Warcraft Chronicle Vol 2 (Warning: Spoilers)

[Rhlor]

Rhuana here, the OP from the Story forum. Not sure what happened or why the thread was removed. I've been following this thread, though, so I'll continue my work here for the time being!

yay!!Some information about lor'themar, He fought alongside turalyon in the second war

[Avateau]

I have the book as well. What part are you at?
I'm halfway into Beyond the Dark Portal, when Gorefiend and Deathwing make a pact.

I haven't started reading Chapter 5 yet.

[Rend Blackhand]

Rhuana here, the OP from the Story forum. Not sure what happened or why the thread was removed. I've been following this thread, though, so I'll continue my work here for the time being!

You are doing God's work.

[Zaelsino]

Thanks for this so far. Is there much (or anything at all) on Anasterian, the high elf king at the time? I hoped they'd go into a bit more detail on when and why he left the original Alliance after the Second War.

[Deleted]

Thanks for this so far. Is there much (or anything at all) on Anasterian, the high elf king at the time? I hoped they'd go into a bit more detail on when and why he left the original Alliance.

He blamed the Alliance for supposedly abandoning Quel'thalas during the Horde's siege.
They left to pursue Orgrim to Capital City and to hunt the Horde all the way down to the portal.
It was said not all elves believed the Alliance abandoned them, but enough did.

[Deleted]

Hmm, I wonder what the timeline is actually.

[Rhlor]

Thanks for this so far. Is there much (or anything at all) on Anasterian, the high elf king at the time? I hoped they'd go into a bit more detail on when and why he left the original Alliance after the Second War.

Hey man you've seen that original quel'thalas was bigger than the current !!We must claim our lost territories to build a new Quel'Lithien

[Therougetitan]

Rhuana here, the OP from the Story forum. Not sure what happened or why the thread was removed. I've been following this thread, though, so I'll continue my work here for the time being!

It was probably the pictures imo. Summarizing a book is one thing but scanning and posting material that technically isn't even supposed to be available yet is another.

I really like those pictures though. I think it should be fine here since it isn't Blizzard's forum.

[Zaelsino]

He blamed the Alliance for supposedly abandoning Quel'thalas during the Horde's siege.
They left to pursue Orgrim to Capital City and to hunt the Horde all the way down to the portal.
It was said not all elves believed the Alliance abandoned them, but enough did.

Interesting. The little lore blurb he had before suggested he was just in the same boat as Greymane, leaving because he had nothing to gain by staying. Him genuinely believing the Alliance abandoned his kingdom is a better motive.

[Deleted]

Okay I just finished it.

It went more in-depth than volume I, mainly regarding Horde politics and tactical maneuvers during the First War. The Second War and Beyond the Dark Portal chapters were more to the point. Ner'zhul was barely mentioned compared to Blackhand and Gul'dan, even in the latter chapters.

Basically the age of the Council of Tirisfal and the Guardian ended, heralding the age of the Alliance. No mention of Ner'zhul's encounter with Kil'jaeden, but I'm pretty sure that's Vol. 3 stuff.

[Avateau]

CHAPTER 5: THE SECOND WAR

Part 1: Arming the Horde
• Orgrim dreamed of orcs being able to return to tradition, time before fel magic
• Scouts reported of gathering of humans near Lordaeron, no time to reminisce
• Considered destroying Lordaeron, strongest human nation, to deal a great blow
• Army and resources sapped following First War, lack of armaments
• Zuluhed had given Demon Soul to Nekros, but powers still not unlocked
• Allied with Amani trolls, who were pleased to learn of Stormwind’s fall
• Trolls asked for help liberate Warlord Zul’jin from prison in Hillsbrad
• Planned to kill Gul’dan when he awoke, but Gul’dan was to propose new weapon

