Path of the Damned Timeline - Story, Lore & Missions

[Khazmo]

The following is a summary of all the events that surround the undead campaign The Path of the Damned. The focus is not just on what is shown ingame, but in other media too including novels, comics, chronicles and World of Warcraft.

Noteworthy events set before the Campaign:

• Many Half-elves join the war in the hope of gaining recognition [Warcraft RPG]
• The Kingdom of Azeroth spies on Lordaeron so that they can understand the threat of the plague. [Novel - Traveller: The Spiral Path]
• Without the Guardians of Tirisfal, human forces begin to crumble. The night elves at Kalimdor sense the disturbance and feel that they are somehow responsible. [WoW Official Strategy Guide]
• At an unknown time, the Alliance approach the Gnomes in Gnomeregan for support but they refuse the call but allow their designs to be put to use. Their allies, especially the Ironforge and Wildhammer Dwarfs, are stunned by their decision to withhold troops. None know that they are under attack by the Troggs. [WoW]
• Blackrock Orcs led by Jubei’Thos succeed in opening a Demon Gate and summoning demonic allies to their cause. [WC3]
• Lordaeron is torn apart as the nation begins to succumb to the plague. One of armies came under the command of Grand Marshal Garithos in the east, who pledged to protect humanity from the Scourge. This likely starts in Blackwood in the Eastweald. [WC3 / WoW]
• Stromgarde fights the Scourge and wins, protecting its lands from their influence and then sends the Stromgarde Brigade to support Jaina Proudmoores effort to flee to Kalimdor.
• Admiral Daelin Proudmoore patrols the coasts of Lordaeron but finds only the dead, he gives up hope of victory in Lordaeron.
• A force of soldiers known as the Gilneas Brigade are sent by Lord Crowley to reinforce Lordaeron and join the Human Expedition to Kalimdor. [WC3 / WoW]
• The Northgate Rebellion occurs in Gilneas and the Kingdom is plunged into civil war. [WoW]

Noteworthy events set during the Campaign:

