"The History of the Expansions" series — The War Within, part 2. The story of World of Warcraft told expansion by expansion, with the patches that changed it. The episodes are listed in order at the end of the post.
The second part of The War Within takes place on the Isle of Dorn, the surface of Khaz Algar. The survivors of Dalaran land there, in the middle of the land of the Earthen, a stone people created by the titans. Together, they have to drive the nerubians out of the capital, Dornogal, and repair the Coreway, the passage that leads to the heart of Azeroth. The chapter ends with the sacrifice of one of the Earthen's heroes.
The survivors of Dalaran
After the city's fall, the survivors defend themselves on the Isle of Dorn against the nerubians commanded by Queensguard Zirix. Help arrives in the form of Baelgrim, an Earthen who leads the Stormriders, riders who fly mounted on stormrooks, storm birds.
An explosion in Dornogal reveals the size of the problem: the Coreway, the passage that goes down to the planet's core, has been sabotaged. Jaina and Thrall leave to find reinforcements, and Alleria goes after Xal'atath.
Read more: The War Within #1: the Radiant Song and Dalaran.
Who the Earthen are
The Earthen are stone beings created by the titans to take care of Khaz Algar. They are related to the dwarves: in Warcraft lore, the dwarves descend from Earthen who suffered the Curse of Flesh, the corruption of the Old Gods that turned stone into flesh.
In Dornogal, the Horde and the Alliance gain access to the Archive and meet the city's leaders, among them Speaker Brinthe and Councilward Merrix. The Council decides that the Coreway can only be rebuilt with the help of the Unbound, Earthen who live outside the city's rules.
Read more: Khaz Algar, the Earthen and Azeroth's new underground and Curse of Flesh: Yogg-Saron and the mortals.
Adelgonn's Unbound
Moira Thaurissan, queen of the Dark Iron dwarves, and Baelgrim go to the village of Freywold in search of Adelgonn, leader of the Unbound. The heroes rescue Unbound trapped in the mines and, in exchange, Adelgonn agrees to help. A nerubian attack on the Proscenium of Dornogal is pushed back, and Zirix retreats.
With Unbound and Oathsworn working together, the repair of the Coreway begins.
Baelgrim's sacrifice
Meanwhile, Baelgrim discovers that his second-in-command, Gorren, made a deal with Xal'atath and turned many Stormriders into skardyn. The heroes defeat Gorren, but the order is nearly wiped out. Baelgrim then sets a trap for Zirix's swarm at the Cinderbrew Meadery.
Nobody can reach the barrels, so he detonates them himself. The explosion destroys Zirix's swarm and kills Baelgrim. Adelgonn and the others return to Dornogal to report his death, and the Coreway is ready: the way down is open.
Where to see it in WotLK
- Ulduar, in the Storm Peaks: the Earthen of Ulduar and the titan Keepers, the Northrend version of the titans' stone peoples.
- Halls of Stone and Halls of Lightning: dungeons full of titan constructs and stone dwarves.
- Storm Peaks: Brann Bronzebeard's quests reveal that the dwarves came from the Earthen.
- Uldaman and Ulduar: the titan ruins where the Curse of Flesh appears for the first time.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the Earthen in The War Within?
They are stone beings created by the titans to take care of Khaz Algar. The dwarves descend from Earthen who suffered the Curse of Flesh.
What is the Coreway?
It is the passage that goes down from Dornogal into the interior of Khaz Algar and the core of Azeroth. It was sabotaged at the start of the expansion and rebuilt on the Isle of Dorn.
How did Baelgrim die?
He detonated the barrels of the Cinderbrew Meadery to destroy Zirix's nerubian swarm and died in the explosion.
"The History of the Expansions" series
← Previous: The War Within, part 1: The Radiant Song and Dalaran Next → The War Within, part 3: The Ringing Deeps
- Episode 1: WoW Classic at a glance: major conflicts and faction reconstruction
- Episode 2: The Burning Crusade in order: Illidan, Kael'thas, Vashj and the fate of Outland
- Episode 3: WoW History: Wrath of the Lich King
- Episode 4: Cataclysm and the return of Deathwing
- Episode 5: WoW History: Mists of Pandaria
- Episode 6: WoW History: Warlords of Draenor
- Episode 7: WoW History: Legion, the Full Expansion
- Episode 8: The Fourth War in brief: how Azerite reignited the conflict between Horde and Alliance
- Episode 9: WoW History: Shadowlands
- Episode 10: The awakening of the Dragon Isles and the return of the Aspects
- Episode 11: Khaz Algar: the underground continent and the four biomes of The War Within
- The War Within, part 1: The Radiant Song and Dalaran
- The War Within, part 2: The Earthen and Isle of Dorn (you are here)
- The War Within, part 3: The Ringing Deeps
- The War Within, part 4: The Arathi Expedition
- The War Within, part 5: Azj-Kahet and Ansurek
- The War Within, part 6: The War for Khaz Algar
- The War Within, part 7: Undermine and Gallywix
- The War Within, part 8: Ghosts of K'aresh
- Episode 12: Midnight: why Quel'Thalas became the center of the war against the Void
- Episode 13: The Last Titan: what we know about the end of the trilogy
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