Congratulations to Ninth for reaching max level, making them our 34th The War Within Iron Man Challenge champion! Ninth’s total journey was 236 days, 3 hrs, 12 mins, 21 secs, with a /played of 23 hrs, 46min.
This is Runiflix’s first Max Level Champion in The War Within expansion.
Why did you choose this challenge to play? Runiflix said, “My friend, who leveled Tazura, Arven, and Executioner, got me into the challenge and pushed me to get to max level.” 
What race/class/spec did you choose to go with and were there any specific reasons for that choice? Runiflix mentions, “I chose to make the character a Blood Elf Assassination Rogue. Initially, I chose Subtlety, but ended up switching to Assassination when it became too difficult to run Subtlety. The character is based off of a character in a campaign that I’m running with some friends, named Cassia Valence, the Ninth Child of the Emperor, also known as The Shadow. She is also the daughter of Archmage Arven Valence.”
What path did you take to level and were there specific reasons for those choices? “I took a long break from the character before continuing her around the 70’s, so I don’t remember the exact path I took, but from 70 I played it very safe. I had played in the early 70’s during a time of awful scaling in The War Within, so being unable to make it out of most fights, I ran safe world quests for the most part. From 75 and up, I grinded safe mobs and continued to do racing world quests until reaching Level 80, nice and slow.”
Did you have any close calls while leveling this character? Runiflix said, ” The first mob I tried to fight when I got to The War Within nearly killed me. It was one of the stags in the southern part of the Isle of Dorn. I also had a close call leveling in the intro scenario for Warlords of Draenor, when Keli’dan the Breaker had a broken ability that did far too much damage in a very short amount of time.”
Do you have any advice you would give to someone else thinking of trying out Iron Man Challenge? “If you just take it slow and keep it going, eventually you can make it! Play it safe when you feel unsure and learn the area you’re going to quest in,” Runiflix mentioned.
Are you working on any other challengers or do you plan on taking a break for a while? Runiflix said, “I think I’ll continue to make more challengers! I already have a few lined up and I’m excited to try them out – especially the Pacifist Challenge. Many of these characters will also be from the campaign with friends. Here’s a little excerpt from that campaign:
‘I suppose no corner of Anteron was truly safe.” Tazura mumbled quietly, glancing towards the busy market stands as they made their way through the city. “Does it ever feel wrong to you.. two former children of the emperor walking freely amongst the people of this realm after the decades of conquest?” “Honestly? I wish I did,” replies the Ninth, “But this is all I’ve ever known. I feel nothing walking amongst these people, but I know that they’re suffering. And I know that it’s right to protect them. Is there something wrong with me?”
“Not at all. I felt a similar way before my brother saved my life. He told me I had an obligation to repent for my numerous sins instead of running from them. We may not always understand what is right or wrong, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a duty to at least try to make this world a better place.” “But what will it take? I still don’t understand how to connect with people like I’ve seen you do. You’ve managed to turn the empire around on itself, Tazura.”
“You aren’t one to trust easily, and I understand why.” He gestured towards the civilians. “But perhaps the first step is to start trusting those we seek to protect, opening yourself up to them in order to truly grasp their struggles.” “Then I will try to listen. But centuries of progress must be undone.”
Congratulations once again to Runiflix on Ninth becoming our 34th The War Within Iron Man Challenge champion, and best of luck with your future challenge adventures.