Chapter Summaries

Jiang Jie brought the Wildhammer Gryphon Riders into the battle against Kel'Thuzad’s undead army, and they swiftly seized control of the skies. As the undead answered with concentrated ranged attacks, Jiang Jie led the Fenris People's Army toward the enemy’s left flank.

• Jiang Jie gathered the Fenris People's Army and three hundred Wildhammer Gryphon Riders and rode northeast to confront the undead army.
• Jiang Jie surveyed the battle and recognized Orgrim Doomhammer fighting King Thoradin, while Meryl Winterstorm and the Shadow Phoenix harried the undead.
• Highlord Falstad killed a Frost Wyrm with his stormhammer and rallied the Gryphon Riders to attack.
• The Gryphon Riders killed dozens of Gargoyles and several Frost Wyrms, but Orgrim dragged down and killed one dwarf before the others shattered his Frost Wyrm and sent him falling.
• The undead archers and mages struck back, killing three Gryphon Riders, while Falstad ordered the survivors higher to escape the worst of the attacks.
• Jiang Jie led the Fenris People's Army toward the left flank of the undead army.

Jiang Jie fought through Kel'Thuzad's Undead army, taking command of the gryphon whose Wildhammer rider had fallen. After mastering the power of wind to wield the rider's stormhammer, he charged with the gryphon to avenge its master.

• Jiang Jie ordered Sven and the others to harass the Undead army's perimeter while he attacked its strongest forces.
• Jiang Jie leapt onto a Frost Wyrm, severed its bones, and destroyed the soul fire within its chest.
• Jiang Jie caught a fallen Wildhammer dwarf and his stormhammer, then calmed the riderless gryphon and promised to return its master's body.
• Jiang Jie learned to harness the wind to control the stormhammer, then urged the gryphon to attack the Undead archers who had killed its master.
• Jiang Jie shielded the gryphon from arrows with Black Tortoise Armor Gang Qi and smashed through the Undead archers with the stormhammer.

Jiang Jie attacked Kel'Thuzad's undead forces, then helped cover the retreat of the exhausted Fenris People's Army and Wildhammer Gryphon Riders. The defenders withdrew after a costly battle, while Kel'Thuzad vowed to take Stromgarde that night.

• Jiang Jie leaped from his gryphon and used Twin Dragons Fetch Water to destroy the undead surrounding the fallen Gryphon Rider.
• Jiang Jie charged the undead mage formation, killed more than fifty mages with Dragons Battle in the Wild, and escaped aboard his gryphon when Kel'Thuzad joined the attack.
• Jiang Jie and the Wildhammer Gryphon Riders fought the Gargoyles and Frost Wyrms for another twenty minutes, losing three Gryphon Riders as the forces grew exhausted and wounded.
• Jiang Jie ordered the Fenris People's Army and Wildhammer Gryphon Riders to retreat, while Meryl blocked their pursuers with a wall of lightning.
• King Thoradin stayed behind with Jiang Jie, Meryl, Highlord Falstad, Nightbane, and the Shadow Phoenix to cover the retreat before they departed, and Kel'Thuzad vowed to take Stromgarde that night.

After the victory over Kel'Thuzad's aerial forces, Jiang Jie and his allies faced the threat of Stromgarde being overwhelmed by the surviving Undead and uncertain reinforcements. Three unexpected arrivals appeared, including Anveena, leaving Jiang Jie alone with her.

• Jiang Jie told Falstad that he had requested help from Sally Whitemane's Scarlet Crusade forces in Southshore, who might reach Stromgarde by ship through Faldir's Cove.
• King Thoradin warned that the allies could not rely on reinforcements, while Meryl said he did not know whether Lady Aegwynn would come.
• Meryl sensed three people teleporting to the Tower of Arathor, and Jiang Jie explained that Dalaran's mages were occupied pursuing Arthas in Gilneas.
• Jiang Jie and the others met Archmage Angela Dosantos, Liadrin, and Anveena as they arrived in Stromgarde.
• Angela silenced Falstad, King Thoradin carried him away, and the others departed, leaving Jiang Jie and Anveena alone.

As the undead army reached Stromgarde, Jiang Jie and the other defenders saw that Arthas’s forces included giant Abominations, undead Vrykul, and Proto-Dragons. Even with Fenna, Liadrin, and Angela arriving to help, the defenders faced overwhelming odds, and the chapter left the battle about to begin.

