Chapter Summaries

Kael'thas's squad ignored Solarian's warning and stayed in the forest, but a quest to escape alerted him to danger. An advanced-class Troll Rogue appeared, revealed he had come looking for Kael'thas's brother, and threatened to kill Kael'thas for amusement.

• Kael'thas stayed with the squad despite Solarian's warning, and they spent several days hunting Troll Rogues.
• When Solarian sensed an ominous presence, Kael'thas received the quest Escape the Devil's Clutches and gathered everyone.
• A Troll Rogue answered Kael'thas's challenge and emerged from the forest.
• Solarian recognized the Troll as an advanced-class Rogue, far stronger than anyone in the squad.
• The Troll said he had watched the squad while searching for Kael'thas's brother, then threatened to kill Kael'thas and send his head to his family.
• Audilon and the squad members swore they would not let the Troll succeed, even if they died.

Kael'thas used an immobilization scroll to escape a Troll rogue, then ordered his party to scatter and draw the pursuer away. As the others fled, Audilon caught up with Kael'thas and vowed to protect him.

• Kael'thas pinned the Troll rogue to a tree with an immobilization scroll, but warned the party the effect could be broken and urged them to flee.
• Kael'thas activated an alarm and led the party down the mountain on their hawkstriders.
• Solarian advised everyone to split up and divert the Troll, and Kael'thas ordered the party to scatter at the next crossroads.
• Liadrin resolved to leave a trail to lure the Troll away, while Solarian asked Kael'thas's phoenix to follow her.
• Kael'thas realized he had marked his own route with a scent the Troll could track, but Audilon caught up and promised to protect him.

Kael'thas and Audilon fled the Troll rogue, who caught up to them on a leopard, but Kael'thas injured the leopard's eyes and escaped with Audilon. The Troll pursued them on foot, while Audilon resolved to protect Kael'thas from then on.

• Kael'thas threw his scented pouch into the forest and asked Audilon how they could hide from the pursuing Troll.
• The Troll caught up on a leopard and attacked them with glowing blade arcs, which Audilon blocked while Xiao Bai dodged.
• Kael'thas infused Fireballs into his sword and struck the leopard's eyes with flaming attacks, forcing it to disappear and throwing the Troll to the ground.
• The Troll used Sprint to pursue Kael'thas and Audilon after they escaped on Xiao Bai.
• Audilon apologized for failing to protect Kael'thas and resolved to guard him from then on.

Kael'thas and Audilon tried to evade the pursuing Troll rogue with a series of diversions through the forest. After Kael'thas sensed Xiao Ao approaching with reinforcements, they headed toward the phoenix, though it remained unclear whether the quest was complete.

• Kael'thas stopped at a river and sent the Hawkstriders running ahead while he and Audilon escaped downstream along the bank.
• Kael'thas and Audilon climbed through several trees to conceal their wet footprints, then summoned their mounts and rode away.
• The Troll rogue noticed the Hawkstriders' tracks had changed and angrily pursued them downstream.
• Kael'thas sensed Xiao Ao approaching, likely with reinforcements, and rode with Audilon toward the phoenix.

Kael'thas fled the Troll Rogue with Xiao Bai while Astromancer Solarian and the rangers raced to rescue him. Audilon died protecting Kael'thas, who was left grieving as Audilon entrusted his future and Quel'Thalas to Solarian.

• Xiao Ao found Kael'thas, and Astromancer Solarian’s voice revealed that rescuers were approaching, but the Troll Rogue continued pursuing him.
• Audilon charged the Troll Rogue to protect Kael'thas, was poisoned, and urged the prince to keep riding toward the rescuers.
• Kael'thas reached Sylvanas and the rangers, and Sylvanas drew her bow on the Troll Rogue as he sprinted toward the prince.
• Audilon intercepted the Troll Rogue’s final attack, and Kael'thas saw the dagger pierce Audilon’s chest before Sylvanas’s arrow struck the Troll Rogue.
• Audilon died in Kael'thas’s arms after asking him to live like a sun, and he silently begged Solarian to protect their king.

After Audilon Firewing was laid to rest, Kael'thas agreed to establish a force named Firewing and learned why Solarian had separated the group during their battle. Solarian said she had acted to preserve Kael'thas's chance of survival, leaving their relationship strained by her choices.

• Liadrin and the Priests sang the Lament of the Highborne as guards carried Audilon Firewing's coffin toward Fairbreeze Village.
• Kael'thas accepted his former teammates' pleas to return to his service and agreed to name their future force Firewing in honor of the fallen Warrior.
• The remaining teammates departed, leaving Liadrin and Solarian with Kael'thas.
• Kael'thas confronted Solarian about her choices during the battle, and she explained that she had foreseen Audilon's death and believed the group would otherwise perish.
• Solarian told Kael'thas that his phoenix had offered the only slim chance of survival and privately resolved to live for him alone.