Knights of the Silver Hand

The Knights of the Silver Hand (full name the Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand, often referred to as the Order of the Silver Hand, the Paladins of the Silver Hand, the Silver Hand, or the Paladin Order ) is the order of holy knights, commonly called paladins, created after the First War by Archbishop Alonsus Faol and Uther the Lightbringer. Empowered by the Light, these mighty warriors brandish both their warhammers and holy fire in the battle against all who would trample the meek and innocent. The Order of the Silver Hand helped lead the Alliance of Lordaeron to victory in the Second War against the Old Horde.

The Knights of the Silver Hand are the martial branch of the Church, they seek to be an example of the Light's teachings as well as enforce its laws, protecting the weak and vanquishing the evil of the world.

When Uther refused to purge the city of Stratholme during the Third War, the order was suspended by one of its own members, Prince Arthas Menethil, though the knights continued to fight against the Scourge despite this. Years later, the remains of the order were merged by Tirion Fordring with the Argent Dawn to form the Argent Crusade and take the fight against the Lich King to Northrend. However, human and dwarf paladins from Stormwind and Ironforge were still referred to as Knights of the Silver Hand after the formation of the Argent Crusade, suggesting that the order remained active within the Alliance.

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, and after the defeat of the Argent Crusade in the Battle for the Broken Shore, the Silver Hand was formally reestablished and supported by each major paladin order on Azeroth: the human and dwarven paladins of Stormwind and Ironforge, the draenei of the Hand of Argus, the blood elven of the Blood Knights, the tauren of the Sunwalkers, and the remnants of the Argent Crusade. From the Sanctum of Light under the Light's Hope Chapel, that became their order hall, they fought the Burning Legion alongside the other class orders united as the Armies of Legionfall.

Following the end of the invasion, and the Battle for Lordaeron at the beginning of the Fourth War, the Order split up again and fought once more on the side of the Alliance under Turalyon against the Horde, notably the troops of Lady Liadrin under the banner of the Blood Knights alongside the Sunwalkers, during the Battle for Stromgarde.

Foundation and the Second War
As the human forces amassed for the Second War, the Supreme Commander of the Alliance forces, Anduin Lothar, made other preparations. The Alliance was composed of disparate nations, some of which were rivals. They all had different customs and ways of life. Lothar needed something to bind them as one. He needed champions whom every human could rally behind, no matter where they came from. The clerics were the most obvious choice to fill this role, but they hadn't fared well as the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics was devastated during the First War. Though they were brave, they lacked martial training, and were better suited to using the Light to mend wounds off the battlefield. Lothar needed something else.

The solution came from the Church of the Holy Light. Seeking to create an order that would suffer less attrition in battle, the Archbishop Alonsus Faol, who had recently learned everything that had transpired in Stormwind, including how the clerics had fared, met Anduin Lothar and offered him to create a new order that would represent the best qualities of humanity. An order that would include soldiers gifted not only in wielding the Light, but also possessing leadership qualities and mastering the arts of traditional warfare, while embodying the qualities of loyalty, bravery, and honor. With Lothar's consent, Alonsus Faol and Uther recruited noble knights and members of the priesthood from Lordaeron, so that the Archbishop can respectively train them in the ways of the Light and in martial combat as his apprentices. There was Turalyon, the priest who had helped forge the Alliance at the Council of Seven Nations. Then Saidan Dathrohan, a mountain of a man who was gifted with immense physical strength. Tirion Fordring, a knight renowned for his zeal and resilience. Uther, an accomplished knight and a pious believer who had already apprenticed under Faol for some years. And lastly Gavinrad the Dire, a battle-hardened knight from Stormwind, comrade of Lothar, who had fought in the First War.

Faol welcomed his students with open arms, which he later named paladins, while the city of Stratholme would later serve as their base of operations. Yet for the time being, Lothar kept them close, ordering them to travel alongside the main Alliance army. Day and night, the holy warriors were trained vigorously by Faol who taught them how to use the Light to comfort their allies and smite their enemies, and also how to lead by example. They would be more than just weapons, as no matter how dire times became, the paladins would serve as lights in the darkness, as beacons of hope to guide the Alliance. The Archbishop instructed them to live simple lives, they would seek no fortune or glory in war. Until the end of their days, they would put the needs of others above their own.

As training progressed, Faol presented the five paladins a set of enchanted librams from the church. Each libram represented what Faol saw as a core trait of the Silver Hand and challenged his students to become living embodiments of what their holy tomes represented: Turalyon would hold the Libram of Protection, Uther would hold the Libram of Justice, Tirion would hold the Libram of Retribution, Saidan would hold the Libram of Holiness, and Gavinrad would hold the Libram of Compassion. Lothar often checked in on the emergent Order of the Silver Hand, and he was so pleased that he asked Turalyon and Uther to serve as his lieutenants. Alonsus Faol gladly agreed to satisfy the Supreme Commander's request, but he did not release the paladins from his care yet. It would be weeks before they were ready to set foot on the battlefield.

In Alonsus Chapel in Stratholme, Uther was appointed the first of the paladins. He was then followed by Saidan Dathrohan, Tirion Fordring, Turalyon, and Gavinrad. The Order of the Silver Hand was thus born. Its name and symbol having been taken from the Legend of the Silver Hand, legacy of the Keeper Tyr, as a symbol of those Light-wielding warriors who placed self-sacrifice above all else, although the silver hand was already a common symbol for the human tribes of Tirisfal many centuries ago, appearing on clothing and pendants, worn to ward away evil spirits, to protect warriors in battle and to cure diseases.

The Knights of the Silver Hand made their first appearance during the Battle of Hillsbrad Foothills, where they rode through the Alliance lines while their presence filling their fellow soldiers with hope and courage. They called upon their holy powers to mend wounded soldiers and ease their fearful hearths, while they faced the death knights of the Horde, using their sacred powers in the form of blazing white light waves of energies that rippled over the Alliance soldiers, striking down the reanimated human corpses and sweeping away the death knights' corruptive fog. Paladins and death knights were evenly matched, neither able to gain an advantage over the other, and they continued to occupy each other for the duration of the battle.

During the months following the start of the war, other knights and priests were also trained by Alonsus Faol to become paladins of the Silver Hand. Their leader Uther commanded such presence on the battlefield that his knights at times seemed both invincible and unstoppable.

Subsequently, the paladins were instrumental in winning the war. They were notably deployed to quell a peasant revolt at Tyr's Hand, and the sight of them wielding their mighty warhammers and holy powers gave others inspiration on the battlefield and the home front. Uther and his paladins were truly a sight to behold, as they healed the wounds sustained in combat and restored faith in the promise of freedom from orcish tyranny. Even some of the Alliance's greatest knights and warriors were in awe when they saw them smashing orcs down while healing fallen allies at the same time. It was also the support of the paladins that enabled the Alliance to make a swift march south towards Khaz Modan, as it would have never been possible without the holy warriors who worked day and night, mending the wounded and filling their hearts with resolve and courage. During the liberation of Ironforge and Gnomeregan from Kilrogg Deadeye and his Bleeding Hollow clan, the paladins led hunting parties to root out the orcs and drive them from the region.

Paladins were also known to minister to the masses during the war, gathering inside churches to deepen their faith. Through meditating, communing, and tithing at these sanctified sites, they discovered new ways to channel their healing and spiritual powers. They could cast their blessing upon soldiers, could sense evil, and could even heal grievous wounds with but a touch.

Uther was the first paladin known to have manifested his powers on the battlefield. Turalyon himself did not master his powers until after Lothar's death during the Siege of Blackrock Spire, but once he did the orcish army cowered from his blinding light which shone "brighter than the brightest day", before he disarmed Orgrim Doomhammer and struck him unconscious rather than kill him, so that he could stand trial in Capital City for all the crimes he has committed. Turalyon and the other paladins then rallied the Alliance forces, while many of the orcs began to panic. Some stood and fought, some surrendered, and others fled. After the battle, control over the Alliance army fell to Turalyon. Uther expressed his happiness at seeing Turalyon's faith finally emerge, and Turalyon bestowed the title of "the Lightbringer" upon the older paladin.

Aftermath of the Second War
After the war, the Order of the Silver Hand coordinated with the Church of the Holy Light to help the Alliance of Lordaeron move forward. On Faol's decree, they healed the sick and granted shelter to the survivors broken by the war in Lordaeron and Stormwind, with Turalyon and Uther being present and helping in Stormwind City for a time.

Following the Invasion of Draenor which led to the closing of the Dark Portal, where only Turalyon had journeyed as he told his comrades to stay behind, the Silver Hand dedicated themselves to safeguarding the land from orc attacks by directing a few settlements across Lordaeron. Among them was present an unnamed settlement under the command of Lord Duncan Senturus, a senior paladin, about three days from the port of Hasic. In order to contain the orcish threat, a number of internment camps were constructed in southern Lordaeron. Guarded by both paladins of the order and veteran soldiers, such as Captain Skarloc, the camps proved to be a great success. Though the captive orcs were tense and anxious to do battle once more, the various camp wardens kept the peace and maintained a strong semblance of order. During meetings of great importance in Lordaeron's palace, especially when monarchs were visiting, the Knights of the Silver Hand were needed for protection and surveillance, being the only military unit they all trusted, so that even King Genn Greymane and Admiral Daelin Proudmoore agreed to having themselves searched by selected sentries from the holy order, even despite its outward allegiance to Terenas Menethil II.

The Silver Hand also began to train new paladins in Stormwind City and Ironforge, swelling the ranks of the order with a number of stout-hearted dwarves, and also with some high elves before the Third War, such as Mehlar Dawnblade, a paladin pupil of Uther the Lightbringer. The Order notably used the Monastery, a center for learning and enlightenment known as a proud bastion of Lordaeron's priesthood, which served as a seminary and major training ground for paladins in training. Its libraries had many books to learn the ways of the Light.

During these times, the Bastion of the Silver Hand was considered as the barracks of the Order, containing countless of their treasures.

Years passed as tensions abated and a lasting peace settled over Lordaeron. With his paladins, the Supreme commander Uther the Lightbringer kept the peace in Lordaeron, settling civil disputes and quelling demi-human uprisings throughout the realm, while Arthas Menethil, Prince of Lordaeron and his apprentice, was sworn into the order in a ceremony performed in Stormwind's Cathedral of Light by Archbishop Alonsus Faol.

