War stories, articles & game guides
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2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
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War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“Now that we’ve riled up these Ember Clutch proto-drakes, they may be inclined to continue their attacks upon the keep. This will not do. I hate to compound one wrong with another, but in this case it would appear that we will have to destroy the creatures. A regrettable course of action, but one that we need to undertake regardless.
Take my wand. I’ve been experimenting with increasing its range, but it doesn’t pack much of a punch. However, what it will do is get a proto-drake’s attention.”
-Mage-Lieutenant Malister
Mage-Lieutenant Malister at Westguard Keep has tasked you with the destruction of 3 Proto-Drakes.
Provided item:
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Quest Giver: Mage-Lieutenant Malister at Westguard Keep
Objective: Kill 3 Proto-Drakes.
Quick Facts
Walkthrough
Tips
Common Mistake
The quest description says the proto-drakes are “attacking the keep.” Some players run around Westguard Keep looking for a scripted attack event. There isn’t one. The drakes are at Ember Clutch, the same place you were for The Clutches of Evil. Head back there.
Story Context
Malister is clearly uncomfortable with this assignment:
“I hate to compound one wrong with another, but in this case it would appear that we will have to destroy the creatures. A regrettable course of action, but one that we need to undertake regardless.”
He explains the wand’s purpose with scholarly detachment:
“Take my wand. I’ve been experimenting with increasing its range, but it doesn’t pack much of a punch. However, what it will do is get a proto-drake’s attention.”
Upon completion, Malister sighs and offers a somber reflection:
“Unfortunate business to be certain. Well, what’s done is done. With any luck the new whelps that grow to be drakes at Ember Clutch will not retain a memory of our shameful actions therein.”
The wand’s flavor text offers a moment of dark humor amid the moral weight: “Don’t stick your tongue on it!”
Lore: The Title’s Meaning
The quest title “Two Wrongs…” references the proverb “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Captain Adams’ first wrong was ordering you to destroy the eggs and whelps, which provoked the proto-drakes. Malister’s second wrong is ordering their destruction to stop the retaliation. Neither action addresses the root cause of the conflict.
An alternative solution exists: the Ember Clutch Ancient‘s quest Root Causes targets the vrykul Dragonflayer Handlers and their leader Skeld Drakeson, who are the actual instigators. The Ancient explicitly tells you that killing whelps and drakes is a waste of effort.
This creates a small moral choice in your Howling Fjord experience. You can complete both questlines, but the narrative contrast is intentional. Adams represents military pragmatism; the Ancient represents ecological wisdom.
Malister stands uncomfortably in between, following orders he disagrees with.
Quest Chain Complete
This concludes the Proto-Drake containment storyline:
The follow-up quest Report to Scout Knowles sends you to Ember Spear Tower and begins a new questline involving the Forsaken’s plague operations at Halgrind.
Explore Howling Fjord’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Howling Fjord Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.
Vikstone's War Journal“I hate to compound one wrong with another,” Malister said, still speaking low. “But in this case it would appear that we will have to destroy the creatures. A regrettable course of action, but one that we need to undertake regardless.”
He pressed his wand into my hands. A mage’s tool, slim and cold.
“I’ve been experimenting with increasing its range, but it doesn’t pack much of a punch. However, what it will do is get a proto-drake’s attention.”
The wand’s frost bolt barely left a mark, but the proto-drakes took it as challenge. The first nearly took my head off before I got my mace up. The second learned nothing from its kin’s death.
When I returned, Malister sighed.
“Unfortunate business to be certain. Well, what’s done is done.” He stared past me, toward the burning forest. “With any luck the new whelps that grow to be drakes at Ember Clutch will not retain a memory of our shameful actions therein.”
Shameful. His word, not mine.
South of the clutch a scout was watching smoke rise off Halgrind where the Forsaken were doing something that smelled of plague, so somebody should Report to Scout Knowles.