• Arthas is hailed as a hero for his conquest of the Scourge, but when he enters the throne room, he murders King Terenas and the city falls. Falric and Marwyn take it on themselves to slay the aristocracy. [CH9x - Arthas’ Betrayal]
• Princess Calia Menethil escapes the Scourge by hiding in a muddy ditch for two days, and eventually makes her way to Southshore where she is reunited with her husband and child. [Novel - Before the Storm]
• After killing his father and directing the Scourge to invade the city, Arthas leaves and rushes to the Balnir Farmstead. Using the power of Frostmourne, he finds the grave of his beloved warhorse Invincible and raises him as his unholy steed. [Novel - Arthas: Rise of the Lich King]
• The death of King Terenas marks the opening blow in the Third War.
• The Lich King's plague of undeath spreads through the Capital City and into the outskirts of Lordaeron. [CH1 - Trudging Through the Ashes]
• Shocked and disheartened by the loss of their beloved king, the forces of Lordaeron were scattered by the ravenous undead warriors. [CH1 - Trudging Through the Ashes]
• Terenas was ceremonially cremated and ensconced within a magical urn. Uther, dismayed at having lost two friends to the darkness, volunteered to personally guard the urn in Andorhal
• With Lordaeron broken by the loss of the Capital City and Stratholme, the Scourge begin to press their advantage but it is not yet safe for Arthas to expose himself openly. [CH1 - Trudging Through the Ashes]
• After meeting with the Dreadlord Tichondris, Arthas rallies the hidden members of the Cult of the Damned to his banner, raising the dead from any graveyards he passes by. [CH1 - Trudging Through the Ashes]
• Hearing of the plague in the north, the Kingdom of Azeroth spies on Lordaeron so that they can understand the threat of the plague. [Novel - Traveller: The Spiral Path]
• Arthas makes his way to the outskirts of Andorhal and recovers the bones of Kel’Thuzad. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• His effort to recover his bones leads Arthas into conflict with several remaining factions of the Silver Hand - the Champions of Peace, Champions of Light and Champions of Truth. Each faction led by one of his former Paladin brothers. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• Arthas slays each of his brothers in turn. Gavinrad the Dire, Ballador the Bright and Sage Truthbearer fall to his blade, before he meets Uther the Lightbringer. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• Uther stood against Arthas and his minions in an epic battle and initially had the upper hand, knocking Arthas down and sending Frostmourne flying from his hands. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• The Light's aura around Uther grew blindingly bright as he prepared the killing blow, when suddenly the sword seemed to find its own way back into Arthas' hands and he was granted more power by the Lich King. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• Eventually, Uther, covered in blood from his wounds, fell to his knees and told Arthas he hoped there was a special place in hell waiting for him. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• Arthas replied that they may never know because he intended to live forever, then delivered the killing blow. Uther was slain by the hands of his former pupil, whom he loved dearly. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• Uther's body was recovered after the battle with Arthas by followers of the Alliance and laid to rest in a great tomb. The tomb is located in the Western Plaguelands - the only light in a land of darkness. [WoW]
• The desperate defenders of Andorhal, seeing no hope of rescue, set the city ablaze so that the Scourge couldn't raise more warriors. [Novel - Well of Eternity Chapter 2]
• Tichondris congratulates Arthas on his victory and orders him to journey to Quel’thalas. Kel’Thuzads ghost appears to Arthas, warning him that the Dreadlords are the Lich Kings jailors and are not to be trusted. [CH2 - Digging Up The Dead]
• Blackrock Orcs led by Jubei’Thos succeed in opening a Demon Gate and summoning demonic allies to their cause. [CH6 - Blackrock & Roll, Too!]
• Tichondris returns to the Dreadlords Citadel in the Twisting Nether (possibly their homeworld Nathreza) to meet with his brothers - Anetheron and Mephistroth. [CH2x - The Dreadlords Convene]
• Tichondris reveals his justifiable concerns about the Lich Kings plans but the warnings are waived aside by his brothers, who go to report the Scourges success to Lord Archimonde. [CH2x - The Dreadlords Convene]
• Lordaeron is torn apart as the nation begins to succumb to the plague. One of armies came under the command of Grand Marshal Garithos in the east, who pledged to protect humanity from the Scourge. This likely starts in Blackwood in the Eastweald. [WC3 / WoW]
• Desperate for aid, the few surviving leaders of Lordaeron’s forces send out emissaries looking for support, but few quarters provide aid. Aerie Peak, Dalaran, and Ironforge provide as much support as they can, while Kul’tiras patrols the coast to protect from Scourge ships. Azeroth, Gilneas, and Stromgarde refuse to send aid for a variety of reasons. [WoW]
• Refugees from Lordaeron flee to the few safe havens that they can find, some journey as far south as the Gilneas Wall but King Genn Greymane refuses to open the gates to his kingdom. [WoW]
• Six days later Arthas, the ghost of Kel’Thuzad and the armies of the Scourge arrive on the border of Quel’thalas. [CH3 - Into the Realm Eternal]
• Arthas begins his conquest of Quel’thalas by ordering his minions to capture a local in the woodlands surrounding the outer elfgate. [CH3 - Into the Realm Eternal]
• Arthas interrogates his prisoner concerning entry to the inner kingdom. The stubborn high elf insists that the Scourge will not be able to enter their land, citing that not only their gates will protect their capital, but the enchanted forests as well. [CH3 - Into the Realm Eternal]
• Arthas is not in the least bit moved by his prisoner's confidence, as he has come prepared with crude meat wagons to aid him in clearing the trees to create a path leading to the elfgate. [CH3 - Into the Realm Eternal]
• Once he destroys an elven town he begins constructing his stronghold, and the Scourge battle against the elves led by Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner. Although Arthas is unfazed, the Ranger Corps put up a strong defence against the Scourge. [CH3 - Into the Realm Eternal]
• When Arthas destroys the Outer Elfgate, the Rangers retreat back to protect the Inner Elfgate from the Scourge advance. [CH3 - Into the Realm Eternal]
• The Kingdom of Azeroth spies on Lordaeron so that they can understand the threat of the plague. [Novel - Traveller: The Spiral Path]
• An Alliance emissary approaches the Gnomes for support in the war but they refuse the call. Their allies, especially the Ironforge and Wildhammer Dwarfs, are stunned by their decision to withhold troops. None know that they are under attack by the Troggs. [WoW]
• Princess Calia Menethil reaches Southshore and is reunited with her husband and child. [Novel - Before the Storm]
• Sylvanas ordered her forces to retreat over the Elrendar River, upon which she used a magic arrow to destroy the bridge, the only crossing point over the Elrendar, thus delaying the Scourge's advance. [CH4 - Key of the Three Moons]
• Arthas orders his soldiers to find another way across the river, this happened in two very different ways in the lore - goblin zeppelins (WC3) or ghouls forming a corpse bridge [CH4 - Key of the Three Moons / Novel - Arthas: Rise of the Lich King]
• When the Corpse Bridge was made, it poisoned the Elrendar River. [Novel - Arthas: Rise of the Lich King]
