Chapter Summaries

Aaron met Alonsus Faol at the Cathedral of Light, where Alonsus explained that he had simply wanted to meet him after sensing a trustworthy soul. Liadrin asked to study paladin training under Alonsus, who invited her to observe a promotion ceremony before deciding.

• Benedictus escorted Aaron and his companions through the cathedral, while Aaron explained that Benedictus's name reminded him of someone who had colluded with Deathwing.
• Vereesa realized Aaron meant this Benedictus would later serve Deathwing, and Aaron signaled her to keep the suspicion quiet.
• Benedictus brought the group to Alonsus Faol, who dismissed Benedictus and spoke casually with Aaron before saying he had wanted to meet him because he sensed a trustworthy soul.
• Liadrin asked Alonsus to teach her how to become a paladin, and he warned that human methods might not suit High Elves because of differences between the races.
• Alonsus invited Liadrin to watch that afternoon's paladin promotion ceremony before deciding whether to study under him, and Liadrin agreed.

Aaron and his companions watched Alonsus Faol induct new paladins into the Silver Hand, while two squires failed to earn the Holy Light’s recognition. As the ceremony continued, Holy Light suddenly appeared in Aaron’s hand and settled on Liadrin, who sensed something unusual.

• Aaron and his companions returned to the chapel and watched Alonsus Faol prepare for the promotion ceremony.
• Alonsus Faol led Jorad through his vows and the blessings of the priests and paladins, and Jorad joined the Silver Hand.
• Several more squires received the Holy Light’s favor, while two failed and withdrew from the ceremony.
• Vereesa asked Liadrin whether she had gained any insight, but a burst of Holy Light appeared in Aaron’s hand and settled on Liadrin.

Aaron attempted to use the Holy Light to help Vereesa and Liadrin, and Liadrin underwent a lengthy transformation. She awoke with a new sense of what it meant to be a Paladin.

• Aaron tried to use the Holy Light on Vereesa, but she only felt warmth and no special change.
• Aaron directed the Holy Light toward Liadrin, who closed her eyes as the power within her began to change.
• Onlookers gathered in the cathedral while Archbishop Alonsus watched Aaron and Liadrin without explaining what was happening.
• Liadrin opened her eyes and wondered aloud what it felt like to be a Paladin.

Aaron discovered that his Seed of the Holy Light could transform a Priest’s Holy Light into a Paladin’s, as Liadrin became a Paladin before witnesses. Alonsus trusted Aaron despite the limits of his ability and told Benedictus he saw possibilities in the young man, while assigning Benedictus to lead the next day’s ceremony.

• Liadrin used the Holy Light after Aaron’s intervention, confirming that she had become a Paladin.
• Alonsus cleared most people from the cathedral and asked Aaron to explain his ability, then watched him test it on a Priest and a Paladin apprentice.
• Aaron found that Seed of the Holy Light could transform the Holy Light of Priests but could not grant the Holy Light to someone who lacked it, and that stopping the process could make it reverse dangerously.
• Benedictus observed that Aaron’s ability was less efficient than the established Paladin training, while Liadrin considered how it could help High Elf Priests who wanted to become Paladins.
• Alonsus arranged for Aaron’s party to stay in the cathedral and told Benedictus to preside over the next day’s ceremony.
• Alonsus explained to Benedictus that he saw possibilities in Aaron despite the doubts Aaron had once raised about the Holy Light.

Aaron explored the slowly rebuilding Stormwind City with Vereesa after their companions went about their own business. Truthguard detected a nearby monster, leading Aaron to suspect a disguised Onyxia, but she escaped before he could catch her.

• Liadrin asked a young Paladin to teach her combat techniques, while Falstad visited the Gryphon Riders and Sicco Thermaplugg inspected the tram.
• Aaron and Vereesa walked through Stormwind City's ruins, and Aaron decided to check how his company's construction machinery was working.
• Vereesa noticed Truthguard glowing, and Aaron suspected a black dragon might be nearby.
• Vereesa pointed out a black-haired female mage speaking with a craftsman, and Truthguard's glow brightened as Aaron approached.
• The mage fled and Aaron lost her among the ruins, so he returned to the construction site to question the craftsman while Vereesa watched him.

After Aaron learned that a stonemason had escaped Vereesa’s watch, he realized Onyxia may already have ties to the Stonemasons' Guild and hurried to warn Varian. Before he could reach him, Onyxia revealed her dragon form and fled west as gryphon riders closed in.

