Explorers' League

For the Horde counterpart, see Reliquary.

Explorers' League
Main leader	Brann Bronzebeard  Muninn Magellas (High Explorer)
Secondary leaders	High Explorer Dellorah  Lead Archaeologist Malzie  Lead Prospector Durdin  Toddy Whiskers
Race(s)	Ironforge dwarf  Wildhammer dwarf  Dark Iron dwarf  Gnome  Human  Murloc  Worgen  Night elf  Draenei  Tauren
Capital	Hall of Explorers
Theater of operations	Azeroth, Outland
Formerly	Alternate Draenor
Language(s)	Dwarven, Common, Various languages
Sub-group(s)	Prospectors, Bael'dun
Former sub-group(s)	Dwarven Expedition
Affiliation	Kingdom of Ironforge, Uldum Accord, Dragonscale Expedition, Algari Expedition
Status	Active

“Inquiring minds just got to know.”

— Brann Bronzebeard

The Explorers' League, also known as Explorers' Guild, Explorer's League or simply the League, is an organization dedicated to researching the origin of the dwarven race. They have many archaeological dig-sites in all corners of Azeroth, but also on Outland and alternate Draenor. The League's main base of operations is located in the Hall of Explorers in Ironforge. While Brann Bronzebeard is the current leader of the League, his brothers King Magni and Brann were founding members of the organization.

While predominantly a dwarven organization, the League also has members of other races among its ranks. Clopper Wizbang was, according to himself and Prospector Nachlan, the first gnome to become a member of the Explorers' League. The League also has an excellent, and unofficial, relationship with SI:7 that few people are familiar with. The two organizations traveling through Azeroth sometimes hold and share information by codes and secret means.

History

The dwarves once unearthed a series of ruins that held the key to the secrets of their lost heritage. Driven to discover the truth about his people's fabled origins, King Magni Bronzebeard ordered that the dwarves shift their industry from mining and engineering to that of archaeology. He helped to create the famed Explorers' Guild of Ironforge, a group utterly devoted to plumbing the secrets of the ancient world and delving out the truth of the dwarves' fabled existence.

At some point, the League discovered Uldaman. The father of the wildhammer clan's Gryphon Master Talonaxe was among them.

Third War

Main article: Dwarven Expedition

Shortly before the Third War in 20 ADP, a branch of the League, the Dwarven Expedition, was sent to scout Northrend under the command of Muradin Bronzebeard. Their goal was to search for ancient artifacts, but also to explore and study the continent's native creatures, landmarks, and ruins. They eventually joined forces with the 1st Legion against the Scourge, but were left leaderless after Arthas Menethil recovered Frostmourne and Muradin disappeared. The expedition later regrouped under Baelgun Flamebeard and took shelter in the Shadow Web Caverns of Azjol-Nerub, where they engaged in battle with the surviving native nerubians and tried to claim their treasures. When the earthquakes caused by the Eye of Sargeras awakened the faceless ones in the Old Kingdom, Baelgun and the dwarves sealed its gates and vowed to keep the monsters locked inside. The expedition was ultimately destroyed by Arthas—now a death knight—and Anub'arak as they took a shortcut to Icecrown.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

The Hall of Explorers in Ironforge.

By the Year 25 ADP, the League has its presence in several areas across Khaz Modan, such as Gol'Bolar Quarry and Thelsamar. Moreover, they spread across the world, including Darkshore and were interested in the Temple of Atal'Hakkar in Swamp of Sorrows.

The League's use of explosives on the land led to conflict with the tauren in Mulgore, especially in the southern Barrens. During the conflict, the Stonespire tribe of tauren were mostly killed off by the League's sub-group called Bael'dun, led by Prospector Khazgorm. Their treatment of the land eventually led them to be killed by Agitated Earth Spirits.

The League was interested in Eldarath in Azshara and its ancient runes.

The League continued excavating Badlands and Uldaman and entered into an open conflict with the Shadowforge clan.

They believe there are artifacts in Alterac Valley.

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

Please add any available information to this section.

In Year 26 ADP, several members of the League were spotted on the Azuremyst Isles to study the local murlocs and collect night elf relics. They also had a presence in Zangarmarsh on Outland.

Harrison Jones of the League researched and ventured to Zul'Aman to uncover its secrets and claim its treasures so they could be placed in a museum.

Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Brann Bronzebeard, the current leader of the Explorers' League.

