As we advertised previously Ironforge hosted the Festival of the Forge from the 14th to the 16th of January. A time to reunite with friends and appreciate dwarven traditions and drinks as well. As explained by
Torryk Ironskin:
“The Festival of the Forge is a dwarven tradition so old, that even us dwarves almost forgot about it ourselves. It goes back to the days before the war of the Three Hammers, which was the culmination of the separation and rivalry between the Bronzebeards of Ironforge, the Wildhammers of the Aerie Peak and the Highlands and the Dark Iron Dwarves of Shadowforge. Due to the outstanding commitment to peace of both the rulers and the commoners of the dwarven kin in recent times, the three clans now stand together once again, and efforts are made to restrengthen these bonds.”
A lot of people attended and seemed to have a great time at the different activities. The festival started at the gates with a welcome by Hruroth Runebraid.
Hruroth Runebraid:
Welcome! Welcome! Friends, kith, kin and honored allies! Welcome to Ironforge!
My name is Hruroth Runebraid, and I, along with my Kin, have organized the next three days of events! My folk are of few words, so I shall not prattle… Before we enter the city and begin the festival with a night of grand revelry, I just wanted to say one or two things!
We the people of the mountain are proud to host you, and hope you all find the enjoyment you seek, be it through Song and Harp, Beer and merriment, Sport and competition, or mercantile endeavor! Let these be nights for the building of bonds and forging of long friendships! Built as strong as the mighty gates before you!
You are all welcome here, as such! We the Dwarves, ask that you embrace this time of friendship in the spirit intended, and leave any quarrels at the gates!
Now, without further delay, let me say on behalf of all the folk of the city… Welcome to Ironforge!! ..--Sound the horns!
The night was packed with activities, starting with the bard competition which attracted a lot of bards. People could enjoy Sparrow’s popular melodies, with some twists in the lyrics, first a happier sounding song about this crazy world we live in, followed by another that anyone that woke up in a strange bed not remembering what happened the previous night will relate to, and spoke of the hard life of a popular and attractive person. This wasn’t the only funny song, Hruroth Runebraid also sang one about first love and being rejected in a rather… hard way. Six Harrow delighted the audience with two songs as well, one about a man getting tricked by a banshee, and the second, which seemed rather popular, about a hero called the Motorpriest. Another incredible performance was offered by Fran’cala Lomonde, who after a gentle tune, made everyone dance with a song that very well could be a history lesson in a fun way.
As the bard contest started to get longer than planned, I had to move to check the tale contest which had already started. I arrived on time to hear Six Harrow performing a poem of a tragic love and dead, and a quite interesting story by Captain Rackham, about a kid born with a golden screw in his belly button, and his adventures to understand why.
After this the Braggard’s Bluff took place, a competition about mocking your opponent in rhymes, with the added rules of not throwing insults related to the clan, race or the opponent’s mother. Here are some of the rhymes:
Doctor Michael Threecoins won the first battle with these lines:
“
Fair ladies and booty galore, now that’s one rhyme I adore. But where’s your ship Captain? Needless to say, without one such can’t happen”
Fiona Foehammer won the second battle with these sharp comments:
Ya say ye was a wee, lil’ girl;
Ah mean, aren’t ye still?
Yer childish ramblings make me want tae hurl!
Ye speak o’ virtues and morals- terribly FLORAL
Ye claim such things as Tenacity, but all ah see frem a cloth-clad cleric is PUGNACITY!
Just as dwarves be short and sweet, so too be this rhyme; the titans’ gift tae flytin’, ye really ought tae kiss me feet!
Ah implore ye, human gowl, fer tae kiss goodbye this contest’s prize;
Ye see, ye cannae outmatch this razor-sharp wit;
Solid steel, ah can flatten ti’ me thighs!
Although, Kyleigh Hare dropped some great rhymes as well against Fiona:
Oh, my dear, you were doing so fine!
Then you absolutely dropped it on the punchline!
I don’t stop, I’ve got audacity!
