Recaps

Zul'jin sacrificed the remaining Amani Trolls to absorb the souls of dead Loa and transform into a powerful beastlike creature. After driving the allied soldiers from the altar, he used flight, lightning, fire, and Lynx God stealth to harass the army, leaving Aaron's attempt to provoke him into a duel unanswered.

• Zul'jin had the remaining Amani Trolls sacrifice themselves, then absorbed the souls of several dead Loa and transformed.
• Zul'jin knocked allied soldiers off the altar with lightning and fire, then challenged Uther to come kill him.
• Uther sent elite soldiers, mages, and Gryphon Riders to attack Zul'jin, but Zul'jin escaped their encirclement and dove toward the allied army.
• Zul'jin dodged the army's ranged attacks, struck back with lightning, and vanished using the Lynx God's power to evade the Gryphon Riders.
• Aaron taunted Zul'jin from the Dreadwake and challenged him to a one-on-one fight, but Zul'jin refused to take the bait.

Aaron provoked Zul'jin into attacking him and fought the Troll leader in the air. Aaron struck Zul'jin down with Strom'kar, leaving the allied forces victorious.

• Aaron left the allied lines and challenged Zul'jin, taunting him about the Amani Tribe's destruction.
• Zul'jin attacked Aaron from behind, but Aaron dodged and wounded his leg with his greatsword.
• Zul'jin tried to flee, but Aaron intercepted him and knocked him out of Stealth with Holy Light.
• Aaron and Zul'jin charged at each other, and Aaron used bullet time to evade Zul'jin's attacks before slashing him with Strom'kar.
• Zul'jin admitted defeat, spat blood, and fell to the ground.

After the Alliance defeated Zul'jin, Aaron questioned his spirit about why the Amani Trolls had provoked Quel'Thalas. Zul'jin's final words angered Kael'thas and tried to sow discord, while Xal'atath then offered the Loa a new master.

• Uther struggled to decide how Aaron should be rewarded because Aaron did not belong to the Alliance and his country of origin was unclear.
• Aaron gathered allied Archmages to investigate why three Loa spirits were fixated on Zul'jin's corpse.
• Kael'thas used a spell to draw Zul'jin's soul out of his body so Aaron could question him.
• Aaron asked why the Amani Trolls had attacked Quel'Thalas, and Zul'jin blamed the Alliance for interfering with their plans.
• Zul'jin insulted Kael'thas and urged him not to resist humanity's power; Kael'thas and the Loa attacked the Troll's soul until it disappeared.
• Xal'atath asked the Loa whether they wanted to change masters.

After the Amani Loa joined Xal'atath, the allied forces discovered that thousands of Trolls had fled by sea and considered how to divide the captured Loa offspring. Aaron then suggested that Varian seek Proto-Dragons in Northrend as flying mounts.

• The Loa accepted Xal'atath's offer and asked Aaron to save their old friend Nalorakk if he could.
• Aaron and the others followed Xal'atath's clue to a deserted harbor, where Vereesa found signs that three or four thousand Trolls, mostly children, had sailed away.
• Kael'thas asked Falstad to alert Uther so the Kul Tiras fleet could intercept the fleeing Trolls, but the fleet could not locate the Zandalari ships.
• The allied forces concluded the Amani could no longer recover and began discussing how Silvermoon City and Lordaeron would divide the captured Loa offspring.
• Vereesa obtained an eagle egg and began incubating it with Falstad's guidance, while Varian wondered about establishing an air force for Stormwind City.
• Aaron proposed that Varian travel to Northrend to catch Proto-Dragons, and Varian questioned whether the plan was feasible.

Aaron suggested capturing Northrend Proto-Dragons to establish an air force for Stormwind, while Uther struggled to organize a victory parade after Terenas announced he would attend. Uther completed the preparations and waited for the guests to arrive.

• Aaron proposed taming Northrend Proto-Dragons as mounts for Stormwind’s air force and recounted his encounter with Thyr and the Vrykul’s mount.
• Varian and the other leaders became interested in the Proto-Dragons, though reaching Northrend and surviving its harsh climate remained obstacles.
• Aaron postponed his own plans to travel to Northrend because the expanding Ya-Mei Trading Company needed his oversight.
• Terenas announced he would attend the victory parade, forcing Uther to revise the guest arrangements and coordinate with the Alliance nations.
• Uther managed the divided allied forces, completed the soldiers’ training, and prepared to begin the parade once the guests arrived.

