Recaps

Kael'thas mourned Anasterian's final death and discussed repairing Flamestrike and restoring the Sunwell with Aaron. Aaron then learned that a plague had broken out in Stratholme after Illucia and two former Cult of the Damned mages found tainted grain bound for the city.

• Anasterian's soul dispersed before Kael'thas could save it, and Kael'thas grieved his father's death.
• Kael'thas asked Aaron to have Archaedas repair the broken Flamestrike and explained that restoring the Sunwell would take years because the ley lines were disordered.
• Aaron wondered where the Scourge had gone and warned the various powers to remain cautious.
• Illucia met the two former Cult of the Damned mages in Darrowshire and brought them toward Covenant City.
• The mages recognized a plague-tainted scent in a grain convoy bound for Stratholme, so Illucia hurried to Covenant City and reported it to Aaron.

Aaron learned that the Cult of the Damned might have infiltrated Stratholme and set out with Arthas to investigate. He worried that Arthas might repeat the disastrous purge of the city.

• Illucia explained that Stratholme's nobles might ignore her warning and that Cult of the Damned members had operated openly in the city.
• Andrew described the Cult's apparent protection in Stratholme, while Edward recalled a friend claiming that a powerful figure had joined the city.
• Aaron decided to bring Arthas into the investigation and ordered Andrew and Edward to accompany him.
• Arthas left his assault on the Trolls and traveled toward Stratholme with Aaron and the two mages, while Uther promised to follow after securing Eversong Woods.
• Aaron privately resolved to prevent Arthas from purging Stratholme.

Aaron and Arthas entered Stratholme to investigate the contaminated grain, but Baron Rivendare revealed himself as a Death Knight and ambushed them during a welcoming banquet. As Arthas and the Paladins fought Rivendare’s soldiers, Aaron pursued a fleeing noble.

• Aaron and Arthas arrived at Stratholme and found the city’s streets busy, with no sign that the tainted grain had caused trouble yet.
• Local nobles welcomed Arthas and led his party to a banquet at the lord’s manor, while Baron Rivendare remained absent.
• Black-clad soldiers surrounded the banquet guests, and Baron Rivendare appeared and announced that he intended to hold Arthas and the Paladins as guests.
• Arthas and the Paladins fought back, and Rivendare drew a chilling sword and challenged Arthas to battle.
• Aaron realized Rivendare was a Death Knight and, seeing Arthas and the Paladins gaining the upper hand, chased a noble trying to escape.

Aaron discovered that a Dreadlord had infiltrated Baron Rivendare’s manor and that zombified residents were being used to attack Arthas and the Paladins. After the battle ended with Arthas defeating Rivendare, Arthas stared toward Stratholme’s residential districts, and local soldiers arrived to ask what had happened.

• Truthguard revealed a disguised Dreadlord among the nobles, and Aaron struck at him before he transformed into bats and warned Aaron to look around.
• Zombified residents entered the banquet hall, and Baron Rivendare used one to heal himself while black-clad soldiers directed the undead against the Paladins.
• Aaron blocked the manor’s ruined main gate with Truthguard to stop zombies from reaching Stratholme’s streets.
• Arthas defeated Baron Rivendare, and the Paladins killed the remaining black-clad soldiers.
• Arthas stared through the gate toward Stratholme as soldiers bearing the city’s emblem arrived and asked about the baron.

After Arthas exposed and executed Baron Rivendare, Aaron discovered that some grain tainted by the Cult of the Damned had already reached Stratholme’s residents, prompting a call for reinforcements. As the city’s response got underway, an earthquake shook the south, and the Wildhammer Shamans reported that Blackrock Mountain had erupted again.

• Aaron pointed out Baron Rivendare’s twitching, frost-covered remains, and Arthas told the soldiers that the baron had colluded with the undead before asking them to help defend Stratholme.
• The soldiers agreed to follow Arthas, and Aaron learned that Rivendare had turned the city lord’s residence workers into zombies before the contaminated grain had spread.
• Aaron found that some of the tainted grain was missing from Stratholme’s granary and urged Arthas to call for help because fewer than two hundred soldiers could not manage the city’s population.
• Arthas sent messengers for reinforcements, and Paladins, Dalaran mages, Ravenholdt, and the Wildhammer Dwarves arrived to help identify contaminated grain and monitor residents.
• An earthquake reached Stratholme, and the Wildhammer Shamans told Aaron that Blackrock Mountain had erupted again.
• Aaron worried that Ragnaros might be stirring and decided he would have to go to Blackrock Mountain.

