Argent Crusade

The Argent Crusade is an order of holy warriors formed from the union of the remains of the Order of the Silver Hand with the Argent Dawn. Formerly led by the Highlord Tirion Fordring, the Argent Crusade was a major contributor to the successful campaign in Northrend that toppled the Lich King. Since the Cataclysm, they work to restore the Plaguelands of northern Lordaeron and fight against those who threaten Azeroth.

Battle for Light's Hope Chapel
The Argent Crusade was formed shortly after the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel by Tirion Fordring — leader of the reformed Silver Hand — who reclaimed, and evidently purified the Ashbringer during a confrontation with the Lich King. He assumed a leadership position over the Argent Dawn and united the two factions in order to take the fight against the Lich King to Northrend.

As the newly formed Argent Crusade set out to annihilate the Scourge in Northrend, Maxwell remained the Crusade's operations chief in the Eastern Plaguelands. He began the fortification of Light's Hope Chapel, then undertook to take over the old watchtowers of the region and to restore them.

Northrend invasion
When the War against the Lich King began, the Argent Crusade launched the invasion of Northrend alongside the Alliance and the Horde. Following the Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, only the Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade had remained fully dedicated to the war against the Scourge. The two neutral factions had rallied their forces and readied themselves to unleash a new offensive against the Lich King and his servants across the continent.

Howling Fjord
The Argent Crusade began its invasion from Valgarde, where Tirion Fordring managed to set foot on the continent under the disguise of a Cleric of the Crusade, and where he retrieved Ashbringer from Lord Irulon Trueblade after Ares the Oathbound sacrificed his life to protect and transport the legendary weapon, while Tirion was avoiding the Lich King's agents present to intercept him. Despite Trueblade's request, the Highlord revealed his identity and declared loud and clear that the Argent Crusade has arrived, and that they would advance until they defeated Arthas.

Dragonblight
The Argent Crusade is present in Dragonblight where they have two outposts: Dawn's Reach which is directly south of Naxxramas, and Light's Trust just outside Jintha'kalar, from where they fight the Scourge by freeing the damned souls at the Forgotten Shore, and by shattering the undead defenses at the entrance to Zul'Drak.

Zul'Drak
Working in tandem, the paladins and death knights focused their attention on Zul'Drak, entrenching themselves in the region. This, in turn, brought Overlord Drakuru, who conquered the remaining Drakkari to deliver them to the Scourge after being empowered by the Lich King, into direct conflict with the recently-arrived Argent Crusade.

In the first tier of Zul'Drak, the Argent Crusade has two outposts, Light's Breach and Crusader Forward Camp, from which they directly fight the hordes of undead trolls.

Under the command of Crusade Commander Korfax in the Argent Stand, a large troll structure taken by the Crusade who serves as the main Argent Crusade base in the region, they defend the second tier of Zul'Drak from being invaded by the Scourge from the Argent Stand, and work with agents of both the Horde and Alliance to disrupt Drakuru's plans, which included using the plague to transform the ice troll inhabitants of Zul'Drak into undead minions of the Lich King. They also collect and do some research on a dark cursed metal used by the Lich King for his army.

Ultimately, Drakuru's death at the hands of the Lich King for his failure marked the end of Scourge power in Zul'Drak, leading the Argent Crusade continued to push further into Northrend.

Icecrown
With the majority of preliminary threats behind them, the Argent Crusade found themselves faced with the daunting prospect of invading Icecrown, the Scourge's base of operations. Having mustered a large army to fight the Scourge, the Argent Crusade, led personally by Tirion Fordring, advanced into the region from the nearby Crystalsong Forest, establishing the Argent Vanguard on Icecrown's outskirts. The Crusaders proceeded to create a breach in the cliffs in the northwest of the Valley of Echoes.

The encampment immediately came under heavy attack by waves of undead of every sort assaulting its battlements from the Scourge stronghold of Scourgeholme. The Argent Crusaders fought back with zeal, using melee weapons and cannons to repel each undead attack, aided also by some members of the Alliance and Horde. Withstanding even hosts of frost wyrms, the Argent Crusade succeeded in throwing the Lich King's minions back from the valley.

