Recaps

Aaron questioned the imprisoned Drakuru about the cause of the trouble in Drak'Tharon Keep, and Drakuru claimed Tharon'ja had spread the plague. After Orsonn reported finding Tharon'ja's remains, Drakuru realized Aaron's group could seize the keep, and Aaron released him to put him to use.

• Drakuru offered to lead Aaron's group to the source of the keep's problems in exchange for his life.
• Aaron guessed that Drakuru meant Tharon'ja, and Drakuru blamed the Wind Serpent for spreading the plague.
• Orsonn reported finding Tharon'ja's remains upstairs.
• Drakuru recognized Orsonn and realized Aaron's group had the strength to occupy Drak'Tharon Keep.
• Aaron freed Drakuru, and Halduron warned him to behave or be killed.

Aaron and his allies fought Tharon'ja after the Wind Serpent reassembled from his bones and attacked them. Aaron used Drakuru to block Tharon'ja’s life-draining spell, helping defeat the Loa, before a female Vrykul arrived to promise Drakuru the Lich King’s rewards.

• Orsonn told Aaron that the Furbolgs had cleared much of Drak'Tharon Keep before discovering Tharon'ja’s bones.
• Tharon'ja reassembled, accused Aaron’s group, and attacked them with shadow magic and a life-draining spell.
• Aaron grabbed Drakuru and threw him in front of Tharon'ja’s life-draining beam, then attacked the Wind Serpent while Orsonn and his sister helped.
• Aaron and his allies broke Tharon'ja’s skeleton apart again.
• A female Vrykul arrived and praised Drakuru, promising that the Lich King would grant him everything he desired.

Aaron pretended to cooperate with the Lich King's Val'kyr while keeping Drakuru restrained, then helped Xal'atath capture the Val'kyr Aradne. Aradne resisted, but Ner'zhul lost contact with her as he assured Tichondrius that his plan was progressing.

• Aaron claimed Drakuru was exhausted and had Halduron restrain him while pretending to care for him.
• Aaron asked the Val'kyr about the Lich King's plans, and she revealed that he wanted them to conquer Zul'Drak with three floating citadels arriving in about a month.
• Aaron introduced Xal'atath, who bound the Val'kyr with golden runes and revealed that she intended to capture her.
• Aradne resisted and sent a silver radiance toward Drakuru as her body began turning gold.
• Ner'zhul sensed that he had lost contact with another Val'kyr, then told Tichondrius that his plan was on track.

Aaron questioned Drakuru about the plague at Drak'Tharon Keep, and Drakuru revealed how he had betrayed the Ice Trolls and become trapped between the Lich King and Novos. Aaron left Drakuru's fate unresolved after confirming that Novos had already died.

• Xal'atath struck Aradne down with golden runes, and Aaron turned his attention to Drakuru, whose symptoms had vanished after Aradne infused him with power.
• Aaron questioned Drakuru, who asked to be spared and explained that he had helped the Lich King spread the plague in exchange for his own survival.
• Drakuru recounted how the Undead besieged Drak'Tharon Keep while Zul'Drak failed to answer the Ice Trolls' pleas for help.
• Drakuru said Prophet Sapphiron took the Wind Serpent god's power but succumbed to the plague, while the Lich King's agents killed several of Drakuru's companions.
• Drakuru explained that Novos became a Lich and turned the surviving Trolls into Undead, forcing Drakuru to hide in the raptor pens.
• Aaron confirmed that Novos was dead, then asked Drakuru for his last words.

Aaron forced Drakuru to reveal the plague sources hidden throughout Drak'Tharon Keep and purified some of them. He brought the jars back to the others and planned to have Aradne confirm Drakuru had told the truth before honoring their deal.

• Drakuru demanded that Aaron spare his life in exchange for revealing the plague sources, and Aaron agreed after Halduron withdrew his spear.
• Drakuru led Aaron alone to a storehouse and showed him a plague jar hidden beneath a floor tile.
• Aaron used Holy Light to purify plague jars, and Drakuru led him to five sources in total; Aaron purified three and kept two for study.
• Aaron said he would confirm Drakuru had found every source with Aradne before letting him go.
• Aaron and Drakuru returned to the keep's summit with three jars, and Aaron showed them to the waiting group.

