2/4/2005
I haven’t been to many instances since the Scarlet Monastery so I decided to start making some runs into Uldaman. In the lower part of Loch Modan right at the border of the Badlands is a dwarven dig site that has been overrun by troggs and other menaces. I don’t know the whole story but some excavationers might have been left behind, and oh yeah, something about lost treasures. 
I sat in Ironforge getting a group together and writing down names of alternates. I ended up gathering two paladins a druid and a rogue 44-46 levels, a decent group, good chance to get fairly far…
Members of my guild were not so sure. In fact Jasonw wanted to bet me 100 gold that we wouldn’t even make it to the last boss! Thanks for the support! The pickup group was about to prove itself! Before we had even reached the instance gate one person had to log… no worries I invited the mage on my list, back to five members, and still a strong group. Then at the instance gate another member had to leave 
I had run out of alternates, it was down to us four, warrior (me) the two paladins and the mage. We entered the instance and killed stuff. Not much of a goal in mind except to get as far as we could, ended up not being very far at all. We got stuck at one point with frequent big pulls, the fight would come down to the paladin and mage, or the paladin and me, and resurrecting the rest of the party. The last fight we weren’t so lucky and the group wiped. Thus ending my first attempt at Uldaman.
2/1/2005
I finished one of my smithing series of quests. After collecting about 120 mithril bars (not counting what I have used to craft my suit of heavy and ornate mithril plate armor) I received the title of expert smith! I was given a small trinket as a reward. The trinket summons a “purple” epic hammer that lasts for one hour, which I can summon every three hours. So basically every two hours I can run around with a cool hammer and smack stuff
Yes, I’m still in Tanaris. I will probably still be in Tanaris for a while collecting my mithril and stopping to grind a level or two while I have rest state to burn. I do like grinding in Tanaris, the open desert makes it easy to spot prey, and the levels range all the way to 50. Nia has a hard time spending time there, but does come and hang out now and then. Having reached level 45, I am confident in how Hogit’s abilities as a warrior are shaping up and I am looking forward to the upcoming changes in the next patch, specifically the buffs for rage generation. Keep your feet on the ground!
