Chapter Summaries

Aaron and Vereesa investigated an unusual disturbance near Farstrider Lodge and found rangers fighting a group of forest Trolls. Aaron joined the fight and defeated several Trolls, but someone else struck down the last one before he could finish it.

• Vereesa spotted trouble in the woods near Farstrider Lodge, and she and Aaron went to investigate after Liadrin took Arator back toward Silvermoon City.
• Aaron and Vereesa landed near the disturbance and crept through the woods toward the sounds of a battle between Trolls and rangers.
• Vereesa attacked from behind a tree while Aaron used his shield to block the Trolls' thrown axes.
• Aaron used Hammer of Justice to knock down a Troll, then charged into the fight and brought down several more.
• The final Troll tried to flee, but an unseen attacker struck him down, prompting Aaron to shout, "Who stole my kill?!"

Aaron and Vereesa encountered Halduron Brightwing after helping his rangers repel Trolls who had ambushed Zul'jin's escort near Silvermoon City. Halduron decided to return the main force to Farstrider Lodge, and he helped Aaron kill a giant bear before they set out.

• Aaron disrupted the Troll ambush, allowing the rangers to defeat their attackers and protect Zul'jin.
• Halduron explained that he had been escorting Zul'jin to Silvermoon City when Trolls attacked, and that Sylvanas had sent him to transport the prisoner under guard.
• Halduron chose to take the main force back to Farstrider Lodge while sending a few rangers to request reinforcements from Silvermoon City.
• Aaron struggled to kill a giant bear whose thick fur resisted his sword and the rangers' arrows.
• Halduron wounded the bear with his spear, crippled its paw, and impaled its eye, killing it.

After Aaron defeated a giant bear empowered by Troll hex magic, he and Halduron reached Farstrider Lodge with Zul'jin in custody. Halduron found the lodge badly understaffed and feared a large Troll force would come to rescue Zul'jin, while he considered how Aaron might help defend it.

• Aaron killed the giant bear, whose magical enhancement faded and left its hide useless.
• Halduron recognized the bear's condition as Troll hex magic and warned that Troll spellcasters might be nearby.
• Aaron's group reached Farstrider Lodge and secured Zul'jin in the prison wagon.
• Halduron learned that fewer than two hundred rangers, including only about eighty full-fledged Farstriders, were available to defend the lodge.
• Halduron suspected the Troll siege at Farstriders' Camp was a feint and assigned the lodge's rangers to their posts.
• Halduron approached Aaron to discuss how the Paladin could contribute to the defense.

Aaron watched the rangers prepare a network of traps and, unable to join their ground tactics safely, volunteered to scout from the air. He spotted a large, poorly organized Troll force divided between Amani warriors and resentful conscripts from smaller tribes, then returned to camp with his report.

• The rangers laid Freezing, Explosive, and Tar Traps around the camp, leaving Aaron afraid to move through the area.
• Halduron explained the rangers’ tactics and suggested Aaron stay out of the fight if he could not coordinate with them.
• Aaron summoned his gryphon and flew out to scout the approaching Trolls.
• Aaron saw roughly one or two thousand Trolls marching in disorder, divided into rival groups and even fighting among themselves.
• Aaron judged that the better-equipped Trolls belonged to the Amani Tribe while the poorer-equipped fighters were likely forced conscripts from subordinate tribes, then returned to camp with his observations.

Halduron and the rangers prepared to defend Farstrider Lodge against a vastly larger Amani Troll force while waiting for reinforcements. The rangers repelled two attacks, but the Trolls’ numbers and the clearing of the traps left the coming battle uncertain.

• Aaron reported the Troll force’s size to Halduron, who warned him not to share the intelligence casually.
• Halduron worried that fewer than two hundred rangers would face an enemy force roughly ten times larger, while reinforcements from Silvermoon City remained uncertain.
• The Troll vanguard appeared, and the main force advanced with melee fighters, Headhunters, Witch Doctors, and priests.
• The Trolls’ first wave triggered many traps, allowing Halduron’s rangers to kill most of the attackers with coordinated volleys.
• The Trolls charged again under healing from their Witch Doctors, but the rangers stopped them before they broke through the wall.
• The surviving Trolls withdrew as their leaders gathered at the rear, leaving the rangers unsure what they would do next.