• Vereesa told Aaron that the craftsman he had asked her to watch had vanished, and Aaron reassured her that VanCleef’s men were trained in stealth.
• Aaron explained Onyxia’s possible plans and the growing conflict between Stormwind City and the Stonemasons' Guild, then decided to warn Varian.
• Aaron and Vereesa flew toward Stormwind Keep, followed by Wildhammer Dwarves, but the guards stopped them at the entrance.
• A black dragon rose into the sky, and Aaron recognized Onyxia as gryphon riders moved to surround her.
• Onyxia cursed and fled west, apparently glaring at someone below as she left.

Falstad and the Gryphon Riders drove Onyxia toward the sea, but her counterattack brought down one rider and threatened the others. Aaron leapt onto her back, and with Falstad’s help wounded her badly; Onyxia escaped toward the northeastern mountains, crying out for her brother to save her.

• Falstad led the Gryphon Riders in pursuit of Onyxia, keeping their distance as they herded her west toward the sea.
• Onyxia turned and blasted the riders with her breath, then struck a gryphon with her tail, sending rider and mount plunging toward the water.
• Falstad regrouped the riders, who harried Onyxia with Storm Hammers while he weighed whether to let her escape.
• Aaron landed on Onyxia’s back and drove his sword into her neck, prompting Falstad and several riders to attack her with their axes.
• Onyxia scattered her attackers and flung Aaron from her back, then escaped toward the northeastern mountains, shouting for her brother to save her.

Onyxia’s attempt to infiltrate Stormwind City and foment unrest among the Stonemasons’ Guild collapsed after a Paladin and a blue dragon exposed her disguise. She fled the Gryphon Riders and headed for Blackrock Mountain to confer with Nefarian.

• Three months earlier, Deathwing summoned Onyxia and Nefarian to the Eastern Kingdoms after suffering severe injuries from the other Dragon Aspects.
• Onyxia infiltrated Stormwind City as Katrana Prestor, but suspicion forced her to abandon the identity and seek another way into the city’s upper circles.
• Onyxia contacted the Stonemasons’ Guild and planned to turn its members against Stormwind, but a Paladin discovered her meeting with them.
• While fleeing the Paladin, Onyxia reached the Mage Quarter, where a blue dragon exposed her disguise and forced her to reveal her dragon form.
• Onyxia lured pursuing Gryphon Riders away from Stormwind, then abandoned her plan to attack them when she saw the golden Paladin hovering nearby.
• Onyxia flew toward Blackrock Mountain to discuss their next plans with Nefarian.

Aaron warned Falstad that Onyxia had black dragon reinforcements in Blackrock Mountain, and Stormwind City prepared for the threat after her attack. Varian joined the relief effort, and Terenas assembled a large army that set out for Quel'Thalas under Uther's command.

• Aaron flew back to Falstad and warned him that Onyxia had help in Blackrock Mountain, so Falstad recalled his Gryphon Riders and abandoned the pursuit.
• Aaron and Vereesa met Varian at Stormwind Keep, where Aaron explained how he had recognized Onyxia and learned that Talisa had exposed her disguise.
• Varian decided to lead troops to Lordaeron, and Aaron transported him, his guards, and Church of the Holy Light reinforcements aboard the Dreadwake.
• Aaron returned to Gnomeregan and brought weapons and gnomish reinforcements to Lordaeron.
• Terenas assembled a relief force of ten thousand soldiers and Paladins, and Uther led them toward Quel'Thalas.

Aaron accompanied the Alliance relief force as it marched toward Quel'Thalas, where the Trolls had driven the High Elves into crisis. The vanguard entered Quel'Thalas, ending the journey and bringing the accompanying mages closer to battle.

• Terenas assembled nearly ten thousand soldiers, and Uther led the force along Lordaeron's main road toward Quel'Thalas.
• King Varian, Muradin, Sicco Thermaplugg, Prince Liam, and other observers followed the army, while Kael'thas led Dalaran's mage contingent.
• Kael'thas considered how to persuade his father to keep Quel'Thalas in the Alliance after the crisis passed.
• Aaron asked Kael'thas to restrain the mages, who had been sneaking around the Dreadwake to study it and probe its magical core.
• The relief force's vanguard entered Quel'Thalas, and the mages prepared to serve in battle.