With the Alliance occupied by plague outbreaks, Aaron traveled alone to Blackrock Mountain to investigate reports of elemental unrest. He found the mountain shattered and its surrounding lands deserted, then heard weapons clashing nearby.

• After Ravenholdt reported plague outbreaks across the northern human kingdoms, Aaron set out alone for Blackrock Mountain and alerted Archaedas to the danger.
• Aaron crossed the Eastern Kingdoms on a gryphon and reached Searing Gorge after several sleepless days of travel.
• He discovered that Blackrock Mountain had been sheared apart, with its peaks scattered and smoke and ash covering the area.
• Aaron found no Dark Iron Dwarves or black dragonkin in Searing Gorge, only beasts adapted to the harsh landscape.
• Hearing weapons clash nearby, Aaron headed toward the sound, hoping to find someone who could explain what had happened.

Aaron helped Taligosa and a group of Dark Iron Dwarves defeat two fel-tainted Fire Elementals near Blackrock Mountain. Taligosa revealed that demons had appeared around the damaged mountain, then began showing Aaron an illusion of what the fleeing dwarves had witnessed.

• Aaron found Taligosa fighting two weakened, fel-tainted Fire Elementals alongside Dark Iron Dwarves.
• Taligosa urged Aaron to help because a greater threat was approaching, and Aaron joined the battle.
• Aaron struck one Fire Elemental with the Silver Hand Warhammer, mixing holy light with the fel and weakening it until the group defeated both elementals.
• Taligosa explained that she had come to investigate Blackrock Mountain after hearing of its destruction and had found demons roaming the Burning Steppes.
• Taligosa questioned a fleeing Dark Iron Dwarf and used a spell to recreate what he had seen around Blackrock Mountain for Aaron.

Taligosa showed Aaron a Dark Iron Dwarf scout’s view of the Scourge and demons invading Blackrock Mountain to siphon its magma and open a gateway. Ragnaros confronted the invaders, but Archimonde reached through the gateway and defeated him before fully entering the world.

• A Dark Iron Dwarf scout witnessed green-flamed Infernals fall across Blackrock Mountain and attack its defenders alongside the Scourge.
• The scout entered the mountain and realized the invaders were advancing toward Shadowforge City, but the Dark Iron Dwarves were driven back behind its gates.
• The demons built a stone gateway and used Fel magic arrays to draw energy from the magma, prompting Ragnaros to attack them.
• Ragnaros struck at the arm reaching through the gateway, but Archimonde blocked his blows, seized him by the throat, drained his energy, and threw him into the magma.

Archimonde defeated Ragnaros and the Black Dragon Prince, forcing the Dark Iron Dwarves to flee as the Firelord’s forces joined the Burning Legion. Aaron and Taligosa encountered the wounded Onyxia, who charged toward them in a fit of madness.

• Archimonde entered the world and defeated Ragnaros, the Black Dragon Prince, and the Black Dragonflight siblings at Blackrock Mountain.
• The Dark Iron Dwarves fled Shadowforge City through secret tunnels, and Ragnaros sent fire elementals to hunt them down.
• Taligosa helped the Dark Iron Dwarves fight off the fire elementals, then told Aaron she had held back because a dangerous lunatic might appear.
• A panicked dwarf warned that the lunatic was coming, and Taligosa transformed despite her many wounds.
• Onyxia appeared and charged toward Taligosa and Aaron.

Aaron tried to kill the wounded Onyxia during her battle with Taligosa, then chose to tame her instead. After striking her with the Silver Hand and fastening magical reins around her neck, he subdued her and planned to heal her wounds.

• Aaron sent the Dark Iron Dwarves away from the fight and flew toward Onyxia while Taligosa held her attention.
• Aaron landed on Onyxia’s back and asked Xal'atath for the reins used to tame Grauf.
• Onyxia noticed Aaron and tried to throw him off, then abandoned her fight with Taligosa to attack him.
• Aaron struck Onyxia with the enlarged Silver Hand and fastened the reins around her neck.
• Onyxia submitted to the reins but insisted she was not submitting to Aaron, and he decided to heal her wounds.