After smaller Forest Troll tribes protested their losses, Nalorakk summoned power from the great bear Loa to break through the rangers’ defenses. Loa-strengthened grizzlies charged the camp and battered its palisade, leaving the rangers under attack.

• The chiefs of the smaller Troll tribes confronted Nalorakk over the casualties their fighters suffered clearing the rangers’ traps.
• Nalorakk decided to show the chiefs the Amani Trolls’ strength and ordered his priests to prepare a ritual for the great bear Loa.
• The Amani Trolls opened a cage of grizzlies, and Nalorakk sacrificed two Trolls to complete the ritual.
• The great bear Loa’s power transformed one grizzly into a massive iron-gray beast and strengthened the other bears.
• Nalorakk sent the grizzlies charging toward the rangers’ camp, where they broke through the traps and began clawing at the palisade despite the arrows.

A giant bear empowered by Troll spells broke through Farstrider Lodge’s defenses, and Aaron stepped in to stop it. With Halduron’s help, Aaron distracted the beast long enough for Halduron to drive a spear into its shoulder.

• The giant bear smashed through the rangers’ wooden wall and scattered those in its path.
• Aaron attacked the bear and held its attention, but its strength overwhelmed his strikes and nearly knocked him aside.
• Halduron intervened with his spear, helping Aaron block the bear’s swipe.
• Aaron struck the bear with a surge of Holy Light from beneath the ground, distracting it.
• Halduron seized the opening and buried his spear in the giant bear’s right shoulder.

Aaron killed the great bear and held off the Trolls until elven reinforcements routed them. After the battle, he learned that Zul'jin had escaped by cutting off his own arm.

• Halduron's arcane arrow interrupted the bear's attack, and Aaron stabbed and slashed its belly and chest until it died, pinning him beneath its body.
• Trolls used the bear's corpse as a bridge and charged into the camp, forcing the exhausted Aaron to hold them back.
• Uniformed elven shield-bearers and mages attacked the Trolls' flank, routed their forces, and drove the Amani Trolls to withdraw.
• Aaron recovered with the Holy Light and went to check on Zul'jin after hearing that he had escaped.
• Aaron found Zul'jin's empty magical chain and severed arm, realizing that Zul'jin had cut off his arm to free himself amid the chaos.

After Zul'jin escaped, Aaron rested beside Vereesa until Sylvanas fired a purple signal flare, then flew toward her despite his exhaustion. He found Sylvanas fighting an unseen enemy in the woods, and she ended the chapter by firing a spread of arrows at Aaron in the sky.

• Halduron realized Zul'jin had escaped and worried about facing the strict Ranger-General, while Aaron went to rest in the sun.
• Vereesa joined Aaron, then recognized Sylvanas's purple signal flare and hurried toward her.
• Aaron decided to follow Vereesa and flew toward the flare, surprised that his exhaustion had vanished.
• Aaron spotted Sylvanas exchanging attacks with an unseen enemy and recognized her bow as Thori'dal, the Stars' Fury.
• Sylvanas noticed Aaron and fired several arrows into the sky, leaving him unable to maneuver his gryphon clear.

Aaron joined Sylvanas in the woods and helped her face an invisible Troll hunter who had ambushed her rangers. With the enemy still lurking and another Troll possibly returning, Aaron proposed summoning his gryphon so they could escape, and Sylvanas created an opening to draw the hunter out.

• Aaron landed beside Sylvanas after she shot at him, then explained how he had come to her aid.
• Sylvanas told Aaron that Trolls had ambushed her rangers while she tried to return to Farstrider Lodge, and that one attacker remained invisible.
• The hidden Troll repeatedly struck at Aaron and Sylvanas, evading their attempts to hit him.
• Aaron asked Sylvanas to cover him while he summoned his gryphon, and she agreed to create an opening.
• Sylvanas fired a rain of arrows that forced the hunter to change course, then left openings in her defenses to bait him into attacking.
• The invisible hunter appeared behind Sylvanas, drawn by her exposed defenses.