• More than ten thousand undead advanced to Stromgarde’s walls under cover of night.
• Jiang Jie and Fenna left the palace and joined the leaders at the gatehouse as Fenna, Liadrin, and Angela arrived through a teleport.
• The leaders recognized that their small group could not turn the tide, while the Ashen Army could not be gathered in time.
• The defenders spotted giant Abominations and Scourge Giants among the undead ranks.
• The leaders identified the dragonlike creatures as Proto-Dragons, the most terrifying new troops in Arthas’s army.

Jiang Jie and Stromgarde's defenders held off the Undead with the Earthen and a fiery attack, but the enemy pressed forward again. When reinforcements arrived, King Thoradin confronted Orgrim Doomhammer, leaving Jiang Jie free to go meet them.

• Jiang Jie ordered the Earthen to hold the wall breaches while the other defenders prepared to use fire.
• The Earthen blocked the Undead and filled the breaches with rubble as the attackers tried to climb the walls.
• Jiang Jie ordered oil jars dropped onto the Undead, and Archmage Angela set them alight with a Fireball, killing more than a thousand.
• As the flames faded and the Undead advanced again, a guard reported that the expected reinforcements had arrived.
• King Thoradin challenged Orgrim Doomhammer, and the two Legendary Death Knights began fighting while Jiang Jie prepared to leave.

Jiang Jie received Sally and Jaina’s reinforcements as their ships sailed toward Faldir's Cove. Sally had brought seven hundred soldiers despite the danger Arthas posed to Southshore, and Jiang Jie thanked her for acting on her own authority.

• Jiang Jie watched for threats as the ships sailed and asked Sally how many troops she had brought.
• Jaina explained that she had come to Lordaeron to buy grain for Theramore and diverted her ships after learning of the crisis at Stromgarde.
• Jiang Jie and Jaina discussed their comparable authority as leaders of independent territories.
• Sally said she had brought seven hundred soldiers, including Paladins and Priests, but had not told her father because Southshore needed defending from Arthas.
• Jiang Jie thanked Sally and asked her to call him by his name instead of Grand Duke.

Jiang Jie and Jaina attacked Kel'Thuzad, with Meryl disrupting the lich’s spells so Jiang Jie could close in and keep him on the defensive. Jaina held back the surrounding undead and summoned water elementals as the fight continued.

• Jiang Jie hurled the Stormhammer at Kel'Thuzad, but Kel'Thuzad deflected it and staggered from the recoil.
• Jaina cast a barrage of Frostbolts, freezing or slowing more than a dozen undead around Kel'Thuzad.
• Jiang Jie leaped from the gryphon with Strom'kar, while Meryl used Counterspell to interrupt Kel'Thuzad and help Jiang Jie land an attack.
• Jiang Jie pursued Kel'Thuzad at close range, forcing him to rely on short Blinks instead of stronger spells.
• Jaina attacked the undead surrounding Kel'Thuzad and summoned several water elementals.

Fresh reinforcements led by Darion arrived at Stromgarde and launched a counterattack against Kel'Thuzad's undead army. As the defenders regained the advantage, King Thoradin killed Orgrim again.

• Darion led a thousand elite soldiers, including paladins and priests, in a charge against the undead.
• The arrival of the reinforcements renewed the defenders' strength and began the counterattack.
• The Earthen, paladins, and priests advanced in waves, destroying the undead and protecting the soldiers behind them.
• Archmage Angela supported King Thoradin with spells after the undead lost their support.
• King Thoradin drove a sword through Orgrim's heart, and evil energy destroyed the power that had resurrected him.

After defeating Kel'Thuzad's undead army, Jiang Jie oversaw Stromgarde's recovery and rebuilt its Holy Light community with Paltress and Oryx Rivendare. The city began to recover, and Aegwynn arrived with Anveena and Med'an.

• Jiang Jie announced Kel'Thuzad's death, and Stromgarde's forces routed the undead army after two hours of fighting, though the victory came at a heavy cost.
• Jiang Jie directed the burning of the dead, distribution of holy water, repairs to Stromgarde, and recruitment of new guards while Jaina and Fenna went to defend Southshore.
• Uther sent Paltress and twenty Priests to Stromgarde, and Jiang Jie appointed her bishop as she began restoring the Church of the Holy Light and gathered more than a hundred followers.
• Oryx Rivendare arrived with twenty Paladins and joined Paltress in managing Stromgarde's temple.
• A month later, Aegwynn arrived in Stromgarde with Anveena and Med'an.

Aegwynn brought Med'an and Anveena to the Tower of Arathor, then wandered off to shop while they reunited with Jiang Jie. Jiang Jie took Med'an and Anveena to see Meryl, while Aegwynn remained somewhere in the city.