Not pausing, the breach was reopened and the Argent Crusade began working to establish a foothold on the far side. To achieve this, however, the Crusade's leaders deemed it necessary to pacify Scourgeholme. Under the supervision of Highlord Darion Mograine, the lords of Scourgeholme were slain and the garrison became unable to resist any further action by the invaders.

Pressing their advantage, the Argent Crusade next assaulted the nearby height, mockingly known as Crusaders' Pinnacle, and held the position against repeated Scourge counterattacks. Having sanctified the once-blighted ground, the Argent Crusade began construction of a new fortification, Justice Keep, atop the Pinnacle. The base would mark the Crusade's establishment inside Icecrown, and stand in direct defiance to the Lich King and the Scourge.

The Argent Tournament
After progressing through the territories of Icecrown, where Tirion Fordring handpicked every member in the Argent Crusade in order to avoid infiltration by the Cult of the Damned, this was presumably to prevent a repeat of the Inigo Montoy incident which resulted in Naxxramas returning to Northrend and Kel'Thuzad regaining corporeal form, the Argent Crusade, recognizing that the time was fast approaching when they would be forced to finally deal with the Lich King, began to make preparations for the inevitable assault on the Scourge's greatest fortress: Icecrown Citadel.

After weeks of observing the Scourge and its movements, they realized that an ultimate assault would lead them to defeat, the Lich King being ready for such an assault which would inflict great damage on him, but which would be fulfilled by bringing his enemies back to his ranks.

To this end, the Crusade announced the beginning of the Argent Tournament, an event that would, among other things, attempt to create some semblance of order between the ever disparate Horde and Alliance, but also to train this large army in preparation for an assault on the Lich King's bastion, and more importantly, to determine the very best fighters present who would then be used to create a small strike force that would lead the charge into the Citadel.

Soon, however, the tournament drew the attention of the Lich King, who sent forces to disrupt it in a number of ways, with assaults and kidnappings from the Cult of the Damned, the infiltration of the Black Knight in the tournament, and attacks from Val'kyr, partly in an attempt to free some of their kind which the paladins had captured, though they were unable to inflict any lasting damage.

Crusader's Coliseum
Towards the end, the Trial of the Crusader was held, the culmination of the entire Argent Tournament. Just as the event concluded, and Highlord Tirion announced the long-awaited attack on Icecrown Citadel, the Lich King himself appeared in the coliseum. Despite being outnumbered, he seemed unconcerned and reminded those gathered that the nerubian empire extended far across and beneath the entire continent, then proceeded to shatter the very floor of the arena, dropping the Crusade's champions deep into a series of underground tunnels to confront a resurrected Anub'arak.

Despite the ambush, Anub'arak was vanquished, marking the conclusion of the Argent Tournament, and the beginning of the assault on Icecrown Citadel.

Icecrown Citadel
As armies began to prepare for the assault on Icecrown Citadel, the Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade launched preliminary attacks on its defenses. In the lead up to the final battle, the Argent Crusade forged a new alliance with the Knights of the Ebon Blade, one which would lead the assault on the Icecrown Citadel's defenses, the Ashen Verdict was born; united, they gathered in the mighty fortress's shadow to begin the assault. Having swept aside opposition and seized the Citadel's entrance, the gates were battered down and the Ashen Verdict secured a foothold just inside the entrance, from which they would push deeper into the complex.

And while all the fortress's defenses either defeated or engaged, and the way to the Frozen Throne open, the time to strike at the head of the Scourge itself had finally come. The champions, led by Tirion Fordring, ascended the Citadel further to reach the very top, where the Lich King awaited. It was there that Tirion managed to destroy Frostmourne with Ashbringer, before defeating Arthas with the help of the champions, marking the end of the war against the Scourge, and the birth of the new Lich King Bolvar Fordragon, crowned by Tirion Fordring.