During the war against the Lich King in 27 ADP, the Explorers' League ventured to Northrend and established a base of operations in the Howling Fjord.

In Grizzly Hills, after they discovered a network of tunnels beneath Thor Modan that led to Icecrown Glacier, Gryan Stoutmantle sent Brugar Stoneshear and the Explorers' League to excavate and check the stability of Thor Modan's tunnels. Their mission was to make sure that the Westfall Brigades would be able to travel safely through the city. However, the stone giant Kurun and his forces launched an assault on Thor Modan, unwilling to let the iron dwarves reclaim their ruined capital, which forced Brugar to withdraw his men from the battlefield. Among those that didn't make it out, Surveyor Orlond's discoveries were recovered, revealing that the tunnels haven't been used in generations and would certainly collapse again.

Harrison Jones was later found captured in the crypt of the Drakil'jin Ruins in the eastern Grizzly Hills. Freed from his cage by the adventurer, he decided to leave the place and asked the adventurer if they wanted to follow him. In the crypt, he freed Adarrah as well as summoned and defeated a giant cobra named Tecahuna by hitting a gong.

After being freed by adventurers from Dun Argol, the prospectors Gann, Torgan, and Varana went on to do more solid work for the League. Varana had also reported to the League that the iron dwarves were serving Keeper Loken, but they didn't initially know what it meant.

Members of the League are highly involved with the titan city of Ulduar.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Since the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, the Explorers' League has appeared again in the areas of Azeroth, constantly rivaling with their Horde counterpart, the blood elven Reliquary, to the point where overt hostilities erupt at places like the troll ruins of Southmoon Ruins in Tanaris and the newly discovered titan ruins near Dustwind Dig in the Badlands.

It was initially believed that the Explorer's League would hold a major presence in the titan-related zone of Uldum, but so far only Harrison Jones and Brann Bronzebeard had any visible involvement.

The League has since expanded, accepting worgen into their ranks and entering areas like Stranglethorn.

A group of explorers established themselves at the Unearthed Grounds in the Stonetalon Mountains, but the majority was killed by the Horde.

Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

During the Alliance-Horde war in 30 ADP, the Explorers' League served as a survey team for Operation: Shieldwall, while also excavating historical treasures from Pandaria. Their actions put them in conflict with the Reliquary, who, like the League, are also researching the continent's artifacts and ruins in order to learn more about the mogu and the sha.

Harrison Jones could be briefly seen in the Silvershard Mines on a mine track heading north.

Warlords of Draenor

This section concerns content related to Warlords of Draenor.

In Year 31 ADP, some members of the league, like Harrison Jones, were found in Ashran in alternate Draenor. Jones also appeared in the Garrison, sending the adventurer on several quests across Draenor to recover relics and artifacts.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion in 32 ADP, members of the League could be found across the Broken Isles, with Brann going to a new camp every two weeks for archaeology. Sir Finley Mrrgglton was also found at Dreyrgrot in Stormheim, investigating the vampyr there.

Before the Storm

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Following the Argus Campaign, a team of the Explorers' League was sent to Silithus. Captain Cordressa Briarbow's unit of the Sentinels was sent to act as their guards. The team and the Sentinels were attacked by Bilgewater Cartel goblins in order to kidnap Sapphronetta Flivvers.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

Please add any available information to this section.

The Explorer's League at Xibala.

During the Fourth War in 33 ADP, the Explorer's League was present at Xibala in Zandalar, with Dark Iron dwarves joining them. They come into conflict with the nightborne and Reliquary. They also uncovered a devilsaur skeleton in Seekers' Expedition.

In Tiragarde Sound, the league is digging through Drust ruins at Gol Thovas.

When the Assaults started, members of the League appeared in Uldum to help the Uldum Accord against the forces of N'Zoth and could be found in Ramkahen and at Maker's Ascent.

Exploring Azeroth

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Following the armistice in 34 ADP, the league was still present and active on an excavation site of the Stranglethorn Vale, but also in the Badlands, more precisely in Uldaman, where they continued to unearth the ruins in search of ancient treasures. The league still had a good relationship with the SI:7, which led the High Explorer Muninn Magellas to hide precious missives in a cache under the carpet at the entrance of the Hall of Explorers for the agents of the SI:7.

