Chapter Summaries

Aaron and Vereesa visited Nathanos Marris at his farm and learned why he had left the Quel'Thalas ranger forces. Nathanos warned them about suspected Orc spellcasters nearby, leaving the pair to investigate a threat they had not known about.

• Vereesa told Aaron that Nathanos had become the only human ranger lord through Sylvanas's support, but had eventually left the rangers after being ostracized.
• Aaron and Vereesa found Nathanos at his remote home, where he confirmed he had returned to farming after the defense of Silvermoon City.
• Nathanos recognized Vereesa and asked whether the Trolls of Zul'Aman were causing trouble before noticing Aaron's paladin-like appearance.
• Nathanos told them he had found signs of profane rituals and suspected Orc spellcasters were making plans nearby.
• Nathanos's younger cousin let Aaron know that a High Elf lady had once stayed in an empty, carefully maintained room in the cottage.

Nathanos told Aaron and the others about shadow-wielding cultists near Marris Stead and led them to the traces and altar he had found in the woods. Aaron noticed something at the altar and raised a hand for everyone to stay quiet, leaving the group poised to investigate.

• Nathanos explained that he had tracked shadow spellcasters near Marris Stead but lacked the equipment and time to identify their plans.
• Aaron learned that Nathanos's younger cousin was a squire of the Knights of the Silver Hand and considered whether the cultists might belong to Twilight's Hammer.
• Nathanos led Aaron, Vereesa, and Stephen into the wilderness to inspect a refuse heap, campfires, and other traces of the cultists.
• Vereesa inferred that fewer cultists had been at the second campsite, and Nathanos led the group to their stone altar.
• Stephen condemned the altar and its remains, but Aaron raised a hand to silence everyone after noticing something.

Aaron and his companions destroyed a shadow altar, but shadow cultists ambushed them and summoned a Faceless One. As Aaron attacked the motionless cultist leader, black light blinded him, leaving him in danger.

• Aaron heard a faint sound near the altar, but Nathanos found no useful tracks, so Stephen smashed the altar and Aaron cleared away its shadow smoke with Holy Light.
• A hidden cultist leader and four hooded spellcasters attacked the group, and Vereesa and Nathanos disrupted the spellcasters with their arrows.
• The leader summoned a Faceless One, which charged Aaron and regenerated its severed tentacle after he cut it off.
• Aaron realized the leader was controlling the Faceless One and rushed to attack him, but black light engulfed Aaron's vision before he could strike.

Aaron resisted a Shadow Priest’s attempt to turn him to the Old Gods, then defeated the transformed Faceless One with a sudden burst of power. As Aaron questioned the source of his Holy Light, Stephen picked up the priest’s discarded dagger despite Aaron’s warning.

• A voice within Aaron dispelled the black mist and the influence that was nearly drawing him into the Old Gods’ faction.
• Aaron attacked the Shadow Priest, who transformed into a huge Faceless One and knocked Aaron down before a golden radiance healed and empowered him.
• Aaron leaped onto the Faceless One and drove his sword into its head, then Stephen pulled him away from its violent death throes while Vereesa arrived.
• Stephen explained that he had defeated the smaller Faceless One with a pitchfork while Nathanos and Vereesa fought the spellcasters.
• Aaron studied the faintly glowing sword hilt and grew wary of the Holy Light’s unknown source, then warned Stephen away from the discarded dagger after Stephen picked it up.

Aaron seized Xal'atath, and the Holy Light inside him erupted into a struggle that trapped him in a series of horrific visions. After a powerful being subdued the dagger, Aaron woke in bed with Stephen keeping watch.

• Aaron grasped Xal'atath, and the dagger's influence triggered an uncontrolled surge of Holy Light through his body.
• Aaron lost consciousness and endured a chain of nightmares in which he faced disasters and repeatedly died.
• Xal'atath cursed as the Holy Light overwhelmed it, and a powerful being pulled its shadow from the dagger and swallowed it.
• Aaron's visions stopped as he witnessed Xavius tormenting Ysera, then heard a gentle voice tell him to wake up.
• Aaron opened his eyes, and Stephen called for his cousin and Lady Vereesa to tell them Aaron was awake.