• Aegwynn, Med'an, and Anveena arrived at the Tower of Arathor, and Aegwynn went off to explore Stromgarde alone.
• Anveena warned Med'an about Aegwynn’s harsh training and punishments as they waited at the tower.
• Jiang Jie arrived, reunited with Anveena, and asked why she and Med'an had come late.
• Anveena explained that Aegwynn had taken them to the Tomb of Sargeras to fight demons and repair its wards.
• Anveena sensed Aegwynn shopping for candy and clothes before Aegwynn blocked her mental perception.
• Jiang Jie told Med'an to disguise himself and led him and Anveena toward the royal palace to meet Meryl.

Meryl prepared to leave Stromgarde and build the Forsaken nation, while Med'an reunited with him and asked him to stay. Jiang Jie gave Meryl powerful artifacts and supplies, and Meryl departed with King Thoradin, Orgrim's corpse, and the Frost Wyrms.

• Meryl told Nicholas that he planned to resurrect Orgrim as the second of the Four Horsemen and strengthen Orgrim and King Thoradin with undead magic.
• Med'an reunited emotionally with Meryl, who urged him to make a life among humans but refused to stay with him.
• Meryl said he would leave for the Forsaken nation, and Jiang Jie gave him Ulthalesh, the Deadwind Harvester, a shadow gem for Faol, and a void teleportation stone.
• Meryl teleported outside Stromgarde with King Thoradin and Orgrim's corpse, where Nightbane joined them as King Thoradin's mount.
• Meryl spent three hours creating a teleportation array, gathered the Frost Wyrms, and vanished with them in a flash of magic.

Aegwynn returned to the palace after a lavish shopping spree, then restored Atiesh with Jiang Jie’s help and gave the staff to Med'an. Aluneth spoke up to boast about its power, and Aegwynn silenced it.

• Aegwynn spent three hours buying snacks and toys in Stromgarde, where her magical tricks punished would-be thieves and her gems turned to worthless stones.
• Aegwynn shared her purchases with Med'an after returning to the palace.
• Jiang Jie gave Aegwynn Medivh’s staff head and book, and she reunited the staff’s pieces and destroyed the demon released from it.
• Aegwynn explained that Atiesh had lost the Guardians’ power and gave the restored staff to Med'an.
• Aluneth mocked Atiesh and boasted about its own power until Aegwynn threatened to seal it, after which it fell silent.

Jiang Jie asked Aegwynn to connect Karazhan and Stromgarde so he could establish the Stromgarde School of Magic, while she warned him that the Tomb of Sargeras remained a grave threat. After Aegwynn completed the portals and left to guard the Tomb, Jiang Jie opened the school and began recruiting.

• Aegwynn examined the Book of Medivh, recognized its Titan and demonic knowledge, and agreed to let Meryl study it after she was finished.
• Jiang Jie asked Aegwynn to create permanent portals between Stromgarde and Karazhan for his planned school, and she agreed to secure Karazhan and restrict access.
• Aegwynn warned Jiang Jie that the Tomb of Sargeras's weakening seal could enable another Burning Legion invasion and urged him to resolve the Scourge threat before helping her.
• Anveena and Med'an explored the city, and Anveena obtained gold from Jiang Jie so they could shop after merchants refused Med'an's gemstone.
• Aegwynn completed and protected the portal at the Tower of Azora, then left to connect it to Karazhan and guard the Tomb of Sargeras.
• Jiang Jie connected the portals, established the Stromgarde School of Magic around the Tower of Arathor, and began recruiting instructors and students.

Jiang Jie established the Stromgarde School of Magic, attracting prominent instructors, students, merchants, and new residents. After the Maiden of Virtue arrived at the temple, four members of Tyr's Guard came to Stromgarde and chose to rebuild their ancient order there.

• Alturus and Leryda left Dalaran to teach at the Stromgarde School of Magic, where Jiang Jie appointed them visiting professors and made Anveena deputy headmistress.
• Jiang Jie opened the school to applicants of any race or status, and it enrolled five hundred students within a month, drawing families and merchants to Stromgarde.
• The Maiden of Virtue arrived through the portal and became a stone statue at Stromgarde's temple, bringing more people to pray and train as Priests or Paladins.
• Tavard, Gavard, Ivaria, and Duvar came to meet the Maiden of Virtue after learning she had appeared in Stromgarde.
• Jiang Jie and the Maiden of Virtue persuaded the four members of Tyr's Guard to stay and rebuild their order in Stromgarde.

Jiang Jie rebuilt Stromgarde, renamed the Fenris People's Army as his personal Stromgarde Guard, and opened martial arts training to the public. As the city’s influence grew, a group of unexpected visitors arrived, led by Prince Brann and accompanied by four Pandaren.

