Empires of Ash

Lore segment begins at (12:03)

In Episode 81 of Tides of Lore, we return to the Zandalari, the ancient keepers of troll memory, as their wounded homeland and the prophecy of Zul push them toward a dangerous new future. Once, the Zandalari helped outsiders fight Hakkar in Zul’Gurub. Now, after Deathwing’s return, they begin calling the old troll kingdoms back together.

The Gurubashi dream of Zul’Gurub restored. The Amani answer from Zul’Aman, still carrying the wounds left by centuries of war with the elves. Zul promises unity, survival, and a reborn troll empire. But Vol’jin sees the danger hidden inside that promise. To him, troll identity does not require obedience to Zandalar.

And while the old troll empires rise in the open, another old horror is working beneath Blackrock Mountain.

In Blackrock Caverns, Twilight’s Hammer is reshaping mortal bodies into weapons for the Hour of Twilight. In Blackwing Descent, Deathwing’s legacy continues through Nefarian, Onyxia, and the grotesque experiments of the black dragonflight. Zul wants to resurrect an empire. Nefarian wants to resurrect a process.

The Zandalari uprising is stopped. Zul’Gurub and Zul’Aman are broken again. Blackwing Descent falls silent.

But the deeper dragon crisis is not over yet...