Sometime during each Horde character’s development in the World of Warcraft they will have to make the trek from Searing Gorge to the Burning Steps. The path leads through the depths of Blackrock Mountain and is not a trip to be taken lightly. This is a chronicle of Keres and Elkwinkarma’s treacherous journey.
This is the Thorium Brotherhood’s stronghold in The Searing Gorge. The plan is to make it to their stronghold base in The Burning Steppes.
Elkwinkarma’s game interface. Warlock’s have lots of spells and plenty of options when it comes to fighting battles. Therefore, the are lots of buttons on the screen.
Keres meets Elkwinkarma on the road and we begin our trip to Blackrock Mountain. Our mounts make this trip manageable.
Just after leaving the safety of the base we come across a multitude of Lava Spiders. Poisonous and hot to the touch. It took some fancy riding to get through unscathed.
We are approaching Blackrock Mountain as it looms over all the other mountains on the continent.
Yes sir, that is tall alright.
The entrance to Blackrock Mountain is very impressive. It would take a powerful creature to open and close those doors. Luckily for us, the door is stuck open.
The lure of adventure and riches is too much for many players. More players means less danger, so all is well.
No need for a sweater here. Hot lava is everywhere.
We just crossed a red hot lava lake on that big chain. We have to do the same thing to get back. It is best to be very careful. The lava lake is deadly.
Some of the dwarves who orginally mined this mountain, releasing demons that should have never been disturbed, died and then were buried here.
Reminds me of a certain movie. Turn away from the dark side.
For the proper payment, this Night Elf will transport you to the instanced raid dungeon located at the bottom of Blackrock Mountain.
Back up the chains we go.
Dwarves have a strange sense of architecture.
Is it door number one or …
door number two?
One leads to The Burning Steppes and one leads to Blackrock Spire, another instanced raid dungeon.
We chose wisely. We are on the Burning Steppes side of the mountain.
Blackrock Mountain is tall on this side too.
The Burning Steppes is not one of your better spots for a quiet picnic. Just about everything here spits or throws fire at you when provoked.
In front of Elkwinkarma and Keres is Dreadmaul Rock, where a band of Ogres has taken up residence. The Thorium Brotherhood’s base and our port of safety is just to the left, past a few Golems and some fire throwing wizards. Looks like it’s time to make a stand.
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, software, hardware, gaming, finance, accounting, and technology geekdom for more than 30 years.