Several years later, Tirion Fordring's life was saved by the orc Eitrigg. When Eitrigg was later captured by the Alliance of Lordaeron, Tirion felt he owed a debt of honor and fought to rescue him. For assaulting Alliance soldiers, Tirion was brought to Stratholme to stand trial before the jury composed of Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, Arch-Mage Antonidas, Archbishop Alonsus Faol, and Prince Arthas, he was then excommunicated by Uther the Lightbringer from the Silver Hand and exiled from his lands. His son, Taelan, later joined the Silver Hand.

When news of an upstart warchief rallying the few remaining orc clans in revolt against the orc internment camps began to unfold, King Terenas sent Uther and his paladins to quell the warchief's uprising. However, the crafty orcs could never be found as the young warchief proved to be something of a tactical genius – and evaded Uther's best efforts to corral his hit and run attacks. Fearing that Thrall would eventually find the renegade orcs hidden in the lands of Lordaeron, those not suffering from lethargy like those who were imprisoned, and succeed in teaching them all he learned from Aedelas Blackmoore as a gladiator, which would be critical for the kingdom, King Terenas ordered Uther with the Knights of the Silver Hand and his son to ride towards southern Lordaeron, in order to contain the orcish threat and deal with them once and for all. They notably fought against the Blackrock clan, who have recently captured citizens from Strahnbrad to sacrifice them to the Burning Legion, as they have re-embraced their demon worshiping.

The Silver Hand defended the settlements at the borders of Quel'Thalas from forest troll warbrands. Prince Arthas gained fame for counterattacking and defeating the trolls, but Kedehern Falamar, another Silver Hand member perished during the fight and was considered a hero. Kedehern's Silver Hand masters brought his armor back to his father, Brogan.

Before the Third War, a faction started growing in the order, largely led by Abbendis. This faction was intolerant of what they deemed as the "lesser races" and would later form the Scarlet Crusade.

The Scourge of Lordaeron
Unaware of the death cults forming in their lands, the leaders of the Alliance nations began to bicker and argue over territorial holdings and decreasing political influence. The appearance of the Plague of Undeath nearly marked the end of the Order of the Silver Hand as the paladins entered a dark period when one of their own, Prince Arthas, turned his back on the order. In the beginnings of the Third War, after preparing for many long months, Kel'Thuzad and his Cult of the Damned finally struck the first blow by releasing the plague of undeath upon Lordaeron. Consequently, Uther the Lightbringer and his fellow paladins investigated the infected regions in the hope of finding a way to stop the plague, but despite their efforts, the plague continued to spread and threatened to tear the Alliance apart.

As the ranks of the undead swept across Lordaeron, Prince Arthas took up the fight against the Scourge, notably at Hearthglen in the Eastweald where the plague of undeath arrived in a grain shipment from Andorhal. Targeted by the Scourge, the city was about to be attacked by an army of undead, and the defenders had just baked and eaten the grain before the attack started. Meanwhile, Prince Arthas had tracked the shipment of grain from Andorhal, where he succeeded in killing the necromancer Kel'Thuzad, but even so, the undead ranks swelled with every soldier that fell defending the land. Frustrated and stymied by the seemingly unstoppable enemy, Arthas took increasingly extreme steps to conquer them. Along with soldiers of Lordaeron's army, he was able to slay those infected by the shipment before they could spread the disease to the entire town of Hearthglen. Shortly thereafter the large undead army laid siege to the town, Arthas and his armies barely held off the undead long enough for the arrival of Jaina Proudmoore with Uther and his knights of the Silver Hand, thus managing to repel the undead attackers.

Horrified, humiliated, and disturbed by his near-defeat, Arthas quickly left for Stratholme, followed by Uther and his paladins, where they found that the city had been infected with the plague by Mal'Ganis, as the necromancer had told him. When Uther refused to follow Arthas' command to kill the infected population of Stratholme before they could die and be reborn as undead, Arthas turned his back on the other paladins, calling their refusal an act of treason, then relieved Uther from command, suspended his paladins from service and sent them away, while he called all those still loyal to Lordaeron to come with him. The Prince's fear and resolve proved to be his ultimate undoing. He tracked the plague's source to Northrend, intending to end its threat forever, but instead, fell prey to the machinations of the Lich King. After Stratholme was purged, some former paladins, now called deathlords, also committed the same heinous act in many other cities across Lordaeron.

Despite being suspended, the paladins unofficially continued to explore all available options to wipe out the Scourge under the command of Saidan Dathrohan. At some point, the Scourge swept through Stratholme, and the Knights of the Silver Hand manufactured holy water to use against the invaders. They stored it inside small crates along with other vital supplies and distributed them throughout the city. Unfortunately, the citizens turned into Scourge reinforcements before the supplies could ever be used.

In the days since Prince Arthas took the fleet to Northrend, the Silver Hand continued to defend Lordaeron villages. Disenfranchised, the paladins still worked selflessly to protect humanity from the gnawing jaws of evil, and were stretched thin fighting the spread of the plague. However, the Scourge continued to grow, taking villages and its turned inhabitants, with a small help from Baron Rivendare and his corrupted food supplies. When a village that Thomas Thomson was stationed in was turned, Thomas understood that Rivendare was a traitor and reported it to the rest of the Silver Hand.

At the same time, Alexandros Mograine organized a meeting with several other members of the Silver Hand in Southshore's inn, where he revealed the dark orb he kept after the Second War. With the efforts of Isillien, Fairbanks, Doan and Abbendis, he succeeded in purifying the artifact, and decided that it would be forged into a weapon that would smite the Scourge with such power that only a cloud of ash would remain in its wake.

In the meantime, Arthas lost his soul to the cursed runeblade Frostmourne and became a death knight in the service of the Lich King, before returning to Lordaeron, in order to kill his father and ruined Capital City. Following the death of Terenas, while Jaina Proudmoore was gathering Lordaeronians to sail for Kalimdor, the Knights of the Silver Hand stayed behind to defend those that couldn't get on the Kul Tiran ships, such as Krohm Dawnhammer who guided countless innocents to safety with his legendary shining hammer. And later notably during the Battle of Darrowshire, when a contingent of paladins of the Silver Hand led by Davil Crokford allied themselves with the defenders of Darrowshire led by Captain Joseph Redpath, having learned of the Scourge's impending attack on the town. But despite the paladins' successful efforts in steadying the line and holding back the undead, they ended up being defeated by the death knight Marduk the Black after Davil Crokford managed to slay the ghoul lord Horgus the Ravager, before perishing from his mortal wounds.

When Alexandros Mograine returned from Ironforge with the mighty Ashbringer in hands, after learning the death of Terenas, the Highlord was reported to be paring down the Scourge's numbers.

Subsequently, many paladins of the Silver Hand traveled to quarantined lands to ease the suffering of those left within the plague-ridden colonies, but although they were immune to disease of any kind, they were persecuted by the general populace who believed that they had been infected by the foul plague. Some of these paladins traveled to Northrend. When they finally reached Ner'zhul's icy fortress, embittered by the trials they had to suffer through, they had become dark and brooding. The Lich King offered them untold power in exchange for their services and loyalty. Those fallen paladins, whose souls were twisted and bound to the will of the Frozen Throne, joined the ranks of the Scourge by becoming death knights, the Scourge's mightiest generals.

At Shadowfang Keep, situated above the tiny hamlet of Pyrewood, Baron Silverlaine and his forces led by the paladin of the Silver Hand Commander Springvale were killed by worgen, summoned by Archmage Arugal from the Emerald Dream to aid Gilneans against the Scourge. Since then, the ghost of the Commander haunts the council room, using unholy strikes to avenge his lord.

By order of Uther, Gavinrad the Dire and his Champions of Peace were stationed to guard the cemetery near Andorhal, where the remains of Kel'Thuzad were buried. When Arthas came to retrieve the remains of the necromancer in order to revive him, Gavinrad refused and was personally killed by the death knight who fed Frostmourne with his soul, while he unleashed his undead forces upon the paladins of the Silver Hand. Later, Uther stood against his former apprentice alongside the paladins Ballador the Bright and Sage Truthbearer, respective commanders of the Champions of Light and the Champions of Truth, in order to protect the enchanted Urn of King Terenas as part of a small military funeral procession. But they were defeated by Arthas who murdered them one by one, then managed to recover and blaspheme his father's urn, although he almost lost against his former master.

In the meantime, some paladins of the order had joined the Human Expedition to fight the Burning Legion, including Duke Lionheart who agreed to work alongside the orcs with the intention of hunting down the demons left after the death of Mannoroth.

After the Third War
Several months after the end of the Third War, the knights of the Silver Hand emerged again from the rubble of the Lordaeron to form a resistance, composed of detachments of troops, in order to continue to fight the Scourge, and protect those who fled to Dalaran recaptured by the Alliance resistance led by Grand Marshal Garithos. They guarded the ruined Lordaeron palace gardens after Archimonde's defeat, under the command of Dagren the Orcslayer, Magroth the Defender and Halahk the Lifebringer, respectively directing the Crippling Force, the Defenders of Justice and the Defenders of Justice. But their combined efforts were unfortunately not enough, they were defeated by Arthas Menethil, Kel'Thuzad, and Sylvanas Windrunner, enabling the Scourge to murder the survivors and destroyed the resistance.

Some of the few who managed to survive the massacre were rallied by Dagren the Orcslayer to join the ranks of the Human Settlers and journey to Kalimdor, under the orders of Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, in order to fight the Horde and locate Jaina Proudmoore, among them, the Chief Petty Officer was a mighty Kul Tiran paladin and one of the Admiral's most loyal officers. The paladins who remained in Lordaeron continued to fight against the Scourge for the next years. Elusive and resourceful, the undead were unable to defeat them in battle. Under the leadership of Lord Commander Saidan Dathrohan and Highlord Alexandros Mograine, wielder of the Ashbringer, which was then considered as the Order's greatest weapon, the Knights of the Silver Hand banded together to continue the war against the Lich King and fought the undead throughout the Plaguelands. However, dissensions started appearing in the leadership of the human resistance. Lord Maxwell Tyrosus suggested that in order to retake their fallen cities, the order should recruit among the night elves of Kalimdor and the dwarves and gnomes of Khaz Modan. Other prominent leaders such as High General Abbendis disagreed, considering the fate of Lordaeron the affairs of men.

From their base at Hearthglen, used as a rallying point by the Order due to Taelan Fordring's offer for refuge, they were able to gain some victories during the next years, at the cost of the life of High General Abbendis during one of these battles, but they weren't able to achieve their goal: the complete destruction of the Scourge.

