THE STORMWIND POST-SPECIAL BREAKING-NEWS ISSUE

GOLD-RUSH FEVER HITS TANARIS!

This very morning, word has reached us at the Stormwind Post of excitable activity in the once desolate deserts of Tanaris, far across the sea in Kalimdor. Hundreds have begun flocking to the dusty, dune-filled land, buying as many shovels and picks as they can carry. The reason? Gold!

In the past month, gold has begun to appear all over the deserts of Tanaris. We interviewed Kirk Stonefield, an Elwynn resident who has recently returned from there. He told us: ‘There's gold everywhere! Sprouting up from the very sand and rocks, like some sort'a magical fruit! Me and the others couldn't believe our eyes! We managed to fill several crates full o' the stuff before running out of storage space and heading back to the Eastern Kingdoms. I'm goin' back out there tomorrow to snap up the rest!'

But since the discovery of the vast gold reserves, many others have had the same idea as Kirk. Sentient species from all over Azeroth have started travelling to Tanaris in order to make their fortune, quickly forgetting their responsibilities at home: the Stormwind Post has heard reports of farmers, miners and even soldiers packing up and buying boat tickets to Tanaris.

But why the sudden arrival of such vast quantities of gold? We spoke to a Representative of the Gnomish Council of Science, and local-Watchman, Cedric P. Tinkerton. ‘Well,' the gnome told us, ‘the sudden increase in gold-discovery could be due to a number of reasons. However, most likely is that one of the region's earthquakes could have caused the gold ore, which was long buried beneath the sand, to move upwards and appear at the surface. Or maybe some sort of asteroid crashed and the gold came from that...anyway, this is all besides the point. People are getting rich out there in Tanaris, and I'm joining the bandwagon before all the gold is claimed! Now out of my way, I need to buy a bigger suitcase!'

With the arrival of so many hopeful gold-hunters in Tanaris, there has also been an increase in the area's economy. The once desolate port of Steamwheedle is now a thriving hub of trade and commerce, and several merchants and tavern-keeps have decided to set up shop in order to profit from the influx of gold-hunters. Problems have however begun to arise in these quickly growing ‘gold-towns': as they are far from the jurisdiction of the Alliance, these towns are technically lawless and filled with corruption. The Stormwind Post has heard reports of a number of drunken brawls, gun-fights, gambling and even harlotry in Steamwheedle Port alone. To counteract this, several Priests of the Holy Light have been dispatched to Steamwheedle Port in order to try and bring morality and peace back to the region. We have also been told that the Goblin Trade Cartels have begun to employ some travellers as rudimentary law-enforcers, paid to keep the peace in these various ‘Gold-Towns'.

Will the boom of gold in Tanaris lead to riches and prosperity for those who go seek it, or will it breed nothing but destruction and greed? The Stormwind Post suggests you go find out for yourself! Good luck readers!