From the dig protocol of Narath Stonebrow:

The Dig - Day Two

Had a wee chat with Wulfhardt preceeding return to dig site. Presented him with elemental remnants and theories formed at dig. As he's wont to, Wulfhardt did not forward an opinion but wandered off into the library. Will see what comes off that. He's the only one of the bookworms I trust these days.

Got held up by snow storm and arrived a tad late at the dig site. Word had spread a little further still, which caused an explosive geezer to show up on the spot. Turned out he's a bit of a loon - guess you've got to be, to handle the stuff - but he's a sound, feisty bastard, all in all. First impression: this one's a keeper (which turned out to be good sense later on). Another non-League I can trust more than my own.

We had us a lippy feller from the League over at the dig, as well. He had a bit of a mouth on him and his manners occasionally went for a walk, so we called him Drastic between ourselves, what with him not having properly made an introduction to us.

He tried to keep our new resident explosives expert from blowing up the lake, which is probably a good thing. Longlegs Kyte came on over to inform us that Bernhold would be a wee bit late after a nasty fight with a mailbox (which he lost), a fact that should teach me to keep the poor lad well away from the booze if I want to put him to any good use.

Spent a lot of time there and then trying to get the League pencil pusher to grow tired of us (or accidently swallow one of Drathir's boomsticks) - which, eventually, came to pass.

Note in the margins: the former, regrettably

We had ourselves the pleasure of a wee couple of drinks and some further ruminations, being joined by a longshanks fisher lad, who came equipped with a solid bullshite detector and a couple of good quips, and a gnome lady with a taste for boiled leaves.

Ran out of the good stuff rather quick coz somebody had nicked our stash over night and Drathir's used a keg of ale to prevent a gunpowder catastrophe. Eventually Darlonag rode off to the rescue and restocked us again. Also told us one of those tales of his, and if you believed it, I've got a business proposal here for you about diamond recovery from a lost caravan in the jungles of Reelincashin.

Note to self: next time Drathir tries to brew up a fruit punch, run!

Parted ways with the lads after the League ponce had fecked himself off, with Drathir following up a few ideas that bounced around in that shrapnel-battered head of his which landed him deep inside of Gnomeregan. He's got a nose on him, he has: there's feck-darned Dark Irons down there!

At the same time, I had a wee blether with an auld companion of mine who's in the mountaineer service and found out a bit about Dark Iron activity round Dun Morogh, as well. Seems like there's recently been some sightings close to the road near the Helmsbed Lake - quite unusual for the buggers, who usually tend to creep around the fringes if one of their scouting parties makes it through.

So: two lakes, two Dark Iron sightings. Anyone who believes in a coincidence like that might want to buy that bridge in Stormwind I've got for sale!

Rode off to the meet at Kharanos soon after.

((Continues in After the Dig))