Aaron and Sylvanas escaped an attacker in the woods on a gryphon, only to be pursued by a lightning-wielding Forest Troll and crash-land in the trees. They survived a spear attack but ended the chapter trapped between the one-armed Troll and his flying ally.

• Sylvanas dodged the unseen attacker’s strikes, but it clawed her back as Aaron pulled her onto his gryphon and healed her.
• A flying Troll attacked Aaron and Sylvanas with lightning, so Aaron steered the gryphon into a steep dive to escape.
• Aaron pulled up too late to avoid a tree, and the gryphon vanished after the crash, leaving both riders stunned and battered.
• Aaron tackled Sylvanas and shielded them when he sensed danger, and Halduron’s spear struck the tree beside them.
• A one-armed Forest Troll revealed himself and taunted Sylvanas, while the feather-armed Troll watched from above.

Aaron and Sylvanas faced Zul'jin and Akil'zon, but Aaron was badly outmatched and Sylvanas was about to be killed. A mysterious voice took control of Aaron, transformed him into a Val'kyr, and carried Sylvanas to Farstrider Lodge before he collapsed.

• Zul'jin tricked Aaron with his thrown axe, struck him hard, and overpowered him despite Aaron's Holy Light and Divine Shield.
• Zul'jin ordered Akil'zon to keep Aaron occupied while he attacked Sylvanas, who soon collapsed from her injuries.
• As Zul'jin raised his axe over Sylvanas, a voice from the hardcover book offered to help, and Aaron agreed before losing control of his body.
• The voice slowed Aaron's perception, kicked Akil'zon aside, and pulled Sylvanas out of reach of Zul'jin's axe.
• A golden Val'kyr form enveloped Aaron and flew with Sylvanas to Farstrider Lodge, where it set her down and vanished.
• Aaron lost consciousness, wondering whether the transformation had a cost despite his belief that he could use it four times.

Aaron woke to find Xal'atath appearing as an elf after the Blade of the Black Empire had been transformed by the Holy Light, and she teased him before returning to his mind. Vereesa and Liadrin then entered to check on Aaron, who had recovered from exhaustion.

• Aaron woke and recognized the golden-masked figure as Xal'atath after she revealed her elf-like form.
• Xal'atath confirmed that Aaron had freed her from the Blade of the Black Empire, though she would not reveal who had transformed her.
• Xal'atath warned Aaron that Vereesa was about to enter, then vanished into his mind and teased him for being bound to him.
• Vereesa entered with Liadrin and urged her to examine Aaron, while Liadrin explained that he had only been exhausted.
• Liadrin healed Aaron with Holy Light spells and joked that the Farstriders should pay because Aaron had saved the ranger-general, leaving Vereesa distracted.

After recovering from his fight with Zul'jin, Aaron prepared to leave Quel'Thalas for the Broken Isles and said goodbye to Vereesa and Sylvanas. Aaron and Vereesa flew toward Sunsail Anchorage, where he planned to board a ship.

• Vereesa and Liadrin visited Aaron, and Aaron assured them that he had recovered, though Zul'jin had badly beaten him.
• After resting for two days, Aaron left the Church of the Holy Light and went to the Ranger-General's residence to say goodbye to Vereesa.
• Sylvanas sent Arator to practice archery, and Aaron told Vereesa he was leaving Quel'Thalas; Vereesa offered to accompany him to Sunsail Anchorage.
• Sylvanas reluctantly wished Aaron a safe journey, and Aaron and Vereesa rode his gryphon toward Sunsail Anchorage.
• Aaron and Vereesa flew along the Elrendar River until they saw the sea and the ships anchored at Sunsail Anchorage.

Aaron boarded a Kul Tiran ship at Sunsail Anchorage to travel to the Broken Isles, leaving Vereesa behind. Just after the ship departed, Vereesa leaped aboard and landed in Aaron’s arms.