Aaron healed Taligosa and Onyxia, then forced Onyxia to carry him toward Blackrock Mountain’s main peak. Taligosa followed as Aaron looked down at the mountain’s collapse and the smoke rising from its depths.

• Aaron checked on Taligosa and healed her wounds after she feared he would make her a mount.
• Aaron treated Onyxia’s severe injuries and tried to question her about Archimonde, but she refused to answer.
• Taligosa interrupted Aaron when he invoked Malygos, her father, and Aaron then hinted that he knew something about Deathwing’s disappearance.
• Aaron stopped healing Onyxia once she was mostly recovered, climbed onto her back, and ordered her to fly toward Blackrock Mountain’s main peak.
• Taligosa turned into a blue dragon and followed as Aaron noticed the collapsed mountain and the black smoke rising from its depths.

Aaron searched the ruined Blackrock Mountain, found that the demons had left, and destroyed the remaining Demon Gates. He discovered and pulled Sulfuras from the magma, then summoned Archaedas to help with the artifact and inspect the damage.

• Aaron found no living creatures in Blackrock Mountain and suspected the Burning Legion had gone to Kalimdor to attack Mount Hyjal.
• Aaron explored the mountain's interior, found the remains of its defenders and demons, and had Onyxia destroy the surviving Demon Gates.
• Aaron spotted a weapon in the magma, used Avatar to pull it free, and recognized it as Sulfuras, the Extinguished Hand.
• Aaron could not change Sulfuras's size, while Onyxia and Taligosa laughed at his efforts.
• Archaedas contacted Aaron from Uldaman, and Aaron asked him to come to Blackrock Mountain to examine the devastation and help with Sulfuras.

After Archimonde easily defeated Ragnaros, Aaron and Archaedas discussed the weakened Titan Keepers and how they could face the Burning Legion. Aaron left Blackrock Mountain to gather support and prepare an allied expedition to Kalimdor.

• Archaedas admitted that he could not face Archimonde alone and doubted that the weakened Titan Keepers could defeat him without Odyn or Ra.
• Aaron and Archaedas agreed that Odyn should be notified, and Archaedas suggested giving him Sulfuras.
• Aaron said he knew where the Hammer of Khaz'goroth was and planned to seek Odyn after warning the Alliance and making preparations.
• Aaron urged Archaedas to let mortals join the fight, and Archaedas departed for Northrend to mobilize the Titan Keepers.
• Aaron asked Taligosa to tell Varian about the Burning Legion and his plan to assemble an allied army for Kalimdor, then flew toward Ironforge on Onyxia's back.

Aaron brought Onyxia to Ironforge and met Magni, who was overwhelmed by earthquake repairs and worried about Moira’s plans involving the Dark Iron Dwarves. Magni hurried Aaron toward a portal for the Alliance meeting, then stopped when he discovered the Dark Iron Dwarves had entered.

• Onyxia crossed into Dun Morogh and drew rifle fire from dwarven mountaineers, so Aaron identified himself and flew onward with her.
• Aaron hid Sulfuras in a valley, had Onyxia take human form, and entered Ironforge with her.
• At the throne room, Aaron found Magni shouting at Moira not to go near the Dark Iron Dwarves before returning to his earthquake damage reports.
• Magni recognized Aaron and explained that he had been told to wait for him before traveling to the Alliance meeting.
• Magni led Aaron and Onyxia toward the portal, then stopped and shouted when he realized the Dark Iron Dwarves had been let in.

Magni sent the Dark Iron Dwarves through the portal to Lordaeron to join the Alliance, where Uther received them and complained that Magni had given no warning. Aaron and Magni arrived at the Alliance meeting in Lordaeron, where Varian asked Aaron to help bring the Stonemasons' Guild back to Stormwind as more leaders gathered.

• Magni let the Dark Iron Dwarves leave Ironforge through the portal after they asked to join the Alliance.
• Uther received the dwarves in Lordaeron and complained to Magni about the sudden arrival of several thousand refugees.
• Aaron, Magni, and Onyxia traveled through the portal, and Uther directed them to the meeting hall in Lordaeron's royal palace.
• Aaron found Varian, High Tinker Mekkatorque, and King Thoradin waiting at the meeting; Varian asked him to help bring the Stonemasons' Guild back to Stormwind.
• Aaron agreed to speak with VanCleef, and Terenas arrived with other Alliance dignitaries as the meeting was about to begin.