Aaron uncovered that the plague came from a set of jars and planned to have mages study them, while the expedition relocated from Utgarde to Grizzly Hills. As Aaron prepared for the coming battles, Liadrin brought him to meet an unexpected visitor.

• Aaron explained the plague jars to Bolvar and learned from Aradne that Ner'zhul had given Drakuru five sources of the plague.
• Aaron let Drakuru leave the keep, and Xal'atath waited with Aradne for someone sent to collect her.
• Orsonn's furbolgs moved into Drak'Tharon Keep and burned the stored food and troll corpses to prevent the plague from spreading.
• Aaron moved the expedition to a new camp in Grizzly Hills with help from the Kul Tiras fleet.
• Liadrin told Aaron that someone with important news wanted to meet him, and Aaron reacted with surprise when he saw the visitor.

Aaron met Aradne again and learned that the Loa were in danger as the Scourge’s plague spread through Zul'Drak. He flew with Aradne to meet the Loa and plan how to prevent Ner'zhul from gaining an advantage, where Annhylde arrived.

• Aradne visited Aaron’s camp, and Xal'atath explained that Aradne had been sent to scout Zul'Drak after joining their side.
• Xal'atath told Aaron that Ice Troll priests and prophets could seize their Loa’s power, putting the Loa at risk as the plague spread.
• Aaron agreed to meet the Loa and work out a plan, then instructed the expedition members to continue preparing for battle.
• Aaron and Aradne flew to ruins near Zul'Drak, where Aaron found and burned the bodies left behind by the Scourge’s attacks.
• Aradne explained that Ner'zhul’s plans had changed after she switched sides, then pointed out that Annhylde was approaching.

Aaron met with the Zul'Aman Loa spirits and the Drakkari Loa, who believed the warnings about the Trolls turning against them. The Drakkari Loa agreed to support Aaron's assault on Zul'Drak, and he returned to camp to prepare the attack.

• Annhylde summoned Halazzi, Jan'alai, Akil'zon, and Tharon'ja, who greeted Aaron and explained that they had come to warn the Drakkari Loa.
• Akali, Sseratus, Rhunok, and Har'koa arrived, while Har'koa said Quetz'lun could not be reached and Mam'toth had refused to come.
• Halazzi and Tharon'ja recounted how the Trolls had betrayed them, convincing the Drakkari Loa that Aradne's warnings were true.
• Aaron outlined his plan to attack Zul'Drak and asked the Drakkari Loa to strike from behind.
• Har'koa, Rhunok, and Akali pledged support for the assault, and Aaron returned to camp to prepare it.

Aaron commanded the expedition’s assault on Zul’Drak while the Loa secretly attacked the Ice Trolls from behind. Frost King Malakk ordered a retreat toward Gundrak and sought help from the Zandalari, but the expedition and the Loa’s forces overwhelmed the battlefield.

• Aaron led the expedition toward Zul’Drak, using sailors to coordinate its contingents while the Furbolgs struggled to follow signals.
• At Zul’Drak’s second wall, the Blood Knights met stiff resistance from the Ice Trolls, and Aaron waited for the Loa to strike.
• The Loa sent beasts against the Ice Trolls’ rear, throwing their ranks into chaos as Frost King Malakk ordered his troops to retreat.
• Malakk sent messengers to Gundrak to tell the Zandalari Trolls to prepare a ritual, then withdrew with his trusted followers.
• Aaron ordered the expedition to pursue the retreating Ice Trolls, and by the time the troops reached the Loa’s beasts, no Ice Trolls remained standing on the battlefield.

Aaron supervised the destruction of the Ice Troll dead to keep the Scourge from raising them, then spoke with Har'koa and Sseratus about the Undead and their followers. A tremendous explosion collapsed the third eastern wall, and the Loa identified the threatened area as Mam'toth's domain.

• Aaron ordered the battlefield bodies gathered and burned, while Orsonn's Furbolgs helped the soldiers clear the dead.
• Aaron discussed the dangers of the Undead with Har'koa and Sseratus, who described their own followers and the legacy of the Wild Gods.
• Aaron felt the ground shake and flew up to see the third eastern wall collapse in a cloud of dust, with Trolls and mammoths gathered around the crater.
• Har'koa recognized the location as Mam'toth's domain, and Sseratus wondered why the Trolls had attacked Mam'toth.