• Jiang Jie renamed the Fenris People's Army the Stromgarde Guard, rewarded its members, and recruited new disciples from Stromgarde.
• Jiang Jie exposed a Cult of the Damned member during the selection and ordered him taken for interrogation.
• Jiang Jie selected a hundred elite disciples for the guard and arranged free daily martial arts lessons in the palace square.
• Prince Brann led a group of dwarves, accompanied by four Pandaren, into Stromgarde’s palace.

Jiang Jie arranged for Brann and the Pandaren to join the Alliance’s planned northern expedition, revealing that Muradin was alive in Northrend and providing a map and a route to reach him. Brann and Old Chen’s party departed for Howling Fjord, while Aysa and Ji stayed in Stromgarde to train the royal guard.

• Jiang Jie told Brann that Muradin had survived Frostmourne’s attack, lost his memory, and was living among the Frostborn Dwarves as Yorg Stormheart, then showed him Muradin’s warhammer.
• Brann hurried to leave for Northrend, but Jiang Jie stopped him and explained that the Alliance had arranged a fleet, an outpost, and a landing at Howling Fjord; he also showed Brann a map marking a route to Frosthold.
• Brann agreed to wait for the ship, left King Magni’s letter with Jiang Jie, and bought large quantities of supplies, gaining a reputation in Stromgarde as a shopping maniac.
• Jiang Jie sent Brann, Old Chen, and Li Li aboard a Kul Tiras warship at Faldir’s Cove; Aysa Cloudsinger and Ji Firepaw stayed behind to train the royal guard.
• Two days later, Highlord Falstad visited Jiang Jie at the palace and received a warm welcome.

Jiang Jie discussed the Wildhammer Dwarves’ dragon spoils with Falstad and proposed rebuilding the Thandol Span with Ironforge to support trade and development in the Wetlands. Falstad remained wary of the Bronzebeard Dwarves, and Jiang Jie ended by asking whether he could truly abandon Grim Batol.

• Falstad told Jiang Jie that the Wildhammer Dwarves had eaten much of the dragon meat but lacked the craftsmen to turn the hides and scales into armor and weapons.
• Jiang Jie suggested that Falstad hire Bronzebeard smiths and Lordaeron leatherworkers to process the dragon materials, but Falstad said relations with the Bronzebeards remained poor.
• Jiang Jie gave Falstad a letter from King Magni proposing that Ironforge rebuild the Thandol Span, and Falstad was surprised by the plan.
• Jiang Jie explained that Stromgarde and Ironforge could cooperate to develop the contested Wetlands, where many peoples and creatures had established settlements.
• Falstad said the Wildhammer Dwarves intended to remain in the Hinterlands, and Jiang Jie challenged him to say whether he would truly forget Grim Batol.

Jiang Jie explained three possible ways to lift Grim Batol’s curse, and Falstad considered what reclaiming the city could mean for the Wildhammer Dwarves. Jiang Jie then proposed raising some of their gryphons, while Falstad remained cautious about the larger plans.

• Falstad told Jiang Jie that Modgud had cursed Grim Batol after Khardros killed her, and Jiang Jie said Xal'atath had truly caused the curse.
• Jiang Jie used Strom'kar to show Falstad shadow creatures like those Modgud had summoned and explained Xal'atath’s Old God origins.
• Jiang Jie described three ways to lift the curse: purifying it with Holy Light, planting a Tree of Life, or finding and controlling Xal'atath.
• Falstad was excited by the possibility of reclaiming Grim Batol, but he weighed the political, military, and logistical obstacles and resolved to verify Jiang Jie’s claims.
• Jiang Jie proposed that Falstad give him some gryphons so he could help raise them.

Jiang Jie traveled to the Hinterlands to befriend wild gryphons and Moonkin, hoping to recruit them for his disciples and enrich Teldrassil’s ecosystem. By the time he reached Seradane, hundreds of gryphons and even more Moonkin had gathered around him and Anveena.

• Falstad agreed to give Jiang Jie the gryphon-taming methods but refused to help, and Jiang Jie left Stromgarde after a month of political delays.
• Jiang Jie and Anveena rode Sharpbeak to Aerie Peak and set out through the Hinterlands toward Seradane.
• Jiang Jie soothed wild Moonkin with nature’s power, but they bonded with Anveena while gryphons followed him.
• More than a hundred gryphons and Moonkin frightened the Vilebranch Trolls at Agol'watha, and patrols reported the spectacle to Falstad.
• Jiang Jie reached Seradane with over five hundred gryphons and an even greater number of Moonkin around him.