After waking from a three-day unconscious spell, Aaron discovered that Xal'atath had been transformed by the Holy Light into a hilt that could form a rapier blade. Once his health recovered, he and Vereesa continued toward Quel'Thalas.

• Aaron learned from Stephen that he had been unconscious for three days while Holy Light poured into Xal'atath, and that Nathanos and Vereesa had killed the Shadow Priests.
• Aaron worried that the Holy Light might one day overwhelm his will, then discovered that Xal'atath's blade had vanished and its hilt had turned gold and white.
• Aaron infused the hilt with Holy Light and formed a stable, slender rapier blade, which he tested before Vereesa found him out of bed.
• Aaron told Vereesa that he had destroyed the soul inside the weapon and reforged it, and she urged him to rest.
• Two days later, Aaron and Vereesa said goodbye to Nathanos and continued toward Quel'Thalas.

Aaron and Vereesa waited at Quel'Lithien Lodge for a supply convoy while learning that the neglected outpost was threatened by Jungle Trolls. When the convoy finally appeared under attack, Aaron flew out to help the wounded elves, but the Trolls focused their axes on keeping him from intervening.

• The ranger captain explained that dwindling trade and renewed Troll activity had led King Anasterian to reduce supplies to Quel'Lithien Lodge.
• Vereesa and Aaron waited for the delayed supply escort, which the captain said could take them back safely through Troll-held mountains.
• Vereesa spotted figures approaching, and Aaron flew ahead on his gryphon to investigate.
• Aaron found wounded elves escorting floating crates while more than twenty Trolls pursued them, then knocked down one Troll with a Hammer of Judgement.
• The Trolls' leader ordered his warriors to keep Aaron occupied with thrown axes while they continued attacking the elves.

Aaron was forced from the sky by a Troll who summoned Jan'alai, then crashed into the elves’ cargo and faced the Trolls alone. Rangers from Quel'Lithien Lodge arrived and drove the Trolls into retreat, leaving Aaron to heal the wounded elves.

• Aaron dodged the Trolls’ coordinated barrage of throwing axes until their supply began to dwindle.
• The Troll leader summoned Jan'alai, whose flames destroyed Aaron’s gryphon and sent him crashing through an elf cargo crate.
• Aaron shielded himself as more than a dozen Trolls prepared to attack him on the ground.
• Rangers from Quel'Lithien Lodge arrived, killed several Trolls with arrows, and forced the survivors to retreat.
• Aaron healed the wounded elves while they finished off fallen Trolls to prevent them from regenerating and escaping.

Aaron healed the elves escorting Liadrin and learned that she regretted not being able to become a paladin. After the party continued toward Quel'Lithien, Vereesa reunited with Liadrin, whom Aaron recognized as the future leader of the blood elf paladins.

• Aaron healed the injured elves and reassured Liadrin, who blamed herself for being caught off guard by the trolls.
• Aaron examined an elven shield, then demonstrated Consecration when Liadrin asked whether he was a paladin.
• Liadrin explained that conservative leaders in the elves' Church of the Holy Light had rejected proposals to learn from human paladins.
• Aaron considered offering to teach Liadrin but stopped because he did not know how to train a paladin.
• The rangers returned from pursuing the trolls and led the wounded onward toward Quel'Lithien.
• Vereesa reunited with Liadrin, and Aaron learned that the military priest was stationed at Farstriders' Camp while Lor'themar planned revenge after the Farstriders' costly attack.

Aaron, Liadrin, and Vereesa learned that the Trolls had withdrawn from the area and were gathering near Farstriders' Camp, prompting them to investigate. Aaron flew Liadrin toward the camp while Vereesa continued through the forest with the rangers.

• Liadrin complained to Vereesa that she had been assigned to escort grain after being injured, and Aaron suspected Lor'themar had arranged it to keep her safe.
• Vereesa explained that Sylvanas was in Silvermoon City handling the Ranger-General's duties, while Lor'themar prepared the retaliation against the Trolls.
• After the convoy reached the outpost, its members set out for the Elfgate under ranger protection, but scouts reported that the Trolls had withdrawn and gathered northeast near Farstriders' Camp.
• The rangers decided to send scouts to confirm the situation, and Aaron accompanied Vereesa and Liadrin toward the camp.
• Unable to keep pace in the dense forest, Aaron summoned his gryphon and flew with Liadrin toward Lake Elrendar while Vereesa continued on foot with the rangers.

