Chapter Summaries

Stellagosa studied the demon gate and began trying to close it while Aaron guarded her. As demons emerged and threatened Stellagosa, she froze the succubus holding her hostage.

• Stellagosa explained that safely closing the demon gate required studying its runes, then began examining it.
• Aaron sent the High Elf soldiers, Sylvanas, and Vereesa away from the gate while he stayed to protect Stellagosa.
• Several imps emerged from the still-active gate, and Aaron killed them while Stellagosa worked on its runes.
• A Felguard emerged and attacked Aaron, who fought it with Frostmourne as the gate began glowing again.
• A succubus came through the gate, grabbed Stellagosa, and threatened to kill her unless Aaron stopped fighting.
• Stellagosa encased the succubus in ice before she could make another demand.

Stellagosa tried to drain a demon gate’s energy, destroying wave after wave of demons before a Pit Lord emerged. Aaron and Stellagosa killed the wounded Pit Lord and shut down the gate completely.

• Stellagosa froze and shattered the succubus who had threatened her, while Aaron killed the Felguard.
• Stellagosa transformed into a dragon and destroyed successive groups of demons to drain the demon gate’s energy.
• Stellagosa halted the gate as a Pit Lord began to emerge, triggering an explosion that tore through the demon and left it badly wounded.
• Stellagosa froze the Pit Lord, then two arrows struck and shattered him; Aaron purified the demon with the Holy Light and closed the gate.

Aaron and the High Elves pursued the Scourge’s plan to use the Sunwell, while Aaron learned that the Cult of the Damned had sacrificed Orcs to power the demon gate. The Orcs retreated from Quel'Danas, leaving Aaron to wonder whether they would turn against the Scourge.

• Vereesa checked that Aaron was unharmed after the demon gate exploded, and he explained how its energy had been diverted.
• Sylvanas ordered the soldiers to leave the fleeing undead to Dathwither and his apprentices, then led the High Elves toward Quel'Danas to prevent the Scourge from reaching the Sunwell.
• Aaron flew toward Quel'Danas with Vereesa and Stellagosa, spotted the returning Orc forces, and was struck by lightning after the Orcs noticed him.
• Aaron learned that the Orcs had nearly reached Sunwell Plateau before the Silvermoon City Council's Archmages drove them back.
• After Sylvanas returned to Quel'Danas, Aaron heard that the Orcs had fled after seeing the demon gate and confirmed that the Cult of the Damned had likely sacrificed old and weak Orcs to activate it.

A giant Scourge necropolis arrived off Quel'Danas and began pouring endless undead onto the island, forcing Sylvanas to prepare for a war of attrition. When Cult of the Damned cultists threatened settlements in Eversong Woods, she sent Vereesa to join Lor'themar and the rangers in hunting them down while the battle for Quel'Danas continued.

• After two quiet days, a gigantic necropolis appeared off Quel'Danas with an unprecedented army of undead, including Tuskarr and Magnataur.
• The necropolis teleported undead across the island, scattering the defenders as Sylvanas repeatedly redeployed troops against the seemingly endless attacks.
• Sylvanas planned to gather Silvermoon City's troops and crush the Scourge, but Silvermoon City reported Cult of the Damned activity in southern Quel'Thalas.
• Sylvanas sent Vereesa to Eversong Woods to find Lor'themar and lead the rangers against the cultists, while Liadrin offered help from Covenant City and stayed to treat the wounded.
• Sylvanas embraced Vereesa and urged her to stay safe before she departed.

Vereesa, Aaron, Lor'themar, and their forces hunted down Cult of the Damned members in Eversong Woods and discovered they were raising buried elf and troll corpses. They reached Windrunner Village and found it in chaos, where Cendalín urged Vereesa to deal with the undead.

• Vereesa led rangers, paladins, and soldiers into Eversong Woods after Windrunner Village reported Cult of the Damned members in the area.
• The high elves found and surrounded a dozen or so cultists commanding skeletons, then forced them to surrender.
• Vereesa, Aaron, and Lor'themar examined the skeletons and realized the bones belonged to elves and trolls.
• Vereesa chose to continue to Windrunner Village to report the cultists' capture and learn why the village had appealed directly to Silvermoon City.
• The group arrived to find Windrunner Village littered with rubbish and its residents panicking, and Cendalín asked Vereesa to deal with the undead.

