Recaps

Aaron stopped Farondis from repairing the Arcane Construct, but Farondis became a Withered and died. After learning why the invasion had happened, Senegos arranged for Stellagosa to accompany Aaron in his search for Tyr's shield.

• Stellagosa explained that Farondis had dangerously powered the damaged construct, and it shattered as he tried to repair it.
• Farondis attacked Aaron, who knocked him down and restrained him after an arrow from an unseen ally interrupted his spell.
• Farondis convulsed and withered into a mindless creature, so Aaron ended his life and buried him.
• Stellagosa told Senegos that Farondis had invaded after learning Senegos was weakened.
• Senegos asked Aaron about his plans and told Stellagosa to accompany him to find Tyr's shield.

Aaron agreed to take Stellagosa with him to seek Truthguard, and Senegos directed the party toward a Vrykul village near Suramar for information. After leaving the Azurewing Whelplands, Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa flew through Suramar and stopped to marvel at its Great Barrier.

• Senegos explained that he wanted Stellagosa to gain independence and learn to shoulder her future responsibilities by adventuring with Aaron.
• Senegos told Aaron that a Vrykul elder near Suramar had mentioned a trial for obtaining the Shield of Truthguard and warned that the Vrykul respected strength and bravery.
• Aaron agreed to visit the Vrykul village, and he conceived an idea involving their reverence for Odyn and the Val'kyr.
• After a night in the Azurewing Whelplands, Stellagosa said goodbye to her family and flew away with Aaron and Vereesa.
• Stellagosa sensed depleted ley lines as the party crossed from Azsuna into Suramar, then admired the immense Great Barrier and remarked that even Senegos might not be able to shake it.

Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa flew over Suramar’s barrier and then tried to borrow a boat from a Vrykul village, but a hostile Vrykul rejected them because she considered humans degenerate. Aaron sought Xal'atath’s help getting inside, and she hinted she might agree under certain conditions.

• Aaron wondered whether the barrier around Suramar could be broken and decided to fly on with Stellagosa and Vereesa.
• The group spotted a Vrykul village and met a tall female Vrykul who attacked them with fire and ordered them to leave.
• Aaron explained that the Vrykul regarded humans as degenerate descendants of weakened Vrykul.
• Stellagosa offered to disguise herself and enter the village, but Aaron refused to let her go alone.
• Aaron asked Xal'atath for help, and she refused until he threatened to provoke the Vrykul.
• Xal'atath said she might help after all, leaving Aaron waiting to hear her terms.

Aaron entered the part of his mental space where Xal'atath was imprisoned and discovered she wanted him to open a window in her cage. After realizing she needed his help to keep the window open, he gained leverage over her and pressed her to agree to terms.

• Xal'atath invited Aaron into the part of his mental space that served as her cage and explained that neither of them could enter its other parts.
• Xal'atath showed Aaron a door that would only open if he faced danger he could not handle, then tried to reach it and was struck down by its golden defenses.
• Aaron found a sliding panel in the door that revealed a window overlooking Suramar, while a barrier prevented him from reaching through it.
• Xal'atath offered to help Aaron if he opened the window, but Aaron shut it again and demanded suitable terms.
• Xal'atath admitted defeat after Aaron realized she had used the window to observe the outside world and create her projection.

Aaron arranged for Xal'atath to impersonate a Val'kyr to deceive the Vrykul, but she first played a prank on him by appearing in revealing clothing. After explaining Xal'atath's origins to Vereesa, Aaron watched her prepare a convincing Val'kyr disguise and hurried everyone back to the Vrykul village.

• Aaron left the mental space and told Vereesa that his solution to the Vrykul problem was ready.
• Xal'atath appeared in revealing clothing, teasing Aaron and making Vereesa suspicious.
• Aaron explained that Xal'atath was the ghostly creature they had encountered in Eastweald, and Vereesa calmed down.
• Xal'atath grew wings, covered her face with a mask, and used Holy Light to resemble a Val'kyr.
• After Aaron pointed out that she was too small, Xal'atath enlarged herself to nearly the size of a female Vrykul.
• Aaron urged Xal'atath, Vereesa, and Stellagosa to return to the Vrykul village so Xal'atath could carry out the deception.