Aaron and Liadrin arrived at the Farstriders' Camp and learned that Lor'themar had captured the Troll warlord Zul'jin before the Trolls could attack. After seeing how the rangers were torturing Zul'jin, Vereesa returned shaken, and the chapter ended with the group discussing the cruelty of his treatment.

• Aaron and Liadrin landed at the camp, where a ranger told them Lor'themar had captured Zul'jin in a surprise raid.
• Liadrin hurried to see Zul'jin, while a ranger barred Aaron from entering until Liadrin vouched for him.
• Liadrin told Aaron that the rangers were torturing Zul'jin to test the limits of Troll regeneration.
• Aaron and Liadrin discussed his views on Orc internment camps, surprising Liadrin with his bluntness.
• Vereesa went to see Zul'jin, returned pale and shaken, and explained that the rangers kept widening his wounds and bleeding him to prevent him from healing.

Lor'themar Theron stopped the rangers from killing Zul'jin and arranged to take him to Silvermoon City while Vereesa recounted her dangerous mission. After hearing her story, Aaron asked to see Zul'jin and entered the cell where the troll had just been tortured.

• Liadrin objected to the rangers' treatment of Zul'jin, and Lor'themar assured her he had ordered them to stop and would send the captive to Silvermoon City.
• Lor'themar greeted Vereesa, who introduced Aaron as the human paladin who had helped her during her mission.
• Vereesa described confronting Dragonmaw Orcs, red dragons, Deathwing, and the Dragon Aspects, leaving the gathered rangers stunned.
• Lor'themar praised Vereesa and thanked Aaron, then Liadrin interrupted his rambling to scold him.
• Aaron asked to see Zul'jin, and Lor'themar led him to the cell, where rangers had just finished torturing the captive.

The chapter recounted Zul'jin's defeats and the Amani Trolls' decline before Aaron visited him in captivity. Aaron tried to question Zul'jin, but the one-eyed Troll refused to engage as Lor'themar waited nearby.

• Zul'jin's history traced the Amani Tribe's territorial losses, his capture by humans, and his alliance with the Horde to attack Quel'Thalas.
• Gul'dan abandoned the siege of Silvermoon City with his clans, leaving Zul'jin and the Trolls to face the elves' retaliation and heavy losses.
• Lor'themar's rangers captured Zul'jin, who had lost his right eye and was being held for transport to Silvermoon City.
• Aaron entered Zul'jin's cell and tried to speak with him, mentioning Gul'dan and other subjects, but Zul'jin barely responded while Lor'themar waited nearby.

Aaron, Vereesa, and Liadrin traveled from the Farstriders' camp to Silvermoon City, where Vereesa planned to visit Sylvanas and Liadrin sought answers from her mentor. The chapter ended with the three arriving in the city and parting at the square near the Farstriders' headquarters.

• Lor'themar explained that Zul'jin would remain imprisoned until a secure wagon could be built, then arranged for Aaron to stay at the camp.
• Vereesa received leave to escort Aaron to Silvermoon City, and Lor'themar saw them off because he hoped she would excuse him to Sylvanas.
• Liadrin caught up with Aaron and Vereesa, explained her doubts about the Holy Light, and revealed Lor'themar's reason for acting unusually attentive.
• Aaron, Vereesa, and Liadrin rented horses in Tranquillien and rode for several days toward Silvermoon City.
• Vereesa browsed the city's shops with Liadrin before hurrying to visit Sylvanas, while Liadrin headed to the Church of the Holy Light and arranged to meet Vereesa the next day.

Aaron visited the ranger training grounds in Farstriders' Square, learned how recruits progressed from archery drills to field and combat training, and tried Vereesa's bow. After Aaron hit a target from ten paces, Vereesa went to fetch a young elf to prove that even a child could do better.