• Vereesa found Aaron a place on a Kul Tiran cargo ship, paying the captain with the reward Sylvanas had given Aaron for defending Farstrider Lodge.
• Aaron said goodbye to Vereesa and boarded the ship as it raised anchor and began to sail away.
• Xal'atath teased Aaron about his feelings for Vereesa, then abruptly fell silent after she noticed something surprising about her.
• Vereesa leaped down onto the departing ship and crashed into Aaron’s arms, confident he would catch her.

Aaron and Vereesa sailed from Quel'Thalas toward the Broken Isles, passing the Windrunner family’s lighthouse and enduring several dull days at sea. The captain’s stories kept them entertained until dark clouds appeared on the horizon on the fourth day.

• Aaron asked whether Vereesa’s sister would pursue her, and Vereesa explained that her mission to inspect elven settlements had been authorized by the Ranger-General.
• As the ship sailed southwest, Vereesa pointed out Windrunner Spire and told Aaron that Windrunner Village was where she had grown up.
• The captain explained that Windrunner Spire served as a lighthouse to guide ships through dangerous coastal waters.
• On the fourth day at sea, Vereesa complained of boredom, and the captain entertained them with stories about the Maelstrom, Goblins, and other sea legends.
• Aaron spotted a mass of dark clouds on the distant horizon.

Aaron and Vereesa prepared to defend their merchant ship from Naga as a Tidesage calmed the storm surrounding it. The Naga emerged from the sea, and Xal'atath warned Aaron that they were stronger than the old man beside him.

• Aaron and Vereesa recognized that the unnatural clouds and fishy wind signaled an approaching Naga attack, and the captain urged them to take shelter.
• Aaron and Vereesa armed themselves and refused to hide as the captain fetched the elderly Master to protect the ship.
• The Master used his staff to calm the ship's violent rocking, and Aaron recognized him as a Tidesage.
• Xal'atath told Aaron that the approaching Naga were powerful and warned him not to rely on her help again.
• Vicious male Naga emerged beneath the dark clouds as the sailors readied the deck's four heavy ballistae for battle.

Aaron and Vereesa fought off the first Naga to board their ship while a Tidesage used magic to hold back the sea. A female Naga surfaced and began casting beneath a growing mass of storm clouds, leaving the ship facing a greater threat.

• Male Naga surrounded the ship, dodged the sailors’ ballista bolts by diving, and used rising seawater to reach the deck.
• The old Tidesage chanted and lowered the water, knocking most of the Naga back into the sea.
• Aaron stunned an attacking Naga, Vereesa shot it repeatedly, and Aaron killed it and pushed its body overboard.
• The Tidesage calmed a wall of waves, but a female Naga surfaced as the storm clouds overhead churned.
• The Tidesage summoned a water elemental, which male Naga held off while the female Naga began casting beneath darkening clouds.

Aaron and Vereesa flew toward the distant Naga thunder caller while the Tidesage strained to hold back her storm. Vereesa fired a purple-lit arrow at the witch, and Aaron escaped the Naga’s nets as he turned back toward the ship.

• The Tidesage identified the enemy as a Naga thunder caller and used his magic to disperse the storm clouds, but warned that he could only keep countering her briefly.
• Aaron refused to retreat below deck and prepared to fly to the witch, and Vereesa climbed aboard to help him.
• Aaron steered the gryphon through attacks from the Naga while he and Vereesa approached the witch, who called the surrounding Naga to her aid.
• Vereesa waited until Aaron brought the gryphon within range, then fired a purple-lit arrow at the Naga witch.
• Aaron sent the gryphon climbing to evade the nets thrown by the Naga and flew back toward the merchant ship.

Aaron and the crew survived the Naga attack and resumed their voyage toward the Broken Isles. After seven days at sea, the ship reached the islands.

• Aaron realized his reactions had sharpened during the fight, though he could not work out how to enter that state again.
• The remaining Naga fled after their leader died, and the sailors cheered as the storm cleared.
• The captain thanked Aaron and Vereesa and returned their money pouch, which Vereesa accepted.
• Fannar explained that female Naga led their communities and shared stories about distant peoples with Aaron and Vereesa.
• Three days later, the navigator announced land, and the ship arrived at the Broken Isles after seven days at sea.