The Pass of Deadwind, a winding mountain path, is the only passage between the Swamp of Sorrows and Elwynn Forest.
At this time, the Pass of Deadwind is still untouched, a vibrant valley, lacking the eerie terror, grotesque trees, and jagged rocks that would later define it.
Moreover, the pass is a crucial nexus of Azeroth's magical ley lines, where vast amounts of arcane energy converge, often causing strange phenomena like glimpses of the future or echoes of the past.
Years ago, Medivh discovered this location and built his magic tower, Karazhan, to study these temporal distortions.
Karazhan is a towering, opulent edifice, its peak radiating brilliant blue arcane energy. More than a simple mage's tower, it resembles a noble's castle, of which the tower is only a part. It includes towering walls, stables, a library, a banquet hall, an opera house, and an observatory.
From Galen's perspective, Karazhan dwarfs Shadowfang Keep, Caer Darrow, and Scholomance in luxury. Imagining owning such a grand private domain in Azeroth inspires envy.
Inside Karazhan, Medivh stands before a crystal ball, which displays Galen and his group emerging from a portal. The image then dissolves into a white haze.
"Hahaha, these ants finally understand, but it's too late! The Orcish Horde's momentum is unstoppable; their struggle is futile!" Medivh, possessed by Sargeras, laughs maniacally, his voice shrill and terrifying.
Behind Medivh, an iron cage contains his apprentice Khadgar and the half-orc Garona. The cage is reinforced with arcing electricity—iron for Khadgar, lightning for Garona.
"Master, wake up!" Khadgar tries to reason with the crazed Medivh but is thrown back by an electric shock, his hand burned.
"Silence! 'Master'? A mere pretense. Did you think your disguise fooled me? I knew you were a spy from Dalaran, seeking Karazhan's secrets. Pathetic mortals, squabbling over petty power!"
Khadgar pales. His penchant for gossip in Dalaran had led the Kirin Tor to send him to Karazhan as Medivh's apprentice. He never suspected Medivh knew his true purpose.
"Hahaha! For the past two or three years, I have seized control during his weak moments, eliminated those Council of Tirisfal pests, and secretly opened the Dark Portal to summon the orcs. Medivh sensed his abnormalities, his memory lapses, his strange awakenings. He became wary, detected my presence, but was powerless to stop me! He knew you were a spy; he simply needed someone to monitor his actions, to warn his friends if necessary!"
"And I have fully corrupted Medivh. You two have outlived your usefulness. But Lothar is approaching. I will use you to witness my power and mock these presumptuous insects!"
"As for you, Garona, Gul'dan sent you to spy on me, coveting my power. You will remain confined. After I deal with Lothar, I will decide your fate!"
With a wave, a wave of evil energy spreads through Karazhan, and the servants and nobles within begin to transform.
Karazhan's steward and servants are particularly affected, their bodies swelling, horns sprouting from their heads.
... ... ... ...
Galen and his party leave Stormwind Keep for Karazhan. With several mages in their group, they open a portal to shorten the journey.
They emerge in the Pass of Deadwind. From the cliff, they can see Karazhan in its entirety.
"It's enormous!"
Karazhan was large in the game, but in reality, it is a sprawling tower, almost the size of a small town.
"Ms. Aegwynn, do you know the fastest way to find Medivh?" Galen asks.
In his previous life, Galen dreaded large instances, which he found disorienting. He hoped a guide would lead the way, leaving him to focus on combat.
"We might find Medivh's butler, Moroes. He knows me and could guide us," Lothar suggests.
"We don't know if Sargeras has corrupted Karazhan's inhabitants. Moroes might not be sane," Aegwynn cautions, aware of fel energy's corrupting influence.
"Does Karazhan have a back door?" Galen asks. He recalls Karazhan having both a front and back entrance, though the latter required a tedious key quest.
In reality, locks can be bypassed. Even without a rogue, Gandalf likely knows lock-picking spells, as he demonstrated in Blackrock Depths.
"There seems to be a back door, but I usually enter from the terrace, so I'm not familiar with the route," Aegwynn admits.
Galen is taken aback. "A fine guide," he thinks. The Observatory is closest to Medivh, who, given his habits, might be near the tower's peak. However, flying there risks interception.
They also want to avoid fighting through the entire instance. Reality isn't a game where one can simply prepare before a boss fight. It's best to go directly to the source, conserving energy and facing Medivh in optimal condition.
"Let's try the front door first. If Moroes is compromised, we'll find the back entrance," Galen decides.
"Agreed," the others say.