Worried about the Forsaken entrenching themselves in the Ruins of Lordaeron, the paladins established a base in the now-abandoned Monastery of Tirisfal Glades, that would later be known as the Scarlet Monastery, where they met a jungle troll named Zabra Hexx who learned the ways of the Light from the holy books within. They also made an alliance with Lord Valdelmar of Tyr's Hand, extending their protection to the fortified city, who until then had withstood almost daily attacks of the undead, hoping to recruit additional personnel. However, during an attack on Stratholme, Lord Commander Saidan Dathrohan was killed, his corpse possessed as a fleshly costume by the dreadlord Balnazzar, who then started slowly working against the order's objectives from the inside.

Fearing that the Ashbringer might destroy the Forsaken before his plans could come to fruition, Varimathras had Balnazzar arrange Alexandros's death by manipulating and corrupting his son, Renault Mograine, to led his father and High Inquisitor Fairbanks to Stratholme where an army of undead waited for them. During the battle, Fairbanks was the first to fall, trapped under a pile of undead corpses, while Highlord Mograine stood alone against the undead, yet managed to destroy all sent at him. In fatigue and weakened, Alexandros dropped his blade to the ground. Coming from behind, his son Renault picked up Ashbringer and ran it through Mograine's heart, corrupting the Ashbringer in the process, before fleeing to Hearthglen, leaving his father's body and the now-unholy sword he was unable to hold in his hands.

The death of Alexandros shocked the paladins, creating divisions among them, while the corpse of the Highlord and the Ashbringer were later recovered by Kel'Thuzad. The lich raised the legendary paladin into undeath and transformed him into an obedient servant as the leader of the Four Horsemen, while the Ashbringer was no more than an unholy shadow of what it was once after having been used for such an atrocious purpose.

The possessed Saidan Dathrohan then reorganized what remained of the Silver Hand in Lordaeron into the Scarlet Crusade. These paladins strove fanatically to destroy evil, without any regards to the means used, and despised all non-human races. Other paladins, disgusted with the Scarlet Crusaders' immoral zealotry, suspicious of Saidan and his closest companions whom they suspected corrupted without being able to prove it, and who believed that their comrades had fallen from their once-noble purpose, left to form the Argent Dawn, which took a less extreme approach by remaining faithful to the principles of the Light, and accepted members from all of Azeroth's races into their ranks at Light's Hope Chapel, which served as their base of operations in the Plaguelands. It's also here that Lord Maxwell Tyrosus, and a few others, were chosen for the secret task of unearthing the bodies of a thousand fallen heroes of the Light and bringing them to be interred once more in sacred ground, in order to protect the honored dead from being raised as nothing more than cogs in the Lich King's undead army. Lord Raymond George was the first leader of the Dawn, succeeded by Lord Maxwell Tyrosus after his demise.

At one point after the Third War, a pit lord named Verius traveled to a chapel belonging to the Knights of the Silver Hand, in the guise of a human, to manipulate a priest named Father Rammal into unwittingly assisting him by recommending his inclusion, in order to infiltrate the Order. However, having seen through the demon disguise with the aid of a magical amulet, a female elf within the chapel revealed that both she and "Rammal" were in fact blood elves. Verius quickly became aware of their motives once they revealed their true appearance and fell upon him to feed on his energy.

World of Warcraft
Following the Third War, the Cathedral of Light now serves as the main spiritual hub for the Church of the Holy Light, as well the paladins in the kingdoms of Stormwind and Ironforge, with Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker and Valgar Highforge at their head, who remained part of the Knights of the Silver Hand. They are the martial branch of the Church and seek to be an example of the Light's teachings as well as enforce its laws. Even if the Church wishes to bolster its ranks, it understands the sacrifices needed to ensure the paladins serving it are worthy, notably through the study of the Tome of Divinity and trials, such as the test of valor.

These new Knights of the Silver Hand were sent on missions to fight the enemies of the Alliance that are the Defias Brotherhood and the Dark Iron dwarf during their training, but also to Chillwind Camp in the Western Plaguelands to assist Commander Ashlam Valorfist against the endless undead of the Scourge present in the region.

Everyone in the order thought that Merideth Carlson was mad for coming up with the idea of a special horse feed destined to nourish spiritual horses. Relationships with the horse breeder were eventually mended, in order to allow the young paladins to be able to obtain their own charger, a tedious task that involved months of obtaining materials all over Azeroth, guided by Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker.

After King Varian Wrynn went missing under suspicious circumstances while en route to a diplomatic summit to Theramore Isle, the venerated paladin Highlord Bolvar Fordragon acted as the Regent Lord of Stormwind and the Supreme Commander of Stormwind's forces on behalf of the young King Anduin Wrynn, so that order could be preserved within the kingdom.

The Knight of the Silver Hand Trey Lightforge came in Northern Kalimdor to offer his help to the Alliance's night elven allies, in order to purge the lands from the forces of the demons and undead, but he was captured with his night elf friend Arko'narin while they were investigating the demonic activities in Jaedenar and the resurgence of the Shadow Council. He was tortured to death in the Shadow Hold of Felwood, his soul haunting the place until an adventurer came to kill his torturer and recover both his sword and his remains, allowing him to be buried and finally rest in peace.

The Silver Hand had no presence in Lordaeron until Tirion Fordring came out of exile. When his son Taelan was killed by Grand Inquisitor Isillien for trying to leave the Scarlet Crusade, Tirion avenged him and vowed over his son's body to reform the Order of the Silver Hand, once more be a force of good dedicated to extinguishing the evil, regardless of its politics or pleasantries, that plagued the world.
 * "The death of my son at the hands of these monsters will not pass without incident. Take solace in knowing that the Order is reborn. I now take my place as Highlord of the new Order of the Silver Hand."

The order is mentioned to be active during the initial assault on Naxxramas, as Eligor Dawnbringer of the Brotherhood of the Light mentioned them in a conversation with Scarlet Commander Marjhan at Light's Hope Chapel, threatening the latter to inform Lord Fordring and his knights that they are no longer here on amicable terms, and that the Highlord would take great pleasure in seeing to their "atonement".

After his death against Arthas, Uther's body was retrieved and buried in a great tomb built for him to the south of the ruins of Andorhal, at Sorrow Hill.

The Burning Crusade
After the reopening of the Dark Portal, a battalion of the Knight of the Silver Hand led by Lord Irulon Trueblade launched an expedition into Outland to secure the other side of the Dark Portal against the demons of the Burning Legion. When one of their paladins accused of desertion, Jorad Mace, returned with the news that an army of fel orcs and nether dragons was on its way towards the Dark Portal, Lord Irulon Trueblade vouched for him and urged Commander Duron to put the army on high alert.

Soon after they shored up their defensive lines, the combined strength of the Alliance, Aldor, Silver Hand, Horde, and Broken troops stationed at the portal confronted Ragnok Bloodreaver's forces at the Stair of Destiny. During the battle, Ragnok was disintegrated by a radiant and sacred swing of Jorad's hammer. Without their leader and the nether dragons' support, the remains of the death knight's forces were driven off by the coalition, stopping them from getting a foothold in Azeroth.

In addition to the Scarlet Crusade, the Silver Hand found a rival in the newly-emerged Blood Knight order, a group of errant paladins who had come to prominence in the restored elven lands north of Lordaeron. Some of these elves had been knights of the Silver Hand before the Third War, such as Mehlar Dawnblade, a former pupil of Uther who held his former master indirectly responsible for the fall of Quel'Thalas and decided to defile Uther's Tomb believing Uther's "mishandling" of the young prince's training was responsible for Arthas' betrayal, and that he failed to stop him. To prove their dominance over the Light, Blood Knights were sent to defile the Alonsus Chapel, the Silver Hand's founding place. The ghostly knights Aelmar the Vanquisher, Cathela the Seeker, Gregor the Justiciar, Vicar Hieronymus, and Nemas the Arbiter appeared to defend the chapel alongside Lord Aurius Rivendare who was defeated.

Other people also went to the tomb of Uther, among them the draenei Anchorite Truuen who studied many heroes of Azeroth, and who considers that Uther the Lightbringer of the Silver Hand was the one who interested him the most. He wants to honor the memory of the paladin by recovering the Mark of the Lightbringer, kept by the Scarlet Crusade at Taelan's Tower, with the help of an adventurer. After recovering the mark and taking it to the tomb, the ghost of Uther appeared to thank them for what they accomplished and told them to keep the mark, as a symbol of the strength of the Light and how heroes long gone might once again rise in each of us to inspire.

Shortly before the war against the Lich King, Korialstrasz decimated a large Scourge army somewhere in Lordaeron. The red dragon noticed that some of the undead wore paladins' armor.

Wrath of the Lich King
At the head of the paladins of the Silver Hand and the Argent Dawn, Highlord Tirion Fordring emerged at Light's Hope Chapel to defend it from the Scourge, unleashing his holy fury upon the armies of undead until the Death Knights of Acherus were ultimately defeated. During his confrontation with the Lich King, Tirion reclaimed and purified the Ashbringer, leading the Dark Lord of the Scourge to retreat and freeing at the same time the death knights from his grip. After the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, Tirion called for a union between the Argent Dawn and the Order of the Silver Hand. Together they formed the Argent Crusade, which sailed to Northrend and fought to end the reign of the Lich King.

During the Scourge Invasion, some paladins of the order were present in Shattrath City to protect Bishop Lazaril's altar and her priests, as they were creating holy artifacts from the concentration of light of the Naaru, in order to protect the Allianca capitals and destroy the floating necropolises of the Lich King.

In the beginnings of the war against the Scourge, Tirion Fordring managed to set foot at Valgarde in Northrend under the disguise of a Cleric of the Crusade, while an envoy of the Silver Hand named Ares the Oathbound was entrusted to transport the Ashbringer separately, in order to protect the Highlord should the Lich King's forces attempt to intercept him. Ares sacrificed his life to protect and transport the legendary weapon, fatally wounded by undead, he directed an adventurer to retrieve the artifact in the Utgarde Catacombs, and with his dying breath implored them to deliver it to Lord Irulon Trueblade who returned the weapon to Tirion. In honor of the knights who sacrificed themselves for their sacred duty, the Highlord revealed his identity and declared that the Order of the Silver Hand has arrived, and that they would advance until they defeated Arthas. Irulon Trueblade then mentioned that the Order now works toward Icecrown.

Along with the Knights of the Ebon Blade, as the Ashen Verdict, they were instrumental in Arthas's ultimate defeat, with Tirion himself using the Ashbringer to sunder Frostmourne.

Cataclysm
Following the Cataclysm, the paladin trainers in the kingdoms of Stormwind and Ironforge were still greeting new members as part of an Order of the Silver Hand that did not merge with the Argent Crusade. Those paladins of the Alliance that didn't join the Argent Crusade were still members of the old Knights of the Silver Hand who remained loyal to the Alliance.

