This past week has been yet another milestone for United Defense. The transition to a 25-man raiding guild has been a lot of work, and that work is now paying off. Kel'Thuzad fell on Thursday, ending our first full clear of Heroic Naxxramas. On Sunday, our 25-man raid slew Malygos on our fifth attempt. On Monday, an impromptu 10-man UD raid defeated Sartharion with one drake, Tenebron, still up. These are accomplishments of which we can all be very proud.

When we first began running Heroic raiding content a little less than a month ago, we had to rely heavily on guests in order to fill a sizeable portion of our raid. The proportion of UD members to guests has been rising steadily to the point where, last week, our raids boasted around 90% UD composition. As our raids have become increasingly private, they have begun developing a more and more distinctly United Defense character--we're becoming more adept raiders while at the same time learning to relax and enjoy the experience as a group of friends. Here's looking forward to this Tuesday's 80's themed raid, and this Thursday's 90's themed raid!

-Hiero

What an amazing four weeks this has been. Four weeks to the day after the release of Wrath of the Lich King, Lich King Arthas' Numero Uno Lieutenant Kel'Thuzad met his demize at the hands of a crazed army of furbolg warriors!

From the beginnings of this World of Warcraft, United Defense has strived to achieve what many have considered an impossible balance. The nay-sayers all declare that you have to decide, that you have to choose, join a raiding guild or join a casual family guild. UD has strived to dance along this fence line, to blur this distinction. We maintain the commitment to create a guild atmosphere that is RL guild member first, raiding toon second, an atmosphere that is inclusive and not exclusive, that is team oriented not individualistic. And yet, through it all, four weeks after the release of this expansion and Kel'Thuzad is dead.

My gratitude goes out to all the members who made this possible, not just those who were in on the kill, but those who graciously waited at the ready on stand-by, to those who gave up spots so that others could get prepared and to all those on the outside looking in, be it in game or behind the machine. We couldn't have done it without all of you, thank-you.

It has been my honor and pleasure to lead this merry band of misfit adventurers through the frozen wastes of Northrend, into the flying citadel of Naxxramas, and out the other side alive, ready to soldier on to new and more challenging feats.

After all, it's so much more rewarding when you are achieving this all with those you can truly call your friends.

Thanks for being awesomerrific UD!

WAAAAAGH!!!

- Lexloci

The raid bosses are hitting the floor faster than I can post their portraits! Here's trying to catch up to Sunday's and Tuesday's raids:

Oh, and we killed this guy too--Archavon the Stone Watcher. He dropped Death Knight and Rogue chests for all the imaginary Death Knights and Rogues in raid.

In our second week of 10-man raiding, United Defense pushed farther into Naxxramas. We cleared through no fewer than five new bosses: 1-shot Noth the Plaguebringer, 3-shot Heigan the Unclean, 1-shot Loetheb, 2-shot Instructor Razuvious, and 3-shot Gothik the Harvester. Not bad at all. Naxx doesn't have much time to lick its wounds--we'll be back on Tuesday!

Conj popping a wheelie on his new motorcycle:

Exactly twelve days after Wrath's release, an all-UD raid of ten level 80s entered Naxxramas. Three hours later we zoned out of the instance, leaving Anub'Rekhan, Grand Widow Faerlena, and Maexxna lying dead on the floor. This was quite an accomplishment for us, given that we had five 80s in raid who'd only dinged that day or the day before, and only two healers! Next week we can look forward to clearing Spider-Wing again, then moving on to Plague-Wing for some new challenges. So here's to UD's debut into Lich King raiding--no doubt the first victory of many to come!

WAAAAAGH!!!