After Mam'toth's death disrupted the Ice Trolls, Aaron's forces captured the outer defenses of Gundrak and discovered Quetz'lun's fate. As the Loa prepared to attack the city, Akali revealed a secret passage into it.

• Har'koa agreed with Aaron that the Ice Trolls' disarray made it the right time to advance, and Aaron gathered his forces.
• Aaron's troops exploited a breach in the third wall and captured it, leaving Gundrak as the Ice Trolls' last stronghold.
• Aaron found Quetz'lun's remains and, with Har'koa's guidance, located her soul; Quetz'lun accepted Xal'atath's offer and asked to witness the Ice Trolls' downfall.
• Akali and the other Loa attacked the Ice Trolls outside Gundrak, killing hundreds and driving the survivors into the city.
• Har'koa asked Akali for advice on attacking Gundrak, and Akali revealed a hidden passage behind his ritual hall.

Aaron and the Loa infiltrated Gundrak through a hidden passage and defeated Frost King Malakk and the last Ice Troll defenders. Malakk died after revealing that the Zandalari had warned him of an Undead apocalypse, and the Drakkari were left destroyed.

• Akali explained that the hidden passage into Gundrak was too narrow for the main force, so the Loa and Aaron entered instead.
• Aaron and the Loa fought through the Ice Troll defenses until Har'koa killed the last Troll standing beside Malakk.
• Malakk blamed the Loa for refusing to sacrifice themselves and said he had turned against them to save the Drakkari from a plague and an Undead future foretold by the Zandalari.
• Malakk charged Akali, who parried his battle-axe with a horn and sent him crashing into a wall, killing him.
• With Malakk dead, resistance in Gundrak ended, marking the destruction of the Drakkari Trolls who had occupied the city for over ten thousand years.

After leaving Zul'Drak, Aaron discovered that Zandalari Trolls were following his fleet. Aboard their warship, Goraya heard Kairozdormu’s warning about Aaron and considered bringing the Zanchuli Council into a plan to intercept him.

• Aaron told the Loa about the possible Scourge attack, then withdrew with his allies toward Grizzly Hills.
• Aaron noticed that no Zandalari Trolls remained in Zul'Drak and soon spotted a Zandalari warship trailing his convoy.
• Kairozdormu warned Goraya that Aaron’s future fleet would threaten Zandalar and urged the Zandalari to mobilize against him.
• Goraya questioned Kairozdormu’s account but agreed to report his plan to the Zanchuli Council and Lord Zul.
• Kairozdormu flew away, while Goraya reflected that his expedition had brought back over a thousand Ice Trolls despite failing to seize Ursoc’s power.

Aaron returned to Covenant City and toured the rapidly developing harbor and city with administrator Illucia. He learned that a joint mage academy was being built there and that guests were waiting at the lord’s residence.

• Aaron parted ways with Bolvar and the Kul Tiras fleet, reminding Bolvar of their agreement concerning Utgarde Keep and the Stonemasons' Guild.
• Aaron docked the Dreadwake at Covenant City's expanded harbor and reunited with Illucia, who sarcastically noted how long he had been away.
• Illucia showed Aaron and Vereesa the city's new facilities and explained how she had adjusted the harbor to support the Ya-Mei Trading Company.
• Aaron noticed a half-built mage academy near the Blood Knights' camp and learned that Lordaeron, Dalaran, and Quel'Thalas were establishing it jointly.
• Illucia told Aaron that guests were waiting at the lord's residence, and he agreed to meet them promptly.

Aaron returned to Covenant City, met with Antonidas and Jaina about Dalaran’s role in building the mage academy, and heard Illucia’s report on the city’s changes and problems. He learned that the Orc prisoners were losing motivation and struggled with delicate work, and he said he had a solution for the latter issue.

• Illucia told Aaron that Antonidas and Jaina were visiting Covenant City, and Aaron greeted them while teasing Jaina about Arthas.
• Antonidas discussed supervising construction of the mage academy with Aaron, who agreed to Dalaran appoint a replacement supervisor later.
• Aaron asked Illucia to explain how Covenant City had changed, and she showed him the harbor-centered layout and relocated merchant district.
• Illucia reported that the Orcs Aaron had borrowed from Lordaeron were losing motivation despite her invigorating spells.
• Illucia explained that the Orcs’ work habits were slowing projects and made delicate labor difficult, and Aaron said he had a solution for that problem.

