First, they returned to Ironforge and turned in The Princess's Surprise. After that, they headed to the Burning Steppes to report to Maxwell.
The final reward for rescuing Moira was a ring. Players could choose between a physical DPS ring and a caster ring.
Gabryell chose Songstone of Ironforge.
Songstone of Ironforge
Rare
Binds when picked up
Finger
+7 Intellect
+4 Spirit
Equip: Increases damage and healing done by magical spells and effects by up to 18.
With Maiden's Circle on one hand and Songstone of Ironforge on the other, Gabryell's rings were settled for now. Before getting Ring of Spell Power, he had no reason to replace them.
For healers, Fordring's Seal and Songstone of Ironforge were perfectly usable. Anyone too lazy to farm Rosewine Circle in Lower Blackrock Spire could make do with that setup until replacing it with Cauterizing Band from Molten Core.
Healers who actually cared should still farm Rosewine Circle.
Casual healers could do whatever they wanted.
"David, Susie, where are you guys?"
Gabryell had already explained the details for escorting Marshal Windsor, completing the Molten Core attunement, and rescuing Moira.
"We just got the Core Fragment," David said.
"Same," Susie replied. "But OldSeven did the exact thing you told us not to do. He actually zoned into Molten Core. We're waiting for him to rez and run back so Desert can summon him."
"You die if you enter Molten Core?" Hugo asked in surprise.
DesertWanderer said, "OldSeven is sitting right next to me. The idiot couldn't help himself. His brain shut off, he went in, attacked the two trash mobs at the entrance, and got stomped in one hit."
Guild chat immediately filled with dots.
"OldSeven, are you trying to solo a forty-man raid already? Mad respect."
OldSeven was shameless enough to roll with it. "Once I succeed, I'll start selling gear runs. Ten thousand gold per person."
"Sign me up. If nothing drops, you pay me ten thousand gold."
"I'm in too. I'll be generous. You only have to pay me five thousand."
Everyone immediately started clowning on him.
Speaking of soloing Molten Core trash, Gabryell turned to Hugo.
"Hunters actually can solo MC trash eventually."
Hugo perked up. "Really?"
"After the raid has been cleared," Gabryell said. "So if you want to solo-farm Molten Core, work harder and help the guild clear it first."
After Molten Core was cleared, the bosses stayed dead, but the trash could respawn. Hunters could rely on Feign Death, sneak their way deep into the raid, and use terrain the same way they later abused Dire Maul North tribute runs, kiting giants and other melee trash back and forth.
Spending an hour to kill one mob meant gambling on whether RNG would cough up Tier 1 bracers or a belt.
Under normal circumstances, a skilled Hunter farming all day could get one or two BoE Tier 1 pieces. Before Molten Core became farm content, any BoE tier piece, no matter the class, meant serious money.
"Hunters are the kings of solo farming," Gabryell said. "You'll understand that soon enough."
Once Dire Maul opened, strong Hunters would become some of the richest players in the game. Gabryell had always admired the Hunter legend who first figured out solo perfect tribute farming and actually shared the method publicly instead of hoarding it.
"It's about time to release the solo farm guides for Deadmines and Stockades."
The first wave of players was getting close to level 60. Over the next few days, Gabryell planned to upload videos of himself solo-farming Deadmines and Stockades to the Azeroth National Geographic forums and use them to promote Fearless.
He had no plans to release videos for Scarlet Monastery or Zul'Farrak graveyard farming yet.
As for Maraudon and two-Mage Stratholme?
Never.
"Gabryell," Igor suddenly said, "weren't you going to give me a 16-slot bag?"
He had not forgotten what Gabryell had said back in the Grim Guzzler: trade him a 14-slot bag, and he would "conjure up" a 16-slot bag.
Gabryell actually had forgotten. Once Igor reminded him, he immediately remembered.
"You have to give me a 14-slot bag first," he said. "Then I can work my magic."
The temptation of a 16-slot bag was too strong. Without another word, Igor opened trade and handed over one of his 14-slot bags.
"Hurry up," Igor said. "Do your magic."
"Wait here. I'll grab your 16-slot bag from the bank."
Igor followed him all the way to the bank.
Gabryell opened his storage, took out two 8-slot bags, and traded them over.
After the trade went through, Igor stared at his inventory with question marks practically floating over his head.
"Didn't you say 16-slot bag? Why did I get two 8-slot bags?"
Gabryell tried very hard not to laugh.
"What's eight plus eight?"
Igor answered on instinct. "Sixteen."
Gabryell finally lost it.
"Then what's the problem? Two 8-slot bags equal sixteen slots. You said it yourself. Sixteen."
The math checked out.
In the worst way possible.
"Holy crap."
It took Igor a few seconds to fully process what had happened.
Then reality hit him.
"Gabryell, you scammed me. Give me my 14-slot bag back."
"Fine, fine. I'll give it back."
Gabryell opened trade again and handed him one 6-slot bag and one 8-slot bag.
"There. Six plus eight equals fourteen. You traded one 14-slot bag for four of my bags. You made out like a bandit, and I took a huge loss."
Igor's expression went dark.
Carlos and Hugo burst out laughing, nearly choking on it.
Carlos gave Gabryell a thumbs-up. "Gabryell, you really are selfless. Thirty slots' worth of bags for one 14-slot bag. What a sacrifice."
Hugo laughed so hard he bent forward. "Igor, you should thank him. He gave you thirty whole slots for your fourteen. That's charity."
Igor was both embarrassed and furious.
"Fine. Then I'll give you thirty slots' worth of bags, and you give me one 14-slot bag."
It was just a quick interlude. After everyone chose their rewards, they flew straight to the Burning Steppes.
Once they reached Morgan's Vigil, they found Marshal Maxwell and told him Windsor had escaped Blackrock Depths.
They received the quest reward.
The reward options were a one-handed sword and a dagger. It did not really matter which one most of them chose. Among the group, only Hugo had any real use for Blade of Reckoning, the one-handed sword with +22 Attack Power. Everyone else picked the sword because it sold for more.
Besides the weapon reward, there was also an extra green trinket.
Ward of the Elements
Uncommon
Binds when picked up
Trinket
+8 Fire Resistance
+8 Nature Resistance
+8 Frost Resistance
+8 Shadow Resistance
+8 Arcane Resistance
At first glance, it looked impressive. All resistances on one trinket.
In reality, aside from a few niche situations, it would spend most of its life sitting in the bank.
"Don't vendor this," Gabryell said. "Put it in the bank and keep it."
A trinket with all resistances was rare enough that selling it felt like a waste. When they actually needed resistance gear, pulling it out would still be better than nothing.
Marshal Maxwell then gave them the next step.
They had to go to the gates of Stormwind and meet Marshal Windsor there. What Windsor was about to reveal would shake the entire Kingdom of Stormwind. Maxwell warned them not to play hero alone. They needed allies, witnesses, and enough people ready for a fight.
At Stormwind's gate, they would speak with Squire Rowe, who would notify Windsor that they had arrived.
By this point in the quest chain, it was already clear that Maxwell was one of the good guys. All his earlier contempt for Windsor had been an act. Getting himself assigned to the Burning Steppes had let him quietly investigate Windsor's disappearance and the corruption rotting Stormwind from the inside.
Once he learned that Windsor was imprisoned in Blackrock Depths, he immediately sent the players in to break him out.
"Move out," Gabryell said. "Stormwind next. We're meeting Windsor, exposing the black dragon hiding in the throne room, and hopefully knocking some sense into Bolvar Fordragon."
He led the way toward Stormwind.
It was close enough that there was no need to waste a portal.