Aaron and his companions entered Jandvik after Xal'atath claimed Odyn had chosen Aaron as his champion. When Aaron sought information about Truthguard, Einar challenged him, and Aaron prepared to fight using Holy Light to enhance his body.

• Xal'atath convinced Thorri that Aaron was Odyn's chosen champion, and Thorri escorted the group into Jandvik.
• Thorri told Aaron that Ygrim had sealed himself and Truthguard in a tomb on an island off northeastern Stormheim, where seekers had repeatedly failed to claim the shield.
• Einar challenged Aaron before the village, asking Xal'atath to bless him if he won, and Xal'atath granted permission for the duel.
• Aaron channeled Holy Light through his body, drew his sword and shield, and charged at Einar as the fight began.

Aaron defeated Einar in a fight at Jandvik, and Chieftain Sodir stopped his son and punished him. Sodir agreed to lend Aaron a boat, though Aaron remained wary of the Vrykul.

• Aaron matched Einar’s strength, then fought him head-on and tripped him before holding his blade to Einar’s neck.
• Einar accused Aaron of cheating and tried to resume the fight, but Aaron knocked him into the air with Holy Light.
• Chieftain Sodir arrived, sent Einar to catch ten sawtooth wolves without weapons, and reprimanded his other son, Kald.
• Sodir welcomed Aaron to Jandvik and agreed to lend him a boat after Aaron repeated his story.
• Aaron decided he wanted to leave soon because the young Vrykul seemed hostile.

Aaron accepted Chief Sodir’s boat and nautical chart to sail toward Stormheim, but discovered that Sodir had sent him toward waters occupied by Naga. With Stellagosa scouting from above, the group avoided them and reached Stormheim’s rocky coastline.

• Sodir gave Aaron a boat, a nautical chart, and supplies, then suggested he sail south toward Stormheim.
• Aaron and his companions found that the boats’ sails were ruined and the harbor pier was rotten, so Aaron chose a sturdy boat he could row.
• Aaron realized Sodir’s chart might be unreliable, and Stellagosa discovered that Naga occupied an island along their route.
• Stellagosa scouted ahead as Aaron rowed the group past the Naga without being spotted.
• Aaron and his companions reached Stormheim, where the coastline rose into towering cliffs.

Aaron and his companions entered Stormheim by boat, avoiding its dangerous skies and choosing a gorge route toward Shield’s Rest. As they neared a Vrykul settlement, a huge warship blocked their way and ordered them to stop.

• Aaron warned Stellagosa that Storm Dragons made flying over Stormheim dangerous, so the group continued by boat.
• Aaron chose to steer through the gorge toward the Vrykul straits after Xal'atath advised against taking the open sea.
• Aaron told Xal'atath to hide because Odyn’s Val'kyr might recognize her as a counterfeit, and she obeyed.
• A towering dragon-prowed warship approached the group’s boat and blocked the gorge.
• A bald giant aboard the warship shouted for Aaron and his companions to stop.

Aaron and his companions sailed into foul, shallow waters near Morheim, where a hidden attacker trapped their boat in a magical mist. As unseen wild dogs closed in, they were left unable to locate their assailant or escape.

• Vrykul sailors mistook Aaron and his companions for seasoned travelers and gave them food, so Aaron let the misunderstanding stand.
• Aaron reached Skold-Aishir, recognized its worship of Eyir, and left quickly after buying a new sail.
• Aaron sailed into green, foul-smelling waters and pressed onward despite the shallow sea and his sense of danger.
• Vereesa spotted wild dogs approaching from a sandbar, and she and Stellagosa fought off several of them.
• An unseen attacker summoned thick mist around the boat and declared that Aaron and his companions were not going anywhere.
• Stellagosa failed to dispel the returning mist, while unseen wild dogs drew close and then fell silent.