Cataclysm
Since the Cataclysm, the Argent Crusade has strengthened its presence in the Plaguelands, claiming not only outposts formerly held by the now-defunct Argent Dawn such as Light's Hope Chapel, but also the former Scarlet Crusade town of Hearthglen, and the four towers that span through the Eastern Plaguelands; around which the plague has receded.

The Brotherhood of the Light, a subsection of the former Argent Dawn's ranks, now the Argent Crusade, also began their own campaign against the remaining Scourge and Risen forces in Lordaeron with an assault force of one hundred men; which ended with the capture of Tyr's Hand from the undead, but also with the capture of the Scarlet Bastion and Alonsus Chapel, now under the control of the Argent Crusade, after the death of Balnazzar and Lord Aurius Rivendare in Stratholme.

Though the Brotherhood and the Crusade are still allied with one another, the Argent Crusade is concerned with the Brotherhood's recklessness, and their dislike to the Crusade's rigid code of ethics.

The Argent Crusade also joined forces with the Cenarion Circle to help heal the Plaguelands from its blighted state, and has resumed the Argent Dawn's original mandate: to fight swiftly and mercilessly against any element of evil that surfaces in Azeroth as a non-governmental organization. They also watched Sylvanas's movements during this time.

Legion
When the third invasion of the Burning Legion began, the Argent Crusade were the first to launch an assault force against the Legion to the Battle for the Broken Shore. But they were decimated, and many of the Argent Dawnbringers and Argent Lightbringers died following Tirion Fordring, however, survivors were saved by the joint Alliance and Horde forces.

Following this crushing defeat, Lord Maxwell Tyrosus came into contact with a hero paladin so that he can assume the mantle of Highlord of the Argent Crusade after Tirion fell in battle. However, the decision was made to reform the Order of the Silver Hand instead alongside the Sunwalkers, the Hand of Argus, the Blood Knights, and the Silver Hand members located at Stormwind and Ironforge, all united under the command of the new Highlord of the reformed Order. Lord Maxwell Tyrosus assumed the post of leader of the Argent Crusade, and right-hand man for the Highlord.

The Argent Crusade were involved directly in the recovery of the Ashbringer (artifact) at the Broken Shore, where they attended the death of Highlord Tirion Fordring who was captured and tortured by the Legion, before taking his body to be buried amongst the ancient heroes of the Light in the Sanctum of Light. The Argent Crusade is also involved in the recovery of the artifact The Silver Hand (artifact) alongside the Tyr's Guard and the Highlord of the Silver Hand at Tyr's Fall, and in the defense of Light's Hope Chapel during the Ebon Blade's assault to recover Tirion's body for themselves.

Battle for Azeroth
During the Fourth War, the status of the Argent Crusade with the Knights of the Silver Hand is unknown as the Order is once more affiliated to the Alliance, but the Argent Crusade is still active and neutral as Sean Wilkers and an adventurer from one of the two factions worked on clearing out of the Stratholme Service Entrance after the Scourge activity increased in the ruined city.

Forsaken Argent Mages are also present in Orgrimmar's new portal room conjuring a portal to Dalaran. Interestingly enough, they are wearing the old Tabard of the Argent Dawn.

Exploring Azeroth
Following the end of the Fourth War, Mathias Shaw mentions in his reports that the Argent Crusade is still active in the Plaguelands. At Hearthglen, Mardenholde Keep has become a training ground for new recruits, and the place where artifacts recovered by the Argent Crusade are stored under the supervision of Lieutenant Myner, among them the Barovian Family Sword and the Barovian Ritual Hood.

In the Eastern Plaguelands, the Argent Crusade forces are scattered all over the region where corruption is slowly starting to fade away, they continue to maintain and protect the towers which serve as true oases for those who pass through these devastated lands. They also continue to control parts of Stratholme, most notably the Scarlet Bastion.

The Crusade's reports also mention that Scholomance was still in operation as a school of necromancy, and is under investigation. They also reported that some of the Barovs are still there and Darkmaster Gandling has many puppets to play with. This includes Jandice Barov and Rattlegore.