Even after the end of the war against the Jailer in 36 ADP, several maddened former members of the League were found inside the Whisper Gulch.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

Main article: Dragonscale Expedition

With the re-emergence of the Dragon Isles in 40 ADP, at the behest of the Alliance, the Explorer's League worked alongside the Reliquary to form the Dragonscale Expedition. Despite their joint-mission, rivalries between the Explorer's League and Reliquary endured. However, members of both factions worked together on uncovering various secrets and artifacts across the island.

Archmage Khadgar sent numerous requests to the League to have the skull of the red dragon Tyranastrasz transported and laid to rest within Northrend, but it continues to be on display in the Hall of Explorers, despite several archaeologists within the league supporting its return.

The War Within

This section concerns content related to The War Within.

Main article: Algari Expedition

In Year 42 ADP, after Dalaran was teleported to Khaz Algar, the Explorers' League continued their partnership with the Reliquary and formed the Algari Expedition as a successor to the Dragonscale Expedition.

Midnight

This section concerns content related to Midnight.

After the war on K'aresh, Clerk Nemora reported that the Explorers' League were still deep into exploration of Zskera Vaults.

Organization

The League's old banner.

The League has an academy in Ironforge and holds annual conferences.

The Explorer's League has long used a variety of gadgets to bypass locks, traps, and other mechanisms.

For every artifact the League finds, there are six forms to fill out.

Several dwarves in the League believe that birds are descended from dinosaurs such as an extinct type of raptor that had feathered arms. The feathers suggest some kind of missing link between the two different kinds of animals.