Aaron left the boat to find the spellcaster behind the fog and defeated a Kvaldir serving Helya. As the fog cleared, an enormous warship approached him.

• Aaron jumped into the water and headed for shore to confront the hidden spellcaster while Vereesa and the other companion defended the boat.
• Aaron repelled a pack of wild dogs with a whirlwind of Holy Light and searched the sandbar for their controller.
• Aaron provoked the hidden spellcaster into revealing himself and recognized him as a Kvaldir serving Helya.
• Aaron struck the Kvaldir with Holy Light and hacked him apart, causing the fog to disperse.
• Aaron turned toward an enormous warship sailing toward him, its prow lit by ghostly green flames.

Aaron fought his way aboard the dragon-prowed warship after it crushed Vereesa and Stellagosa’s boat, then battled its Kvaldir crew. After killing their captain in the cabin, he saw a blue phantom emerge from an altar and realized he was in danger.

• Stellagosa rescued Vereesa from the warship’s approach, but the ship crushed their boat and its Kvaldir fired ballista bolts at them.
• Aaron leaped onto the warship, drew the Kvaldir’s attacks away from Stellagosa, and fell through the rotten deck into the hold.
• Aaron killed the Kvaldir who charged into the hold, then returned to the upper deck and faced their empowered captain.
• Aaron weakened the captain by attacking his vulnerable points and draining the sickly green liquid from his wounds, then pursued him into the cabin and killed him.
• A blue phantom appeared from the altar and asked who had called upon death, leaving Aaron alarmed and unable to escape.

Aaron fought Helya’s projection after destroying the altar, but her regenerative power and attacks made her difficult to defeat. The chapter left him facing a more dangerous Helya, who recognized his Holy Light and accused him of being Odyn’s lackey.

• Aaron split the altar, causing Helya’s apparition to solidify and attack him.
• Helya enlarged herself by bursting through the cabin, and Aaron discovered her projection could regenerate quickly but did not dodge his attacks.
• Aaron called for Stellagosa to freeze Helya, allowing him to smash her left arm into ice.
• Helya broke free and struck Stellagosa with foul water, sending her and Vereesa falling into the sea.
• Aaron targeted the frost-covered part of Helya’s head, but a tentacle seized his sword and Helya crushed it, triggering an explosion of Holy Light.
• Helya recognized the Holy Light as a sign that Aaron served Odyn and vowed to kill him.

Helya attacked Aaron after mistaking him for an ally of Odyn, but Stellagosa froze her long enough for Aaron to destroy her projection. Stranded in Helya’s domain with their boat and supplies gone and Stellagosa too injured to fly, Aaron received a mysterious gift box from Xal'atath.

• Helya attacked Aaron with seawater, and he escaped her whirlpool by using golden wings granted with Xal'atath’s help.
• Helya mistook Aaron’s wings for evidence that a Val'kyr was helping him and intensified her assault.
• Stellagosa surprised Helya with dragon breath, freezing her, and Aaron shattered her head with a Holy Light-powered punch.
• Aaron found Stellagosa and Vereesa on a sandbar, but their boat and food were destroyed, and Stellagosa could not fly them out of Helya’s domain.
• Xal'atath handed Aaron a gift box labeled “Here's your reward.”

Aaron opened a mysterious gift and found that it had transformed a battered warship into the magical Dreadwake, which he could control without a crew. He sailed with Vereesa and Stellagosa for two days and reached an island, ending their difficult voyage.

• Aaron opened the box, and golden light transformed the battered warship into a large, ornate vessel resembling the Dreadwake mount.
• Xal'atath told Aaron that the anonymous gift-giver wanted to know whether he was satisfied, and Aaron worried that he had no crew to operate the ship.
• Aaron boarded the Dreadwake and discovered that the ship obeyed his commands, including raising its anchor and firing its cannons.
• Aaron brought Vereesa and Stellagosa aboard and steered the Dreadwake away from Helya's followers.
• The Dreadwake carried them to their destination in two days, and Aaron breathed a sigh of relief when they reached an island.

