And so we press forward in Icecrown Citadel. On the high overlook we executed the kind of majestic competence in strategy adjustments that we in

<Neglect> have long since prided ourselves on. "Stop killing other people!" "The boss is almost dead just let him die!" "Stop f$%^ing blinking!"

And with that Sindragosa falls. It wasn't the cleanest takedown but a refreshing break from our usual wipe for the win progression. Fat l00t is as follows

Sindragosa's Cruel Claw- Thanatao (it should be illegal to penetrate that much armor without consent)

Tier Tokens- Fraaxington and Mahdicakes

It is pretty much a war crime to have to have cut that killshot down. The website's hatred notwithstanding, Sindragosa was a behemoth of a frostwyrm,

and seeing her once again lifeless bones sprawled across the ledge was a sight to behold.

Like any rational raid we immediately followed up by going to The Frozen Throne and sitting on The Lich King's lap. We have been very good this year.

Sadly none of us could grab Frostmourne from him. That thing must be stuck there with glue or something.

The encounter feels a bit like Illidan, but maybe it's the ambience. So far so good on it, and even the wipes are epic!

That's most of what we did in raiding this week. I was also asked, however if I would update where I am on Shadowmourne. Initially

I said that noone was interested in me prattling on about my axe, but I was aptly reminded that it is in fact the guild's legendary. So

once again stop reading if you don't want a history lesson because you cannot talk about Shadowmourne without a complete lookback at legendaries.

Legendaries aren't just orange. They are weapons of higher level than others in the same content, with near ideal statistics and a little something

extra to drive home their power. And they look awesome. But the effort in acquiring a legendary is part of what makes it special.

Sulfuras, hand of Ragnaros was a great example of legendary back in it's time. The weapon of Ragnaros, a triumph of design then and now, Sulfuras

hit hard, tossed fireballs (though most of MC and BWL was immune to that) and even offered strong fire resistance back when raiders craved it.

Making Sulfuras involved rare drop from rag combined with other materials from Molten Core, including 'bargaining' for the plans for a sulfuron hammer,

which had to be crafted on the black anvil, and it took a lot of dark iron forged in the heart of Mord... uh Blackrock Mountain.

Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker raised the stakes in some respects. Start with two very rare drops in MC, and then add some BWL

ore, killing Rag for his essence, and 100 arcanite bars. Back in day the getting those bars was something of a guild effort. To top if off you spawned and

killed Thunderaan down in  Sillithus. A great tank weapon even at 70 til it got nerfed, and an amazing rogue weapon, especially once it was allowed to be

an offhand, the aoe damage/slow was noticeable in raids of the time.

Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Last Guardian, is perhaps the least seen legendary, between original Naxx's difficulty and subsequent removal. First one gathered

40 splinters off Naxx bosses, then kill KT (no small feat back then!) and finally trek down to AQ to recover a piece of C'Thun. Not to mention kill some

demon. But legendary it was, specific to each caster class, complete with a party buff, and it could open a portal to Kara. Back when BC came out there

was no mage portal to Stonard so thiswas quite a handy bonus.

Move on to BC and Kael'thas had some animate weapons in his encounter that dropped legendary versions of themselves specific to the encounter. But that

was gimmickry. Real legendaries were the Twin Blades of Azzinoth. Each Warglaive had a chance to drop from Illidan on top of his usual loot. For the lack

of questing they were nonetheless epic with very unique looks and a two piece bonus that was ridiculous in Sunwell Plateau.

Similarly Thoridal, the Stars Fury, was just a drop from Kil'Jaeden. Beat the hardest encounter in the game and you didn't need arrows to level in Wrath!

But aside from convenience, Thordial's built in damage (sans ammo) was noticeable in how it interacted with some abilities

(Or so I recall, noone I know has one!)

Vala'nyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings, was the first orange of Wrath AND to some of our suprise, it was for healers! Once again it involves collecting shards

from bosses, Ulduar this time, and then you merely need to throw the shards into the gaping maw of an Yogg-Saron, minus one keeper, what could go

wrong! Vala'nyrs shielding proc is it's claim to legendary, which varies in usefulness by class, but scales up with healing, and cannot be wasted like a usual

overheal!

Phew bored yet? We're at Shadowmourne. I'm probably bias, but the creation of this legendary is by far my favorite. It's so lore packed the quest is barely

allowed on non RP servers! Blizzard had said for story reasons we could never have Frostmourne, but this is an honest attempt to let us build a

Frostmourne equivalent, and prove how cool we are by not going all emo/evil by wielding it!

It starts innocently enough. Trek into Frostmourne Cavern where Arthas first picked up his blade. Also where he left his old  hammer. After killing a lot of

ghouls you aquire Light's Vengeance, Arthas' old pally mace. But that just won't do. Highlord Darion Mograine, formerly a highlord of the scourge, has other

things in mind. He offers to runeforge the mace into an axe, by reshaping it with the purest of Yogg Sarons hardened blood and tempering it with the acidic

blood of the strongest abominations the scourge can boast.  But even Mograine admits the result, Shadow's Edge, is merely an empty husk. To really make

it shiny, you have to start by having it eat 1000 souls in Icecrown Citadel. Nothing shady about that! As you collect shards the Lich King taunts you in

whispers periodically. He taunts because he cares. Subsequently Shadow's Edge must be infused with the three trademark powers of Death Knights.

First, drink Professor Putricide's horrific concoction to become an abomination and absorb his unholy ooze, channeling it all into Shadow's Edge.

To seal the deal, kill Putricide. Next, infuse the axe with blood tainted by Blood Queen Lana'Thel,and kill her for good measure!

Lastly (and this is where I am now) infuse the axe  by living through Sindragosa, The Frost Queen's, icy breaths. Four times.

Nothing could be safer! As usual finish strong by killing her. Only then is Shadow's Edge even ready to transcend it's limitations.

It still requires 50 shards of The Frozen Throne, from Arthas cracked it open to retrieve Nerz'hul's helm, scattered amongst the bosses of

Icecrown Citadel. Remember The Frozen Throne was crafted by Kil'jaeden from ice in the twisting nether as a prison for Nerz'hul. What could

be more fitting? That finally creates Shadowmourne. But wait, there's more! This is actually followed up with a quest to go kill The Lich King.

There is no special reward (that we know of!). Mograine just has big swinging balls in his audacity to think someone has to tell you to use

Shadowmourne to kill Arthas. I mean, really. As for what makes Shadowmourne a cut above? Well if all the story doesn't do it for you it steals fragments

of enemies souls on hit, each one stacking strength on the wielder, at 10 charges it explodes to damage nearby enemies and leaves the strength buff up

for a short time. Graphical effects accompany all of this in a way that stand out like nothing else.

Also there's still the official Shadowmourne Lore page.

And that's an update. If you ever wondered anything about Shadowmourne you do not anymore, Neglect!

-Newsmonster Lamp