Rumholt Thunderaxe Rumholt Thunderaxe , an Ironforge dwarf belonging to the Explorers ' Guild , studied the Dark Irons for many months after learning of their reemergence . The Dark Irons had diverged from their Ironforge heritage in the few hundred years since the War of Three Hammers , gaining new abilities and losing old ones . Even their physical structure was different . Investigations into Rumholt ’ s own family tree revealed that two of his ancestors — his grandfather ’ s cousins — joined the Dark Irons during the war . Curiosity spurred Rumholt to great feats of research , but he finally realized that study in his comfortable Ironforge home was not enough . Biography . Early Life . One year ago , Rumholt purchased a magic item able to change his appearance ( a hat of disguise ) from a passing goblin merchant . Rumholt left a letter for his son Dedrik , who was abroad fighting trogg s in the Wetlands . This letter stated that Rumholt was leaving to “ conduct field research ” but left the specifics vague ; it also stated that Rumholt did not know when he would return . With that , Rumholt left Ironforge and set out for the Badlands . When he was safely away from the dwarven capital , Rumholt donned his hat of disguise and altered his appearance to resemble a Dark Iron dwarf . A few days later he encountered a Dark Iron band searching for ruins . Rumholt gave his name as M ’ nath Pikesplitter ( his traitorous ancestors bore the Pikesplitter surname in the War of the Three Hammers ) . Rumholt claimed to be the sole survivor of a sudden gnoll attack . The Dark Irons warily accepted Rumholt ’ s company and headed back toward their headquarters to show this new acquisition to their chieftain , a dwarf called Bakthet . On the way , an ogre group ambushed the band . Rumholt drew his axe and fought alongside the Dark Irons , and his dedication and prowess impressed his new companions . Rumholt entered the Dark Iron cave a hero — something he had never been in Ironforge . Second and Third War . Rumholt lived with the Dark Irons for months , partaking in their rituals and forays against troggs , gnolls and other Badlands creatures . He was a more competent fighter than many of them , having honed his skills in the Second and Third War s . Soon the Dark Irons not only accepted him , they honored him . They taught him their histories and the stories from the times before the War of Three Hammers — from their perspective , of course . Rumholt sympathized with them . He understood why his Pikesplitter ancestors had defected , and he was proud to wear their name . Rumholt became more and more Dark Iron as time went on . He was not evil , but neither did he think the Dark Irons were evil , just misunderstood and justifiably vengeful . Rumholt did not participate in an attack against an Ironforge caravan , but neither did he condemn it . Six months after Rumholt joined the clan , a trogg band broke into the cave system . The troggs rampaged through the caverns , killing many before the Dark Irons defeated them . Among the dead was the chieftain Bakthet . A few Dark Irons threw Rumholt ’ s name ( actually , M ’ nath ’ s name ) into the running to become the new chieftain . Rumholt defeated his rivals in combat and became the clan ’ s new leader , claiming the fallen chief ’ s magic pendant as his prize . Rumholt was ecstatic about his new position . Now he could be with the people he had come to respect and who respected him . And in his leadership position he could ensure that the Dark Irons fought only against evil creatures . Yet Rumholt missed his son . Dedrik was Rumholt ’ s only family , and he had not seen him in many long months . Rumholt knew that , patriotic as Dedrik was , once he truly saw the Dark Irons he would understand and stay with his father . Rumholt simply had to figure out a way to get him to his side . One year after leaving Ironforge , Rumholt ’ s scouts told him of a solitary Ironforge dwarf making his way across the Badlands . Rumholt recognized his son from the description . He was overjoyed . Though he briefly toyed with the idea of having his warriors abduct Dedrik , he dismissed that plan because it would only serve to demonstrate the Dark Irons ’ violent nature . Instead , Rumholt planted a message where Dedrik would be sure to find it . The message stated that Rumholt had been captured by Dark Iron dwarves and was being held prisoner . “ I do not believe they mean to harm me , but please come quickly ! ” the message pleads . Rumholt knew that this would draw his son to his side . What he did not count on was Dedrik hiring a group of heroes to help him .