Explorers ' Guild The Explorers ' Guild , also known as Explorer ' s Guild , The Guild , Explorer ' s League , or Explorers ' League , is an organization dedicated to researching the origin of the Dwarven race according to the Mystery of the Makers . They have many archaeological dig - sites in all corners of the world , from Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms to Outland . The League ' s main base of operations is located in the Hall of Explorers in Ironforge . The League is directed by High Explorer Magellas and created by mandate from King Magni Bronzebeard . 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 . 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 fullfledged 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 . In Wrath of the Lich King . In Wrath of the Lich King , the Explorers ' Guild ventured to Northrend under the broader name of the Explorers ' League and established a base of operations in the Howling Fjord to the east . There they discovered the Iron dwarf race and uncovered more links to their evolution from the Earthen . Members of the League are highly involved with the Titan city of Ulduar . In Cataclysm . In Cataclysm , the Explorers ' Guild will appear again in Titan - related zone of Uldum , constantly rivaling with their Horde counterpart , the blood elven Reliquary , to the point where overt hostilities erupt . Known locations of Guild camps and digsites . Known locations of the Guild ' s camps and digsites and their current status .