Day 7 – 9

Even with the experience boost I was getting from the gear it was not helping much. That was what I thought at least. Dun Morogh has a lot more towns and villages then it appears on the game. Ironforge itself is said to have over 23,000 dwarves living in the city. I saw more and more of those wanted posters which made me wonder why? Was Fizzle that concerned about me or did I represent a change? I came back to Kharanos early and finally I got the quest, The Reports, which sent me to Ironforge and level ten.

Ironforge was a two day's wagon ride from Kharanos. I went to the flight master to get a ride there.

"Sorry gnome but this bird is for official use only." the gruff dwarf stated.

"I have reports that need to reach Senator Redstone." I replied. "How can that not be official enough?"

"Look here rogue see that soldier over there." I looked where he was pointing. "If you are not wearing that tabard you don't fly. Simple as that." I stomped off this was crazy. How could they not allow me to fly? I saw all my flight points on my HUD when I started talking to him then I sighed. There were no flight points when the game started as they were added later. All these years they have had to walk everywhere they wanted to go, and if Fizzle was telling the truth that no one was higher then level thirty six then not a soul had a mount. There were plenty of soldiers, NPC's and common folk riding mounts or wagons around. Even the gnome rode their mechanostriders here and there.

"Excuse me are you heading into Ironforge?" I asked for the fifteenth time.

"Yes we are and you are just in time. Climb on up there, and keep that bow of yours handy." the female dwarf warned. "The wolves are getting a bit bold these days."

"I thank you and I will keep my eyes peeled." I replied as I climbed up. I kept a good eye on the road, the trees and any mob that got too close. The hours passed and a few times I would jump down and run along side the wagons just to warm up. I think if I really set my mind to it I could have ran all the way to Ironforge. Since arriving in Azeroth I never felt exhaustion or fatigue. The only reason I slept was to rest my mind. Many thoughts came and went.

"Look at her go." the wife said to her husband.

"Full of energy that one is. Unlike the ones in the city." he replied.

"It is a shame that she has a mark on her. I must have seen a half dozen different drawings of her." the dwarven woman stated.

"I wonder why she is still not captured? She doesn't even cover her face." he wondered. "Heard many a good thing from other travelers. What she kills stays dead I heard many times."

"Oh husband I find that hard to believe. We have still heard about troggs coming out of Gnomeregan." she countered.

"Aye, but up there in Coldridge Valley, Karl Treebasher swore on his beard that not a single trogg has been seen in nearly a week or any trolls for that matter." he boasted.

"We'll see, we'll see." she stated. They continued to watch the gnome as she passed by no and again until late in the evening.

Day 10

"Get up lass, time for breakfast." the dwarven woman urged as she shook my shoulder. "Can't be sleeping when there is eating to be done." Even in the fog between sleep and awake I found that funny enough to giggle.

"Good that I am not in a warm feather bed or I would never get up." I replied.

"A feather bed then it be good then that our home is far behind us." she stated. "Though as much as you ran about yesterday, I am surprised you didn't sleep until tomorrow."

"Why sleep so long?" I asked. "Too much food to pass up." she chuckled and continued up the line. The teamster's wife was a woman that any would want as a mother and she had no problem being one either. Some she was nice to and others she nearly beat out of their blankets. I folded up the blanket that appeared some time last night. I didn't have a blanket and never thought to buy one as my cloak was quite large. After a quick stop in the privy tent and a wash in the stream nearby, well hands and face, I was ready for breakfast. One thing I hoped for was a hot bath once I got to Ironforge.

"Hello in the camp!" A voice called out. I looked up to see a dwarf and nearly chocked as he looked exactly like the hunter from the video. A grizzly at his side a rifle in his hand. Then the light hit him fully and his health bar showed up. He was the second player that I had seen close up. I pulled my hood up to cover my face, but I could hid my health bar or my player status from him. "Name is Bron Ironshot."

"Greetings hunter, come break your fast with us." she replied. "Though our fair is not much as filling as it is."

"Thank you I don't mind if I do. Bob go forage a while you are making some here nervous." The bear growled and it sounded like it huffed as it ambled out of sight.

"Bob? You named your bear Bob?" I asked not being able to resist.

"What is wrong with Bob? He likes it, at least he responds to it." he replied. "So rogue mind telling me why you haven't leveled beyond ten?"

"What? Have you been in the wilderness all this time?" I asked.