Shadowlands
When the Helm of Domination was destroyed, the uncontrolled Scourge began to rampage across Azeroth. Making their base at the Argent Tournament Grounds in Icecrown, the Argent Crusade fought the Scourge and the Cult of the Damned while sending emissaries and troops to Stormwind City and Orgrimmar, to protect both capitals and their surrounding regions from undead invasions.

On one of their patrols, the Argent Crusade saw Nathanos sitting on his front porch in the Eastern Plaguelands, not even trying to hide. They alerted the Alliance and Horde, before fighting alongside the champions of Azeroth against the Blightcaller, and witness his death at the hands of Tyrande Whisperwind.

Bases throughout Azeroth
🇨🇴 Western Plaguelands
 * Plaguelands
 * The Bulwark
 * Chillwind Camp
 * Hearthglen
 * Menders' Stead
 * Northridge Lumber Camp

Eastern Plaguelands
 * Light's Hope Chapel
 * Tyr's Hand
 * Scarlet Bastion
 * Crown Guard Tower
 * Eastwall Tower
 * Light's Shield Tower
 * Northpass Tower
 * Plaguewood Tower

🇨🇴 Dragonblight
 * Northrend
 * Dawn's Reach
 * Light's Trust

Zul'Drak
 * The Argent Stand
 * Crusader Forward Camp
 * Light's Breach

Icecrown
 * Argent Tournament Grounds
 * The Argent Vanguard
 * Crusaders' Pinnacle

Reputation description
Led by Tirion Fordring, the Argent Crusade combines the reformed Order of the Silver Hand with the Argent Dawn in one final push against the forces of the Lich King.

Daily quests

 * Slaves to Saronite
 * Troll Patrol
 * Captain Brandon:
 * Troll Patrol: Can You Dig It?
 * Troll Patrol: High Standards
 * Troll Patrol: Something for the Pain
 * Captain Grondel:
 * Troll Patrol: Couldn't Care Less
 * Troll Patrol: Creature Comforts
 * Troll Patrol: Whatdya Want, a Medal?
 * Captain Rupert:
 * Troll Patrol: Done to Death
 * Troll Patrol: Intestinal Fortitude
 * Troll Patrol: Throwing Down
 * Alchemist Finklestein
 * Troll Patrol: The Alchemist's Apprentice
 * Congratulations!

Also six quests at the Argent Tournament once you reach a high enough rank. Note: that these quests will give Knights of the Ebon Blade reputation instead for death knights.
 * A Champion Rises
 * Taking Battle To The Enemy
 * Among the Champions
 * Battle Before The Citadel
 * Threat From Above
 * Contributin' To The Cause

Reputation can also be gained by purchasing Tabard of the Argent Crusade from Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard in the Argent Vanguard. This tabard, while worn in level 80 dungeons, awards 2 to 30 reputation per mob depending on its difficulty and 300 reputation per boss to your standing with the Argent Crusade.

Since Cataclysm, Argent Crusade reputation is also provided by most quests in the Western and Eastern Plaguelands.

Quests
Quest list by Zone that provide reputation with the Argent Crusade.

 

Western Plaguelands

 * The Menders' Stead (Alliance) (breadcrumb)
 * A New Era for the Plaguelands
 * Northridge Lumber Mill (quest) (breadcrumb)
 * Learning the Ropes (no prerequisites)
 * This Means WAR (Wild Arachnid Roundup)
 * An Audience with the Highlord (breadcrumb)
 * It's About Time!
 * Drudges... *Sigh*
 * Taelan Fordring's Legacy
 * Unusual Behavior... Even For Gnolls
 * The Good People of Hearthglen
 * Bagging Bisp
 * Turning Yourself In
 * The Long Trip Home
 * Memories from a Lost Past
 * Gahrron's Withering Cauldron
 * Return to the Stead
 * Desperate Acts
 * Students of Krastinov