Notable members

Name	Role	Status	Location
Brann Bronzebeard	Founding member and leader of the Explorers' League	Alive	Various Locations
Magni Bronzebeard	Founding member	Alive	Ulduar
Muradin Bronzebeard	Member	Alive	Various Locations
High Explorer Muninn Magellas	High Explorer	Alive	Hall of Explorers, Ironforge
Harrison Jones	Member	Alive	Various Locations
Advisor Belgrum	Member	Alive	Old Ironforge, Ironforge
Historian Karnik		Alive	Hall of Explorers, Ironforge
Tymor		Alive	Mystic Ward, Ironforge
Senator Mehr Stonehallow	Member	Alive	Gol'Bolar Quarry, Dun Morogh
Drugan Deepdraught	Member	Alive	Gol'Bolar Quarry, Dun Morogh
Chief Archaeologist Greywhisker	Member	Alive	Darnassus
Archaeologist Flagongut	Member	Alive	Menethil Harbor, Wetlands
Airwyn Bantamflax	Direct superior of Bronwyn Hewstrike	Alive	Booty Bay, Cape of Stranglethorn
Archaeologist Adamant Ironheart	Studying night elf ruins on Azuremyst Isle	Alive	Odesyus' Landing, Azuremyst Isle
Archaeologist Andorin	Searching for Brann Bronzebeard in the Storm Peaks	Alive	Frosthold, Storm Peaks
Archaeologist Hollee	Captive of the Twilight's Hammer	Alive	Ruins of Auberdine, Darkshore
Archaeologist Groff		Alive	Remtravel's Excavation, Darkshore
Jr. Archaeologist Ferd		Alive	Remtravel's Excavation, Darkshore
Brohann Caskbelly	Searching for the Temple of Atal'Hakkar	Alive	Dwarven District, Stormwind City
Bronwyn Hewstrike	Leader of the Explorers' League Digsite	Alive	Explorers' League Digsite, Cape of Stranglethorn
Linzi Hewstrike	Member	Alive	Explorers' League Digsite, Cape of Stranglethorn
Goris	Member	Alive	Explorers' League Digsite, Cape of Stranglethorn
Dask "The Flask" Gobfizzle	Member	Alive	Explorers' League Digsite, Cape of Stranglethorn
Wulfred Harrys	Worgen member	Alive	Fort Livingston, Northern Stranglethorn
Chief Archaeologist Letoll	Digging through the Bone Wastes	Alive	Sha'tari Base Camp, Terokkar Forest
Prospector Murantus		Alive	Honor Hold, Hellfire Peninsula
Prospector Conall		Alive	Telredor, Zangarmarsh
Borgrim Stouthammer		Alive	Sylvanaar, Blade's Edge Mountains
Bronwyn Stouthammer		Alive	Sylvanaar, Blade's Edge Mountains
Clopper Wizbang	First gnomish member	Alive	Bloodwash, Bloodmyst Isle
Fennie Hornswaggle	Carries out menial tasks and air transports for the Alliance	Alive	Lion's Landing, Krasarang Wilds
Henrig Lonebrow	Sent by Prospector Khazgorm to travel through Kalimdor	Deceased	Great Lift, Thousand Needles
High Explorer Dellorah	Leader of the Ulduar expedition	Alive	Formation Grounds, Ulduar
Hilda Hornswaggle	Leader of the excavation at the Ruins of Ogudei	Alive	Krasarang Cove, Krasarang Wilds
Lagnus	Leader of the Frosthold expedition	Alive	Frosthold, Storm Peaks
Rork Sharpchin		Alive	Frosthold, Storm Peaks
Lead Archaeologist Malzie	Leader of the Steel Gate digsite	Alive	Steel Gate, Howling Fjord
Kand Sandseeker		Alive	Uldaman
Lead Prospector Durdin	Leader of Dustwind Dig	Alive	Dustwind Dig, Badlands
Olga Runesworn		Alive	Dustwind Dig, Badlands
Prospector Ryedol		Alive	Dustwind Dig, Badlands
Explorer Mowi		Alive	Temple of Earth, Deepholm
Librarian Mae Paledust	Searching for the Mythology of the Titans	Alive	Library, Ironforge
Prospector Stormpike		Alive	Library, Ironforge
Prospector Gunstan	Investigating the gates of Uldum	Alive	Gunstan's Dig, Tanaris
Prospector Ironband	Leader of Ironband's Excavation Site	Alive	Ironband's Excavation Site, Loch Modan
Jern Hornhelm		Alive	Thelsamar, Loch Modan
Prospector Khazgorm	Drove the Stonespire tauren from Bael Modan	Deceased	Formerly Bael Modan, Barrens
Prospector Nachlan	Sent to help Clopper Wizbang carry equipment	Alive	Blood Watch, Bloodmyst Isle
Prospector Remtravel	Absent-minder leader of Remtravel's Excavation	Alive	Remtravel's Excavation, Darkshore
Prospector Whelgar	Former leader of of Whelgar's Excavation Site	Alive	Whelgar's Retreat, Wetlands
Merrin Rockweaver		Alive	Whelgar's Retreat, Wetlands
Prospector Rokar	Captive of the taunka at Camp Oneqwah	Alive	Camp Oneqwah, Grizzly Hills
Brugar Stoneshear		Alive	Westfall Brigade Encampment, Grizzly Hills
Torthen Deepdig		Alive	Thor Modan, Grizzly Hills
Raegar Breakbrow	Investigating the iron dwarf presence in Dun Argol	Alive	Prospector's Point, Grizzly Hills
Surveyor Orlond		Deceased	Thor Modan, Grizzly Hills
Beltrand McSorf		Alive	Valgarde, Howling Fjord
Walt		Alive	Explorers' League Outpost, Howling Fjord
Pulroy the Archaeologist		Deceased	Wyrmskull Village, Howling Fjord
Zedd		Deceased	Wyrmskull Village, Howling Fjord
Daegarn		Alive	Ring of Judgement, Howling Fjord
Glorenfeld		Alive	Utgarde Catacombs, Howling Fjord
Stanwad	Leader of the Explorers' League Outpost	Alive	Explorers' League Outpost, Howling Fjord
Donny		Alive	Ivald's Ruin, Howling Fjord
Explorer Abigail		Alive	Westguard Keep, Howling Fjord
Steel Gate Chief Archaeologist		Alive	Steel Gate, Howling Fjord
Thargad	Leader of Thargad's Camp	Alive	Thargad's Camp, Desolace
Torren Squarejaw	Chief cartographer of the Thelsamar branch	Alive	Thelsamar, Loch Modan
Tweets Lightsprocket		Alive	Various
Kheelay Lightsprocket		Alive	Various
Lupas Lightsprocket		Alive	Various
Sir Finley Mrrgglton	Sophisticated murloc adventurer	Alive	Dreyrgrot, Stormheim
Surveyor Daltry		Alive	Garrison
Misirin Stouttoe		Alive	Ashran
Reno Jackson		Alive	Rustbolt, Mechagon Island
Elise Starseeker		Alive	Rustbolt, Mechagon Island
Toddy Whiskers	Co-leader of the Dragonscale Expedition	Alive	Various