The Alliance held a victory parade in Quel'Thalas, after which Terenas proposed revising the Alliance treaty. Aaron stayed in Zul'Aman to research soldiers' needs until a Dragonhawk Rider urgently summoned him to Silvermoon City with a letter from the Ranger-General.

• Terenas, the Alliance kings, and other leaders gathered in Quel'Thalas to watch the military parade.
• Uther directed the parade as Lordaeron's soldiers, the Silver Hand, Dalaran's mages, Quel'Thalas's troops, allied reinforcements, and Falstad's Gryphon Riders marched past.
• After the parade, Terenas proposed revising the Alliance treaty, and the leaders traveled to Silvermoon City to discuss it and the soldiers' rewards.
• Aaron stayed in Zul'Aman to research allied soldiers' needs for new weapons while the leaders met in Silvermoon City.
• A Dragonhawk Rider delivered an urgent invitation from the Sun King and Terenas and a letter from the Ranger-General, asking Aaron to go to Silvermoon City at once.

Aaron learned that the Alliance had chosen him to administer Zul'Aman, and he traveled with Vereesa to Silvermoon City to ask Sylvanas for an explanation. Sylvanas explained that the leaders had agreed to create a jointly appointed, relatively independent city, leaving Aaron set to take charge.

• Aaron received Sylvanas's letter naming him administrator of Zul'Aman and questioned whether it was genuine.
• Aaron and Vereesa traveled to Silvermoon City, bringing the eaglet Lightning along.
• Aaron and Vereesa found Sylvanas at her residence and asked why the Alliance had selected Aaron.
• Sylvanas explained that the Alliance leaders rejected competing claims by Lordaeron, Quel'Thalas, Stromgarde, and Gilneas and agreed to establish an independent city jointly governed by Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas.
• Varian proposed Aaron, and his good relations with the kingdoms, gnomes, and dwarves helped secure him the position.

After the Alliance agreed on a new pact, Aaron received an honorary rank and was appointed lord of the conquered territory. The appointment came with a hidden condition set by Anasterian: the territory’s next lord had to be a half-elf, while Terenas watched with a knowing smile.

• Aaron learned that Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas planned to send civil administrators to his territory, and he accepted the pressure that would come with the appointment.
• After nearly ten days of meetings, the Alliance reached a new pact; Gilneas left, while Quel'Thalas and Stromgarde remained, and Varian offered to send the Stonemasons' Guild to help rebuild Stromgarde.
• Terenas proposed that Alliance leaders meet regularly to settle disputes and conflicts.
• The Alliance awarded Aaron the honorary rank of lieutenant general for killing Akil'zon and Zul'jin and leading the raid on the Hex Lord's Hall.
• At the commendation ceremony, Aaron was appointed lord of the new territory, unaware that Anasterian had privately required its next lord to be a half-elf; Terenas smiled mysteriously as Anasterian presented Aaron with the symbols of authority.

Aaron began establishing Covenant City in the ruins of Zul'Aman, where Quel'Thalas planned to train a new Paladin force with Lordaeron's help. The city remained little more than a pair of stone tablets and makeshift quarters, leaving Aaron to manage its early affairs himself.

• Anasterian agreed to establish a Paladin training force in Zul'Aman in exchange for Lordaeron's help, concessions over the territory, and a promise to remain in the Alliance for fifty years.
• Aaron proposed moving the Ya-Mei Trading Company's headquarters to Zul'Aman, and Sicco Thermaplugg and Mekkatorque offered no opposition.
• Aaron erected a stone tablet naming the new city Covenant City at the entrance to Zul'Aman.
• The Alliance covenant, written in Common, Thalassian, Dwarvish, and Gnomish, was placed on a second tablet opposite the city-name tablet.
• Lordaeron's Paladin instructors settled in a former loa altar, while Aaron took the Hex Lord's Hall as his temporary residence and collected taxes from merchants himself.

Aaron learned that Terenas had appointed a member of the Barov Family as Covenant City's administrator and grew wary because of the family's history. When the administrator arrived, Aaron discovered that she was Illucia Barov, the family's eldest daughter.