Eastern Plaguelands

 * Rough Roads
 * Zaeldarr the Outcast (quest)
 * Frederick's Fish Fancy
 * Dark Garb
 * To Kill With Purpose
 * Catalysm
 * Just a Drop in the Bucket
 * A Boyhood Dream
 * Gathering Some Grub(s)
 * The Brotherhood of Light
 * Soft Landing
 * To Take the Barracks
 * Scarlet Salvage
 * The Wrathcaster
 * The Huntsman
 * The Commander
 * Argent Upheaval
 * To Take the Abbey
 * The Assassin (Eastern Plaguelands)
 * Victory From Within
 * Befouled No More
 * Like Rats
 * Argent Call: The Trial of the Crypt
 * Argent Call: The Noxious Glade
 * Buried Blades
 * The Corpulent One
 * Righteous Indignation
 * The Plaguewood Tower
 * Counter-Plague Research
 * Just a Little Touched
 * Guardians of Stratholme
 * Scourged Mass
 * Defenders of Darrowshire
 * Add 'em to the Pile
 * The Corpsebeasts
 * The Baroness' Missive (quest)
 * Gidwin's Fate Revealed
 * Journey's End (quest)

Howling Fjord

 * The Shining Light
 * Guided by Honor

Dragonblight
 
 * The Call Of The Crusade
 * The Cleansing Of Jintha'kalar
 * Imprints on the Past
 * Orik Trueheart and the Forgotten Shore
 * The Murkweed Elixir
 * The Forgotten Tale
 * The Truth Shall Set Us Free

Zul'Drak

 * WANTED: Ragemane's Flipper
 * This Just In: Fire Still Hot!
 * In Search Of Answers
 * Orders From Drakuru (quest)
 * Crusader Forward Camp (quest)
 * That's What Friends Are For...
 * Making Something Out Of Nothing
 * Light Won't Grant Me Vengeance
 * A Great Storm Approaches
 * Gymer's Salvation
 * Our Only Hope
 * The Storm King's Vengeance
 * Kickin' Nass and Takin' Manes
 * Taking a Stand
 * Defend the Stand
 * Parachutes for the Argent Crusade
 * Pa'Troll
 * Something for the Pain
 * Throwing Down
 * Creature Comforts
 * Lab Work
 * Skimmer Spinnerets
 * Crashed Sprayer
 * A Tangled Skein
 * Pure Evil
 * Death to the Necromagi
 * Malas the Corrupter (quest)
 * Cocooned!
 * New Orders for Sergeant Stackhammer
 * Argent Crusade, We Are Leaving!
 * Mopping Up
 * The Drakkari Do Not Need Water Elementals!
 * Gluttonous Lurkers
 * Leave No One Behind
 * Siphoning the Spirits
 * Stocking the Shelves
 * Clipping Their Wings

Icecrown
 
 * Preparations for War
 * Judgment Day Comes!
 * Honor Above All Else
 * Scourge Tactics
 * Curing The Incurable
 * Defending The Vanguard
 * If There Are Survivors...
 * Into The Wild Green Yonder
 * A Cold Front Approaches
 * The Last Line Of Defense
 * Once More Unto The Breach, Hero
 * The Purging Of Scourgeholme
 * The Scourgestone
 * The Air Stands Still
 * The Restless Dead
 * The Stone That Started A Revolution
 * It Could Kill Us All
 * Into The Frozen Heart Of Northrend
 * The Battle For Crusaders' Pinnacle
 * The Crusaders' Pinnacle
 * The Skybreaker (quest) -or- Orgrim's Hammer (quest)
 * A Tale of Valor
 * A Hero Remains
 * The Keeper's Favor
 * Hope Within the Emerald Nightmare
 * The Boon of Remulos
 * Time Yet Remains
 * The Touch of an Aspect
 * Dahlia's Tears (quest)
 * The Boon of Alexstrasza
 * Hope Yet Remains
 * The Will of the Naaru
 * The Boon of A'dal
 * Light Within the Darkness
 * Jagged Shards
 * I'm Smelting... Smelting!
 * The Runesmiths of Malykriss
 * By Fire Be Purged
 * I'm Not Dead Yet!/Let's Get Out of Here!/Let's Get Out of Here
 * Tirion's Gambit
 * The Black Knight of Westfall?/The Black Knight of Silverpine?
 * The Seer's Crystal
 * The Stories Dead Men Tell
 * There's Something About the Squire
 * The Black Knight's Orders
 * The Black Knight's Fall