Locations

See also: Dragonscale Expedition, Algari Expedition

Eastern Kingdoms

Name	Description	Leader	Location	Status
Hall of Explorers	Headquarters of the Explorer's League	High Explorer Muninn Magellas	Ironforge, Dun Morogh	Active
Whelgar's Excavation Site	Digsite overrun by raptors	Prospector Whelgar	Wetlands	Abandoned
Whelgar's Retreat		Prospector Whelgar	Wetlands	Active
Ironband's Excavation Site	Digsite overrun by troggs	Prospector Ironband	Loch Modan	Abandoned
Agmond's End	Digsite overrun by troggs	Prospector Agmond	Badlands	Abandoned
Hammertoe's Digsite	Digsite overrun by Dark Iron dwarves	Hammertoe Grez	Badlands	Abandoned
Uldaman	Excavated ancient titan city overrun by troggs and Dark Iron dwarves	Lead Prospector Durdin	Badlands	Abandoned
Dustwind Dig		Lead Prospector Durdin	Badlands	Active
Grimesilt Dig Site	Digsite taken over by the Dark iron dwarves	Unknown	Searing Gorge	Abandoned

Kalimdor

Name	Description	Leader	Location	Status
Remtravel's Excavation	Digisite overrun by troggs and golems	Prospector Remtravel	Darkshore	Abandoned
Dun Mandarr	Camp overrun by wildkin	Jaron Stoneshaper	Winterspring	Abandoned
Bael'dun Digsite	Digsite overrun by earth elementals	Unknown	Mulgore	Abandoned
Bael Modan Excavation	Digsite of an ancient titan facility	Prospector Khazgorm	Southern Barrens	Active
Sunken Dig Site	Digisite attacked by the Horde, overrun with silithid and sunk by the Cataclysm	Unknown	Thousand Needles	Destroyed
Gunstan's Dig	Researching the Southmoon Ruins and Valley of the Watchers	Prospector Gunstan	Tanaris	Active
Bronzebeard Encampment	A camp set up by Brann to explore Ahn'Qiraj	Brann Bronzebeard	Silithus	Destroyed
Thargad's Camp		Thargad	Desolace	Active

Northrend

Name	Description	Leader	Location	Status
Baelgun's Excavation Site	Excavation overrun with iron dwarves	Baelgun Flamebeard	Howling Fjord	Abandoned
Explorers' League Outpost		Stanwad	Howling Fjord	Active
Steel Gate		Overseer Irena Stonemantle	Howling Fjord	Active
Ivald's Ruin	Excavation overrun with iron dwarves	Unknown	Howling Fjord	Abandoned
Prospector's Point	Set up to investigate Dun Argol	Raegar Breakbrow	Grizzly Hills	Active
Brann's Base-Camp		Brann Bronzebeard	Storm Peaks	Abandoned
Expedition Base Camp		Brann Bronzebeard	Ulduar, Storm Peaks	Abandoned

Other

Name	Description	Leader	Location	Status
Thovas Base-Camp	Camp set up to invesitagte Gol Thovas	Hilde Firebreaker	Tiragarde Sound	Active
Ogudei Excavation		Hilda Hornswaggle	Krasarang Wilds	Active
Xibala Digsite	Investigating Xibala	Acadia Chistlestone	Zuldazar	Active
Bone Wastes Digsite		Dwarfowitz	Terokkar Forest	Active

Reputation

Description

Explorers' League tabard.

This organization seeks to find the origin of the dwarven race by collecting Titan artifacts. Their most recent research has led them to various archeological sites in Northrend.

Guide

Prior to World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the Explorers' League existed as a pseudo-faction in that there were many NPCs related by quest chains tagged as <Explorers' League>, but there was no reputation unique to them (if their quests rewarded reputation, it was for another faction, typically Ironforge and/or Alliance).

Since the launch of Wrath of the Lich King, it is now finally possible to earn reputation for the Explorers' League. However, as for all Alliance Vanguard subfactions except The Silver Covenant, there is no quartermaster and no other gain for hitting exalted (except maybe for achievement purposes).

As of patch 3.3, all Alliance Vanguard factions receive spillover rep from quests and 5-man dungeons. This negates the need for solely doing Explorer's League dailies to reach exalted.

Players start with 0/3000 neutral and can gain reputation by completing quests in Howling Fjord and Storm Peaks and by doing one daily quest at Steel Gate. All non-repeatable quests together give 7850 reputation. To hit exalted, one needs to complete the daily quest at least 137 times (122 times for humans).

