Beyond the Dark Portal #15: the Chieftain's plan

August 22, 2026•Lore•Brendo Arruda

"Beyond the Dark Portal" series — Beyond the Dark Portal #15. The story of Beyond the Dark Portal, from the internment camps to the end of Draenor. The episodes are listed in order at the end of the post.

Khadgar found out when Ner'zhul was going to act. A rare celestial alignment would happen in about 55 days, and that was the moment the artifacts would have the power needed to open the portals. The expedition had a deadline, and the next target was the fortress where Ner'zhul was supposed to be: Hellfire Citadel.

The alignment

Studying the skies of Draenor, Khadgar discovered that the stars would line up in a rare way in about 55 days. That was the moment when Ner'zhul's summoning spell would be at its strongest.

If the Alliance did not stop the spell by then, Ner'zhul would open the portals.

What Ner'zhul wanted

The Chieftain's plan was to save the Horde by opening paths to other worlds. Ner'zhul did not want to conquer Azeroth. He wanted to escape a dead planet. But the spell was so powerful that it could destroy Draenor in the process, and Ner'zhul was willing to take that risk.

The target: the Citadel

The Alliance decided to attack Hellfire Citadel, the Horde's great stronghold on the peninsula. If Ner'zhul was there, the war could end in one blow.

What this changes in the story

The 55-day deadline gives this part of the story the pace of a race against time. The Alliance did not just need to win battles: it needed to reach the spell before the stars aligned.

Ner'zhul's plan also explains why the destruction of Draenor was not only the Legion's doing. It was one orc's attempt to save his own people that ended up breaking the planet apart.

Khadgar, who worked out the deadline, is the same Khadgar who welcomes heroes in Shattrath in TBC and, in Legion, organizes the defense of Azeroth from Dalaran.

Episode timeline

Khadgar studies the skies of Draenor.
He discovers a celestial alignment in about 55 days.
The Alliance realizes it has a deadline.
Ner'zhul's plan becomes clear: escape Draenor.
The Alliance decides to attack Hellfire Citadel.

Who's who in this episode

| Name | Who they are | |------|--------| | Khadgar | The archmage who discovered the alignment. | | Ner'zhul | The Chieftain of the Horde, who was planning the spell. | | Turalyon | The commander who prepared the attack on the Citadel. | | Hellfire Citadel | The Horde's great stronghold on the peninsula. |

Where to see it in WotLK

Hellfire Citadel: the three dungeons and Magtheridon's raid in TBC.
Hellfire Peninsula, in Outland: the region of the Dark Portal on the Draenor side, with Honor Hold and Hellfire Citadel.
Shattrath: Khadgar in Outland, years later.