Part 2: The Warlock’s Gambit
• Gul’dan awoke to find Shadow Council destroyed, Orgrim as Warchief
• Pleaded for life, pledged loyalty to Horde, would abandon fel magic as well
• Proposed creating new warriors who could go toe-to-toe with human sorcerers
• Orgrim have chance to Gul’dan, desperate but recognizing the risk
• Gul’dan considered killing Orgrim, but then heard voice of Kil’jaeden
• Sargeras commaned Kil’jaeden to recontact Gul’dan after years of silence
• Orgrim was to remain alive, had proven to be a capable leader after Stormwind
• Promised more power to Gul’dan if he would help Horde complete its goals
• Kil’jaeden had intention of fulfilling this promise but Gul’dan did not trust him
• Gul’dan plotted to find the Tomb of Sargeras to seize power for himself
• Needed allies to be able to take this power, so wanted to create new clan
• Asked permission to create Stormreaver clan so his activities could be monitored
• Stormreavers to be on front lines of battle, Orgrim planted spies among them

Part 3: The Death Knights
• Gul’dan wanted to bring back Shadow Council spirits to serve him
• Worked with Cho’gall to recover gathered disembodied souls of Council
• Considered orc bodies, but knew orcs would not allow such desecration
• Decided upon placing Council spirits in the corpses of fallen humans
• Fel was outlawed, so he chose to transform his soldiers into necromancers
• First death knight, Teron Gorefiend, created from soul of Teron’gor
• Necrolytes had proven unsuccessful, sacrificed to reanimate death knights
• DKs needed no food or rest, could drain life and raise dead reinforcements
• Orgrim disgusted but acknowledged that they were at least not fel creatures
• Blackrocks charged with guarding DKs, Gul’dan and co. to be killed after war
• Death knights proved loyal neither to Orgrim nor Gul’dan, only themselves
• Orcs still needed to replenish supplies/arms, sights turned to Khaz Modan

Part 4: Invasion of Khaz Modan
• Bronzebeard dwarves had lived in Ironforge for over two thousand years
• Surrounding region rich with oil and ore, filled with dwarven forges
• Blizzard, collapsed tunnel slowed orcs approach, dwarves rallied gnomes
• Orcs pushed dwarves and gnomes back to cities of Ironforge and Gnomeregan
• Horde assaulted Ironforge but to no avail, almost all dwarves took up arms
• Eventually, Orgrim gave up since he had captured resources he needed
• Blackrocks began mining ore and Bleeding Hollow guarded Ironforge gates

Part 5: Tides of Darkness
• To reach Lordaeron, needed to cross swamp Wetlands and Thandol Span
• Span likely heavily guarded, decided to build fleet and sail around
• Orcs not seafaring people, many skeptical of Orgrim’s plan to go by sea
• Gul’dan and Stormreavers urged Horde to go by sea and follow Orgrim
• Orgrim welcome assistance but stayed wary of Gul’dan’s intentions
• Ogres helped construct juggernauts in bay in southwestern Wetlands
• Amani trolls helped instruct in ways of crafting small, swift boats
• Steamwheedle Cartel of goblins saw fall of Stormwind, approached orcs
• Goblins could provide technology, maps, information for the right price
• Blackhand would have enslaved goblins, Orgrim saw them as equals
• Goblins paid with gold recovered from Stormwind, useless to orcs
• Goblins, ogres, and trolls set to work, ships to be camouflage from humans

[Tart]

Rhuana here, the OP from the Story forum. Not sure what happened or why the thread was removed. I've been following this thread, though, so I'll continue my work here for the time being!

Great, can't wait for next chapter. Cheers.

[Combatbutler]

Interesting. The little lore blurb he had before suggested he was just in the same boat as Greymane, leaving because he had nothing to gain by staying. Him genuinely believing the Alliance abandoned his kingdom is a better motive.

Nice touch Anasterian being less scummy than Greymane.

