Chapter Summaries

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.

Aaron met a Dragonflayer Vrykul envoy who recognized his Silver Hand Warhammer and Truthguard shield as legendary weapons and still revered the Titans. Aaron decided to visit the clan with Ygrim and Archaedas to investigate its early awakening and seek allies, leaving for Utgarde Keep to discover who was behind it.

• A Proto-Dragon rider warned Aaron that King Ymiron intended to kill the humans and urged them to leave Northrend.
• The envoy recognized Aaron’s Silver Hand Warhammer and Truthguard shield and asked whether he was an envoy of the King of Order.
• Aaron called Ygrim over, and the envoy was awestruck by the iron-bodied Vrykul.
• Aaron proposed recruiting Dragonflayer Vrykul to help reclaim Ulduar, while Ygrim cautioned against attacking Ymiron’s territory.
• Aaron, Ygrim, and Archaedas agreed to accompany the envoy and investigate why the Dragonflayer Clan had awakened early.

Aaron, Archaedas, and Ygrim traveled with Laluq to the Dragonflayer Vrykul settlement, where Ygrim asked the Vrykul to help rescue the Keepers and imprison Yogg-Saron again. Many Vrykul were moved by his appeal, but dragon roars from the keep signaled that Ymiron was approaching.

• Archaedas and Ygrim dragged two Proto-Dragons back to camp, and the group used them to travel toward Utgarde Keep.
• Laluq told Aaron that King Ymiron had ordered the Vrykul awakened to conquer the world, and Aaron explained the Curse of Flesh and the threat of Yogg-Saron.
• Laluq led the group to the Dragonflayer Clan's settlement, where Ygrim entered the village and gathered the Vrykul in the central square.
• Ygrim recounted Tyr's history and asked the Vrykul to help rescue their creators and imprison the escaped Old God, prompting many to consider joining him.
• Dragon roars sounded from the keep, and Aaron recognized that Ymiron was coming.

Ymiron refused Aaron and Ygrim’s efforts to persuade him to let the Dragonflayer Vrykul follow Ygrim, dismissing Aaron’s claim that he could cure the Curse of Flesh. Ygrim challenged Ymiron to a duel, and the chapter ended as the two prepared to fight before a crowd.

• Ymiron arrived and asked Laluq what he had learned while scouting the invaders’ camp.
• Ygrim told Ymiron he had come north to rescue the Vrykul, but Ymiron refused to let his subjects leave.
• Aaron offered to help reverse the Curse of Flesh, but Ymiron mocked him and rejected his claim to inherit Tyr’s will.
• Ygrim challenged Ymiron, demanding that Ymiron stop obstructing them if he lost.
• Ymiron accepted the challenge, and the gathered Vrykul watched as he and Ygrim took their places to duel.

Ygrim fought Ymiron in the arena, first matching him in technique and magic before Ymiron summoned spirits and wielded death magic. Ygrim disrupted Ymiron's spellcasting and forced him to surrender.

• Ygrim and Ymiron clashed with swords, then traded Arcane spells after Ymiron tried a surprise attack.
• Aaron questioned why the Vrykul could cast spells, and Archaedas explained their connection to the Titans' Arcane power.
• Ymiron paused the fight to prepare, then summoned four Vrykul phantoms and used death magic that injured Ygrim.
• Ygrim charged Ymiron and kept him from casting freely, steadily gaining the advantage.
• Ygrim intensified his attacks until Ymiron could no longer fight and conceded.

Aaron fought Skadi after Ymiron demanded that he prove himself, then claimed victory and tamed Grauf with reins from Xal'atath. Ymiron tried to continue the contest by sending Ingvar against Archaedas, but Ingvar conceded without fighting.

• Ymiron demanded that Aaron fight despite agreeing to let Ygrim take people away, and Aaron accepted the challenge.
• Ymiron sent Skadi, an undead Vrykul riding the Proto-Dragon Grauf, to fight Aaron.
• Aaron pursued Skadi on his gryphon and used Holy Light to defeat him and knock him from Grauf.
• Aaron used the reins Xal'atath gave him to tame Grauf and declared victory.
• Ymiron sent Ingvar to challenge Archaedas, but Ingvar refused to fight and conceded.