• Terenas informed Aaron that Lordaeron had selected Covenant City's administrator under its agreement with Quel'Thalas.
• Aaron decided that he would take control of appointments and dismissals in his territory in the future.
• Vereesa recognized the administrator's emblem as belonging to the Barov Family of Alterac.
• Aaron recalled the Barov Family's history of opposing the Alliance and feared its future ties to the Cult of the Damned.
• Illucia Barov arrived at Covenant City's gates as its new administrator instead of the family patriarch, Alexi Barov.

Illucia Barov arrived in Covenant City as its new administrative officer and presented Aaron with a plan to rebuild and develop the ruined territory. She proposed recruiting farmers from the former Kingdom of Alterac, and the chapter ended with Aaron agreeing to consider her proposal as she prepared to put it into action.

• Illucia Barov arrived in Covenant City and introduced herself to Aaron and Vereesa as the administrative officer appointed by Terenas.
• Aaron showed Illucia the damaged city and settled her in the Hex Lord's Hall, where she quickly began assessing the territory.
• Illucia gave Aaron a detailed development proposal that identified Covenant City's isolation and difficult terrain as major obstacles.
• Illucia proposed beginning with agriculture and recruiting farmers from the former Kingdom of Alterac, with her family helping fund the effort if needed.
• Aaron asked why Illucia was so eager to prove herself, but she left her explanation unfinished and went to prepare to carry out the plan.

Illucia described Covenant City’s rapid growth and reflected on her work for Aaron and the Barov Family’s political bargain with Lordaeron. She was left considering Aaron’s proposal to use orc prisoners of war to expand the harbor.

• Covenant City’s commercial district and population grew, and Aaron arranged for Tyr’s Guard to serve as city guards.
• Illucia worked on the territory’s administration and wrote to her mother about Aaron and her life in Covenant City.
• Illucia recalled that her family had regained Tarren Mill in exchange for swearing allegiance to the House of Menethil and sending her to serve Aaron.
• Illucia resolved to prove her worth as an administrator while resisting Terenas’s unspoken plans for her.
• Aaron proposed using Lordaeron’s orc prisoners of war to clear and expand Covenant City’s harbor.

Aaron traveled to Lordaeron to request orcs from Terenas for construction work, believing that reducing the forces Thrall could later gather would serve his plans. At Durnholde Keep, Arthas rushed into the internment camp ahead of Aaron and Vereesa to find the orc prisoners.

• Aaron explained to Vereesa that the orcs in Lordaeron's internment camps were currently subdued, while Thrall might later unite them and rebuild the Horde.
• Aaron told Vereesa he wanted to thin the forces Thrall could acquire, though he would not harm the young Thrall.
• Terenas readily agreed to lend Aaron orcs because the costly internment camps were straining Lordaeron's finances.
• Terenas sent Aaron to Durnholde Keep to choose orcs, and Arthas insisted on accompanying him.
• Arthas rushed into the camp and led Aaron and Vereesa toward the orc prisoners while a Lordaeron official went to find the camp's officer.

Aaron brought a group of lethargic orc prisoners from Lordaeron to Covenant City, where he struggled to get them to work. After seeing Thrall at Blackmoore’s stronghold, Aaron asked Xal'atath for a way to overcome the orcs’ lethargy.

• Arthas and Aaron visited the internment camp, where Blackmoore showed them the young orc Thrall training as a gladiator.
• Aaron asked Blackmoore to let him take orcs, and Blackmoore agreed rather than oppose Terenas’s orders.
• With help from Terenas’s soldiers, Aaron transported the prisoners to Covenant City and settled them near the former site of Zul'jin's altar.
• Aaron found that the orcs barely worked despite their overseers and realized the effects of Demon Blood had left them deeply lethargic.
• Aaron asked Xal'atath for a solution, and she said she had several methods for him to choose from.

Aaron discussed ways to address the Orcs’ lethargy with Xal'atath, who offered to help after revealing that a powerful figure wanted him to travel to Northrend. With Xal'atath’s spell and Aaron’s work-point system, the Orcs became more willing to work, while the northern trouble remained unexplained.

• Xal'atath suggested Aaron kill Mannoroth, but Aaron rejected the dangerous plan.
• Xal'atath proposed counteracting the Orcs’ lethargy with a spell, explaining that Bloodlust usually drained its recipients’ stamina.
• Xal'atath revealed that she was helping because a powerful figure wanted Aaron to finish his current tasks and go to Northrend.
• Aaron introduced a work-point system, and Xal'atath helped the Orcs become willing to work for food.