"Indeed who needs those weaklings that hide in the cities, or barely go far enough to realize there is a world out there one filled with wonder." he stated. "So your name is Kit."

"Can you see my name?" I asked. "I can not see yours and I couldn't see Fizzle's name, neither could he mine."

"No I can't see it either, but Bob told me." he answered. "We hunter's can talk to our pets after they have been with us for a long time."

"Interesting." I replied. "I have not leveled because I haven't been here long, but I have seen Northshire, Teldrassil, and Coldridge valley. Now I have finished Dun Morogh so I thought it time to visit Ironforge."

"Interesting ten years to level. You much have started a family or something..." he pondered.

"No ten days." I countered. His head jerked up and he stared at me in confusion for many minutes. Food was set before him and this distracted him until he was finished.

"Ten days. I still can't wrap my mind around it. Ten years and the only one to join us in all this time is you." he spoke as if not to anyone. "Tell me were there others?"

"Not that I know of, but I started out in front of Northshire Abbey." I replied. "There could have been others."

"Tell me then did our disappearance make the news?" he asked. I shook my head.

"No maybe everyone who is here is still there or we completely vanished." I pondered. I hadn't really thought much about what happened back on Earth.

"So what has happened in the last ten years?" he asked. I finished my bowl and he traveled with the caravan as I told him what I knew he asked a thousand questions and I did my best to answer them. We were so engrossed in our conversation we didn't notice entering Ironforge until the gates closed behind us. Ironforge was huge. The tunnel leading into the city was nearly a mile long. About a hundred feet wide and tall. This was much bigger then I had thought of and I was sure that it contained way more than twenty thousand plus residents. More like two hundred thousand by the looks of it. This feeling was reinforced as we entered the main ring. The area where the auction house and bank was expansive and filled with dwarves and gnomes.

"This place is huge." I stated in awe.

"That it is. This is the capital of the dwarves. Come with me, and I will show you the guild quarter." Bron urged. "I may not like the other players, but at least they don't give me the willies like the normals do. Plus we can stay in the taverns for free."

"I would rather not." I replied. "I am wanted by the Grand Gnome's Guild." He looked at me for a minute then burst out laughing. "What's so funny?"

"You actually look scared. Those gnomes think they are the best thing coming or going." he stated. "Many of the guilds are like that. Should have known Fizzle would cause a stir. Just like him."

"You know him?" I asked.

"Sure most know him. Was in a guild with him for a while, but as they slowly stopped leveling, and I continued to urge people to level, we grew apart and I just quit the guild one day." he explained. "What level is he now still twenty six?"

"No he is level thirty now." I replied and then smiled. "You have never stop leveling have you, but I would think you would have hit a higher level then forty?"

"Well I should be higher but every year no matter where I am I head back to Ironforge. I was in Arathi Highlands three months ago when I hit level forty. Got a few different places I could level in and those lead me south."

"Badlands then Searing Gorge, or you could go to Feralas?" I suggested.

"I could, but I may just hit Stranglethorn Vale. Heard there was some great hunting down there." Bron stated.

"I was wondering do you have a mount?" I asked.

"Yup I do, but I haven't called it yet. Waiting to show those no good players what a fine ram I have." he bragged. "But seriously the damn thing eats everything and barely moves when I want it to." I giggled then laughed loudly. As soon as we entered the tunnel to the guild quarter he called his mount. He reached down and offered to pull me up to allow me to ride as well. I almost didn't as I expected it to be not possible, but it was. Ever enter a room and it gets really quiet but imagine this for an entire section of a town. As we entered the player section the first thing I saw was the many player health and mana bars. What they saw was a player riding a mount that did required an NPC to control. It wasn't a sudden quiet as it was more gradual as whispers preceded the quieting effect. They got out of our way as we headed toward the main building front that was simply labeled the guild hall. Whispers that came to our ears show that they were stunned that someone had mad it to level forty. Though I did catch a few whispers about me only being level ten.

"Looks like we are becoming a bit famous, Kit." Bron stated.

"In away we are. You are the highest level and I am the lowest." I replied. "Two things they never expected to see."

"I think we need to keep surprising them." Bron stated with a twinkle in his eye. "How about a..."

"Don't even go there. Not into beards." I fired back before he finished. He roared in laughter.

"Aye you are a cold one." he stated.