They were sent to fight the enemies of the Alliance in Blackrock Depths, preventing the deaths of allies at the hands of the Dark Iron clan and the Twilight Hammer, but also at the cursed Shadowfang Keep in Silverpine Forest to obtain unique materials, so that Therum Deepforge can create weapons at the height of their dedication.

During Tyr's Hand's conquest, Crusade Commander Korfax of the Brotherhood of the Light ordered adventurers to retrieve some priceless artifacts in the fortified city, among them the Shroud of Uther and Gavinrad's Sigil, hidden in chests within the barracks as these artifacts of the founding members of the Silver Hand were too holy for the now-undead scarlet crusaders to touch. Once in his possession, Korfax announced that he intends to deliver them to Maxwell Tyrosus at Light's Hope Chapel, as they belong in the hands of the righteous.

In Stratholme, the Knight of the Silver Hand Aurius Rivendare, who succumbed to the savage attacks of Baron Rivendare, fell to the corruption of the Scourge and was raised as a death knight, he then took control of the city in his father's absence. Following his resurrection, Eligor Dawnbringer sent adventurers to kill him. His body was then placed in a crypt of the city. The ghost of Lord Raymond George also sent some adventurers in the burning city to retrieve valuable relics of the Silver Hand, among them lost volumes of the Annals of the Silver Hand under the watchful eye of Instructor Galford, considered as fitting additions to the rededicated Light's Hope Chapel.

Legion
Following the failed Argent Crusade's assault on the Broken Shore, and the loss of Highlord Tirion Fordring during the Battle for Broken Shore, Lord Maxwell Tyrosus came into contact with a paladin hero in order to reunite those who still have the conviction to save their home, but also to find and secure the holy legendary artifacts that are The Silver Hand (artifact), the Truthguard and the Ashbringer (artifact), the only weapons that would allow them to fight back against the Legion.

After successfully securing all of the artifacts, and bringing back Tirion's body to be buried with dignity amongst the ancient heroes of the Light, a ceremony took place within a hidden sanctum beneath Light's Hope Chapel to unite every paladin order on Azeroth, where the paladin hero was named as the new Highlord and Champion of the restored Order of the Silver Hand, having been chosen as Tirion Fordring's heir and the most worthy to wear the mantle of Highlord. From the Sanctum of Light, the Silver Hand began to prepare itself for its fight against the demons of the Burning Legion.

The Order of the Silver Hand grew and was made up of:
 * The original paladins of the Silver Hand, led by Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker
 * The remnants of the Argent Crusade, led by Lord Maxwell Tyrosus
 * The draenei of the Hand of Argus, led by Vindicator Boros
 * The blood elves of the Blood Knights, led by Lady Liadrin
 * The tauren of the Sunwalkers, led by Aponi Brightmane
 * Justicar Julia Celeste and Arator the Redeemer were also leaders of the new order.

While not directly stated, Brother Sammuel from Northshire was also present, thus the Brotherhood of Northshire was apparently also represented. Same with Eligor Dawnbringer of the Brotherhood of the Light, and later Lothraxion of the Army of the Light.

During the Burning Legion's third invasion, the Order of the Silver Hand began to mobilize on the Broken Isles, with the support of Lord Shadowbreaker who has volunteered to coordinate their forces on the ground, sending reconnaissance troops across the islands to watch over the legion's movements and bring back the survivors they found. Subsequently the Silver Hand organized the recruitment and training of new troops such as Squad of Squires and Shieldbearer Phalanx formed by Commander Ansela, a grizzled war veteran and seasoned teacher who pledged her service to the order after being rescued in the Broken Isles, Silver Hand Knights and Silver Hand Templar formed by Commander Born, a hard teacher who has trained some of the greatest paladin knights in the recent times, and finally Silver Hand Crusaders recruited by Crusader Kern. The ongoing offensive within the Broken Shore also drawn the interest of many paladins who wish to join the rank of the Silver Hand, some of them were judged in Light's Hope Chapel by the Highlord itself who eliminated the Legion infiltrator among them. Some high elves were also present in the ranks of the Order as Silver Hand Shieldbearers.

During one of their expedition on the Broken Shore, Lord Maxwell Tyrosus and his scouts discover and report to Archmage Khadgar and the Highlord that an extraordinarily luminescent object has emerged from the Felstorm, emanating an incredible surge of power that they could feel it coursing through their body, before it vanished and crashed beyond the horizon, towards the coast of Suramar, cutting a swath through the tempest itself. Their discovery was the Light's Heart, the heart of the naaru Xe'ra, bearer of Turalyon's message for Azeroth, and according to him, the key that must be brought to the Prophet Velen to defeat the Legion, or all the universe would be doomed. In Arator's presence, another message was heard, Turalyon informed his son that the dreadlord Balnazzar has been sent to Azeroth to destroy all that he holds dear, and that he must gather the defenders of the Light to fight or all will be lost. Consequently, Lady Liadrin and Lord Maxwell Tyrosus were present alongside the Highlord during the Battle for the Exodar to fight against High General Rakeesh and protect the naaru O'ros, according to Velen, targeted by the demons so that they could not unlock the knowledge crucial to their battle against the Burning Legion contained within the Light's Heart.

The defenses of the Silver Hand were also attacked by the Knights of the Ebon Blade who came to retrieve Tirion's body in order to make him the last member of the Four Horsemen. They overpowered Maxwell Tyrosus, then made their way to the bottom of the Sanctum where Lady Liadrin tried to stop them, but was defeated as well. Just as the Ebon Blade was about to claim Tirion, the Light itself intervened and burned the surrounded death knights, forcing them to flee and granting victory to the paladins.

Under the orders of the Highlord and Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker, the Knights of the Silver Hand were mobilized on different missions, notably to pursue Balnazzar by pinpointing his recent movements in eastern Azsuna, where rumors said that a small demon force reported directly to him, and to bolster their forces by increasing recruitment efforts and seeking for new allies, helping priests from the Conclave to save survivors and fight demons on the Broken Shore. They also dealt with demons incursions, killing a man'ari eredar named Summoner Djobi who corrupted the local furbolgs in Val'sharah, and procured supplies of weapons, food, medicine, and other provisions for the Order after they made contact with a tribe of Highmountain tauren, killing a demon incursion who stood in their way. Later they were sent to repel a demon attack on Hearthglen, leading to the recruitment of a noted scholar from the Hearthglen archives, Sir Alamande Graythorn, who agreed to lend his expertise to their cause. Although Stratholme is still under the control of the Scourge led by Raemien the Soultaker, the Silver Hand managed to regain control of the Elders' Square, where the Alonsus Chapel is located, and defeat the death knight in order to get Aurius Rivendare's steed, Shadowmane, to redeem it to serve as a mount for the new Highlord.

Under the command of Vindicator Boros and Justicar Julia Celeste, the Silver Hand have kept a close eye on Legion movements at Faronaar in Azsuna, where their intel suggested that a high-ranking lieutenant was present, possibly Balnazzar himself. They managed to sabotage the efforts and advance of the Legion by killing the Imp mother Ozram and a large number of demons, and by destroying Legion Orbs, vital to the Legion's planning and strategy. Nonetheless the mission nearly turned into a disaster due to the Vindicator's rage, narrowly save with his men by the Highlord.

During their mission, the Knights of the Silver Hand managed to obtain Balnazzar's Codex of Command. Unable to access the information inside, Aponi Brightmane contacted her friend Delas Moonfang, a priestess from the Conclave, who has been studying Eredun. The latter agreed to help and managed to decipher the Codex after the paladins managed to bring her a Fel Lexicon from a powerful prisoner inside the Violet Hold. As Legion sigils only reveal themselves in the presence of demon blood, the Knights of the Silver Hand were mobilized on various missions on the Broken Isles to obtain Flask of Demon Blood. They first disrupted the demonic operation in the Felbeast Dens in Azsuna, where the Legion created terrifyingly resilient breeds of manastalkers, by killing Felbreeder Argnotha. As the eredar Despoiler Egrothar came in Highmountain to desecrate the sacred burial sites of the Highmountain tribe, raising the bodies of the dead, the paladins put them back to rest before killing the demon. When the Felskorn assembled at the gates of the Hall of Valor in Stormheim, including among them a massive brute named Cleaver Northamel, the Silver Hand paladins were sent to eliminate all of them. Later, they came in support in Felsoul Hold in the southwestern region of Suramar, to dispose of giant infernals and felbats who attacked any who come near the Legion base of operations. Finally, the Order of the Silver Hand sent their troops in the region of Val'sharah to destroy a rampaging satyr warband, led by Illbringer Zizzifrax, in order to help the druids of the Cenarion Circle who have their hands full with the satyr and the Nightmare.

The contents of the Codex taught paladins about a Legion invasion force at Felblaze Ingress, in Azsuna, where they planned to open a portal directly to their demon world of Niskara. This information led to an assault under the command of Aponi Brightmane and Arator the Redeemer, alongside the Conclave, while the Highlord and his allies were investigating on Lord Kur'talos Ravencrest, a formidable general during Azshara's reign which was rumored to amass an enormous army behind the fortress walls of Black Rook Hold, leading to the liberation of the spirit of the night elf and the elimination of Dantalionax who impersonated the latter's advisor to manipulate him. However, the paladins did not give any further news after their departure. They were later rescued by the Highlord who traced them by finding the pages of Aponi's libram, learning that their assault was a failure when Balnazzar appeared through his portal and defeat them, before imprisoning them in Niskara. They also saved by the same occasion a Mysterious Stranger who informed them that Balnazzar and his armies were about to attack the Netherlight Temple, headquarters of the Conclave hidden in the Twisting Nether.

The Order of the Silver Hand agreed to support the Conclave, and accepted Delas' request to join them as their first night elf paladin, alongside her uncle Nerus Moonfang after the Highlord freed the family from Oathbinder Zorak's curse. Subsequently, the Order began its preparations by sending troops to collect Blood of Sargeras, a rare powerful reagent to bind the magic on their weapons and armor, but above all a rare metal called Lumenstone among the native peoples of the Broken Isles, recognized as unbreakable and able to negate magic, even withstand great amounts of fel, for the creation of weapons and armor for an army. The paladins of the Silver Hand were sent to the Broken Shore, littered with debris from battle, to gather plenty of lumenstone while fighting the demons still patrolling the area. Some of them return with lumenstone that they found during their assault of the Legion Camp: Ruin in Azsuna, where the demons kept a rich stockpile of weapons. After scouts stumbled upon a Tideskorn vrykul raiding party, equipped with lumenstone weapons under the lead of Plunderer Jurval, the Order sent troops to eliminate the enemy and take their weapons for their own. Some of them also "convinced" the naga in southern Val'sharah to part with their weapons crafted from lumenstone. And when the nightborne moved a large shipment of lumenstone behind the walls of Suramar City, paladins of the order came to fight Warden Jor'al under cover of darkness, and claim all the steel. Once ready, the paladins joined the Battle for the Netherlight Temple, who led to the final death of Balnazzar with the help of Lothraxion and the Army of the Light.