Aaron oversaw Covenant City’s growth and prepared to travel to Northrend, but Xal'atath revealed that several major powers were already stirring there. He realized the turmoil might be far beyond what he could handle with his current forces.

• Aaron completed Covenant City’s harbor, moved the Ya-Mei Trading Company there, and helped Sicco Thermaplugg establish a laboratory and rail line.
• Aaron borrowed more orcs from Terenas, bringing the number in Covenant City to nearly a thousand as reconstruction advanced.
• Lor'themar took charge of the Farstriders' Camp, while Liadrin and the High Elf paladins continued training under human instructors.
• Xal'atath stopped Aaron from sailing to Northrend and told him that Scourge citadels had appeared in the Borean Tundra, Zandalar's Golden Fleet was near Zul'Drak, and the Vrykul of Utgarde were awakening.
• Aaron feared the growing unrest and questioned how he could face Northrend’s chaos without a much larger army.

Aaron assessed the dangers gathering in Northrend and began planning a coalition to confront them. After Xal'atath suggested seeking help from the blue dragons and the Dragonflights, Aaron prepared to travel and recruit allies.

• Aaron reviewed the threats in Northrend, including Yogg-Saron, Loken, Malygos, Ner'zhul, and the stirring Ice Trolls and Vrykul.
• Xal'atath told Aaron that the powerful figure backing him would offer only spiritual support.
• Aaron considered seeking reinforcements from Archaedas and Tyr's Guard.
• Xal'atath pointed out that the blue dragons could help Aaron contact the Dragonflights at Wyrmrest Temple.
• Aaron decided to seek the Red Dragonflight's help and set out to recruit allies for Northrend.

Aaron traveled with Vereesa to recruit allies for a coming journey to Northrend, gathering Ygrim, Tavard, Stellagosa, and Archaedas. After Archaedas agreed to join them, Aaron realized he could seek further reinforcements in Ironforge.

• Aaron recruited Ygrim and Tavard at Tyr's Fall, and they prepared to join his expedition to Northrend.
• Aaron learned in Azsuna that Kel'Thuzad had gone to Stormheim to study a living Val'kyr rather than traveling to Northrend.
• Aaron asked Senegos for the Dragonflights' help, and Senegos sent Stellagosa to accompany him to Wyrmrest Temple.
• Aaron invited Farodin to join them, but Farodin stayed behind to tend the Seed of Arcan'dor.
• Aaron recruited Archaedas at Uldaman, and Archaedas left Ironaya behind to maintain the facility.
• Aaron decided to seek additional reinforcements in Ironforge.

Aaron assembled a large expedition to Northrend, recruiting the Explorers' League, Stormwind soldiers, Kul Tiran ships, gnome craftsmen, and Quel'Thalas forces. When departure came, the expedition had grown into a vast fleet from several kingdoms.

• Magni agreed to let Brann and the Explorers' League join Aaron's expedition after learning Northrend might hold answers about the dwarves' origins.
• Brann excitedly rallied the Explorers' League, and Aaron persuaded him to wait a few days before departing.
• Varian sent five hundred Stormwind soldiers led by Bolvar Fordragon to join the expedition.
• Aaron arranged six months of supplies from the Kul Tiras navy in exchange for weapons from his trading company.
• Liadrin asked to bring the Blood Knights, and the Sun King approved her request while assigning Blood Elf mages and rangers to support them.
• Aaron discovered that Kul Tiras, Quel'Thalas, and Stormwind had assembled a fleet of nearly a hundred ships and dozens more vessels for the expedition.

Aaron and Kael'thas discussed the expedition, the stalled research into Orbis’s core, and Stellagosa’s mysterious identity as the fleet sailed toward Northrend. Their conversation ended when Kael'thas struck a shadow beneath the sea with a fireball, revealing a Naga.

• Kael'thas explained that he had joined the expedition to command the High Elf mages, while Aaron noted that Brann had similarly high status among the dwarves.
• Aaron asked about the research into Orbis’s core, and Kael'thas said Dalaran’s and Quel'Thalas’s mages had split their efforts and made little progress.
• Kael'thas noticed Stellagosa and asked Aaron about her unusually powerful mana, but Aaron said he would explain when they reached Northrend.
• Aaron interrupted Kael'thas’s questions after spotting a shadow beneath the water.
• Kael'thas hit the shadow with a fireball, and Aaron recognized the wounded creature as a Naga.