The Alliance Council discussed Blackrock Mountain’s destruction, accepted Lokhtos’s request for the Dark Iron Dwarves to join the Alliance, and heard Aaron explain the Burning Legion’s history and aims. Aaron reassured the leaders that the Legion was focused on the Well of Eternity in Kalimdor, but he became concerned when they seemed to conclude that they had nothing to worry about.

• Terenas opened the council and introduced Lokhtos, leader of the Thorium Brotherhood and the surviving Dark Iron Dwarves.
• Lokhtos asked the Alliance to accept the Dark Iron Dwarves, and Magni and Falstad agreed.
• Lokhtos recounted the disaster at Blackrock Mountain, leaving the Alliance leaders shaken by Archimonde’s power.
• Aaron explained that the Burning Legion had targeted Azeroth for ten thousand years and was now focused on the Well of Eternity in Kalimdor.
• Thoradin and several other leaders relaxed at Aaron’s reassurance, prompting Aaron to wonder why they thought they had nothing to fear.

As the Alliance meeting stalled over whether to send troops against Archimonde, Kael'thas announced that Quel'Thalas would send seven thousand soldiers to Kalimdor. Aegwynn then arrived and showed the leaders a vision of a world consumed by the Burning Legion, leaving Aaron hopeful that they would finally act.

• Thoradin's words gained support, while Varian, Magni, and Falstad argued for fighting the Burning Legion and other leaders hesitated.
• Aaron worried that the Alliance's delays would leave it unable to reach Kalimdor before Archimonde acted.
• Kael'thas entered the meeting and announced that Quel'Thalas would send seven thousand soldiers to Kalimdor regardless of the Alliance's decision.
• Aegwynn entered despite being challenged and warned that the leaders would not remain safe if Archimonde succeeded.
• Aegwynn showed the meeting a vision of demons ravaging a living planet until it was consumed by Fel, and Aaron recognized a chance to spur the Alliance into action.

Aegwynn warned the Alliance that Archimonde and the Burning Legion threatened to destroy Azeroth, and revealed that she was Medivh’s mother. Convinced to act, Terenas arranged for the Alliance to send troops to Kalimdor in five days.

• Aegwynn showed the leaders worlds destroyed by the Burning Legion and urged them to defeat Archimonde before he summoned more demons.
• Aegwynn identified herself as Medivh’s mother and said she had come to atone for his crimes.
• Onyxia secretly entered the meeting and told Aaron that Medivh’s soul was inside Archimonde.
• Terenas accepted Aegwynn’s warning and asked Daelin how many troops and provisions Kul Tiras could transport to Kalimdor.
• After the leaders negotiated their contributions, Terenas ordered them to gather their soldiers and announced their departure for Kalimdor in five days.

Aaron and Krasus sought a way to get the Alliance army to Kalimdor before the Burning Legion arrived, and Krasus brought blue dragons to Lordaeron to propose restoring the Sunwell as a power source for a giant portal. The plan was approved, and Quel'Thalas’s soldiers were ordered to return home to prepare for the change in route.

• Aaron observed that Alliance forces were arriving too slowly, while Krasus warned that the Burning Legion would reach Kalimdor in seven or eight days.
• Aaron and Krasus discussed opening a giant portal, but Krasus lacked coordinates for Kalimdor and Onyxia refused to provide a safe destination at her lair.
• Krasus returned to Lordaeron with dozens of blue dragons and proposed using the restored Sunwell to power a portal between the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.
• Terenas approved the plan, and Quel'Thalas’s soldiers were ordered to turn back toward Silvermoon City.

Aaron and Kael'thas brought the blue dragons to Quel'Danas to repair the Sunwell's tangled ley lines and prepare it to power a portal. As Stellagosa began the work, Aaron left for the Broken Isles to handle delayed business and seek repairs for Flamestrike.

• Kael'thas explained that he had compelled the High Elves' leaders to cooperate and told Aaron that the Sunwell's repair had been progressing slowly.
• Aaron and Kael'thas traveled through Silvermoon City to Quel'Danas, where they found the Sunwell's rebuilding had made little progress.
• Stellagosa arrived with the blue dragons and estimated that straightening the ley lines would take about five days, though she could not predict how long the Sunwell would take to recover.
• Stellagosa used the Scepter of Tides to push Aaron aside and began repairing the ley lines.
• Aaron told Kael'thas he was leaving for the Broken Isles and asked him for Flamestrike so Archaedas could repair it.