Following their victory, the Order of the Silver Hand joined the other orders, represented by Gryan Stoutmantle, to form the Armies of Legionfall in Dalaran, where the Order has access portals from the Sanctum to the Greyfang Enclave in the Alliance district, and the Windrunner's Sanctuary in the Horde district. The Knights of the Silver Hand were present to repel the legion's assault on Dalaran, and to fight alongside their allies during the Assault on Broken Shore, with Captain Ridgers at their head at Deliverance Point.

During the Argus Campaign, the Silver Hand discovered that Turalyon, who had been missing for over twenty years, was still alive and had become the High Exarch of the Army of the Light, blessed by Xe'ra to become an eternal protector of creation, after he joined the Lightforged as they waged war against the Burning Legion across the Twisting Nether in a struggle that spanned a millennium. Some paladins of the Silver Hand were present on Argus under the orders of the Highlord, Lady Liadrin, Arator the Redeemer, and Vindicator Boros, in order to fight demons on the battlefield at Darkfall Ridge, and protect the Vindicaar from Legion's attacks. When Sargeras impaled Azeroth with his sword, gravely injuring its world-soul while its energies seeped like poison, a champion of the Silver Hand among other champions of Azeroth drained the sword of its corruption with a sacred artifact of the Order, serving as a vessel for its vast power. The red glow subsided, and the sword went dormant.

Battle for Azeroth
During the Battle for Stromgarde, the paladins of the Alliance bore the banner of the Silver Hand and planted Blessed Banners on the battlefield. They were under the orders of High Exarch Turalyon who made his return to Azeroth and pledged his forces to High King Anduin Wrynn. They only employed Alliance races and fought once more on the side of the Alliance against the Horde, notably Liadrin and her Blood Knights alongside the Sunwalkers, indicating that the Silver Hand has splintered once again in the beginning of the Fourth War.

They fought alongside several elite members of the Army of the Light, while Turalyon scoffed at the idea of the Horde armies being led by a paladin, Lady Liadrin, questioning what has happened on Azeroth to allow this. He then claimed he will take pleasure in enacting justice from a "misguided paladin of the Horde". The battle ultimately ended in the Alliance's favor.

Following the Fourth War, Mathias Shaw mentions in his report that the Knights of the Silver Hand are still present and active in the Sanctum of Light, where its halls have been cleared to store many artifacts mostly recovered from Scholomance, Stratholme and the Plaguelands. The artifacts stored by the Silver Hand are far too dangerous to be stored elsewhere, and above all far too tempting for anyone to resist, which requires sacred protections.

Among them, the most dangerous are the weapons and armor recovered by the paladins from the body of Balnazzar in the Scarlet Bastion, which are the Demonshear, the Hammer of the Grand Crusader, the Crown of Tyranny, the Shroud of the Nathrezim, and the Book of the Dead of which a copy of the runes has been made with ordinary ink, currently kept under high magical protection at the Cathedral of Light, in order to be able to recognize this language if it should be seen written elsewhere.

Other artifacts recovered by adventurers, who ventured years ago in the burning city to defeat Baron Rivendare with the help of Lord Aurius Rivendare, have also joined those in the Sanctum, among them the Runeblade of Baron Rivendare, the Bonescraper, and the Seal of Rivendare.

The Silver Hand also received the book The Light and How to Swing It, written by Uther for Arthas, after Lorekeeper Mykos removed the mark from the Athenaeum and donated it to the paladin archives, thus allowing all paladins to read it.

Shadowlands
The Order of the Silver Hand makes its appearance in the paladin section of the Training Hall in Stormwind, represented by Gilda Silvershield and one of the foremost paladins in the realm, the paladin trainer Ezul'aan, who asked to meet young paladins who impressed him with their rapid progress, in order to send them to fight the enemies of the Alliance in Blackrock Depths, and at Shadowfang Keep to obtain materials for the creation of weapons at the height of their dedication, as Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker did in the past.

Following King Anduin's abduction by the Mawsworn, Turalyon was appointed as regent and protector of the Kingdom of Stormwind with the support of the House of Nobles, and mused about secured other holdings of the old Alliance.

In the Shadowlands, through Uther's memories, the Maw Walker witnessed the creation of the Order of the Silver Hand in Alonsus Chapel, where the first paladins and the Archbishop were present to induct Uther into their ranks.

Culture


The archaic human words "Esarus thar no'Darador", which translates to "By Blood and Honor We Serve", are the motto of the Order of the Silver Hand. These words are often found on the cover of religious tomes in Azeroth, on memorial statues of Turalyon, and on the stainglass representation of Tyr in Stratholme's chapel.

The paladins seem to have a thousand different rites for every minor occasion, and are also known to be very sanctimonious. For them; any service, however humble, that helped another was of the Light. Nevertheless, they are known for their expedience in meting out justice, which can sometimes turn into an inquisition.

The members of the Silver Hand consider themselves to be “Brothers” and “Sisters” when they become paladins.

Not all Knights of the Silver Hand necessarily come from noble families, like Sir Thomas who comes from a family that owns and worked a pumpkin farm in Tirisfal Glades. When a paladin enters the ranks of the Silver Hand, they can change their name. It's notably the case of Davil Lightfire, originally Davil Crokford.

When they obtain their steed, the paladins of the Silver Hand name them following the tradition of the paladins and priests, inherited from the informal tradition of the knights and nobles of Lordaeron, by a quality they admire. It's the case of Invincible and Steadfast, respectively named by Arthas Menethil and Uther the Lightbringer.

The paladins had a more ritualistic way of looking at battle, and focused more on the attitude one brought into the fight than the actual mechanics of swordplay. In battle, they charge their enemies onto their steeds, using mainly swords and warhammers, but also maces, axes, shields, and their librams. During a fight to the death, the Holy code of the Order asks the paladin that they give a reprieve to their enemy if they collapse, as butchering a fallen foe in the midst of single combat is unquestionably dishonorable. They also cannot slay any foe who cannot defend himself, notably someone asleep or unconscious, as the stain would be too great for their oaths.

Before a dangerous mission, the Knights of the Silver Hand take no risks, the chief paladin of the group gives their seal of command to their second in case something happens to them. If the leader dies, their second in possession of the seal of command rises to the rank of their predecessor and takes charge of the troops.

The Knights of the Silver Hand do not mistreat their prisoners, they do not deny them any basic rights, including food, drink, and the right to defend themselves by giving their side of the story. During interrogation, they disapprove the practice of torture or brutality, instead, asking the accused to confess, or by seeking to negotiate with them. In the case of a complete refusal to comply, they use the Light to make their prisoners answer their questions, forcing them to tell the truth although it is very painful.

The Order is an overall noble establishment, but there is a time when pleasantries must end and justice must be done. The Judgement Armor is meant to be an Inquisitor-like outfit, and is so called for a reason, it is the paladin's embodiment of delivering their sentence upon the enemy. This armor does not represent the defender aspect of the holy knights, but the commanding, faceless aspect of justice and judgement, as there is more to a paladin than shining armor.

The settlements of the Silver Hand through Lordaeron were described as keeps, with high stone walls surrounded functional and unadorned establishments where holy knights, squires, and small populations of common folk attempted to live in relative frugality. The banners of the brotherhood flew side-by-side with those of the Alliance of Lordaeron, and if not for the townsfolk, these settlements might have been mistaken for completely military operations, for the rule of the holy order clearly had control over all matters.

In case of treason or acts contrary to the rules of the Order, paladins can be excommunicated. After having stand trial, their light-given powers are stripped, they are then banned from the paladinship and exiled. Though it had only been used a few times, every paladin lived in mortal fear of it.

Belief
As the martial branch of the Church of the Holy Light, the Order of the Silver Hand clergy is renowned for spreading goodness. These noble warriors employ both a strong military and powerful magics in the defense of their kingdoms. Bestowed with the ancient arms and armor of their forefathers, they wander from town to town righting the wrongs of society. Although the Alliance of Lordaeron has all but fallen apart, these valiant warriors have once again taken up steel against the enemies of Azeroth.

They are followers of the philosophy of the Holy Light, which boils down to the three teachings called the Three Virtues. The Knights of the Silver Hand apply them at all times in order to make the world a place everyone can appreciate; a world of honor and justice.

Compassion, patience, bravery mean as much to a paladin as strength in battle, and sacrifice is a key component in what it takes to uphold their duties.

Through the general ideology of the Light is to strive to be good in all actions, the paladins must always show themselves worthy of serving the light and never forget the virtues that make them what they are. They also seek to be the best of oneself, and thus continue to make the world a better place. Its teachings are depicted in the Tome of Divinity and the Tome of Valor (Classic).

Missions
Founded during the Second War, the initial mission of the Paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand was to be a symbol of unity for the various peoples forming the Alliance of Lordaeron. Using their sacred power to heal, protect, and give courage to their troops, they became heroes of humanity and were on the front lines to fight the death knights of the Old Horde.

Following the war, on Faol's decree, they dedicated themselves to heal the sick and granted shelter to the survivors broken by the war, while safeguarding the land from orc attacks by directing a few settlements across Lordaeron until the Third War. As a number of internment camps were constructed in southern Lordaeron to contain the orcish threat, they were guarded by both paladins of the order and veteran soldiers.

For years, they kept the peace in Lordaeron, settling civil disputes and quelling demi-human uprisings throughout the realm. Some paladins also hold leadership positions in seigneuries, municipalities and even regions across the kingdom. It was notably the case of Tirion Fordring as the Lord of Hearthglen, succeeded by his apprentice Barthilas who later became the Magistrate of Stratholme. Recently, Gryan Stoutmantle became the Marshal in charge of leading the reconstruction and protection of Westfall.

When the Plague of Undeath manifested in Lordaeron, the Paladins of the Silver Hand mobilized against the undead, even after the Order was suspended by Arthas Menethil. They have since battled tirelessly against the Scourge, seeking to free Lordaeron from the undead, and restore it to its former glory.