Aaron and his companions landed at Shield's Rest, where they found a recently arrived boat and evidence of a huge beast. The chapter ended as a dragon swooped down toward them.

• Aaron learned from Xal'atath that the Dreadwake could not be put away because it had fused with a wreck, and that his other mounts would not grow larger if they fused.
• Aaron noticed a small, recently arrived boat among the wrecks on the beach and headed over to investigate.
• Stellagosa sensed a presence nearby that felt familiar but not quite like a blue dragon, and Aaron warned the group not to provoke the Storm Dragons overhead.
• Aaron found jerky, flatbread, and fresh meat on the boat, while Vereesa identified enormous bite marks on the meat.
• A thunderous roar sounded, and Aaron saw a dragon diving toward the boat.

Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa encountered a hostile Proto-Dragon on Shield's Rest and discovered it had a Vrykul rider named Thyr. After Aaron and his companions failed to bring the flying creature down, Thyr launched another aerial attack.

• A Proto-Dragon attacked Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa, and Aaron blocked its cold breath with his shield.
• Aaron spotted a saddle on the Proto-Dragon and warned Stellagosa that its Vrykul master might be nearby.
• The Proto-Dragon flew off and returned carrying Lord Thyr, who dived at Aaron with a massive axe.
• Aaron blocked Thyr's strike and wounded the Proto-Dragon's neck with his sword.
• Aaron ordered Vereesa and Stellagosa to attack the Proto-Dragon, but it evaded their attacks and Thyr launched a second assault from the air.

Thyr tried to kill Aaron by dropping him from the air, but Storm Drakes interrupted their fight. Aaron escaped the fall with Xal'atath’s wings, only for Thyr to flee and leave him surrounded by the drakes.

• Thyr attacked Aaron from his Proto-Dragon, then had the mount seize Aaron’s shield and lift him into the air.
• Thyr grabbed Aaron by the belt and carried him higher, while Aaron told Stellagosa to hide and asked Thyr why he knew about Truthguard.
• Thyr spotted the approaching beasts’ territory and ordered Rollo to release Aaron, then flew past him as Storm Drakes converged.
• Aaron summoned Xal'atath’s wings, recognized the Storm Drakes, and flew toward the ground to avoid fighting them in the air.
• Thyr abruptly steered away from Aaron, leaving him surrounded by the Storm Drakes.

Aaron followed Thyr through the gates of the Tomb of Kings while fleeing a pack of Storm Dragons. After the dragons left, Aaron realized Thyr was still deeper inside, apparently searching for Truthguard and stirring up the undead spirits.

• Aaron chased Thyr toward a stone wall while Storm Dragons pursued them both.
• Thyr opened the stone doors with a sequence of gestures and escaped inside, and Aaron slipped through before the dragons could follow.
• The Storm Dragons could not fit through the doors and left after devouring Thyr’s abandoned Proto-Dragon.
• Aaron recognized the cavern as the Tomb of Kings and inferred that Thyr had entered to obtain Truthguard.
• Aaron heard fierce winds from the dark passage and concluded that Thyr was still alive and disturbing the spirits within.

Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa entered the Tomb of Kings and fought their way through a wind-filled passage haunted by Vrykul spirits. They reached the tomb of Ygrim, where Thyr lay blocking the entrance.

• Aaron reunited with Vereesa and Stellagosa outside the stone doorway and explained that Thyr had entered the Tomb of Kings.
• Stellagosa felt shaken at seeing the Proto-Dragon's corpse, but Vereesa and Aaron comforted her before the three entered the passage.
• A Vrykul spirit ambushed the group with lightning; Vereesa wounded it, Stellagosa stopped its next attack, and Aaron destroyed it with Holy Light.
• Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa struggled through the gale and fought off more undead as they advanced down the passage.
• The group reached the innermost door, where Thyr lay across the entrance beside a tablet identifying the tomb as Ygrim's.

Aaron faced the white flames protecting the gate to Ygrim and Truthguard, discovering that they attacked souls and could even harm Xal'atath through her projection. He endured the flames himself, but the gate's trial overwhelmed his body and mind as it demanded to know why he wanted Truthguard.

