Within the confines of the 5 man Icecrown Citadel, those lucky enough to survive the place might be even more fortuitous to stumble across the hilt of a broken sword. Such artifacts of war litter the world, but this one seemed somehow different, or so thought Wild when he picked it up many weeks ago. It was on his very first trip into the three part ICC of Pit of Saron, Forge of Souls, and Halls of Reflection. Wild didn't know how lucky he was on that day, to pick up the battered hilt.
The markings on the hilt suggested silver covenant origination, so Wild brought the artifact to Caladis Brightspear, who holds court at a circle of power not far to the south of the Argent Tournament grounds in Icecrown. Brightspear couldn't identify it, but sent Wild to Wyrmrest Temple in Dragonblight. Wild learned from Krasus at the temple that the hilt is from a weapon. Duh. An ancient and powerful weapon. Ok, now we're getting somewhere. But then there have been many ancient and powerful weapons from the long history of the world's conflicts. Which one this one might be may never be known. So Krasus sent Wild to the Silver Enclave in Dalaran to talk to yet another supposed expert. Wild was getting the feeling all these experts are clueless and just don't want to admit it. Either that or they're tired of excited explorers showing up with pieces of broken junk and wanting to believe they've found something valuable.
But Wild dutifully brought the broken hunk of steel to Arcanist Tybalin at the Silver Enclave. Krasus had mumbled something about a book, or, rather, a Tome, that seemed connected somehow. Arcanist Tybalin was even more sure that the Tome was significant. He thought it was part of plot by the Alliance allies and Silver Enclave enemy, the Sunreaver's. In fact, he had been tracking a suspicious Sunreaver agent who was currently dealing with shady agents in Dalaran's unsavory sewer district.
Wild was sent to find out what the Sunreaver agent knew. Wild knew the sewers well (of course Wild would know it, there's a bar and an Inn down there), and found the agent in the Inn. Wild only wanted to grill him for information, but things turned ugly and Wild ended up killing him. A search of the body revealed a set of orders, which Wild carried back to Tybalin. Those orders mentioned the Wyrmrest Tome, and Tybalin was keen to get his hands on it.
Well, this was getting a little more complicated than Wild expected. Wild got drawn into the intrigue, though. Wild needed to get into the Sunreaver's Sanctuary in Dalaran. But a big cow walking into that enemy stronghold would get Wild attacked immediately. He needed a disguise. He got one by doing laundry. Wish it were something more exciting than that, but it did give Wild a chance to pick up a Sunreaver tabard. That tabard was like the key to their Sanctuary. Can't say much for their security. Letting a Tauren walk into their sanctuary with nothing more than one of their tabards for ID is like a terrorist walking into the Pentagon and being allowed inside because he had on a T-shirt with an American flag on the front. But it worked. Not only did Wild get inside the sanctuary, he was able to obtain the Wrymrest Tome. I think Wild told them he needed some light reading at bedtime.
Wild brought the book back to Caladis Brightspear outside the Argent Tournament grounds. Brightspear examined the Tome. Yes, it is part of an ancient, powerful weapon. But apparently ancient, powerful weapons are a dime a dozen and he can't determine which one the hilt was a part of. Funny, the name of the Stonehenge like spot where Brightspear resides is called Quel'delar's Rest. Might that be a clue? Naw, no way. But Myralion Sunblaze, also at Quel'delar's Rest, makes the obvious connection. Oh my, this hilt really is a piece of the ancient dragon forged blade called Quel'delar.
Myralion tasks Wild with reforging the sword. It's a sacred trust. But it meant going back into Icecrown Citadel 5 mans, and Wild got busy, and before you know it had forgotten all about it.
Wild never completely forgot about it, though. Like an itch he couldn't scratch, the hilt worried at him. Wild was also tired of waving around his current blade, Surgeon's Needle, a puny dagger that once looked so cool and now . . . well, Wild started wondering what reward might be offered if he could, in fact, return Quel'delar to it's former glory.
Wild took up the task once again, and all week had been querying guildies hoping to get some help. Wild was not getting any takers, however. Wild had gone so far as to sneak into the Pit of Saron to collect infused saronite bars, the first part of the quest. The next step involved killing the Forgemaster in there, though, something Wild could not do alone. He called up the random dungeon finder, and chose normal mode Pit of Saron. Wild also signed up to heal. In a few minutes Wild had a group of strangers to help him, none of them knowing Wild was there for the sake of a quest.
The Forgemaster is the first boss in PoS, and we wasted no time getting to him. He's a tricky boss on heroic mode, but on normal both Wild and the DK tank pretty much overwhelmed him. Wild stopped the group from proceeding after the kill by asking for a moment to complete the quest. "Oh, ok," came from the tank. I could guess what was going through their minds - that I was only here to do the quest and would abandon them when I was done. Or I guess they could have been thinking, you lucky SOB you got the battered hilt drop. One of the reasons I elected to come as a healer is that had I been DPS they might have kicked me from the group, thinking I was going to screw them over. It's easy to get another DPS, but not so easy replacing a healer. They waited.