Aaron discussed Covenant City's construction plans and alliance with the Kingdom of Stormwind, then joined Vereesa to see the gnomes testing a new machine. Sicco Thermaplugg welcomed him and offered to show him the device.

• Aaron told Illucia that he had traded the right to use Utgarde Keep for permission to hire the Stonemasons' Guild, and Illucia warned that Stormwind may have benefited more from the deal.
• Illucia said cooperation with the Kingdom of Stormwind could give Covenant City an important ally in the Alliance, then reviewed other city problems with Aaron.
• After Illucia left, Vereesa showed Aaron her Eagle Eye spell and told him the gnomes were testing a new machine.
• Aaron and Vereesa went to the Ya-Mei Trading Company, where Sicco Thermaplugg cleared spectators away from the dangerous test area.
• Sicco recognized Aaron and invited him to inspect his new invention.

Aaron and Vereesa tested Sicco Thermaplugg’s crude, gun-equipped airplane, which rose successfully but shook violently in flight. After Vereesa fired the machine gun, the plane cracked and dropped, forcing Aaron to pull her clear before they could see what had gone wrong.

• Sicco Thermaplugg invited Aaron to test his airplane and showed him its improved machine gun, then fetched parachutes for Aaron and Vereesa.
• Aaron and Vereesa boarded the plane after Sicco Thermaplugg explained its controls, and gnomish craftsmen started the steam engine.
• Aaron piloted the plane over the sea and asked Vereesa to test the machine gun.
• Vereesa fired, and the recoil forced Aaron to steady the plane as bullets splashed into the seawater.
• Aaron heard cracking and a bang as the plane began to drop, so he pulled Vereesa out and flew them away from it.

Aaron’s test of an armed plane ended in a crash, and he reported its structural flaw to Sicco Thermaplugg. He then welcomed Edwin VanCleef and the Stonemasons’ Guild to Covenant City, paid them a generous deposit, and left VanCleef to begin planning the city’s construction.

• Aaron watched the machine-gun plane break apart and crash into the sea, then told Sicco Thermaplugg that its structure could not withstand the gun’s recoil.
• Aaron welcomed Edwin VanCleef and the Stonemasons’ Guild when they arrived from Stormwind City and arranged for them to rest.
• VanCleef met Aaron two days later and asked to begin work, requesting an advance deposit.
• Aaron gave VanCleef more gold than the customary deposit and warned that later payments depended on the quality of the work.
• VanCleef insisted on surveying Covenant City at once, and Aaron asked Illucia to discuss the construction plans with him.

Aaron realized that he had transmigrated into Azeroth after seeing a High Elf at the inn, and tried to work out which era he had arrived in. The elf noticed him staring and approached him.

• Aaron recognized the inn’s guest as a High Elf and asked the innkeeper about the nearby countries, learning that the inn was in Lordaeron near Alterac and Dalaran.
• Aaron concluded that he was in Azeroth and worried about the world’s recurring disasters, but Nosh could not tell him what year it was.
• Aaron went outside to look at the elf and her Thalassian Horse, guessing that the Scourge had not yet devastated the Eastern Kingdoms and that the Second War might still be underway.
• Aaron recalled how he had fallen asleep after playing World of Warcraft and awoken in the wilderness, eventually finding work at the inn in exchange for bread.
• The High Elf, apparently tired of Aaron staring at her, walked toward him.

Aaron traveled to Uldaman to tell Archaedas that the remaining Earthen and Mechagnomes would join the counterattack against Ulduar. There he found the Titan complex transformed and was welcomed by Ironaya, who said she had been waiting for him.

• Aaron decided to visit Uldaman and deliver Archaedas's request for its remaining troops to join the counterattack against Loken.
• Illucia complained that Aaron was leaving her to manage Covenant City, then saw him off with VanCleef.
• Aaron flew alone toward Uldaman and discovered that his summoned gryphon slowly consumed his Holy Light.
• Aaron found the Explorers' League dwarves excavating Uldaman, then encountered Earthen, Mechagnomes, and stone statue guards deeper inside.
• The guards contacted Ironaya, whose projection greeted Aaron and said she had been waiting for him.