Powerful holy knights, they are called to protect the weak, to bring justice to the unjust, and to vanquish evil from the darkest corners of the world. They are dedicated to the cause of the Church and their Order, but can also decide to travel, spreading their faith and the justice of the Light across Azeroth. Others join the ranks of the Alliance armies, such as the Stormwind Army, where they fight, protect and lead their comrades on the battlefield. Among them, veterans may join the ranks of the 7th Legion.

As members of the Church, they are mainly present in places of worship, such as churches, which provide a place where priests and paladins can commune with the people of the land. They take care of the sick and wounded, while seniors are responsible for training aspiring paladins. They also make sure to support the society by helping and participating in charitable works, and are sent on missions against those who threaten the peoples of the Alliance and their allies, notably by allowing the undead and spirits to rest, either by purging them or by using a holy censer.

In times of peace, some of them exchange their weapons and armor for simple robes, applying the teachings of Alonsus Faol on the dichotomy of paladins to serve humbly in devastated communities after wars; as they are both warriors and healers. They were also known to minister to the masses during the war, gathering inside churches to deepen their faith.

Following the Fourth War, the Silver Hand transformed some rooms of the Sanctum of Light, in order to store many artifacts that their paladins recover and secure. Those artifacts are far too dangerous to be stored elsewhere, and above all far too tempting for anyone to resist, therefore, the paladins employ sacred protections.

Formation


The training to become a paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand can take several months for priests and knights, and up to several years for younger and inexperienced apprentices, although training can be accelerated for squires if necessary. Becoming an apprentice requires attending to an establishment of the Church or the Silver Hand, and proving itself worthy of receiving the teachings of the Light. Whether young or adult, those who succeed are admitted and begin their training, those who are not worthy are dismissed but may retry later.

In the past, they were mainly trained in Lordaeron, notably at the Cathedral of Capital City, the former main spiritual hub of the Church before the Third War, or at the Monastery, a center for learning and enlightenment known as a proud bastion of Lordaeron's priesthood, which served as a seminary and major training ground for paladins in training. Nowadays, they are mainly trained by their seniors at the Sanctum of Light, in the Northshire Abbey of Northshire Valley, or at the Cathedral of Light and the Training Hall of Stormwind City. In Ironforge, they are trained in the Hall of Mysteries, a center of arcane and divine practice and study.

During their formation, apprentice paladins are trained to use a variety of weapons, they learn combat tactics and many techniques, as well as how to ride and fight on their steed. Their training sessions are long and difficult, lasting up to several hours a day until exhaustion, and this for days and nights. Training at arms is important for a paladin, so are prayer and meditation, as they must be able to cut down their enemies but must also be able to heal their allies and themselves. In places of worship, they are instructed to pray, to meditate for hours, and often discuss the nature of paladins and the rigorous disciplines they must observe. At the same time, they study many sacred texts, learn to take care of church duties and religious services, are instructed on the ways of the Order and its code of honor, but also on the protocols of politics and knighthood.

Despite the Church's wishes to bolster its ranks, it understands the sacrifices needed to ensure the paladins serving it are worthy, thus requiring long training and several tests that could take their lives.

After being deemed worthy, becoming a paladin and officially join the Silver Hand requires passing a ceremony of induction headed by an Archbishop, or a high member of the church, in presence of clerics of the Brotherhood of Northshire and paladins of the order. During his ceremony at Alonsus Chapel, Tirion Fordring received his warhammer engraved with holy runes from a member of the order and the silver plates that were placed on his shoulders by a paladin close to him, Saidan Dathrohan, before he speaks his vows and be empowered by the holy light.


 * Archbishop: In the Light, we gather to empower our brother. In its grace, he will be made anew. In its power, he shall educate the masses. In its strength, he shall combat the shadow. And, in its wisdom, he shall lead his brethren to the eternal rewards of paradise.
 * The Archbishop closed the book and turned toward the men on the left.
 * Archbishop: Clerics of the Northshire, if you deem this man worthy, place your blessings upon him.
 * One of the clerics comes with a blessed dark blue embroidered stole in his hands, which he placed reverently around Tirion's neck. Then, he dipped his thumb in a small vial of sacred oil and anointed Tirion’s forehead.
 * Cleric: By the grace of the Light, may your brethren be healed.
 * The Archbishop turned to the men on the right.
 * Archbishop: Knights of the Silver Hand, if you deem this man worthy, place your blessings upon him.
 * Two of the armored men comes, the first laid the warhammer before Tirion’s feet. The second, Saidan Dathrohan, placed the silver plates upon Tirion’s shoulders.
 * Saidan Dathrohan: By the strength of the Light, may your enemies be undone.
 * Archbishop: Arise and be recognized.
 * Tirion stood up in front of the Archbishop.
 * Archbishop: Do you, Tirion Fordring, vow to uphold the honor and codes of the Order of the Silver Hand.
 * Tirion Fordring: I do.
 * Archbishop: Do you vow to walk in the grace of the Light and spread its wisdom to your fellow man?
 * Tirion Fordring: I do.
 * Archbishop: Do you vow to vanquish evil wherever it be found, and protect the weak and innocent with your very life?
 * Tirion Fordring: By my blood and honor, I do.
 * The Archbishop closed the book and walked back toward the center of the altar, he turned to face the entire assembly.
 * Archbishop: Brothers — you who have gathered here to bear witness — raise your hands and let the Light illuminate this man.
 * Each of the clerics and knights raised their right hands and pointed toward Tirion, empowered him with the holy light.
 * Archbishop Alonsus Faol: Arise, Tirion Fordring — Paladin defender of Lordaeron. Welcome to the Order of the Silver Hand.

A few years later, Arthas Menethil went through the ceremony with Archbishop Alonsus Faol in the Cathedral of Light of Stormwind City, during which he received his warhammer etched of holy runes from Gavinrad and his silver plates from Uther the Lightbringer, before being empowered by the holy light. Taelan Fordring and Renault Mograine also went through the same ceremony for their introduction, respectively, into the ranks of the Silver Hand and the Scarlet Crusade.


 * During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, when Delas Moonfang joined the Order in the Sanctum of Light, she was instructed to "speak the vows" to be inducted by the Highlord of the Silver Hand.


 * ''Delas walks down the aisle and then kneels at the steps leading up to the Altar of Ancient Kings.
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * After Delas has completed the vow, the Highlord used the ability to complete the induction.
 * Delas stands and walks the rest of the way to the altar before kneeling again. Upon arising, she is reborn as a paladin.

Following the ceremony of induction, these new paladins receive a Badge of the Silver Hand to formalize their status and membership in the ranks of the Order. Thereafter, they continue to be trained by their master, in order to learn how to use their new holy powers. This is notably the case of Barthilas and Arthas Menethil who continued to be formed, respectively, by Tirion Fordring and Uther the Lightbringer after joining the Silver Hand.

To improve their abilities, young paladins are given various quests, missions, and trials, notably to prove to their superiors to be worthy of learning how to use the perception of the undead, but above all to access to one of the paladin's greatest honors, the power of resurrection. Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker is in charge of helping them to obtain their own charger. Those holy steeds are devoted to the cause of their owner, and are the spirits of former deathchargers recovered from death knights, and then redeemed through a sacred ritual, a tedious task that involved months of obtaining materials all over Azeroth. Following the Cataclysm, they are easier to obtain as the Silver Hand has now most of those materials at hand.

Organization
As the martial branch of the Church of the Holy Light, the Order of the Silver Hand seeks to be an example of the Light's teachings as well as enforce its laws, and therefore, has its own hierarchical structure to organize its activities, in order to protect the weak and vanquish the evil of Azeroth. The Sanctum of Light is the secret hall located beneath Light's Hope Chapel who serves as a catacomb which houses the remains of a thousand heroes of Lordaeron, and as the headquarters of the organization from where they operate since the third invasion of the Burning Legion.

Leadership
Once under the command of its the Supreme Commander and the Archbishop of the Church, the Order of the Silver Hand is led by an Highlord since the Third War, the latter being the wielder of the legendary Ashbringer. When chosen as the successor by the previous Highlord, they must record their name in the Libram of Ancient Kings, during a ceremony attended by all members of the Order.

The Highlord acts as the highest authority of the Silver Hand, they are recognized as a heroic figure among the paladins, embodying the faith justice of the Light, and the one to whom all the members of the Knights of the Silver Hand swear fidelity.


 * – Current leader of the Silver Hand.
 * – Died from his torture wounds following the Battle for Broken Shore.
 * – Assassinated by his son Renault Mograine with the Ashbringer.
 * – Killed in a duel by his apprentice Arthas Menethil with Frostmourne.
 * – Died of an unknown cause before being brought back as an undead.

The Leaders of the Silver Hand are the high-ranking members of the Order entrusted with a position of authority in the organization. They do more than advice and assist the Highlord, they take care of organizing and directing the missions of their paladins, making decisions to determine future objectives and actions of the Order, and representing it when the Highlord is not present.

Some of them were deemed worthy and chosen by the Highlord itself, while the others were leaders of other orders of paladins who have sworn loyalty to the Silver Hand, in order to fight against the Burning Legion.


 * – Leader of the Argent Crusade
 * – Founding member of the Silver Hand
 * – Chief paladin of Stormwind
 * – Grand Smith of the Silver Hand
 * – Veteran of the Scourgewar
 * – First of the Triumvirate of the Hand of Argus
 * – Champion of the Silver Hand

The Champions of the Silver Hand were chosen by the Highlord itself who considered them worthy of being the elite of the Order's paladins, as much for their heroic actions as for their dedication to the cause. Almost all leaders of the Silver Hand are champions of the Order, but not all champions are necessarily considered leaders. Their duty is to accomplish the dangerous missions they receive, to lead their troops against the enemies of the Silver Hand, and also to perform the function of bodyguard for the Highlord.


 * – Former Priestess of the Moon
 * – Spirit seeking for redemption
 * – Deluded Knight-Errant
 * – High commander of the Army of the Light

During the Third War, almost all leaders of the Order were killed by Arthas Menethil and the Scourge, among them Halahk the Lifebringer, Magroth the Defender, Ballador the Bright, Sage Truthbearer, and Gavinrad. Others left the ranks of the Order and founded the Scarlet Crusade, such as the possessed Saidan Dathrohan and High General Abbendis, while others joined the ranks of Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore's fleet, notably Dagren the Orcslayer. Following the third invasion of the Burning Legion, and the beginning of the Fourth War, Lady Liadrin of the Blood Knights and Aponi Brightmane of the Sunwalkers left the ranks of the Order with their paladins and fought under the banner of the Horde during the Battle for Stromgarde, notably against the Silver Hand under Turalyon.