Vereesa and Aaron discovered that the Scourge had arrived at Windrunner Village with more than ten Necropolises and a fleet, forcing the villagers and rangers to retreat. Aaron left to warn Covenant City as the Scourge began landing and advancing inland.

• Cendalín told Vereesa that skeletons and a flying fortress had frightened Windrunner Village, and that attempts to seek help had failed.
• More than ten Necropolises appeared over the coast, and Vereesa and Aaron recognized them as Scourge forces.
• Aaron stopped panicked villagers from fleeing toward the shore as the Scourge fleet arrived and Meat Wagons cleared the landing area.
• Aaron and the others abandoned plans to attack the Necropolises and evacuated with the villagers while the Scourge unloaded troops.
• Aaron stayed behind to return to Covenant City and warn its inhabitants.

Aaron tracked the Scourge’s advance through Eversong Woods and found the High Elves retreating to Silvermoon City, where the army’s overwhelming strength forced them behind the city’s magical barrier. As the barrier threatened to fail within days, Silvermoon’s leaders debated abandoning the city, risking that the Scourge could use its Sunwell energy to summon the Burning Legion.

• Aaron warned VanCleef about the Scourge and hurried from Covenant City to follow the Undead’s route toward Silvermoon City.
• Aaron saw the High Elves evacuating settlements near Tranquillien and found rangers setting traps to slow the Scourge.
• The Scourge army reached Silvermoon City with Frost Proto-Dragons, Undead giants, and numerous other forces, and the High Elves retreated behind the city’s barrier after losing half a legion.
• Silvermoon City’s Archmages warned that the barrier might hold for only two or three days, prompting councilors to consider evacuating to Quel'Danas.
• Aaron recognized that abandoning Silvermoon City could let the Scourge draw on the Sunwell and summon the Burning Legion.

Anasterian refused to abandon Silvermoon City or surrender the Sunwell, and led the councilors to reinforce Quel'Danas against the undead. He summoned Aaron and revealed that he had seen a vision of a demon destroying the Sunwell.

• Anasterian overruled the councilors' debate, insisting that Silvermoon City must not be abandoned and the Sunwell must not be handed over.
• Anasterian rallied the Archmage councilors to fight and led them through a portal to Quel'Danas.
• Aaron sought Stellagosa's help to reach Quel'Danas, while Kael'thas opened a portal for him.
• Aaron arrived as the undead attacked the High Elves' defenses and watched the Archmages' spells weaken the assault.
• Anasterian told Aaron that he had seen a vision of the Sunwell being destroyed by a demon.

Anasterian told Aaron that visions of the future had convinced him to try to avert Quel'Thalas's destruction, then sent him back to Silvermoon City. When Felhounds and demons shattered the High Elves' defense at Quel'Danas, Aaron joined Sylvanas to cover the retreat as flaming phoenixes formed a barrier against the enemy.

• Anasterian told Aaron that he had seen the Sunwell destroyed by a terrifying demon and asked what Aaron thought of his decision to avert the future he had glimpsed.
• Anasterian sent Aaron back to Silvermoon City, saying he and his people would handle the defense.
• Felhounds and other demons joined the undead assault, draining the High Elves' mana and breaking their defensive line.
• Sylvanas ordered the High Elves to retreat to the plateau while covering soldiers surrounded by undead.
• Aaron charged into the enemy ranks with Bladestorm and Holy Light, and Sylvanas joined him to provide cover.
• More than a dozen phoenix-shaped flames flew from Sunwell Plateau and created a wall of fire that helped the High Elves withdraw.

Aaron and Sylvanas returned to Sunwell Plateau as Anasterian’s fire spell and Sylvanas’s Tar Trap briefly slowed the undead advance. With demons gathering and the High Elves battered, the defenders fought to buy time for Anasterian and the archmages to cast a powerful spell, their last hope against the overwhelming enemy.

• Anasterian unleashed numerous phoenix flames with Flamestrike, and Sylvanas stayed behind to set a Tar Trap that reignited the fading fire when an abomination crossed it.
• Aaron and Sylvanas returned to Sunwell Plateau as undead and demons advanced toward its walls.
• The High Elves prepared to defend the plateau while magical defense towers and Sunwell-powered Arcane Constructs attacked the approaching forces.
• Anasterian and the archmages began preparing a powerful group spell as demons charged the walls.
• Sylvanas rallied the High Elves and drove back the first demons, while Aaron feared they would lose if the archmages’ spell failed.

