Dawn in Howling Fjord. Launch night was surprisingly smooth (for me), with no server crashes, not too much competition for quest mobs, and no real lag. This morning I spent some extra time just looking at what Blizzard has crafted. It's hard to believe they were able to top BC, but they did.

I climbed up a narrow path out of the mist shrouded Valgarde encampment to find rolling green fields interspersed with broken ground and solitary pine. Herds of Shoveltusk grazed (yes, grazed) in the pasture, guarded by solitary hostile stags. Apart from the herd a pair of males bellowed challenges at each other (yep, they actually bellowed) and then charged, butting their heads together and jostling until breaking apart (holy crap they actually charged each other).

In the distance I spotted an enormous Storm Giant who wandered off into the mist. I mounted my ram and tried to follow, but was driven off by the outlying patrols of Forsaken encampment hidden behind a bluff.

With each release, WoW becomes more a living, breathing world. Fantastic.

Finally! And just in time. With only two weeks to go, the guild finally managed to finish off Karazhan together. Grats to Allyse, Fortula, Horothio, Jilliebean, Kateli, Zoognosis and special thanks to Donnigan, Tholin, and Lianas for assisting us.

Now it's time to finish off those last few quests, max out professions and pack the cold weather gear for Northrend!

It's not every day that you get to participate in a Greendeath execution.