[Avateau]

Part 6: Alliance of Lordaeron
• Dwarf and gnome refugees arrived in Lordaeron with news of orcs’ attack
• Greymane and Perenolde continued to resist calls to form the Alliance
• Feared losing autonomy, threatened to leave the Council of Seven Nations
• Turalyon, venerated priest of Lordaeron, did not want to watch squabbling
• Brought Prince Varian before Council, asking them to forget their differences
• Failure to unite would lead to demise, unity could change history forever
• Swayed Greymane and Perenolde, voted unanimously for Alliance of Lordaeron
• Anduin Lothar chosen to command since no political ties to northern kingdoms
• Lothar rallied Alliance forces and ordered them to gather in Hillsbrad Foothills

Part 7: Order of the Silver Hand
• Lothar needed means to unite humans from disparate nations and cultures
• Clerics seemed obvious, but they hadn’t fared well during First War
• Archbishop Alonsus Faol proposed creating new order of martial clerics
• Chose great knights, created paladins and the Order of the Silver Hand
• Paladins: Turalyon, Saidan Dathrohan, Tirion Fordring, Uther, Gavinrad the Dire
• City of Stratholme later served as base of operations for paladins
• Faol taught them to use the Light to smite their enemies and comfort allies
• Instructed to live simple lives, not to seek fortune or glory in war
• Faol gave five enchanted librams that represented core traits of Silver Hand
• Turalyon (prot), Uther (justice), Tirion (retri), Saidan (holy), Gavinrad (compassion)
• Lothar pleased by work, asked Uther and Turalyon to be his lieutenants

Part 8: The Binding of Alexstrasza
• Life-Binder and her dragons continued searching for Dragon Soul
• Found orcs just as they were assaulting Khaz Modan
• Alexstrasza wanted to help dwarves and gnomes but finding Soul paramount
• Descended on Nekros, thinking he could not have unlocked Soul’s power
• Deathwing had helped him, used secret power to enslave Alexstrasza
• Could not control all dragons himself, so Alex suffered when reds approached
• Red dragons bound to orcs will or else Alex tortured or killed

Part 9: Grim Batol
• Orgrim charged Nekros with taking Grim Batol, fortress in Wetlands
• Once belonged to Wildhammer dwarves, but abandoned long ago
• War between Dark Iron and Wildhammer caused fortress to be haunted
• Dark Iron sorceress Modgud, on dying breath, cursed entire city
• Alexstrasza and other red dragons forced into Grim Batol’s depths
• Alex began laying eggs while imprisoned, Nekros wanted to hatch them
• Deathwing pleased at Alex’s suffering, continued advising Nekros

Part 10: The Arathi Bloodline
• Lothar sought aid from ancient and poweful high elves of Quel’Thalas
• Union of humans and elves against Amani trolls long before
• Elves swore oath to King Thoradin and all of his bloodline
• Lothar carried Thoradin’s blood, beseeched elves to honor their pact
• King Anasterian Sunstrider initially only sent small contingent of troops
• Had heard rumors of orcs in south but did not consider them a threat
• Ranger-Captain Alleria Windrunner, against orders, also went to humans
• Arriving in Hillsbrad, Lothar received news of orcs preparing to come by sea
• Orcs to landfall in Hillsbrad, Lothar called on Proudmoore and Alliance navy

[Zulkhan]

Nice touch to point out how Blackhand would have merely enslaved the goblins where Orgrim treated them as equal.

[Deleted]

Gul'dan... Gul'dan was the main responsible for the fail of Sargeras' plan.

[Zulkhan]

Gul'dan... Gul'dan was the main responsible for the fail of Sargeras' plan.

Now the ToS audio drama makes even more sense.

[Rend Blackhand]

Gul'dan... Gul'dan was the main responsible for the fail of Sargeras' plan.

That must be why they killed him in the tomb. He wrecked the whole thing.