"And you are a hunter." I replied. "Rogues and hunters don't normally get along where I come from." He understood, but at the same time he was confused not knowing the why behind the statement. I didn't see who was on the steps to the guild hall until Bron turned the mount a signaled to dismiss his mount. Fizzle if he was any closer would have caught me or been knock down as I landed in front of him.

"Well, well the two people I have really been wanting to see and both together." Fizzle declared. "One brings me pleasure the other business."

"Fizzle you old goat glad to see you too." Bron replied. "I know you two met already."

"Yes I have met the elusive Kit." Fizzle answered. "You are not claiming the bounty that has been set upon her are you?"

"I will claim the bounty myself as no one can claim it but me." I interrupted. "We came here as friends."

"I would stay away from that guild and the bounty." Fizzle declared.

"You are in the Grand Gnome's Guild." Bron countered.

"Not any more they have gone from just wanting a full explanation to her death for God awful reason." Fizzle replied.

"Really well I think I will have a word with them." Bron venomously stated.

"Then you shall have your say Bron Ironshot, but first the rogue named Kit shall turn herself over to us." a human warlock interjected. "Guards seize her." I started laughing as my blades were suddenly in my hands. He did not look amused just miffed.

"Any who come close to me shall taste the venom of my daggers." I threatened.

"Do you think any of us are afraid of a level ten rogue? I don't even think you could hit one of us as even the next lowest level is eleven above yours." the warlock stated.

"Orly? You must think I am some kind of noob you dumb lock." I countered. "I am not flagged for PVP and I am not going to accept any duels so if I don't want you to touch me you can't. So what makes you think you can arrest me?"

"Oh you can be arrested, but I don't think he has the balls. Not when a hunter has your back, Kit" Bron added. "Come to think of it I am the new council leader since I am the highest level. With me and I am sure the other do you really think the Grand Gnome's Guild or any other guild will stand against the council or me?"

"You have been away a long time, hunter." the lock stated.

"That does not matter Richard." another human came to his side. The rules of the council have not changed. As the highest known leveled player he can take his seat in the council and this rogue here now holds the lowest level. Both are invited to the council chambers immediately."

"She has been deemed a threat buy no less then 1200 of the players in Ironforge." Richard countered.

"Just because the guild master of the fifteen guilds have your ear doesn't mean their members agree with them." he stated. "I as a paladin of the light shall not allow such a fear based idiotic charge stand."

"Darius I am glad you of all people are still on the council." Bron mentioned as he lead us away from the crowd. "Could really 1200 players decide that someone new die? What is happening?"

"I wondered that myself, but many think this is a game still and for others it is more real to them then Earth. Azeroth has changed many. Most of the teens that played this game think this is all real. While others know it is too much like a game. Respawns, chain dungeon runs, and other things that just shouldn't be repeatable. Not to mention the fact that time is at a stand still. If it wasn't for the calendar we wouldn't know the day. Kit you represent change in a changeless world. Plus as the lowest you upset the power balance. One question how long have you been here?"

"Ten days almost eleven." I replied.

"And in that time you have made it to level ten. Bron has always been a leveler and even with the craziness of launch day and the months that followed he was the first to hit 10 20 and forty." Darius explained. "Was it six weeks to hit ten for you?"

"Aye it was and nearly a year to hit twenty. I missed thirty by a week. Not that I really care." Bron replied. "Never thought it would take ten years to hit forty."

"Kit how long do you think it will take for you to hit twenty?" Darius asked.

"Seriously in game would take a few hours, but being in game has taken a day per level, but I did three starting areas before questing in Dun Morogh." I replied. "Give me flying and I could hit twenty in another ten days."

"Even after hearing it took me a year?" Bron asked.

"Bron, Darius I never played at launch as I started just before the start of the third expansion. I quit for awhile and then started up again during the fifth until the sixth was released twenty days ago." I explained. "I am a player and a veteran raider. This game this world is part of my life. You have been stuck in it, but I plan to live it."

"Lord Darius the council is waiting." a female dwarf said as we came near. "Lord Bron now this is a sweet surprise."

"Jessinal, yes indeed." Bron replied with a smile that lead to a hug.

"Lady Jessinal meet the newest member of the council Lady Kit." Darius added.

"Lady Kit it has been a long time since a female gnome has made it to the council." Jessinal said with pride. "Welcome."

"Thank you, but I am no lady, but I think it will work for now." I replied. "Or this maybe better."