Anasterian unleashed a devastating phoenix spell against the undead and the Necropolis, then drew on the Sunwell to destroy the floating fortress in a massive explosion. As the blast disrupted the Ley Lines, he teleported everyone on the Isle of Quel'Danas to Silvermoon City.

• Anasterian sent a blazing phoenix through the undead and demons on Quel'Danas, burning a path across the island and punching a hole in the Necropolis.
• Aaron urged Anasterian to strike the Necropolis again, and Anasterian agreed despite the Archmages' exhaustion.
• Anasterian channeled the Sunwell's power into himself and hurled Flamestrike at the Necropolis.
• Flamestrike turned the Necropolis into an exploding fireball, and the blast disrupted the nearby Ley Lines.
• Anasterian teleported everyone on the Isle of Quel'Danas to the streets of Silvermoon City.

Anasterian sacrificed himself by becoming an arcane being linked to the Sunwell, then detonated himself to destroy the Pit Lord and the Sunwell. With Silvermoon City's barrier failing, Kael'thas rallied the High Elves to face the attacking undead and demons.

• The High Elves returned to Silvermoon City and discovered Anasterian was missing.
• Aaron saw that Anasterian had transformed himself into an arcane life-form connected to the Sunwell.
• Anasterian detonated himself, destroying the Pit Lord and the Sunwell along with Sunwell Plateau.
• Sylvanas urged the High Elves to reinforce Silvermoon City's gates as the Sunwell-powered barrier weakened.
• Kael'thas mourned Anasterian as the barrier fell, then ordered the Quel'dorei to prepare for the enemy.

Silvermoon City's barrier collapsed, forcing Kael'thas and Sylvanas to defend the city against the Scourge's aerial and ground assaults. Just as the High Elves faced imminent defeat, Lord Korialstrasz and dozens of dragons arrived, turning the battle in their favor.

• Kael'thas ordered the mages to attack after Silvermoon City's protective barrier shattered, and the High Elves pushed back the first wave of undead and demons.
• Vrykul dragon riders and gargoyles attacked from the air, and Sylvanas took command and directed the rangers and mages to support the Dragonhawk Riders and eagle riders.
• The Scourge advanced with fel-enhanced siege engines, and some reached the walls, allowing demons and undead to climb up and fight the High Elves.
• Aaron feared Silvermoon City would fall as necropolises approached, but Stellagosa recognized the answering roars as Lord Korialstrasz's reinforcements.
• Dozens of dragons arrived, attacked the undead and demons with dragon breath, and moved to confront the necropolises, shifting the battle in the High Elves' favor.

After the battle for Silvermoon City turned in the High Elves’ favor, Kael'thas led a pursuit of the fleeing enemies while Aaron stayed behind to heal the wounded. A banshee attacked Sylvanas and the rangers, escaped Aaron, and left Sylvanas behaving strangely as she pursued her alone.

• The dragons helped the High Elves rout the Scourge, and the surviving undead and demons fled toward Eversong Woods.
• Kael'thas told Sylvanas to pursue the fleeing enemies, then mounted Al'ar and set off to avenge his father, Anasterian.
• Aaron stayed in Silvermoon City to heal the wounded with the red dragons, priests, and Blood Knights.
• Aaron heard a banshee’s howl, found injured High Elf rangers, healed them, and rushed to help Sylvanas fight the banshee.
• The banshee screamed at Aaron and escaped through the woods; Sylvanas ignored his question and charged after her alone.

After the Scourge retreated, Aaron found Anasterian’s fading soul at the ruined Sunwell and learned that the Sunstrider king refused eternal life in the Halls of Valor. Kael’thas arrived just as his father was about to disappear.

• Aaron and the reinforcements found the Scourge fleet gone and spent several days clearing scattered undead from Eversong Woods.
• Sylvanas returned to the ruined Windrunner Village and warned Aaron not to tell Vereesa about a banshee.
• Kael’thas struggled with the Sunwell’s destruction and the threat that restoring it could bring the demons back.
• Aaron went to the Sunwell’s former site, where Xal’atath gathered Anasterian’s fragmented soul.
• Anasterian declined Xal’atath’s offer of eternal life, and his soul began to dissipate.
• Kael’thas arrived and recognized his father as Anasterian was vanishing.

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.