• Aaron and his companions found Thyr unconscious and uninjured before the gate, and Aaron suspected the gate had defeated him.
• Xal'atath touched the gate, was engulfed by white flames, and warned Aaron that the flames had damaged her soul.
• Aaron realized the flames had likely burned Thyr's soul, then touched the gate despite losing Xal'atath's help.
• White flames covered Aaron and caused intense pain that Holy Light could not ease.
• A voice asked Aaron why he wanted Truthguard, and its assault left him unable to control his body.

Aaron underwent a trial that showed him futures where his repeated flight from overwhelming threats led to Azeroth's destruction. Confronted with the consequences of seeking Truthguard only to protect himself, he struggled to answer why he wanted it.

• A mysterious voice repeatedly asked Aaron why he wanted Truthguard, and he first answered that he wanted love and peace before admitting he wanted to protect himself.
• Aaron experienced a vision of Arthas attacking Quel'Danas, where Vereesa refused to flee with him and he watched the Scourge destroy the island and defile the Sunwell.
• Aaron witnessed other futures in which he fled from powerful enemies while others suffered because of his involvement.
• Aaron's final vision showed Sargeras and the corrupted Titans destroying Azeroth, while a demon shattered Truthguard and Aaron failed to escape.
• The voice told Aaron that the visions were the future, and Aaron recognized that his actions had worsened the world's fate and changed Vereesa's destiny.
• The voice asked Aaron again why he wanted Truthguard, but the faces of those he had seen left him unable to answer.

Aaron passed the fiery trial and learned that Xal'atath had carried it out on behalf of an unknown mastermind, prompting him to resolve to do more than merely survive. After Thyr injured him while rushing through the opened doors, Aaron recovered enough to discover that Thyr was fighting Ygrim inside.

• Aaron questioned Xal'atath about the vision, and she admitted that the unknown mastermind had arranged the trial.
• Aaron concluded that he should pursue a greater purpose in Azeroth, though he remained uncertain whether the mastermind was connected to Nozdormu or Aman'Thul.
• Aaron returned to his body in pain, and Vereesa explained that Thyr had pretended to be unconscious and trampled him while running through the opened doors.
• Aaron healed himself with the Holy Light and reassured Vereesa that he could continue after resting briefly.
• Stellagosa heard fighting inside the chamber and identified Thyr's opponent as a metal giant, whom Aaron recognized as Ygrim.

Ygrim rejected Thyr as Truthguard’s successor after recognizing that fear had consumed him, and killed him when he tried to stab Ygrim with a poisoned dagger. Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa entered afterward, and Ygrim began Aaron’s trial for the shield.

• Ygrim easily blocked Thyr’s attacks and refused to entrust him with Truthguard, saying he lacked the conviction to inherit it.
• Thyr told Ygrim that winged monsters had killed his family and raised the dead to attack the living.
• Thyr suddenly tried to stab Ygrim with a green-glowing dagger, but the blade bounced off Ygrim’s skin, and Ygrim killed him.
• Ygrim placed Thyr’s body in a stone coffin and called Aaron, Vereesa, and Stellagosa into the chamber.
• Ygrim recognized Stellagosa as a dragon, confirmed Aaron had come for Truthguard, and prepared to face him.

Aaron challenged Ygrim but was outmatched by the ancient Vrykul’s superior combat experience. Xal'atath reminded him of a heightened reaction state he had once entered, and Aaron decided to try using it to improve his chances.

• Ygrim shrank to Aaron’s size and easily blocked his Holy Light attack and every subsequent strike.
• Ygrim told Aaron his fighting skills were too rudimentary and advised him to train before challenging him again.
• Aaron consulted Xal'atath, who refused to help defeat Ygrim because she was still recovering and warned Aaron not to depend on her.
• Xal'atath reminded Aaron of the heightened reaction state he had entered while dodging the Naga’s fishing nets.
• Aaron opened his eyes and decided to try entering that state against Ygrim.