	Neutral	Friendly	Honored	Revered	Exalted	Rep	Attain	Notes
Repeatable Quests	[10-30 Daily] Steel Gate Patrol					250	[69]
	[25-30 Daily] Among the Champions (R)					63	duel x4
	[25-30 Daily] Battle Before The Citadel (R)					62	Boneguard Commander slain x3
	[25-30G3 Daily] Threat From Above (R)					63	Chillmaw slain
	[25-30 Daily] Taking Battle To The Enemy (R)					62	Cult of the Damned slain x15
	[25-30 Daily] Blood of the Chosen (R)					62	Vrykul slain x20
	[25-30 Daily] Assault by Ground (R)					62	Infantry delivered x4
	[25-30P Daily] King of the Mountain (R)					63
Quests	Westguard Keep					760	[69]	4 quests
	Steel Gate					1730	[69]	9 quests
	Explorers' League Outpost					2850	[69]	15 quests
	Fort Wildervar					750	[69]	3 quests
	Frosthold (Storm Peaks)					1760	[77]	7 quests
Instances	Wrath of the Lich King Heroic Instances					Trash: ?-? Bosses: ?	Full Clear ~?+ rep Heroic ~?+ rep

In Hearthstone

This section contains information exclusive to Hearthstone and is considered non-canon.

The League of Explorers in Hearthstone.

The Explorer's League, here syntactically rendered the "League of Explorers," is the main focus of the Hearthstone adventure of the same name. The adventure follows four members of the League, Brann Bronzebeard, Elise Starseeker, Reno Jackson and Sir Finley Mrrgglton, as they collect the pieces of a titan artifact known as the Staff of Origination.

After the League of Explorers expansion, Brann, Elise, Reno, and Sir Finley would go on to become prominent reoccurring characters in Hearthstone. They were the main heroes of the Year of the Dragon across both the Saviors of Uldum and Descent of Dragons expansions. They have also appeared individually in both the Battlegrounds and Mercenaries game modes.

• 

  Brann Bronzebeard
• 

  Elise Starseeker
• 

  Reno Jackson
• 

  Sir Finley Mrrgglton

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

In the RPG books, this faction is known as Explorer's Guild, The Guild, Explorer's League, or Explorers' League.

Exploring nearly every corner of the world. Searching for titan artifacts. Amassing one of the world's largest libraries of information on Azeroth's history, people and cultures. When it was first discovered that the origins of the dwarven people might be tied to the ancient and mysterious titans, expeditions were quickly organized to search for artifacts and information that might confirm the theory. The first of these expeditions were led by hardy dwarven prospectors accustomed to long treks in unforgiving territory. As they taught their skills to the new generation of journeymen, a new breed of dwarven traveler emerged. These travelers appointed themselves the task of gathering as much information as possible about the world, its history, and its cultures in hopes of finding the scraps of information the titans might have left behind to lead their progeny to the truth. Though they often still called themselves "prospectors", they gathered together under the banner of their true calling: the Explorers' Guild.

In less than a decade, the Explorers' Guild has already amassed an incredible archive of information and artifacts in their guildhall close to the dwarven throne in Ironforge. The tales brought back by the members of the Guild have ignited the imaginations of the dwarven nation, and children who once dreamed of carrying a blunderbuss into battle or piloting a gyrocopter now play at exploring in the caverns near their home. Though many of them think the dwarves' obsession with the titans verges on the ridiculous, the soldiers and diplomats of the Alliance are happy to support the efforts of the Explorers' Guild so long as it continues to provide useful news from distant and unexplored places. In addition to the cultural and geographic intelligence it gathers, information provided by the Guild has allowed the Alliance to produce a map of more than 400 untapped gold mines across Khaz Modan and Lordaeron in preparation for an eventual move north to battle the Scourge.

Organization

New members of the Explorers' Guild spend their early days honing their skills close to home, guiding travelers through the peaks and passes of Khaz Modan and leading supply expeditions for the dwarven kingdoms. Once they've proved themselves, these "prospectors" are upgraded to "journeyman" status and given their first field missions by the Guild. Often, these missions involve traveling to remote but previously visited locales in order to update the Guild's library with news of current events in the area. Eventually, the journeymen are upgraded to full Explorer status and given carte blanche to travel where they will with full Guild support, provided that they produce regular reports on their excursions.