• The Inner Elfgate is not just a physical construction but it is reinforced by Ban’dinoriel, a nigh-impenetrable shield that protected the Inner Kingdom & Silvermoon from incursion. [WoW / Novel - Chronicle Vol. 1 & 2]
• An unexpected turn happens when the high elven mage Dar’Khan reaches out to Arthas (calling him Blessed Lord Arthas) and the two strike a deal - Dar’khan reveals how to open the Inner Elfgate and pledges to disable Ban’dinoriel in return for control over the Sunwell. [Comics - The Sunwell Trilogy]
• With the knowledge of how to open the Inner Elfgate in his grasp, Arthas slaughters through the villages of An’owyn, An’daroth and An’telas, claiming each of the Mooncrystals necessary to form the Key of the Three Moons. [CH4 - Key of the Three Moons]
• The Mooncrystal at An'owyn was protected by Koltira (later known as Koltira Deathweaver). Arthas sent the Death Knight Thalassian to recover the mooncrystal. During the battle Koltira's brother perishes but he escapes [Comic - World of Warcraft: Death Knight]
• Arthas uses the Key of the Three Moons to blast open the Inner Elfgate, exposing the inner kingdom to the ruination of the Scourge. [CH4 - Key of the Three Moons / Novel - Arthas: Rise of the Lich King]
• Tichondris meets Arthas to check on his progress and offers some advice before he leaves. Arthas questions Kel’Thuzad on whether the demon suspects them. [CH5 - The Fall of Silvermoon]
• Sylvanas sends runners to Silvermoon in the hope of warning their defenders, but gargoyles cut them down and inevitably her Ranger Corps are slain. Banshee’s are raised from their corpses. [CH5 - The Fall of Silvermoon]
• Sylvanas herself is killed by Arthas in the flower fields before the gates of Silvermoon, and it is there that he tears her spirit from her body and transforming her into a powerful banshee bound to the Scourges will. [CH5 - The Fall of Silvermoon / Warbringers]
• Arthas parades Sylvanas before the city, disheartening all within. He is met by Grand Magister Belo’vir, lord of Silvermoon, and tells him that no army has ever breached the gates of Silvermoon. Arthas uses the Mooncrystals to dispell the Ban’dinoriel barrier, leaving Silvermoon open to attack. [Novel - Blood of the Highbourne]
• When Ban’dinoriel collapses, elven Magisters at the Sunwell attempt to restore the shield but the traitor Dar’Khan stalks the Sunwell, killing the magisters and binding the Sunwell. [Novel - Blood of the Highborne / Comic: The Sunwell Trilogy]
• Nerubian Crypt Fiends dig beneath the walls to do massive damage to them. [Novel - Blood of the Highborne]
• Entering the city itself, the Undead encountered fanatic last-ditch resistance from the elves but managed to cut their way through defender and innocent alike. Belo’vir realises that the city cannot be held, and orders an evacuation across the ocean to Quel’danas, the Sunwell Isle. [Novel - Blood of the Highborne]
• Koltira is slain by Thalassian who raises him into undeath as Koltira Deathweaver. [Comic - World of Warcraft: Death Knight]
• A small flotilla filled with elven children attempts to escape by sea to the safety of the Wildhammer Clan, but gargoyles chase them down on the water, sinking the boats and killing most of the few survivors. [Novel - Blood of the Highborne]
• Arthas uses Frostmourne to create an immense ice bridge that stretched from Silvermoon to the Sunwell Island. The Scourge poured across to invade and hunt down the high elves that had rallied there. [CH5 - The Fall of Silvermoon]
• Morale among the elves heightens as King Anasterian Sunstrider takes to the battlefield, using his fiery magic to destroy the ice bridge and stranding Arthas and his Scourge on the island until reinforcements arrive. [Novel - Blood of the Highborne]
• Without access to the Sunwell’s energies, the elven advantage is soon lost and the Scourge fight their way across the island. Among the casualties are Grand Magister Belo’vir and Thalorien Dawnseeker who dies defending the southern shore from the Scourge. [Novel - Blood of the Highborne]
• Arthas and Anasterian fight in a duel, knowing that the fate of both forces is dependent upon the victor of their battle. Ultimately, Arthas wins the day, killing the king and claiming his soul for Frostmourne. [CH5 - The Fall of Silvermoon / Novel - Blood of the Highborne]
• After reaching the Sunwell, Arthas dips the urn & Kel’Thuzad’s corpse into its energies, reviving the cultist as a Lich. Moments after he betrays Dar’Khan, killing the elven traitor in cold blood. [CH5 - The Fall of Silvermoon / Comic - The Sunwell Trilogy]
• As news of the fall of Quel’thalas spreads, many half-elves take up the sword and join the war effort in the hope of gaining recognition [Warcraft RPG]
• The Scourge fight their way south through Silverpine towards Gilneas, and when soldiers of Gilneas fight the undead they are defeated. Desperate to save his land from defeat, King Genn Greymane calls upon the Archmage Arugal to find a solution. [WoW]
• Archmage Arugal summons the Worgen from another dimension (in truth the Emerald Dream) and uses them to win a victory over the undead, but they soon turn on the humans. [WoW]
• The Scourge march from Quel’thalas to the Alterac Mountains, where Arthas and Kel’Thuzad discuss their plans. [CH5x - The Revelation]
• Kel’Thuzad needs to contact his demonic masters, but the only nearby Demon Gate is under the control of the Blackrock Clan. The Scourge fight the orcs, killing their leaders for demonic tomes of magic. [CH6 - Blackrock and Roll, Too!]
• After slaying the orcs, Kel’Thuzad communes with the demon lord Archimonde. The demon directs them to retrieve the Book of Medivh from Dalaran. [CH6 - Blackrock and Roll, Too!]
• In Dalaran, Prince Kael’thas is told the news that both his homeland and father have fallen. Jaina attempts to console him but he responds bitterly. Instead of staying to protect Dalaran, he abandons the city to help his people. [Novel - Blood of the Highborne]
• Antonidas evacuates the populace, and then he and the Kirin Tor prepare a special spell that will damage any undead that enter the city. The mages holding the barrier are named - Ur, Dalar Dawnweaver, Conjurus Rex, Landazar and Fordred Aran. [CH7 - The Siege of Dalaran]
• Before the battle Antonidas encouraged Jaina to take as many survivors of Lordaeron she could find and sail west for Kalimdor. Jaina decided to follow his words and made preparations. [Novel - Chronicles Vol. 3]
• Despite the barrier, Arthas and Kel’Thuzad drive their forces through the city, killing one mage after another until they reach Antonidas. Upon his death they claim the Book of Medivh. [CH7 - The Siege of Dalaran]
• During the battle Tichondris claims the Skull of Gul’dan from the vaults of Dalaran. [Novel - Chronicles Vol. 3]
• Jaina Proudmoore begins to rally refugees and other disparate groups in the hopes of evacuating them to safety.
• Having successfully stolen the Book of Medivh from Dalaran, Arthas and Kel'Thuzad retreated back to their base where they prepared to summon Archimonde into the world. [CH8 - Under the Burning Sky]
• Kel'Thuzad began the ritual, leaving Arthas in charge of the defenses. Determined to stop the Scourge, the Kirin Tor, Mage’s Guild and Sorcerer’s League launch a massive assault against the undead base. [CH8 - Under the Burning Sky]
• Despite the best efforts of Dalaran, Kel’Thuzad succeeds in summoning the Burning Legion. Kazzak and Mannoroth are among the demons that arrive, followed by their lord Archimonde. [CH8 - Under the Burning Sky]
• Almost immediately after stepping foot on the world, Archimonde uses his immense magical knowledge to grind Dalaran City into dust. [CH8x - The Destruction of Dalaran]
• With the arrival of the Burning Legion, the war against the survivors in Lordaeron ramps up.