"What is better?" Darius asked. Then Bron's eyes got big and he pointed.

"You're not in a guild how can you wear a tabard?" Bron asked.

"A tabard is one thing, but being able to show her name is another." Darius added.

"Ambassador Kit." Jessinal read. "Wait Kit the Explorer, hold on those are titles!"

"Like I said I am a veteran of WoW and as such I have earned titles." I proudly and arrogantly replied. "Just figured out how to show my name. Here is the last one." Lady Kit appeared over my head and the others went silent as they looked over their interface and one after another either lord or lady appeared. The four of them walked into the guild council chambers.

The council of guilds was formed by a small group of guild masters during the first few months after they got pulled into Azeroth. It evolved rapidly to meet the needs of four thousand players. The highest level player had the right to be the chairperson of the council and the lowest would be allowed as well. The guild masters of the biggest guild to the smallest guild were included, but over time was set to a limit of thirteen. The main reason was that many small guilds had only five members. To be a member you had to have a guild with at least forty members and no more then two hundred which was not just a game cap but a law for each of the lands. There were sub councils with equally sized guilds. Many guilds filled the role of gathering materials for professions. Do to the low levels not many were very high in profession skills. If you couldn't get to the materials you couldn't level up. Forming forty man raid groups to go after materials was common. It allowed guilds to go into areas that would kill five man groups and naturally the down side was they didn't gain experience to level or credit for quests. In a big way the way things had ended up hindered personal progression. There were also a myriad of other dos and don'ts that combined with the fear of dying even with the ability of certain classes able to resurrect other players. No one had died in the whole ten years they had been stuck in Azeroth. After showing the council how to display titles I learn most of the general history and the immediate concerns of the council. Guild territory changes guild taxes auction house regulation on prices and on market control. The more I learned the less I wanted to be involved.

"Okay one last issue to vote on and it involves our newest member. Several guilds have wanted to end Kit's life here to stop her from God knows what, but mostly it is out of fear. I understand none of it and I wonder if any of you can rationalize it at all." Darius stated. "With this said I call a vote of protected status. An immunity from persecution from others and heavy fines for any harassing her. Just because she has came here ten years later does mean she is not in the same situation then we are."

"I second that motion." Bron added.

"I object." I said as I stood up. "I am the upstart here and any vote I fear will go not just against me but divide you all to either hurt me or protect me. I will not be coddled." Most agreed, but for different reasons.

"The motion has been seconded so it shall be voted on." The Fourteen members decided on a secret ballet and within minutes the vote tied seven to seven. "Not unexpected, but fitting. Lady Kit you have the final vote. In this you get to decide your own fate."

"Good I will be treated like any other player. I will however claim a period of ignorance until I learn how this world operates, but I do not want any special treatment." I voted against the motion which didn't surprise any of them. "That goes for this council as well. Just because I am the lowest level player does not give me the right to decide for the rest. Though the idea is not without merit I see it as an excuse to never level. I would hold this position as long as I wanted. So I resign because I do not plan on being stuck in this chamber playing politics." I got up as they all started arguing and stormed out of the chamber and the guild building. Bron was right on my heels looking as if to stop me up to the point that I had left the guild quarter. Then he started laughing. He didn't stop laughing and was still chuckling by the time we entered the Forlorn Cavern.

"Oh that was the best meeting I have ever been in." Bron finally stated.

"Why are you still following me?" I asked. "Do you think you need to protect me?

"Now calm down no one can really hurt you, and to be honest I want to look out for you. The other part is you don't really know what Azeroth is and the bad part is you think you know." Bron replied. "Just like you think Forlorn Cavern is safe just because you are a rogue."

"Exactly." I added. "Rogue territory is no place for a hunter." I went into stealth and then moved into the shadows and darkness that surrounded the area. He looked stubbornly at me until he could no longer see me even with his higher levels of detection. He then sighed as he mounted and cantered out of the cavern. I activated my quest tracker so I could turn in my report and that quest would pay for my lodging tonight. I found an out of the way tavern which looked very empty. In fact the barkeep was startled when I rapped on the bar. After a cold meal, I smiled as the barmaid offered to make a bath ready. That was the best idea I had heard all day. One long over do hot bath. I nearly fell asleep in the bathroom. Ironforge had modern plumbing so I wasn't having to adjust to some chamberpot or other system. Though outhouses were in most of the towns I had been in. Manure was manure in their book.