Aaron captured a lone Naga scout and tried to question her, but she killed herself before revealing her purpose. The fleet then encountered turbulent waters and gathering storm clouds, which Kael'thas suspected were caused by powerful magic.

• Aaron stopped Kael'thas from killing the Naga, guessing she was scouting ahead, then pursued and captured her.
• Aaron brought the Naga aboard the Dreadwake and threatened her for information, but she shouted for Queen Azshara and impaled herself on his blade.
• Kael'thas used magic to clear away the Naga's corpse and blood, while Aaron ordered the fleet warned about Naga in the waters.
• The sea ahead turned turbulent and dark clouds gathered, and Kael'thas sensed strong magical fluctuations rather than a natural storm.

Aaron’s fleet was caught in a massive storm conjured by Naga wielding Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, and the Naga launched an attack. The battle escalated into a fierce exchange of spells as Naga began trying to board the ships, leaving the fleet at a growing disadvantage in the storm.

• Aaron, Kael'thas, Stellagosa, and Archaedas sensed the storm’s magic, and Archaedas identified it as power from the Well of Eternity.
• Aaron recognized Sharas'dal, Scepter of Tides, and learned the fleet could not easily maneuver out of the storm.
• Thousands of Naga advanced on the fleet, and the ship captains ordered their crews to prepare for battle.
• Kael'thas and the Quel'Thalas mages attacked the Naga, but Naga witches answered with lightning, whirlwinds, and other spells.
• The Naga broke through the spell blockade and began climbing aboard as the storm weakened the sailors’ morale and favored their attackers.

Aaron and the Dreadwake fought through a Naga ambush, then attacked the witches controlling the storm. As their defenses began to fail, hidden beasts struck the ship from below, leaving Aaron struggling to keep it from breaking apart.

• Aaron saw the Naga bypass the Dreadwake and attack the fleet’s supply ships, so he raised the Dreadwake into the air.
• Aaron followed the strongest mana fluctuations and found a high-ranking Naga witch directing the storm.
• The Dreadwake’s guns killed many Naga witches, but the remaining witches raised purple barriers to protect their leader.
• Archaedas and Aaron realized the Naga were unusually calm, and Aaron heard something huge break through the water beneath the ship.
• Aaron tried to steer the Dreadwake higher, but repeated blows from below kept striking it and splintering its timber.

Aaron recognized that the attackers ambushing the Dreadwake were Infinite Dragonflight members and used Al'ar to deliver a mass of explosives beneath the ship. The injured Infinite dragons and Naga retreated, allowing Aaron's fleet to resume its voyage, though the Scepter of Tides remained out of reach.

• Aaron realized the attackers were Infinite dragons who had anticipated his movements and were ramming the Dreadwake from below.
• Aaron rejected Stellagosa's offer to negotiate and warned that he might detonate the explosives aboard the ship.
• Aaron persuaded Kael'thas to let Al'ar carry a frozen mass of bombs, grenades, and rockets beneath the Dreadwake.
• The explosives blasted the Infinite dragons, who fled after threatening Aaron, while the Naga retreated beneath the sea.
• Aaron's fleet defeated the remaining Naga and continued its voyage, though it had suffered losses and failed to obtain the Scepter of Tides.

Aaron and the expedition arrived at Daggercap Bay and discussed how to pursue their separate goals in Northrend. As they began planning reconnaissance, a proto-dragon appeared in the northern sky.

• Aaron and his companions landed at Daggercap Bay, where they established a camp near the other Alliance explorers.
• Aaron hired adventurers to help build cabins and gathered Grand Duke Bolvar, Kael'thas, Brann, and Liadrin to coordinate the expedition's plans.
• Aaron proposed sending Stormwind's forces to scout Utgarde Keep, the Blood Knights to fight ice trolls in Zul'Drak, and Brann and the Explorers' League with him to Ulduar.
• Bolvar, Liadrin, and Brann agreed to their assignments, while Bolvar urged caution because Stormwind could not afford needless losses.
• A ranger warned the camp about something approaching from the northern sky, and Aaron told Bolvar that the approaching creature was the proto-dragon he wanted.