Afterall, there’s no vow against edacity!
Because like dinner I eat your words up!
Spit them back as I cut a fine strut.
See I came with a guitar, tried to tell my story.
But I’ll be leaving this one, with all the glory.
Because you might have crushing thighs.
Girl, I tell you now, ask all the boys, my hips don’t lie.
The axe throwing contest got cancelled as it was getting late, a wise decision by the organisators who closed the day with the Hot Foot challenge, or as they call it, The Grim March, which consists in crossing over the burning coals of the forge barefoot. This is not a challenge to watch for those that struggle with pain, the smell and sound of the flesh was a hard experience to behold.
Day two
The second day was oppened with the Chug Race, a competition which mixes drinking and running. Explained by Mister Ironskin:
“A contest less about speed but about the fortitude to finish it and stay on the path. At the starting line, a contestant has to down a pint of mead without spilling too much (or any for that matter), then run to the first checkpoint, Kharanos, where the second pint awaits. From there the race goes on to Anvilmar and the third pint, then back to the finish line in Kharanos and a fourth and final drink of mead. In the end, to the surprise of most present, a human claimed victory in the chug race. The price: A beautifully adorned tankard to remember this day.”
Seven people participated, Varik Skybanner, Raiia Beart, Barbarea Coldheart, Beonzeo Hillside, Ruskov Thoradan, Maerdora Cliffstrider, and the winner, Magus and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Stormwind, Miss Kelly Jendrock, who apparently can also drink and run rather good.
Then the Kharanos’ Challenge took place around the village with the same name. This challenge consists of a series of games, the first one seeing how much of an ice rock you can smash into bits using a pickaxe, the second was sliding over ice while laying down over a waxed bear skin, at this point the overall standings were the following:
3rd place: Earl Michael van Rook
2nd place: Ruskov Thoradan
1st place: Tania Whiteblossom
The third challenge consisted in rapid gunnery, participants were given three pre-prepared muskets and had to fire them. This changed the standings very little, just a change in second and first position. The final competiton was simple, but fun, drinking four pint glasses of mead, the more they drank, the more points they scored, in the end, these were the three winners:
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3rd place: Hierrnir
2nd place: Ruskov Thoradan
1st place: Tania Whiteblossom
The night ended with a fight between Morgrim Coalhammer and Vedir, Dark Iron against Wildhammer. The fight was intense and long, but also a great moment to drink, as commented by Torryk Ironskin: “
while the fists were flying, kegs were tapped and tankards filled, bets were placed, and the two fighters were cheered on”. After almost an hour Morgrim was named champion, ending another day of party.
The last night was the market night that was opened with the following speech.
Hruroth Runebraid:
Ladies, gents! Friends, Allies and all! I welcome you to Ironforge!
Tonight we open our hearts, purses, banks and eyes! Seek deals, seek quality! For this 'eve we here in the heart of Azeroth and the Alliances most hardy crafting machine... Shall behold the finest artisans, the greatest workers, the best spoils and wares! The greatest items! Seek ye' armor? A blade? Camping tent or mead? Reagents, artifacts-- honey glazed ribs! Maybe a shirt with silk quite soft, or cakes made of more divine stuff! Ye' shall find it here! To cap off our three nights of joyful merry making, we now come to the 'rub'! Find what you seek, but remember the frienship, bonds and words honoured previous! So on that note, I hereby declare this market open! welcome to Ironforge honoured friends! I hope you find what you sought! And a few friends along the way!
During the night many shops opened, Fallowstag, Hummingbird Emporium, Curious of the Wild, Coalworks Smithy, Raven’s Riches, Mogden’s Meats, Redwood Tobacco, and Chiffoncake Patries & Cakes, among others. I asked some of the vendors and people visiting the market their opinion about the festival:
Kialandi, from Hummingbird Emporium:
“Personally loved the bard battle, it was music for my ears."
Tania Whiteblossom, about the Kharanos’ Challenge she won:
"Oh, well it was fun, there was a lot of competition so I was surprised that I won at all." she'd nod.
