their Apexis Crystal-powered magic.
• Dick offered to support Ogri'la in uniting the ogres and rebuilding the Ogre Empire, promising prisoners from his campaign against the other Blade's Edge Mountains clans.
• Mog'dorg hesitated over facing Gruul, so Dick promised to defeat him and deal with the black dragon in Ogri'la's territory.
• Dick demanded ten thousand ogre warriors for future wars and one hundred and seventy Ogri'la mages for a confidential project in Netherstorm.
• Mog'dorg accepted the demands but insisted on seeing Gruul's funeral first, and Dick agreed.

Dick agreed to help Mog'dorg establish the Ogri'la Kingdom and discussed its future ties with Azeroth. As he recounted Draenor's lost civilizations, Gruul and Deathwing approached, and Dick urged the ogres to prepare for their battle.

• Dick agreed that Ogri'la could send promising young ogres to Azeroth and seek a small territory there.
• Mog'dorg and Rexxar arranged for the Mok'Nathal to help gather ogres in exchange for land and hunting grounds in the future kingdom.
• Dick examined Apexis Crystals and explained the history of the arakkoa's Skyreach Empire and the Gorian Ogre Empire to Anveena, Lei Shi, and the gathered ogres.
• Mog'dorg asked Dick to recount the Gorian Empire's history for Ogri'la's cultural inheritance, and Dick promised to tell them at Ulduar after the battle.
• Dick spotted Gruul and the old black dragon approaching, and he told Mog'dorg to take Ogri'la to safety and prepare for the final battle.

Deathwing prepared to hatch a twilight dragon, the weapon he believed would bring the Hour of Twilight, when Gruul attacked his hidden underground dwelling. Sabellian lured Gruul into a trap and escaped, leaving Deathwing surrounded and furious as the two began to fight.

• Deathwing placed the purple dragon egg, created from Alexstrasza’s egg, among Apexis Crystals and declared it his perfect creation for destroying the world.
• An underground disturbance alerted Deathwing to Gruul’s approach, and he emerged to see Gruul knock Sabellian from the sky.
• Sabellian claimed he had killed Gruul’s Sons and lured Gruul into a trap, while the ground split and a cage of golden lightning enclosed Gruul, Deathwing, and Sabellian.
• Baron Sabotmain crushed a Teleportation Stone and escaped, revealing that he had betrayed Deathwing and intended to kill the remaining gronn.
• Deathwing chose to stay and fight Gruul rather than risk the destruction of his twilight dragon, then unleashed dark red flames and proclaimed himself the Cataclysm.

Deathwing and Gruul fought a savage battle across the burning Ogri'la Highlands, with Gruul initially overpowering the Black Dragon King. After Deathwing revealed a barbed tentacle that injured Gruul, Dick recognized the danger and told the Dragon Aspects to prepare.

• Deathwing rose from a sea of Shadowflame as Gruul armored himself in rock and hurled a molten boulder at him.
• Deathwing shattered the boulder and pierced Gruul's shoulder, but Gruul seized his tail, spun him around, and slammed him into the ground.
• Gruul pinned Deathwing and tore at his armor and flesh while Deathwing counterattacked with Shadowflame, claws, and earthen power.
• Deathwing's barbed tentacle burst through his damaged armor and pierced Gruul, forcing the Gronn King to stagger back.
• Dick recognized the tentacle as a sign of Old Gods corruption, held back from intervening, and told the Dragon Aspects to get ready.