Aaron traveled through Uldaman to the Broken Isles, bringing Sulfuras to Odyn and asking about Kel'Thuzad in Helheim. Odyn agreed to accompany Aaron there, and they prepared to set out together.

• Aaron retrieved Sulfuras from the mountains near Ironforge, where dwarven blacksmiths had gathered to examine it, and brought it to Uldaman with Onyxia carrying it in her tail.
• Aaron used Uldaman's teleporter to reach Ulduar, then traveled with Mimiron's help to Stormheim and gained entry to Odyn's palace.
• Odyn accepted Sulfuras and told Aaron that Helya's influence had been cleared from Helheim and that his Valarjar forces had grown.
• Aaron asked about Kel'Thuzad, and Odyn said the human mage was doing well and had produced interesting research results.
• Aaron said he wanted to visit Helheim, and Odyn decided to go with him because he could not send messages directly inside.

Aaron visited Helheim with Odyn and Onyxia, where Kel'Thuzad demonstrated a method to strip death’s power from souls and free them from its influence. Impressed by his ability to affect nearly every soul in Helheim at once, Aaron invited Kel'Thuzad to find more undead and present his research to Dalaran.

• Aaron, Odyn, and Onyxia entered Helheim, where Aaron found Kel'Thuzad studying a soul.
• Kel'Thuzad explained that he had removed the power of death from the soul, leaving it calm and free of the influence that drove undead aggression.
• Kel'Thuzad cast a spell across nearly all of Helheim, calming the souls there at once.
• Kel'Thuzad regretted losing his experimental material, so Aaron invited him to find more undead and show Dalaran his results.

Aaron returned to Quel'Thalas with Kel'Thuzad and found the Alliance gathering its forces while mages prepared a portal to Kalimdor. The portal successfully opened to Azshara, but with no ships available to transport the soldiers across the strait, Aaron offered to solve the problem himself.

• Kel'Thuzad agreed to leave Helheim with Aaron, who left his broken Flamestrike with Mimiron for Archaedas to repair.
• Aaron and Kel'Thuzad traveled to Quel'Thalas and saw Alliance troops pouring through Covenant City and gathering near Silvermoon City.
• On the Isle of Quel'Danas, Aaron learned from Kalecgos that an energy crystal had sped up the Sunwell's recovery.
• Stellagosa directed a successful portal test, which opened a connection to Azshara rather than Mount Hyjal or Ashenvale.
• Kael'thas explained that the Alliance lacked enough ships to transport its soldiers across the strait, and Aaron said he would handle it.

Stellagosa used Frostmourne and the Scepter of Tides to create an ice bridge, allowing the Alliance army to cross toward Kalimdor before the Burning Legion arrived. Aaron and Vereesa were among the last to leave the Isle of Quel'Danas, where Vereesa questioned him about Sylvanas and Onyxia.

• Aaron tried to freeze the strait with Frostmourne, but Stellagosa took the sword and succeeded by channeling the Scepter of Tides through it.
• Stellagosa completed the ice bridge after about half an hour and warned that it would last only half a day, so the Alliance army hurried across.
• Krasus told Aaron that a storm had delayed the Burning Legion and that the Alliance would reach Kalimdor before the dragons and Titan Keepers.
• The Alliance forces entered the portal, and the ice bridge later collapsed after the expeditionary force had crossed.
• Aaron stayed behind aboard the Dreadwake with Vereesa, who said Sylvanas seemed to be hiding something from her and asked why Aaron had brought Onyxia along.

Aaron arrived with Vereesa in Azshara and investigated Satyr attacks that had troubled the Alliance camp. The Satyrs made several minor raids overnight, and the Night Elves’ envoy arrived the next morning.

• Aaron and Vereesa emerged from the portal aboard the Dreadwake and flew to the Alliance’s temporary camp in Azshara.
• Aaron learned that attackers had killed or scattered soldiers gathering timber and had raided the camp.
• A Paladin identified the attackers as horned, demon-like monsters, and Aaron recognized them as Satyrs.
• Aaron and Vereesa followed the Paladin to the encounter site, where they found traces of fel but no Satyrs.
• The Satyrs launched several small night raids, but most Alliance soldiers rested safely until the Night Elves’ envoy arrived at dawn.