Membership


The Order of the Silver Hand has a large number of paladins in its ranks, as well as many roles granted to them. Under the orders of their superiors, including captains, commanders, and champions, they dedicate their lives to the protection of Azeroth in the name of the Light.

At the Sanctum of Light, the recruitment of new troops is organized by Commander Ansela, a grizzled war veteran and seasoned teacher, and Commander Born, a hard teacher who has trained some of the greatest paladin knights in the recent times. Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker is in charge of coordinating the forces of the Silver Hand. He organizes the missions, assaults, and investigations for the paladins, but also the meetings between leaders of the order, the contact and recruitment of potential allies, the establishment of defenses to counter enemy attacks, all of this with the consideration of dozens of logistics, among them supplies, communications, weapons, armor, and many others.

The Squires are at the lowest rung of the Silver Hand, they aspire to one day become paladins themselves, and many see it as an honor to serve someone who has given themselves fully to the Light.

While most paladins of the Silver Hand charge into battle on warhorses, Shieldbearer Phalanx specialize in defensive combat, forming an impenetrable wall of protection.

The Knights of the Silver Hand devote themselves as diligently to combat training as much as they do to their daily prayers, honoring their battle skills in order to best defend the weak and the innocent. According to their specialty, they can become Protectors, Menders, or Defenders.

The Templar of the Silver Hand are not only the most skilled in battle, but also the most righteous in their demeanor. Strength of arms and purity of mind are strict requirements, and only those who possess both are named champions. They act as officers in the Order.

Deployed to only the most vicious battlefields, the Crusaders are the Silver Hand's answer to an immovable barrier.

To ensure their fight against threat like the Burning Legion, the Order has its own blacksmiths, and thus, a large number of paladins of the Silver Hand received weapons and armors made of a rare metal called Lumenstone. It was recognized as unbreakable, able to negate magic, and can even withstand great amounts of fel. This metal was collected in large quantities among the native peoples of the Broken Isles, the only place in Azeroth region where it can be found.

To protect the Sanctum of Light, or the Highlord when they are on a mission, the Silver Hand calls on its Highguards to ensure this task, the latter wearing the Judgment Armor. They also call on Scholars to take care of their libraries, in order to preserve, study and archive all the knowledge and history they have accumulated over time.

At the time of the Third War, the Silver Hand counted among its ranks some priests, such as Isillien and Fairbanks, but also possibly mages, the only one known being Arcanist Doan.

Vanguard of the Order
In times of great need, the Order of the Silver Hand can rally its mightiest forces into one pure destructive form, the Vanguard of the Silver Hand. Through a Libram in which the paladins had channel their power, the Highlord can unleash that power to send his army for an important mission or battle. In the Sanctum of Light, Terric the Illuminator is the one who takes care of rallying the troops to form the Vanguard of the Silver Hand:


 * yell


 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * say
 * yell
 * say
 * The Vanguard mount up and ride off.

Member organizations
Once only made up of humans, the Silver Hand began recruiting dwarves from Ironforge and high elves from Quel'Thalas after the Second War. Following the fall of the Order during the Third War, and its rebirth, many of the actual members of the Silver Hand are paladins of the kingdoms of Stormwind and Ironforge, affiliated with the Church of the Holy Light and the Alliance.

Among their allies against the Burning Legion, were present the draenei of the Hand of Argus and the troops of the Argent Crusade. Following the end of the invasion and the Fourth War, it is still unknown whether these two organizations are still affiliated or not with the Silver Hand, although draenei are still present and active in the ranks of the Order.

While not directly stated, Brother Sammuel from Northshire was also present, thus the Brotherhood of Northshire was also represented. Same with Eligor Dawnbringer of the Brotherhood of the Light, and later, with Turalyon and Lothraxion of the Army of the Light.

Of all the organizations that were part of the Silver Hand, many were wiped out by the Scourge during the Third War, among them the Circle of Holy Light, Champions of Light, Champions of Peace, Champions of Truth, Crippling Force, and the Defenders of Justice. More recently, at the beginning of the Fourth War, the Blood Knights and Sunwalkers left the ranks of the Order to fight under the banner of the Horde.

Relations


Having led the Alliance of Lordaeron to victory against the Old Horde during the Second War, the holy knights of the Silver Hand were recognized as valiant and mighty champions of Humanity. By their nature of warriors of the Light and their affiliation with the Church, they were the only military unit trusted by all the monarchs of the Seven Kingdoms, and served as protectors during meetings of great importance in Lordaeron's palace.

In the Alliance, the paladins of the Silver Hand are an elite known for their abilities as fighters, healers, and for leading their comrades in battle. They are present on all the battlefields, and some of them managed to reach high ranks in the hierarchy, such as Bolvar Fordragon as the Regent of Stormwind, Gryan Stoutmantle as the Marshal of Westfall, Halford Wyrmbane as the High Commander of the 7th Legion, or Turalyon as the Lord Commander of the Alliance forces.

The Wildhammer dwarves respect, if not like the Knights of the Silver Hand, as they know the prowess of the holy order in battle. Falstad Dragonreaver and his wing of gryphon riders even agreed to let Lord Duncan Senturus ride with them on their gryphons for a battle against Dragonmaw dragonriders.

The Order of the Silver Hand fights against any threat to the world, such as the Scourge and the Burning Legion, or any heretical cults that preach evil and seek to harm the living, among them the Cult of the Damned, the Twilight's Hammer, or the Shadow Council and its various demonic cults.

They are allies and comrades of the Argent Crusade, having long cooperated with its predecessor the Argent Dawn against the Scourge in Lordaeron, before merging with them following the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel under the command of Highlord Tirion Fordring, who led them against the Lich King during the Scourgewar. On the contrary, they oppose the Scarlet Crusade, considered as an aberration of the order, whose extreme and corrupt fanaticism led to the death of many innocents people.

Just like the Church considered the Kirin Tor and its magi as heretics for centuries, as they never have been fond of their methods, but let them continue to exist because they don't practice dark magic and are somewhere necessary, some knights of the Silver Hand showed hostility for Rhonin and all the others wizards and mages, seeing them as damned souls, but also as an occasional and necessary evil, which they would do without at any other time. Despite this complicated relationship, Archmage Antonidas and Archbishop Alonsus Faol had good relations in the Council of Seven Nations, where they made sure to calm tensions between the kings and shared their advice and wisdom. Before the Third War, Antonidas sent his apprentice Jaina Proudmoore to accompany the paladin of the Silver Hand Arthas Menethil in his investigation of the Plague of Undeath. Recently, the Kirin Tor and the Silver Hand became allies against the Burning Legion, including the establishment of access portals between Dalaran City and the Sanctum of Light.

Despite being allies against the demons, the Silver Hand and the Blood Knights maintain a strained and aggressive relationship. They are factionally opposed, with a different philosophy on their relationship with the Light, and because the latters having once considered themselves to be the best paladins of Azeroth, and the true masters of the Light, going so far as to attempt to assert their dominance with the destruction of the Alonsus Chapel. This duality resurfaced noticeably during the Fourth War.

The Silver Hand maintains a hostile relationship with the Knights of the Ebon Blade. Despite they made an alliance to defeat the Lich King, the death knights recently led an assault on the defenses of the Silver Hand, in order to retrieve Tirion's body and make him the last member of the Four Horsemen. Although they managed to make their way through the paladins, their attempt was interrupted by the Light itself in the Sanctum of Light, leaving the death knights' order in a situation of hostility with the Silver Hand, but also with the Argent Crusade.

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, the Silver Hand developed an alliance with the Conclave, the two orders sharing the same objective of permanently destroying the nathrezim Balnazzar. A common goal that was accomplished during the battle against the forces of Balnazzar in the Netherlight Temple, where both organizations fought together. Following the end of the invasion, the Silver Hand seems to have good relations with the Army of the Light, both of them being in the service of the Alliance, and having cooperated against the Horde during the Battle for Stromgarde, under the orders of the High exarch Turalyon.

Items

 * Silver Hand Blade
 * Mark of the Lightbringer, a holy relic that belonged to Uther the Lightbringer. Its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Ring of the Silver Hand can be obtained from Warlord Kalithresh in the Steamvault.
 * Discarded Silver Hand Spaulders can be found inside the Dark Runed Chest after defeating Mal'Ganis in the Culling of Stratholme.
 * Legplates of the Silver Hand (Trial of the Crusader) can be obtained from Anub'arak in the Trial of the Crusader.
 * Greathelm of the Silver Hand can be found inside The Captain's Chest after the Escape from Arthas in Halls of Reflection.
 * Badge of the Silver Hand, which is to be given to Uther's spirit, is a medal given upon acceptance to the Knights of the Silver Hand. Its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Tabard of the Lightbringer, which can be received from Uther's spirit, bears the symbol of the Silver Hand. Its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Glorenzelg, High-Blade of the Silver Hand can be obtained from the Lich King. Its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Gavinrad's Sigil belonged to Gavinrad the Dire. Its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Shroud of Uther belonged to Uther the Lightbringer. Its flavor text reads "Yellow" It is the in-game representation of the Shroud of the Lightbringer.
 * Annals of the Silver Hand was under the watchful eye of Instructor Galford in Stratholme. Its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Mace of the Order, Gavel of the Order and Warhammer of the Order are rewards from The Hand of the Light.
 * Helm of the Order, Faceguard of the Order and Headguard of the Order are rewards from Weapons of Darkness (Alliance).
 * The Silver Hand (artifact), the artifact for the Holy paladin, is the hammer of Tyr, whose legend inspired the symbol of the Silver Hand. It is accompanied by the Tome of the Silver Hand when equipped, its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Legends of the Silver Hand is a book sold by Scowling Rosa. Its flavor text reads "Yellow"
 * Greatsword of the Silver Hand, Warhammer of the Silver Hand, Blade of the Silver Hand, and Bulwark of the Silver Hand (item) are sold by the Quartermaster Eadric the Pure in the Sanctum of Light.
 * Crown of the Silver Hand, Spaulders of the Silver Hand, Breastplate of the Silver Hand, Gauntlets of the Silver Hand, Bindings of the Silver Hand, Legplates of the Silver Hand, and Sabatons of the Silver Hand are part of the Battleplate of the Silver Hand sold by the Quartermaster Eadric the Pure in the Sanctum of Light.
 * Arsenal: Armaments of the Silver Hand, which unlocks the appearances of Gilded Warhammer, Ardent Warhammer, Ardent Defender (item), Gilded Defender, Ardent Gavel and Ardent Hammer, is sold by the Legionfall Artificer Warmage Kath'leen at Deliverance Point.
 * Purity's Edge Greatblade and Death Warden's Greatblade, which can be obtained in Bastion, bears the symbol of the Silver Hand on them.

