War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“Looks like those initiates are increasing in number again. You know what to do…
At the southern portion of the gate, the new cultists are being trained. They’re certain to be holding a special item given to all initiates – an Orb of Illusion. These artifacts are used to disguise a cult member, allowing them to gain safe passage, infiltrate, or simply blend in with an enemy.
Slay the fools until you find some, then use them on the subjugators there.”
-Thassarian
Thassarian, aboard the Skybreaker, wants you to collect Orbs of Illusion from Bitter Initiates at Aldur’thar and use them on 3 Dark Subjugators there.
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
You will also receive:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Quest Giver: Thassarian aboard The Skybreaker (Alliance)/Koltira Deathweaver aboard Orgrim’s Hammer (Horde)
Objective: Collect Orbs of Illusion from Bitter Initiates at Aldur’thar and use them on 3 Dark Subjugators.
Quick Facts
Walkthrough
Collect Orbs of Illusion
Use Orbs on Dark Subjugators
Efficiency Tips
Lore Context
The Orbs of Illusion are standard-issue Cult of the Damned equipment, given to all initiates as tools for infiltration and disguise. Thassarian’s plan is to turn the cult’s own tools against them: by disguising a Dark Subjugator with the orb, you make them appear as an enemy intruder to the Scourge’s own aerial patrols, who promptly eliminate the “threat” from above.
It’s a clever bit of psychological warfare. The Scourge’s own security systems are used to kill their own officers, and the Cult of the Damned’s own initiates unknowingly provide the tools to do it. Thassarian clearly enjoys the irony: “That one never gets old.”
Explore Icecrown’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Icecrown Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.
Vikstone's War Journal“The Cult of the Damned hold the gate of desolation, eh? No surprise there,” Thassarian said. “Time to have a little fun. At the southern end of the gate, you mentioned there were new cultists being trained. They’re almost certain to be holding a special item given to all initiates. An Orb of Illusion. These artifacts are used to disguise a cult member, allowing them to gain safe passage, infiltrate, or simply blend in with an enemy. Kill the fools until you find one, warrior, then use it on a subjugator.”
The initiates are new and they die like it. Most of them had nothing on them at all. It took a while.
The orb is a glass sphere, warm in the hand, and what it does is make a cultist look like something he is not. Safe passage. Infiltration. Blending in. That is what the Cult issues to a man on the day he joins.
You throw it at a Dark Subjugator and it breaks, and then he is wearing a face his own side does not recognize.
The sentry came down out of the cloud without hesitating, taking him off the stone in its claws while he was still shouting who he was. It carried him up, and let go somewhere above the northern wall.
The second one saw the first go and understood what the glass in my hand was. He ran. It made no difference; the sentry was already turning.
The third did not see either of them.
“An effective tool, given the circumstances, wouldn’t you say? That one never gets old….”
The thing actually holding Aldur’thar together was a chain of command, and Thassarian had already decided it was time somebody proved it was Not a Bug.