Wild took the blade of Quel'delar from the Forgemaster, and used blade, hilt, and saronite at the Forgemaster's own anvil to reforge the sword. Quest completed. Wild did not abandon the group, and it turned into a very interesting adventure. One of the DPS left the group shortly after we got going again, and then another one fell off some platform where I couldn't get close enough to rez him, and he took forever to get back to us. For some reason the dungeon finder took it's own time finding us another DPS, and for a huge chunk of the instance we three manned it, including the second boss. Wild stayed to the end.
Wild wasn't finished with Icecrown Citadel, however. Wild next must head into the Forge of Souls. After not getting any guild takers, and in between bouts of real life, Wild used dungeon finder to get into FoS. Wild had to kill the final boss for this part of the quest line, so we just did a full clear. They tried to talk Wild into continuing on to the Halls of Reflection. Three of the players were making their first run through ICC 5 man and they really wanted Wild to stay. In retrospect, I should have, but I declined. Once the final boss was down, Wild used a powerful crucible behind the boss area to temper the sword.
The reason Wild was cautious about continuing with the group into HoR is that I wasn't sure how that would work into the quest line. In HoR the first encounter is a multi-wave assault. However, according to the quest, Wild must fight the sword Frostmourne at that same spot where the waves form. Plus I didn't really want to do the whole HoR since I just needed to do the one fight at the beginning.
Wild kept trying to get guildies to come help with the quest throughout the afternoon, but even though I only needed two to help out, it was no go. A bit frustrated, Wild attempted to solo the quest. The good news is that Wild learned how the quest worked. As soon as Wild entered HoR and started moving toward the center area where Frostmourne was held suspended in the air, an npc rushed forward yelling "No! No! Don't bring the sword any closer!" Wild kept coming, and when I got close enough Wild's sword leaped from my bags. Frostmourne moved, flying about the room doing whirlwinds. And then it attacked.
The bad news is that it only took four hits for Frostmourne to kill Wild.
Wild tried to get the quest done right up to just before invites to the raid. Wild's hope of getting everything done in time for the raid was dashed. Oh well, Wild had Putricide to look forward to. Uh huh.
The night could have ended with those nine failed attempts on Putricide. But after the raid ended Wild whispered his friend Rh, one of the raid leaders and a very well geared tank. Want to help? I asked him. Of course I do, he responded. I needed at least one DPS, and our Guild Master volunteered his death knight. So Wild and two of the three most senior raiders in the guild headed back to Icecrown Citadel and turned Frostmourne into a pile of melted ore. Another crucial part of the quest chain was completed. Both of Wild's guildie friends congratulated Wild, knowing what waited at the end of the chain. The hardest parts of the quest chain were done. Wild still has good friends in the guild.
The final steps took Wild to the Sunwell, inside the Sunwell Plateau raid instance on the Isle of Quel'Danas. Wild had to prove his claim that I held the real Quel'delar by seeking the blessing of a ghost. I thought that all of these final steps were just "talk to me" type quests, so I was a pretty surprised when the blessing came with a catch - fighting several waves of mobs. Wild was in healing spec and gear. Wild basically Hurricaned each wave down, healing in between each channeled cast.
Wild's second surprise came when, after getting my blessing, the guards outside the Sunwell Plateau still refused Wild entry. It took a moment before the light came on - this is a raid instance. Wild has to be in a raid to enter. Wild called on Philly to help out, the two of them formed a raid, and Wild was allowed to enter.
Wild followed a circular hall, descending to the floor below where the Sunwell shone in all it's majesty. Wild knew what it was, having seen it's rebirth when Wild actually cleared Sunwell Plateau not too long ago.
Wild threw the sword into the Sunwell, which is where the sword had been leading Wild to do all this time. There it stuck, slightly protruding from the brilliant light.
The Sunwell's guardian was astonished at this, and took Wild for an enemy. Wild was shackled in ice, and Grand Magister Rommath tried to pull out the sword. He was blasted backward.
Wild was allowed to go forward, and pulled the sword free. Quel'Delar was reborn.
Wild's last act was to return to Quel'delar's Rest, where it was confirmed to be the true, reforged sword Quel'delar. Wild delivered the sword to the Sunreavers in Dalaran for safe keeping. As Wild's reward, Wild chose his own special weapon, [Hammer of Purified Flame].
One final note. The Isle of Quel'Danas that Wild visited for the quest chain was very different from the one I normally saw. In this special instance of the Isle the great war that rages there has been won. The Isle is peaceful and quiet. I thought that was a really nice touch. Wild arrived on the Isle via the flight path from Silvermoon City, but after landing the Flight Master on the Isle was no longer there. It was a one way trip. After finishing the Isle part of the chain Wild had to hearth back.
Ok, one more note. There are two parallel quest lines, one for horde and one for alliance. The two get mixed together in spots and so I admit that I may have confused allie and horde pieces in terms of the names and alliances of the various npcs. It was too much of a pain to sort it all out and correct it. I've got to get back to the garage.
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