The dwarven king is the official head of the Explorer's Guild, though the title is mostly honorary — only once in Guild history has the king filed a report in the Archives. The daily operation of the Guild is overseen by the Excursion Council, made up of several dozen of the oldest and most experienced members of the Guild. The younger members of the Guild have nicknamed this group the “Excuse Me Council,” as many of the Council are constantly leaving behind their duties to set off on their own self-assigned journeys. Yet so long as a small fraction of the Council remains in Ironforge to coordinate outgoing and incoming Guild expeditions, the organization continues to run smoothly.

Locations

For many years, members of the Guild met in the Weary Boots Tavern in Ironforge, storing their reports and retrieved artifacts on sagging wooden shelves in a disused warehouse. Several years ago, treasure gathered by the Guild was combined with a bequest from the throne to pay for a new block of chambers to be carved out of the rock of the dwarven capital. The newly completed Guildhall provides members with offices and meeting rooms, workshops to repair gear and equipment, warehouses and libraries, private quarters for higher-ranking members and group bunkrooms for newer initiates. A large museum open to the public shows exhibits of relics collected by the Guild; when titan artifacts are on display, the line to get into the museum often snakes out the entrance of the Guildhall and across the public square in front of the building. Smaller guildhalls, called “way stations”, are being established in far-flung corners of Azeroth, usually in the back rooms of inns or taverns along well-traveled routes to distant parts of the continent. Though they still vary in the level of service they can offer, some way stations can provide detailed maps of the local area while others stockpile supplies of dried foods and basic traveling necessities that can be drawn upon by Guild members (who are expected to pay for their withdrawals of Guild property whenever possible).

Membership

King Magni Bronzebeard was the Grand Explorer of the Guild, a position of honorary leadership.

Samul Strangehands, Ryona Blondbeard, Hona Stonefall, Yulanini Hammersmith.

Explorer's Guild classroom in Lands of Conflict.

The overwhelming majority of members in the Explorer's Guild are dwarves. Fewer than a dozen members of other races are inducted into the ranks each year, usually after providing exemplary service to the Guild on several official expeditions. A green torch burning at the entrance to the Guildhall in Ironforge marks the rare occasions when the Guild is accepting new applicants, a call usually answered by hundreds of young dwarves who can demonstrate the requisite skill with languages and a broad base of geographic and historical knowledge. For each opening, twenty top potentials are selected and taken into the mountains of Khaz Modan by one of the Excursion Council. What follows is an intensive three-week trial that tests not only the potentials' physical ability and stamina but also a wide range of skills from map making and tracking to herbalism and mineral location. At the end of the test period, the applicants who come out on top are inducted into the Guild and officially allowed to call themselves prospectors.

Membership in the Guild is selective, as each member receives a stipend from the Guild of two gold pieces per day, rising to five gold pieces when on a sanctioned expedition. In addition, the Guild stores will completely outfit any official expedition with supplies and equipment — though the quartermasters are notoriously stingy when arguing the definition of "completely outfit". All Guild members can also make their home at the Guildhall in Ironforge, though when all the private quarters are taken up by higher-ranking members of the Guild (as during the annual Convocation, when the Guild gathers to share stories and plan expeditions for the coming year), even full-fledged explorers can find themselves sleeping in the fifth slot up in the bunkhouse. Guild members come from all walks of life, their skills contributing to the goals of the Guild and the dwarven people. For some, however, exploration becomes more than a profession — it becomes an avocation and a passion. The members of the Explorers' League are spread across the globe at various key digsites and expeditions.

RPG-exclusive members

Name	Location
Aron Kodosbreath	MIA, Status unknown
Tomli Magellas (High Explorer)	MIA, Status unknown
Darren	Unknown
Hardigan Ironjaw
Hugh Deepstone	Unknown
Hona Stonefall (Field Instructor)	Ironforge Guildhall
Hogun	Dead	Bael Modan ruins
Maddox	Unknown
Poyli Stonesole	MIA, Status unknown
Yulanini Hammersmith	MIA, Status unknown
Rumholt Thunderaxe	MIA, Status unknown

Notes

• While Brann Bronzebeard was described as the leader of the Explorer's League, Muninn Magellas was also called the patron and head of the Explorer's League.

Gallery

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  Recruit-A-Friend outfit reward.
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  Dragonflight concept art of Explorer's League props.
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Patch changes

• Patch 3.1.0 (2009-04-14): Daily quests added.
  
• Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Northrend faction added.
  

See also

•  [Explorers' League Commendation]
•  [Explorers' League Lodestar]
• Explorers' League Journal

External links

World of Warcraft Community Site 

• Wowhead
• WoWDB