Noteworthy events set after the Campaign:

• Daelin Proudmoore prowls the coastlines but only sees Scourge and demons, and begins to feel that the realm is lost.
• After refugees near to Gilneas are approached by Jaina, Lord Crowley sends a force of soldiers known as the Gilneas Brigade to join the Human Expedition to Kalimdor. This provokes a civil war in that is known in Gilneas as the Northgate Rebellion. [WC3 / WoW]
• The Northgate Rebellion occurs in Gilneas and the Kingdom is plunged into civil war. [WoW]
• At some point Stromgarde fights the Scourge on their borders and wins, protecting its lands from their influence. The Stromgarde Brigade to support Jaina Proudmoores effort to flee to Kalimdor.
• Jaina rallies the refugees at a port (the port is unknown at the moment) and sets sail for Kalimdor in the hope of survival. Among those that answer the call are the Lordaeron Brigade, Lordaeron Corps, 7th Legion, Gilneas Brigade, Stromgarde Brigade and Kul Tiras Elite Corps. Also, many dwarfs, elves, half-elves, and even a few gnomes join her great exodus.
• Finnall Goldensword, illegitimate half-elven daughter of Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, resolves herself to remain in Lordaeron rather than flee to Kalimdor. She begins fighting back, though few elves will stoop to working for a half-elven commander, and few humans believe her claims of parentage, but she gathers a guerrilla force and fights back. [RPG - Alliance & Horde Compendium]
• Both the Horde and Alliance lose numerous ships when sailing through the Drowned Reaches near to the Maelstrom. Because the sailors die near the malign presence of the Maelstrom, the dead rise as skeletons and zombies that rage at their fate. [RPG - Lands of Mystery]
• Darkhounds start to appear in Northern Lordaeron near Dalaran, the Alterac Mountains and are spotted as far away as Quel'thalas. They appear to be demonic in origin. [WOW / RPG - Monster Guide]