In Warcraft III
The Silver Hand was a human faction led by Uther. Among their ranks it counted the hero units paladins, and regular units like footmen, knights, riflemen, and some militias. They appeared as an allied faction in The Defense of Strahnbrad, Blackrock and Roll, and as an enemy faction in Digging up the Dead.

In the RPG


Although the study of the Holy Light lends itself to scholars and priests, they are not the only faithful followers. The Knights of the Silver Hand is an organization of paladins who have also studied and devoted themselves to the three virtues. It is the holy order that gives the paladins their sense of righteousness and allows a sense of community to strengthen their resolve. Although it is a proud organization, the paladins must give up a great deal to join, including their independence. Uther Lightbringer founded the order before the Alliance launched the Second War. The paladins were instrumental in winning the war, and actually helped the Holy Light catch on with the citizenry of Azeroth when people saw the mighty paladins do battle with their holy power.

In recent years, the Knights of the Silver Hand entered a dark period when one of their own, Prince Arthas, turned his back on the order in his dark pursuit of vengeance. He fully embraced the evil he thought he was hunting and became a death knight in service to the Scourge. This event dealt a great blow to the paladins of the order, as they had to watch one of their best turn into a mighty enemy. Many paladins feel responsibility for him, because the Holy Light teaches that every person can strengthen other people. Since they were unable to strengthen Arthas, the entire world suffered.

Following the invasion of the Scourge, many of the order's paladins joined a zealous group of followers of the Light known as the Scarlet Crusade. However, many of these paladins have become fanatical towards their ambition of destroying the Scourge, to the point that those not wearing their colors are deemed corrupted. After leaving the Crusade, some paladins decided to join the Argent Dawn. Some paladins of the Silver Hand, brought to their knees by their failure to do anything to stop the plague and save Lordaeron from the Lich King’s depredations, have also turned from the light and joined Arthas Menethil as death knights.

Others fled south, to the Kingdom of Stormwind. The paladin order, still referring to themselves as the Order of the Silver Hand, now thrives under new leadership at the Cathedral of Light in Stormwind City. Over time, the followers of the Holy Light spread their philosophy to the dwarves of Ironforge, who soon adopted the tenets of the order as well. Though decimated, the Knights of the Silver Hand eventually bounced back.


 * Even after the triumph at Mount Hyjal, the paladins remembered Arthas's betrayal and just how close their order and all of Azeroth had come to complete destruction. Many paladins felt responsibility for Arthas because the Holy Light teaches that every person can strengthen other people. Since they were unable to strengthen Arthas, the entire world suffered. After such an enormous breach of trust, the paladins resolved anew to eliminate all traces of corruption in their ranks.
 * While the Knights of the Silver Hand survived the Scourge, few paladins were left in the order. The remaining knights started hunting Arthas's servants, the undead, with a ruthlessness that frightened some, but they were determined to fix their mistakes.
 * The stalwart paladins of the Silver Hand who traveled to Kalimdor worked to establish a new church there.
 * Humans founded the Knights of the Silver Hand, and though they remained the bulk of its membership, the new order started to accept dwarves into the ranks to replace paladins lost during the Third War (they had previously accepted a few dwarven paladins as far back as the Second War, though it was uncommon). The order was not nearly as active as it once had been, but those belonging to the organization became some of the most active members of the Alliance.
 * In addition to the night elves, many guests and diplomats from elsewhere reside in Darnassus, including Knights of the Silver Hand.
 * Auradins are paladins of the Silver Hand who focus the power of their faith and of their traditions solely into their auras.
 * Templars see corruption in their homes and many other organizations, including the Knights of the Silver Hand. While the templars see paladins as allies and vice versa, templars feel that the Silver Hand overemphasizes tradition and order over general goodness and the other values of the Light.
 * Verius attempted to infiltrate the Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand after the Third War.
 * Brann believes that blue dragons may be found in the ranks of many mortal orders, including the Knights of the Silver Hand.
 * Delgren the Purifier is a Knight of the Silver Hand.
 * Forthisal D'Neve is studying with the Knights of the Silver Hand to become a paladin.
 * The Phylactery of Faithfulness, a small box containing religious scripture affixed to a leather cord and tied around the forehead, is commonly used by night elves and members of the Silver Hand.
 * Once indoctrinated, a lightslayer receives missions to combat the Holy Light, particularly the Scarlet Crusade (though Knights of the Silver Hand and ordinary priests and parishioners are also fair game).
 * According to Brann Bronzebeard;
 * We have the Knights of the Silver Hand on our side, but this is a group that has experienced more hardships than most during these dark days. Once the pinnacle of enlightenment, goodness, purity and light, they are forever shamed that the powerful Lich King who sits upon the frozen throne was one of theirs. They wrack their brains on where they went wrong, why they couldn’t see the streak of evil that obviously lurked inside Arthas. If he were truly a paladin, as they are, then there is no way he would have been corrupted. I think they have rather a too high opinion of the paladins, but I’m not the one to tell them.


 * Even though paladins are some of our most powerful weapons against the Scourge, with their holy power over undead, the paladins are not what they once were. Some have been driven into obsessive madness, forming the Scarlet Crusade and killing living and undead alike in their eagerness to eradicate the Scourge. Others traveled across the sea with Jaina Proudmoore to help defeat the Burning Legion and now reside on Theramore. They certainly do what they can to destroy undead they discover on Kalimdor, but the Scourge's numbers there are like a thimble of beer compared to the great kegs that are Lordaeron and Northrend. We’ll need the paladins to defeat the Scourge, but they are not up to the task right now, and I don’t know how much longer we can wait.

Brann also fought with a good number of Uther's knights in the Second War. He says that they were good folk, if a bit too righteous for their own good, but he finds some habits of the knighthood stubborn.

In Hearthstone
In Hearthstone, the following cards represent the members of the Silver Hand:

Notes and trivia

 * The Highlord of the Silver Hand is a heroic firgure among the members of the Order. Many paladins want to impress them, while rumors circulate that they can return from death, or that they once slew five hundred demons in a single blow.
 * In his childhood, Stephon Marris wanted to become a paladin of the Silver Hand.
 * In Corlain's cemetery in Drustvar, the tomb of a Kul Tiran paladin of the Silver Hand is present, indicating the presence of Kul Tirans in the ranks of the order through its history.
 * According to A Cleansing Fire, the Knights of the Silver Hand splintered into the Argent Dawn and Scarlet Crusade four years after the death of Terenas Menethil. In the current timeline, it happened only two years after.
 * According to Chris Metzen, the "heart and soul" of the Marvel Comics superhero was particularly influential in developing the "true vibe" of Warcraft paladins.
 * The title of the short story Silver Hand, Ebon Blade by Raphael Ahad, that won the 2010 Blizzard Global Writing Contest, is a direct reference to the Knights of the Silver Hand and the Knights of the Ebon Blade.
 * The Roleplaying server Silver Hand US is named after the order.
 * In Battle for Azeroth, the Path of Uther and Uther's Tomb were updated with Silver Hand banners.
 * The Silver Hand is the only Order Hall from Legion to have gone back on its neutrality. There have been no depictions of any Horde-race Silver Hand members since the end of Legion; while there have been multiple inclusions of the Silver Hand amongst the Alliance forces, most notably in the Battle for Stromgarde.
 * In World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, the Hall of the Brave and the Command Center were rebranded into the Barracks and Training Hall respectively; which includes all of the class trainers (excluding hero classes). Notably, the Horde's paladins do not use any symbolism of the Silver Hand; instead using the iconography of Silvermoon and the Blood Knights. Conversely, the Alliance's paladin trainer has multiple symbols of the Silver Hand on display.
 * Early versions of the Barracks had Silver Hand symbols on display, this was later removed entirely and replaced with its current version.



Symbolism

 * The Order of the Silver Hand took its name and symbol from the legend of Tyr. A paragon of order and justice, Tyr sacrificed his right hand in a fight against an unfathomable evil. Although it was within his power to fix his hand after the fighting had ended, the hero instead chose to replace it with a closed fist made of the purest silver. In this way, he impressed upon those who followed him that true order and justice can only be accomplished through personal sacrifice.
 * As of Legion, the Silver Hand's banner has an alternate depiction used predominantly throughout the expansion, from a closed fist, to that of an open one.
 * Both are still used, however, as the tabards depict the closed fist, and Turalyon's forces use the closed-fist banner during the Battle for Stromgarde.
 * The open hand seems to be in reference to the Ashbringer, as the symbol can be seen on the "disk" of the blade.

Inspirations

 * The Order of the Silver Hand was inspired by the, or simply the Knights Templar, a  founded following the  and the slaughter of hundreds of Christian pilgrims, in order to serve the  of the  as protectors of Christian pilgrims and  in their engagements in the . The parallel in WoW would be thus the First War as the First Crusade, the Order's affiliation with the Church of the Holy Light as the Catholic Church, and the slaughter of the Clerics of the Brotherhood of Northshire as the Christian pilgrims, leading to the creation of both Orders. The Knights Silver Hand also counts among their ranks some Templars.
 * The symbol of the Order comes from the, or Manus Dei in Latin, a motif in and  traditionally used to indicate the intervention in or approval of human affairs by . In WoW, it represents the Hand of the Keeper Tyr, but also symbolically the intervention of the Light in the mortals' affairs on Azeroth.
 * The notion of Paladins as holy warriors comes from the mythologization/divinization of 's s (originally ) in the centuries following his coronation as "Holy Roman Emperor" by, particularly in works such as the , in turn based upon . The WoW parallel would be thus Anduin Lothar as Charlemagne, Uther as , and Archbishop Alonsus as Pope Leo III.

Status during the Third War

 * Most sources state that Uther the Lightbringer was accused of treason and relieved of his command with his paladins being suspended from service by Prince Arthas Menethil near Stratholme.
 * Other sources contradict this issue. Most notably, Uther's dialogue implies that Arthas did not have the power to disband the paladins, and the premise of the "Dissension" mission implies that King Terenas agreed.
 * However, Arthas slaughtered the Silver Hand's high command during the "Digging up the Dead" mission, disbanding them in a different sense. This may have caused a misconception, popularizing the view that it was his command that disbanded them.
 * The Ultimate Visual Guide stated that Arthas disbanded the Knights of the Silver Hand. Its updated version, however, stated that Arthas just sent Uther and his knights away and that they were decimated during the war.
 * states that Arthas turned his back on the paladins and called their refusal an act of treason.