[Avateau]

Part 11: Seas of Fire
• Orgrim believed orcs would reach Lordaeron before humans built defense
• Admiral Daelin Proudmoore intercepted orcs near island of Zul’Dare
• Orc ships crude, Proudmoore thought of wolf crossing paths with injured lamb
• Proudmoore blew first ship apart, realized he could end the war at sea
• Nekros arrived with aerial support from dragons to counter Alliance navy
• Reluctantly, Nekros dispatched three untrained red dragons for Orgrim
• Set fire to Alliance ships, Proudmoore called for retreat and ships scattered

Part 12: Battle of Hillsbrad Foothills
• Horde made landfall in Hillsbrad uncontested after Alliance naval retreat
• Dragons refused to follow since Nekros not present to give commands
• Had only be ordered to protect ships, would not kill anymore humans
• Orgrim left dragons, planned to march across Alterac Mountains to Capital City
• Lothar blocked northern and western routes to city, soldiers terrified
• Holy paladins rode through army, filling troops with hope and courage
• Orcs war drums announced arrival, smashed into human troops with war cries
• First full-out assault in history between the Horde and the Alliance
• Alleria unleashed arrows, Lothar with paladins, Khadgar with magi
• Evil fog covered battlefield, slain humans rose and attacked their allies
• Death knights rode at the head of undead army
• Orgrim watched with mix of displeasure and satisfaction, still wary
• Alliance horrifed, began to crumble, blazing white light appeared from paladins
• Holy energy struck down undead and swept away corrosive fog
• Alliance regrouped, evenly matched but no for long, Orgrim grew concerned
• Orgrim called on Amani to guide them east through mountains to Lordaeron

Part 13: The Amani Pact
• Trolls reluctant to help orcs until Orgrim honored his word to free Zul’jin
• Discovered location of troll warlord in prison of Durnholde Keep
• Doomhammer led troops to take prison, freed Zul’jin with ease
• Zul’jin feared losing authority, Orgrim assured him trolls would not be servants
• Zul’jin and his trolls to stand as equals with the orcs
• If Amani committed to Horde, Horde must help destroy elves of Quel’Thalas
• Orgrim did not want to move so far north, but he had no choice but to agree
• Horde turned east, Varok Saurfang commaned rearguard of Blackrock orcs
• Bought Horde time to cross Hillsbrad and funnel through pass into Hinterlands
• Trolls guided orcs through mountains, Zul’jin rallied trolls on way
• Winged shadows appeared, not dragons but gryphons and Wildhammer dwarves

Part 14: On Wings of Thunder
• Wildhammers kept watch on Hinterlands from home in Aerie Peak
• Kinship with gryphons, adept shamans, lighting-infused stormhammers
• So independent they knew nothing of approaching Horde into Hinterlands
• Thane Kurdran bombarded Horde with hammers then took back to skies
• Without dragons who had been left behind, orcs had no way to fight
• Orgrim led assault on Aerie Peak, forcing Kurdran and dwarves to land
• Orgrim and half Horde continued north while others stayed to occupy dwarves
• Lothar arrived in Hinterlands to lend aid to dwarves with humans and elves
• Assault changed Kurdran’s people, now knew of threat and wanted to stop it
• Kurdran pledged allegiance of his Wildhammer gryphon riders to Alliance
• Turalyon sent with army to track down Orgrim, rest remained to deal with Horde
• Other kingdoms secured, Perenolde had barricaded mountain passes of Alterac

Part 15: Garona’s Escape
• Throughout Second War, Garona lived under eye of Blackrock warrior Eitrigg
• Initially saw him as mindless warrior, fanatic, but saw glimmer of pride, honor
• Told him everything of Gul’dan and Shadow Council to win his trust
• Revealed knowledge of demons and true purpose of Horde to weaken Azeroth
• Eitrigg treated her words as lie, why trust Gul’dan’s assassin?
• As chaos engulfed Horde in Hinterlands, Garona slipped into forest and vanished
• Eitrigg considered chasing her, but waging war on Alliance more important
• Part of him sympathized with her as long as she didn’t turn blades on Horde

[Deleted]

So, Warcraft II missions are canon again. Goodbye Tides of Darkness novel, it was nice while it lasted.