Modian Goldenfield, from the Fallowstag:
“I find it amazing, good to have the old ironforge back in action, used to come here in my army days, now I´m back and I´m happy to see it alive again.”
Lady Zulaiya van Rook:
“Oh its been wonderful! It is a rare chance to not only see in depth but celebrate along side such a culturally rich people. Just never underestimate the strength of their mead.. And of course the Courts own Secretary Kelly Jendrock winning the chug race had to be seen to be believed.”
Anonymous Kaldorei:
“O-oh... Well, it was really interresting so far. A little overwhelming to understand the dwarven accent at time. And I believe the pentathlon they did yesterday was pretty fun to watch.”
Ujin:
“Oh, Well I'm not actually really big into festivals, to be quite honest. Its not because you know dislike everything, Its just sometimes you need to be alart. Keep your work mates safe. make sure no ones gets robbed of their pouch. But I did like playing music for people though. that was the fun part.”
The festival was closed with a speech and some awards given to some participants and stalls:
Hruroth Runebraid:
Ladies and gentleman! Friends and allies! Gather about me by the pathway to the explorers ward! For I have kind words, and prizes to hand out! Let those of the finest Revelry, sports and sales be known and rewarded for their efforts! That includes ye'! Sales folk! Be good ye' hear this! Gather forth, and hear me words! I be by the pathway to tha' Explorers ward!
AHEM-- All who can hear, let it be known that such glad gatherings fill an old dwarven heart with joy! More so, that ye' have fileld these ancient halls with merriment and prosperity, Ye are ALL truly friends of the mountain! For three nights ye' have drank, made merry with music and song, sported and struggled in snow and ice, then sought deals at a masters price! And for that we are glad, this makes every Dwarf proud, you have made our home, your home! But all that said, and done! There are prizes to be given, awards for those who have excelled above and beyond!
On the night of Revelry, you drank, sang, danced and brimmed-- such merriment! fills my heart to the-- brim! But one among you did more than most! They brought smiles! and swoons, notes and swagger! For them is the prize of a Truesilver Tankard, marked with Dwarven runes-- They who are considered the "Master Revelrer" ... May they be ever immortalized for their song and dance, and making every lass swoon with but a glance--- Sparrow! step forth!
Now then, what of snow and ice? of strugle and -- well, beer! Those who took to the snows of Dun morgh last night, battled in mighty struggles of skill and drunk strife! We dwarves respect those that show fortitude, grit and determination-- but more importantly we value a spirit that is eager to endure! A heart of stone! A stomach of iron! That is why, for his valorous, eager-- DRUNKEN efforts, in every game he partook, I offer this HAMMER! Mithril... runed, and mighty... To award the gift to he who partook in sports most mighty, they are-- Ruskov Thoradan-- oh he's not here... Well we'll get that to him by mail!
Now! Every stall here can hold its head high, for you are masters, Artisans! The best of all! No equels do you posses here, or on Kalimdor! Be it bending steel, or weaving cloth! Tanning hide or making-- superb muffins! You have no peers, no equels! To you, your craft and trade is the pinnacle, but among some, is truely the peak! We Dwarves value the mercnetile trade, for they without a skill of hand has no skill of heart! So... for their unwavering efforts, night, after night! We present this plaque of mithril, reading "Artisans of the festival of the forge", to our honoured friends... The Hummingbird emporium! Step forth Kialandi!
Now! How can I forget tha' most important participant of all? Aye! all of YOU! Thank you, every soul, big and small. For filling our halls with joy and merriment! with sport and games, trade and heart! Ye' have made this city glad and its folk proud to be among tha' alliance! Truly, Truly we are -honoured- to be visited by ye' all! Now, go forth, enjoy this alst hour! Drink! sing! trade and be glad! Ironforge is our home, and you are always welcome!
After this great success we do hope to see more events happening in Ironforge, that you may enjoy them and we can write about them. Until next time.