Their group numbers about a hundred, including the top combatants and a hundred elite Iron Horse Brotherhood members led by Lothar.
Galen notices Gavinrad and Reginald Windsor among them. He wonders if the future Marshal of Stormwind will experience his own death at the hands of a black dragon in Karazhan's illusions, as in the original timeline.
"Your Highness! We are being watched!" Gandalf suddenly warns, conjuring a cloud of mist to obscure their presence.
"Forget a surprise attack. Sargeras knows we're here," Galen says, dispelling the mist. At this proximity, only someone inside Karazhan could have detected them.
"Everyone, stealth is no longer an option. Let's go straight in!"
Seeing his soldiers recover from the portal, Lothar says, "Let's move!"
He mounts his horse and leads the way. He knows Karazhan well, having visited many times. But the thought of Medivh being corrupted by Sargeras pains him deeply.
Before Karazhan, a small village is being evacuated into the keep by Moroes.
"Moroes!" Lothar calls out as he sees the steward.
'Oh, it's Sir Lothar, here to visit Master Medivh? Servants, greet Sir Lothar, hahaha!" Moroes replies, his tone shifting from normal to insane, his laughter sharp and piercing.
A group of people dressed as servants emerges from Karazhan, mutating as they approach, their bodies swelling and bursting through their clothes, transforming into horned monsters.
"Satyrs! Form ranks!" Aegwynn, familiar with demons, identifies them.
Satyrs are demons with cloven hooves, goat legs, ram horns, sharp claws, and a lion's tail. They were originally corrupted high elves, their first being Xavius, Queen Azshara's advisor. They are traitors from Azerothian races who sided with the Burning Legion for power.
The Iron Horse Brotherhood quickly forms a defensive line. The transformed humans, filled with madness, crash against their shields, their claws scraping against the steel.
However, these satyrs, transformed from weak humans, are no match for the knights. Led by Gavinrad and Windsor, the knights advance, each step marked by a fallen satyr. The ground becomes slick with green blood and reeks of corruption.
The ten paladins, including Windsor, form the vanguard, their golden blades cutting through the satyrs.
Seeing his forces decimated, Moroes's eyes turn red. His body mutates, swelling and bursting through his robes, and he charges on newly formed hooves.
Unlike the undead Moroes of the original timeline, this Moroes was forcibly transformed into a powerful satyr by Sargeras.
As Moroes approaches, Lothar, finally breaking free from his grief, recognizes the steward who had cared for Medivh since childhood and had looked after him and Llane.
"Ah!"
In grief and anger, Lothar charges, draws his longsword (which Galen notices has a golden tint), and with a swift strike, slits Moroes's throat.
Despite his enhanced strength, Moroes is still a former elderly human. Mortally wounded, he clutches his throat and slowly falls, the evil energy fading from his body and eyes.
"Young Master Lothar... save Young Master Medivh... he's... possessed!" Moroes whispers.
Lothar sheathes his sword, bends down, and promises, "I will."
Aegwynn also approaches and glances at the dying Moroes, who notices the young mage.
"Lady Aegwynn... I'm going first!"
Even as a satyr, a throat wound proves fatal. Moroes dies.
Lothar and Aegwynn are saddened, which could affect morale.
"All of this is Sargeras's doing. He brings only destruction and pain. For Azeroth, kill all demons!" Aegwynn cries.
"For Azeroth!"
"For Stormwind!"
"Kill!"
The group surges forward, unleashing spells and steel upon the remaining satyrs.
Lothar walks to the closed Karazhan gate, gathers his strength, and with a mighty blow, cleaves the wooden doors in two.
Instantly, Aegwynn activates a spell, causing arcane light to flicker around Karazhan's perimeter.
"Hurry inside! I've temporarily shielded Karazhan's alarm system. We must be quick!" she urges.
As they enter, Galen feels a spatial distortion.
"Don't be alarmed," Aegwynn explains. "Karazhan is built on a space-time nexus. Its distortions can theoretically connect to other worlds. Without caution, you could leave Azeroth!"
Lothar adds, "To the left is the stable, home to Attumen. Behind it are stairs to the kitchen. Straight ahead are the ballroom and reception hall. The path to the right leads to the servants' quarters, which also connect upstairs."
Lothar, a frequent guest, knows the layout better than Aegwynn.
Galen considers their options. Since they entered through the main gate and are not aiming to fight Midnight, they should take advantage of Aegwynn's spell and head straight to the second floor, through the ballroom. The opera house also provides access to the back door.
"Let's take the central stairs upstairs," Galen suggests.