I really like this mission. You start with Thrall, a shaman, a witch doctor, two raiders and two grunts. Move slowly in this area and if one of your units gets damaged take a break and let them camp by the witch doctor's healing wards. Thrall's spirit wolves will help a lot here as you only have a limited number of units. Begin by breaking down the gate to the west. You'll encounter some skeletons here and if you break open the crates when you're done you'll receive a potion of mana. Head south and dispatch the single ancient dead unit you find here then head off to the east where you'll encounter another group of skeletons *yawn*. Head east and finally we come to a choice of two paths. The northern door leads to a large hall with skeletons inside. At the top is a mantle of intelligence +3. Useful indeed!

Now go back to the south where you'll encounter more ancient dead. There is a small gate here to the south which you can break down. Beyond it there is a small path which leads to a sludge monstrosity - a somewhat powerful creature that drops a ring of regeneration (hp regen +2 per sec). Go back through the small gate and head to the east. Destroy the crates here to discover a spirit. Kill it to get a scroll of healing. In another create is a potion of mana. If you don't have room for them then maybe even leave them laying. You may later need one of them and feel obliged to come back and retrieve it with Thrall. Now continue down the eastern hall. Break down the door to the southeast and kill the skeleton inside. Now break the crates here to reveal a tome of agility and a scroll of animate dead. Head to the north and you'll encounter a powerful creature known as a revenant. When killed it will drop an orb of fire. See the little path to the west here? Take it and you'll fight a minor battle but find a tome of intelligence for your effort!

Now go back to the path and go north. Break open the crates to find some potions then head east and encounter yet another revenant. I lost a grunt to the last one and wasn't going to repeat that mistake again: I sent Thrall's spirit wolves to begin the battle. Thus, they drew some of the fire. Kill off the revenant (this one doesn't drop anything) and go to the east. You'll see that the door to the north is locked Take the door to the south and go through to kill the giant lizard. Inside the cell he was in you'll find a blood key. Guess what that goes to? Go back with Thrall and unlock the door. Inside you'll find a scroll of healing, a scroll of mana, a scroll of protection and a crown of kings +5 (5 to all stats! Yes!) Use the scrolls you need but hang on to the protection one. Use Thrall's spirit wolves to scout the room to the east once you leave the treasure room. You'll see why you might want that scroll of protection. That's one big skeleton!

But fortunately there are many things more threatening. Have Thrall's wolves start the fight then use the scroll of protection when the wolves die. It shouldn't be too hard to finish him off. When he's dead you can head to the east to find a waygate. When you're through you'll find yourself having to choose between two doors. The southern door leads to a chamber where there is a large statue and an impassable door. We'll need to find an item to get past that. Go to the north door instead and kill the militia. Head to the east and a kobold taskmaster will break through a door to the north. In the cell next to that you'll find three headhunters who will join you. The cell next to that has a giant salamander who, when killed, drops a sobi mask that increases mana regeneration by +50%.

Head to the east and break open the crates for some minor treasures. Further down the path you'll encounter a flock of sheep. Kill them while they're sheep for they'll soon turn into footmen. There are two sorceresses that will attack you here as well. When you've dealt with this threat head to the north. You'll see a breakable door to the west. Go through and break the second door then you'll encounter more skeletons. Kill them off and the two trolls nearby will join you. Break the crates to reveal a scroll of resurrection. It could be useful but I actually left it behind. Thrall's inventory's probably loaded with good items for you as well at this point. Now go back out and follow the hall to the north. There you'll see a group of harpies fighting a dragon. Let them fight it out. When either side wins (should be the harpies) finish off the other. When it's over you'll receive the Heart of Aszune. Now take the waygate (it's a shortcut) back to where you first teleported.

Go through the southern door and you'll find that statue again. Thrall will use the heart and Aszune will open the spectral gate for you. Unfortunately you need a gem stone to continue. I guess now it's time to take command of Cairne and his Tauren.

First of all, I'm sure this is going to be easy for you. Cairne's stomp will kick some major ass in this quest. Take his group to the south and kill off the baddies here to find a scroll of healing. Now go back to the north. You'll see a stone token behind a mass of rocks. Destroy the rocks and a golem will come out to attack you. Take the stone token if you have room. It will summon a golem to fight for you. This lasts only two minutes though so you want to wait until a good time. Now continue on the eastern path. You'll find some humans, who will flee from you. Don't follow them - it's a trap. Nothing but a room with spikes. Go to the south of here and fight off the small group of them you encounter, then break open the crates. You'll find a tome of strength for Cairne and a scroll of the beast. Also, some kobolds will break through a wall to the east when you get close. One of them will drop a talisman of evasion (+15% chance to dodge an enemy attack - nice item!).

Now go to the east and you'll find another fork in your road. Take the southern path and you'll encounter a 'hungry, hungry lizard'. Let him eat! He's clearing away the mushrooms for you. When it's done eating you'll find the Lion Horn of Stormwind which increases armor +1 to all nearby friendly units. It's a decent item. Now take the other path - the northeastern one. You'll come to an area where Cairne notices a large mass of quillboars protecting a gemstone, which is probably the one we're after. There are three possible paths here. The southeastern path has a locked door, the northeastern path has a circle of power you can use to open the southeastern gate (maybe). I took the northwestern path first and killed the enemies there. They drop a set of healing wards which you probably need very badly for your tauren right now. North of them is the circle of power I used to open the gate. Now take that southeastern path.

You will again be confronted with multiple paths. South of here there is a fountain of healing. East of that is the path I recommend you take first - as usual it is the dead end I recommend. Kill off the enemies here for some experience and a set of claws of attack +12. A very good item. Now head back to the northeastern path and kill off the quillboars to get the gemstone. Oh. Are the quillboars hard? Probably weren't expecting a challenge eh? Yes they're powerful in numbers. Concentrate on the big ones first as they are doing most of the damage. If a unit gets damaged retreat it toward the fountain of healing. You should be able to get through this without too many losses. Or you may lose all your tauren. It's not a big deal as Cairne's needing them is almost over. When you get the gemstone head to the east and battle the Salamander lord. He'll drop a belt of giant strength +6. Take the ramp up and you'll be very near to where Thrall and his forces are. Time to join them. Fight the large golems here (remember you can flee and heal yourself!), then further east you'll encounter a large war golem. Kill him to get the ghost key which opens the door to Thrall. Pick up whatever you had to drop to get the key and rejoin Thrall

With the space the gemstone was using freed up you may want to go back and get a treasure you had to part with. If it's good enough. I went back for the +3 strength item I had. Now take the combined army east across the very cool looking bridge. Watch the cutscene and the mission is complete.