• Aaron observed the legions' training grounds and noticed that the ranger recruits were practicing archery.
• Vereesa explained that recruits trained in archery before learning forest movement, teamwork, traps, and live combat against easier enemies.
• Vereesa challenged Aaron to try shooting and lent him her bow and an arrow.
• Aaron shot a bull's-eye from ten paces, and Vereesa teased him for standing so close.
• Vereesa spotted an elven boy playing in the square, waved him over, and he ran to her.

Aaron demonstrated his Holy Light powers and weapons to Arator after the child outshot him with a bow. Arator asked to become a Paladin, but Vereesa sent him away, and she explained his family’s history as Aaron prepared to meet Sylvanas.

• Vereesa called Arator over, and the child hit a target’s bull’s-eye with his small bow, outshooting Aaron.
• Aaron showed Arator his Holy Light, threw his shield at a target, and summoned a blade from the Thorn of the Holy Light.
• Aaron told Arator about Turalyon’s deeds, including his victory over Orgrim with Lothar’s broken sword.
• Arator asked Aaron to teach him to become a Paladin, but Vereesa sent him off to play before Aaron could answer.
• Vereesa told Aaron that Arator resented the ranger’s path because he felt abandoned by his mother, and Aaron followed her to Sylvanas’s office.

Vereesa returned to Silvermoon City with Aaron and reunited with Sylvanas, who questioned Aaron about his plans to leave. After Sylvanas departed for Farstriders' Camp, Aaron explored the city with Vereesa and Arator.

• Sylvanas welcomed Vereesa back, asked about her mission, and told her she would care for Arator.
• Sylvanas asked Aaron to stay behind and pressed him about when he planned to return to Lordaeron, but let him remain in Silvermoon City.
• Aaron left Sylvanas's office and Vereesa helped him settle into an empty room in the ranger building.
• Vereesa told Aaron that Sylvanas had rarely been so icy except when she learned Lirath had died at the hands of Orcs.
• Sylvanas left for Farstriders' Camp the next day, and Aaron explored Silvermoon City with Vereesa and Arator.

Aaron explored Silvermoon City with Vereesa and Liadrin, learning about its small population and examining its shops and districts. In the western district, an old dwarf called Aaron into his smithy despite Aaron saying he had little money.

• Aaron asked Vereesa how many people lived in Silvermoon City, and Liadrin estimated that the city had seventy or eighty thousand permanent residents.
• Aaron compared the city's modest size and old buildings with Dalaran, then noticed that High Elf and dwarf shops were common while human shops were absent.
• Vereesa and Liadrin took Aaron from the Trade District toward the western district to show him another side of Silvermoon City.
• An old dwarf at a roadside smithy called out to Aaron, who told him he had little money and wondered how he would earn more.
• The dwarf jumped down from his counter and pulled Aaron into the smithy.

Aaron told Kaierfu that conditions in Khaz Modan had improved after the Dragonmaw Orcs lost the Red Dragon Queen’s support, easing the dwarf’s fears for his homeland. While choosing his free item from Kaierfu’s shop, Aaron discovered its firearms and heard that a plague was threatening mining and settlements in Northrend.

• Kaierfu asked Aaron for news from Khaz Modan, and Aaron explained that the Red Dragon Queen had returned north and the local dwarves’ situation had improved.
• Kaierfu wept with relief, thanked Aaron, and offered him any one item from the shop for free.
• Aaron inspected the shop’s weapons and armor, then became interested in a heavy, rifled, breech-loading double-barreled firearm.
• Kaierfu warned Aaron about handling firearms and explained that he mainly sold them to dwarven pioneers in Northrend.
• Kaierfu said a plague had destroyed several human frontier villages in Northrend and could disrupt the region’s difficult mining work.

Aaron collected a double-barreled gun and took Vereesa, Liadrin, and Arator outside Silvermoon City to test it. After Aaron tried several shots, Liadrin fired and dropped the gun from the recoil, while Vereesa noticed something in the distant woods.

• Aaron learned from the old dwarf about Northrend’s harsh conditions, ore settlements, strange reports, and ruins tied to the dwarves’ origins.
• Aaron collected the gun and ammunition, then left the market with Vereesa, Liadrin, and Arator to test it outside the city.
• Aaron studied the firearm, fired several shots, and improved until he could hit the target.
• Liadrin tried the gun, but its recoil made her drop it; Vereesa then noticed something in the distant woods.