The Scourge destroyed Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas from the inside, the Burning Legion returned, and the world was saved by an alliance nobody wanted, on a mountain nobody could defend.
What Happened
- A plague spreads through northern Lordaeron, turning the dead into Scourge. Prince Arthas Menethil investigates with Jaina Proudmoore and Uther the Lightbringer.
- Arthas culls Stratholme — slaughtering his own infected citizens before they can turn. Uther refuses. Arthas disbands the Order of the Silver Hand on the spot.
- Arthas sails to Northrend, burns his own ships, and takes up the runeblade Frostmourne. It takes his soul.
- Arthas returns and murders his father, King Terenas. Lordaeron falls.
- Arthas cuts the Dead Scar through Quel'Thalas and defiles the Sunwell to raise Kel'Thuzad as a lich, who summons Archimonde.
- Archimonde destroys Dalaran.
- Medivh, returned as a prophet, warns the leaders to flee west. Only Jaina Proudmoore and Thrall listen.
- In Kalimdor, Grom Hellscream drinks demon blood again to kill Mannoroth — and in dying, breaks the orcs' blood curse forever.
- The Battle of Mount Hyjal: humans, orcs, and night elves stand together. Nordrassil's power is detonated to destroy Archimonde. The night elves lose their immortality.
- Aftermath: Illidan Stormrage flees to Outland. Sylvanas Windrunner frees herself and founds the Forsaken. Kael'thas Sunstrider leads the Blood Elves away. Arthas merges with Ner'zhul to become the whole Lich King.
Why It Still Matters
Everything in the present tense is Third War wreckage. The Plaguelands, the Forsaken, Theramore, Durotar, Teldrassil, the broken Silver Hand, the Scarlet Crusade, the fragile Alliance–Horde non-aggression — all of it. Four years ago. Everyone alive remembers it.