 

[Khazmo]

[POST CLAIMED FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE CONTENT]

Potential Avenues for Expansion

Chapter 2x - The Dreadlords Convene

The Dreadlords Convene is a short, interesting cutscene that raises a possibility of being fleshed out into a combat mission. This has the exciting prospect of being the first time and only time you control a Dreadlord in the Undead campaigns, but also of fleshing out a plot hole in the story - how did Tichondrius travel to meet his Nathrezim brothers on a demon world?

We see very few Demon Gates used during Reign of Chaos. We meet Blackrock Clan orcs that attempt to open one but are defeated by Arthas, and later we meet a large Blackrock encampment that succeeded in doing so. But how did they manage to open it? Most times we see a Demon Gate in WC3, Tichondrius features on the map. He passes through one in this chapter, and he also controls several during the Night Elf campaign. This seems to suggest that he is capable of summoning such portals.

I suggest fleshing out the cutscene into a mission. Tichondrius needs to communicate with his brothers at the Dreadlords Citadel, and the Blackrock Orcs need a functional gate for the mission Blackrock and Roll. This new mission could take the form of a pseudo-DOTA. A loyal cultist has parlayed with the orcs and persuaded them to attack nearby villages, but the Syndicate has rallied the local villages under their protection and are holding their ground. There would be only one Blackrock settlement, but several Syndicate strongholds, which puts the orcs at an immediate disadvantage and forces the player to move quickly.

While the two clash using automated mobs like a DOTA, Tichondrius has to weaken the Syndicate forces from within, breaching their defences using his Scourge units. As each stronghold falls, his cultists get one step closer to finishing opening the portal. Once the strongholds are defeated, the demon gate is open and the cutscene with the dreadlords takes place. An additional scene can show the orcs claiming it after Tichondrius returns.

Epilogue Chapter

Another potential way of expanding the story is with the addition of an epilogue that follows the refugees of Lordaeron fleeing across the Great Sea. Missions following Jaina rallying the refugees of Lordaeron would be much more exciting we don't really have the dialogue to play Jaina in such a role (much to my own disappointment!), an epilogue cutscene doesn't need to rely on much dialogue, it just needs to set up the next campaign.

There are conflicting stories about how the journey across the ocean played out for the Alliance - the RPG says they lost ships when sailing past the Drowned Reaches near the Maelstrom, while the recent Chronicles Vol.3 claims that they had fair weather on the voyage. The RPG concept would work wonderfully if it was a new mission or two, but as its a cutscene I would run with the Chronicles version of events if this was to be made.

My recommendation would be to show Jaina on a galleon, potentially using her sorcerous talents to keep the winds blowing where she wants them to go. A soldier, sailor, captain, or whoever, walks up to her and makes a comment requiring new dialogue. We then reuse one of her lines from Warcraft 3 in response, and then the camera pulls back, revealing how large the fleet of refugees is. Though a small scene, it'd make for a great teaser. If you wanted to do something rather bold, you could shrink all the models to a much smaller size, and then have the camera pan back to reveal that the Prophet is watching a conjured image of the fleet on its way to Kalimdor.

 

[Wlarius]

Maybe have Arthas set up the Cauldrons along the fields of the Plaguelands as he kills the Paladins on the second mission.

Before leaving for Quel'Thalas, we could see a little cutscene where Arthas leaves a portion of his army in some other Death Knights' hands. Maybe the Four Horsemen. To show that he actually has lieutenants other than Kel'Thuzad. And Lordaeron is still being ravaged while he is away.

Maybe a side mission on the Quel'Thalas first mission, where you can gain a few undead troll units.

Have the map contantly send weak allied undead units towards the gates of Silvermoon in a straight line to foreshadow the Dead Scar. Maybe design the map around it, so it doesn't actually help the actual missions and is just visual, or make it the reward for the Sylvanas side mission.