Aaron met Ironaya at Uldaman and agreed to help transport her forces to Northrend across the newly formed ocean. He left carrying an oversized communicator, while Ironaya prepared to lead Earthen and golems toward Quel'Thalas.

• Ironaya welcomed Aaron back to Uldaman, where a Mechagnome guided him through the complex and explained that the Troggs had been locked away.
• Ironaya told Aaron that Archaedas had contacted Uldaman from Northrend and asked for help crossing the ocean between Northrend and the Eastern Kingdoms.
• Aaron agreed to arrange transport with the Kul Tiras fleet, and Ironaya gave him a large communicator so they could stay in touch.
• Aaron returned to Covenant City on a gryphon with the communicator, while Ironaya later set out for Quel'Thalas with an army of Earthen and golems.

VanCleef showed Aaron his plans for Covenant City, including a harbor design Aaron recognized as Stormwind City's future harbor. Their conversation revealed VanCleef's fears about the Stonemasons' Guild's fate, and the chapter left him reassured that his adapted harbor plans would work in Covenant City as he prepared to begin construction.

• VanCleef hurried to Aaron's office and presented blueprints for Covenant City's future development.
• Aaron recognized VanCleef's harbor design as resembling Stormwind City's harbor and told VanCleef he had seen it in Stormwind City.
• VanCleef revealed that Illucia and others had told him rumors about Aaron seeing glimpses of the future.
• VanCleef asked Aaron what would become of the Stonemasons' Guild, and Aaron warned that the future he had seen was only one possibility and had already changed.
• VanCleef confirmed that he had adapted the harbor design for Covenant City's circumstances, then left to start work with his men.

Aaron prepared to return to Northrend and collected improved weapons from Sicco Thermaplugg, who was eager to show off his inventions. Before Aaron could depart, Illucia brought him plans for Covenant City's future development.

• Aaron contacted Ironaya and learned that she and her group of Earthen and golems would reach Quel'Thalas in about a week.
• Aaron decided his Northrend forces were sufficient and went to the Ya-Mei Trading Company to obtain its improved weapons.
• Sicco Thermaplugg showed Aaron machine guns capable of firing about six hundred rounds a minute and other weapons he had improved.
• Sicco Thermaplugg offered to show Aaron a new experimental flying machine, but Aaron took the weapons already in the warehouse instead.
• Illucia brought Aaron a thick stack of documents about Covenant City's future development.

Illucia proposed sending the Orcs from Covenant City to Northrend to cut timber, both to make use of their labor and to prevent political backlash against Aaron. Before Aaron could explain who else would travel north with him, Ironaya reported that she was nearly at the Elf Gate.

• Illucia explained Covenant City's construction plans and warned Aaron that the city depended too heavily on the Ya-Mei Trading Company.
• Illucia suggested sending the Orcs to Northrend to cut timber and warned Aaron that keeping them in Covenant City could be seen as betrayal and threaten his control of the city.
• Aaron agreed to send the Orcs north and mentioned that others would travel with him, but Ironaya interrupted him with her progress report.
• Ironaya told Aaron that she was nearly at the Elf Gate, and Aaron said he would go meet her.

Aaron arranged for Ironaya and her group to enter Quel'Thalas and continue to Covenant City, while Illucia prepared for their arrival. A huge crowd had followed the procession to the Elf Gate, where the elven rangers allowed Ironaya’s party through but barred the spectators.

• Illucia was astonished by Ironaya’s appearance, and Aaron explained that she was an ancient creation awakened by dwarves before asking Illucia to arrange accommodations for Ironaya’s group.
• Aaron flew to Quel’Lithien Lodge, where Lathrai Hawkspear agreed to help watch for Ironaya’s arriving party.
• Aaron spotted Ironaya leading a procession of Earthen and stone golems, with wagons and a crowd of spectators following behind.
• Ironaya told Aaron that curious onlookers had followed them since they left the Wetlands, while rumors spread that the giant planned to attack Quel’Thalas or carried the High Elves’ secret weapons.
• After Aaron spoke with Hawkspear, the rangers let Ironaya and her companions pass through the Elf Gate and prevented the human spectators from following.