Quests and prerequisites
Quest and prerequisites list by zone that provide reputation with the Argent Crusade. Listed in proper order so you can maximize your time or if you're playing a Death Knight (because they don't earn rep with the Argent Crusade dailies at Argent Tournament)

🇨🇴

Borean Tundra

 * The Lost Courier

Dragonblight

 * Of Traitors and Treason / The Lost Courier (required first)
 * High Commander Halford Wyrmbane (quest)
 * Naxxramas and the Fall of Wintergarde
 * Flight of the Wintergarde Defender
 * Return to the High Commander


 * Imprints on the Past
 * Orik Trueheart and the Forgotten Shore
 * The Murkweed Elixir
 * The Forgotten Tale
 * The Truth Shall Set Us Free


 * The Call Of The Crusade
 * The Cleansing Of Jintha'kalar

Howling Fjord

 * Hell Has Frozen Over...
 * If Valgarde Falls...
 * Rescuing the Rescuers


 * The Shining Light
 * Guided by Honor

🇨🇴

Icecrown
Argent Vanguard
 * Preparations for War
 * Judgment Day Comes!
 * Honor Above All Else
 * All three of:
 * Scourge Tactics
 * Curing The Incurable
 * Defending The Vanguard
 * If There Are Survivors...
 * Into The Wild Green Yonder
 * A Cold Front Approaches
 * The Last Line Of Defense
 * Once More Unto The Breach, Hero (Death Knight)

Valley of Echoes
 * Complete both to continue:
 * The Purging Of Scourgeholme
 * The Scourgestone
 * The Air Stands Still
 * Side quests:
 * The Restless Dead
 * The Stone That Started A Revolution
 * It Could Kill Us All
 * After completing the above steps, including side quests:
 * Into The Frozen Heart Of Northrend
 * The Battle For Crusaders' Pinnacle
 * The Crusaders' Pinnacle

Crusader's Pinnacle
 * The Skybreaker (quest)
 * A Tale of Valor
 * A Hero Remains
 * The Keeper's Favor
 * Hope Within the Emerald Nightmare
 * The Boon of Remulos
 * Time Yet Remains
 * The Touch of an Aspect
 * Dahlia's Tears (quest)
 * The Boon of Alexstrasza
 * Hope Yet Remains
 * The Will of the Naaru
 * The Boon of A'dal
 * Light Within the Darkness

The Shadow Vault
 * It's All Fun and Games
 * I Have an Idea, But First...
 * Free Your Mind
 * If He Cannot Be Turned

Blackwatch
 * Blackwatch (quest)
 * Where Are They Coming From?
 * Destroying the Altars & Death's Gaze
 * Spill Their Blood
 * Jagged Shards
 * I'm Smelting... Smelting! & The Runesmiths of Malykriss
 * A Visit to the Doctor
 * By Fire Be Purged
 * Killing Two Scourge With One Skeleton

Father Kamaros
 * Let's Get Out of Here (escort)

Icecrown Citadel
 * Exploiting an Opening
 * Securing the Perimeter
 * Set it Off!
 * A Short Fuse
 * A Voice in the Dark
 * Time to Hide
 * Return to the Surface
 * Field Repairs

First Legion Forward Camp  Sindragosa's Fall
 * Do Your Worst
 * Army of the Damned
 * Futility
 * Sindragosa's Fall (quest)
 * Where Dragons Fell
 * Time for Answers
 * The Hunter and the Prince
 * Knowledge is a Terrible Burden
 * Tirion's Help
 * Tirion's Gambit

Speculation
The Argent Crusade and its predecessor the Argent Dawn, both have an unusually high number of undead holy men and women in their ranks compared to any other faction, including the Forsaken. They come as Clerics, Priests, Healers, Initiates and Lightbringers. As such, it is possible that these faithful of the Light are members of the Lordaeron branch of the Church of the Holy Light who were initially freed with the other undead and decided to band apart because of the tendency of the Forsaken to instead be shadow priests.