The Alliance army advanced through Eversong Woods toward Silvermoon City, overcoming scattered Trolls while struggling to maintain its supply lines. Zul'jin and a Zandalari envoy watched from the shadows and prepared to lure the Alliance into Zul'Aman, where hidden allies would help destroy it.

• Uther reviewed the Alliance army's first clash with the Trolls and led his forces into Quel'Thalas along the road to Silvermoon City.
• The Alliance army reclaimed abandoned High Elf settlements, while Uther left soldiers behind to protect its supply lines.
• Zul'jin watched the Alliance army pass and recalled the Forest Trolls' defeats, their alliance with the Orcs, and the Zandalari's aid.
• Zul'jin and the Zandalari envoy agreed to lure the Alliance into Zul'Aman and destroy it with help from their allies.

As the Alliance army advanced through Eversong Woods toward Silvermoon City, Aaron, Vereesa, and Varian discussed the Amani Trolls’ suspicious lack of resistance and the army’s vulnerabilities. The Amani Trolls eventually surprised the Alliance outside Silvermoon City with a force of more than five thousand.

• Vereesa sensed someone watching the Dreadwake from the woods, but Aaron saw no sign of anyone there.
• Varian warned Aaron that the Alliance army’s long marching column was vulnerable and that the Amani Trolls’ inaction seemed suspicious.
• Aaron considered the Amani Trolls’ limited activity, including their failure to occupy southern Eversong Woods after driving out the High Elves.
• Uther continued the march toward Silvermoon City because relieving the siege was the Alliance’s objective and the army needed a supply route through Sunsail Anchorage.
• Varian told Liam that Terenas intended to use a battle against the Amani Trolls to impress Gilneas and Quel’Thalas.
• The Amani Trolls ambushed the Alliance outside Silvermoon City with more than five thousand troops, several times the force the Alliance had expected.

Aaron used the Dreadwake’s rockets to break up the Troll attack on the Alliance camp beneath Silvermoon City, forcing the attackers to retreat. After the bombardment, Varian and the others went to meet an envoy from Silvermoon City.

• Uther rallied the Alliance troops after the Trolls launched a surprise attack, and the fighting stalemated beneath Silvermoon City.
• Aaron brought improved rockets from the Dreadwake and fired one into the Troll formation, setting a large group ablaze.
• Aaron and the others launched three volleys, scattering the smaller Troll tribes and forcing the remaining Amani Trolls to retreat.
• Varian enjoyed helping launch the rockets, and Aaron promised him another chance to use them at Zul'Aman.
• Liam told Varian that Uther had summoned them to meet an envoy from Silvermoon City, and Varian agreed to go.

At the allied army headquarters outside Silvermoon City, Dar'Khan relayed the Silvermoon City Council's demands, angering the commanders and leaving Uther to decide how to respond. Uther proposed that the Sun King accept the Alliance's own conditions or the army would leave Quel'Thalas.

• Aaron entered the headquarters and recognized Dar'Khan, who stood beside Kael'thas amid the commanders' hostile silence.
• Uther reported that the army's losses were acceptable and that it would be ready to resume fighting in two or three days, then asked whether anyone objected to the original plan.
• Dar'Khan repeated the Silvermoon City Council's position: the allied army should finish its mission quickly, stay out of Silvermoon City, and provide its own supplies.
• The commanders reacted with disbelief and anger, while Kael'thas sighed at the Council's demands.
• Uther told Dar'Khan that the Alliance had conditions of its own, and said the army would continue the campaign only if the Sun King accepted them; otherwise, it would leave.

Uther negotiated Silvermoon City's support for the Alliance's campaign against Zul'Aman, including guides, mages, and permission for a postwar parade. After several days of rest, the allied army marched toward Zul'Aman with Aaron and the Dreadwake accompanying it, and the Amani Troll stronghold came into view.

• Uther requested High Elf guides and mages, along with a military parade outside Silvermoon City after the war.
• Aaron's parade proposal appealed to Terenas, who wanted to demonstrate Lordaeron's strength within the Alliance.
• Uther negotiated an agreement with Silvermoon City that approved his requests but barred the army from entering the city and limited its supplies.
• The allied soldiers rested for several days, and Aaron secured permission to accompany the campaign with the Dreadwake.
• Uther led the allied army toward Zul'Aman in battle formation, and two days later its gates appeared ahead.

The allied army reached Zul'Aman's heavily fortified gate, where the Trolls' absence heightened suspicions of a trap. When the mages failed to undo the gate's hexes, Aaron offered another method and had Alliance leaders bring rockets from the Dreadwake to aim at the doors.

• The allied army advanced through Amani Pass toward Zul'Aman, wary that the Amani Trolls had abandoned their outposts and might be waiting inside.
• Varian reflected on the Alliance's disadvantage fighting in unfamiliar terrain and worried about the burdens of leadership.
• The allied army halted at Zul'Aman's closed gate, and Uther sent mages to try to dispel its hexes.
• Aaron brought the Dreadwake to the gate and asked Uther for permission to try another approach.
• Aaron directed Alliance leaders to carry dozens of rockets from the Dreadwake and aim them at Zul'Aman's gate.

Aaron, Sicco Thermaplugg, Kael'thas, and the mages used rockets, spells, and Al'ar to break through Zul'Aman's outer gates. With the way into the fortress open, Uther was left to give the allied army its next orders.

• Uther ordered the allied soldiers and mages to withdraw while Aaron and Sicco Thermaplugg prepared rockets for the gates.
• Aaron fired a test rocket, then had the onlookers help launch repeated volleys that weakened the wooden gates.
• Aaron used Holy Light Warhammers to smash gaps in the burning gates, and Kael'thas ordered the mages to add their fire spells.
• Aaron carried the unused rockets back to the Dreadwake, then asked Kael'thas to have the mages use Blizzard to extinguish the flames.
• Kael'thas summoned Al'ar, who blasted the blackened gates flat, while Aaron resisted an urge to take the phoenix for himself.

Aaron opened Zul'Aman's second gate by striking a bronze gong, then joined the battle as the Trolls ambushed the allied soldiers inside. The fighting turned against the allies when Jan'alai challenged Al'ar in the sky and an Amani defense stopped Uther's Paladins.

• Aaron and Tess struck the gong beside the closed gate, and it opened; Aaron then shattered the gong with his warhammer.
• Aaron explained to Liam that he had learned about the gong from a captured Troll hexer, while Liam defended bringing Tess along.
• The Trolls ambushed the allied soldiers as they entered Zul'Aman, trapping them on the steps before they could form ranks.
• Uther led his Paladins in a charge, while Kael'thas sent Al'ar overhead to cover them with fire.
• Aaron helped the allied soldiers hold the line as Jan'alai fought Al'ar in the sky and Amani War Bears and Troll Warriors stopped the Paladins' advance.

Aaron helped the allied forces hold the line while the Gryphon Riders supported Al'ar against Jan'alai, but Akil'zon and a vast flock of eagles arrived to threaten the aerial battle. Aaron flew up and badly wounded Jan'alai before a lightning strike sent him flying.

• Falstad's Gryphon Riders joined the fight and eased Jan'alai's pressure on Al'ar.
• Aaron realized Akil'zon was missing, then saw the Eagle God and a vast flock of eagles approaching the battlefield.
• Aaron mounted a gryphon and flew behind Jan'alai while the Dragonhawk God fought Al'ar and the Gryphon Riders.
• Aaron drove Strom'kar into Jan'alai's back and struck him with the Silver Hand Warhammer, infusing the wound with Holy Light.
• An eagle cried out behind Aaron, and a burst of lightning struck him and sent him flying.

Falstad and the Gryphon Riders struggled against Akil'zon's overwhelming flock of miniature eagles, while the Dragonhawk god's attack sent Aaron flying. Aaron returned with the Dreadwake and cut through the flock with its machine gun, prompting Akil'zon to transform into a giant eagle.

• Akil'zon's lightning sent Aaron flying, while Jan'alai fled southeast toward his altar and Falstad turned to face the approaching eagles.
• Falstad led the Gryphon Riders in repeated attempts to break through Akil'zon's encircling flock, but the eagles killed two riders and threatened to exhaust the rest.
• Akil'zon mocked the dwarves and waited for them to charge again as Falstad prepared another breakout.
• Rapid gunfire struck the flock, and Aaron appeared in the Dreadwake, mowing down the miniature eagles with its rotary machine gun.
• Akil'zon shouted at Aaron and transformed his humanoid body into a giant eagle.