Argent Crusade

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NeutralArgent Crusade
Call of the Crusade 2.jpg
Main leader  Lord Maxwell Tyrosus
  Formerly  Highlord Tirion Fordring †
Race(s) HumanHuman Human
DwarfDwarf Dwarf
GnomeGnome Gnome
Night elfNight elf Night elf
DraeneiDraenei Draenei
WorgenWorgen Worgen
High elfHigh elf High elf
OrcOrc Orc
Jungle trollJungle troll Jungle troll
TaurenTauren Tauren
ForsakenForsaken Forsaken
Blood elfBlood elf Blood elf
GoblinGoblin Goblin
Character classes Crusader, Defender, Knight, Paladin, Priest, Warrior, Mage, Monk
Capital Hearthglen[1]
Other major settlements Light's Hope Chapel, Tyr's Hand, Argent Tournament Grounds
Theater of operations Lordaeron, Northrend, Broken Shore
Language(s) Common, Various languages
Sub-group(s) Brotherhood of Light, Argent Dawn
Affiliation Independent, Silver Hand
Status Active
Reputation
Quartermaster  Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard
Notable reward(s)  [Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector]
 [Pattern: Brilliant Spellthread]
Tabard Argent Crusader's Tabard.jpg
“The Lich King must answer for what he has done, and must not be allowed to cause further destruction in our world. I make a promise to you now, brothers and sisters: the Lich King will be defeated! On this day, I call for a union. The Argent Dawn and the Order of the Silver Hand will come together as one! We will succeed where so many before us have failed! We will take the fight to Arthas, and we will tear down the walls of Icecrown! The Argent Crusade comes for you, Arthas!”
— Tirion Fordring at Light's Hope Chapel

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.[2] 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.

History

Tirion Fordring, the founder of the Argent Crusade.
Argent Crusade members in Northrend.

Wrath of the Lich King

Wrath of the Lich King This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.
Main article: War against the Lich King

The Scarlet Enclave

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.[3]

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.[4]

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,[5] and by shattering the undead defenses at the entrance to Zul'Drak.[6][7]

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.[8]

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
The Argent Vanguard, the main forward base of the Argent Crusade in 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.[9] The Crusaders proceeded to create a breach in the cliffs in the northwest of the Valley of Echoes.[10]

The encampment immediately came under heavy attack by waves of undead of every sort assaulting its battlements from the Scourge stronghold of Scourgeholme.[11][12] 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.[13]

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,[14] the lords of Scourgeholme were slain and the garrison became unable to resist any further action by the invaders.[15][16]

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.[17][18]

Argent Tournament Grounds

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,[19] 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.

The Argent Tournament, an event to determine the best fighters to lead the charge into 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.[20]

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.[21]

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

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.
The Light's Hope Chapel, where the Sanctum of Light is located beneath.

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,[22] 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.[23]

Though the Brotherhood and the Crusade are still allied with one another, the Argent Crusade is concerned with the Brotherhood's recklessness,[24][22] and their dislike to the Crusade's rigid code of ethics.[25][26]

The Argent Crusade also joined forces with the Cenarion Circle to help heal the Plaguelands from its blighted state,[27] 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.[28] They also watched Sylvanas's movements during this time.[29]

Legion

Legion This section concerns content related to 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.[30] 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.[31] Lord Maxwell Tyrosus assumed the post of leader of the Argent Crusade, and right-hand man for the Highlord.[32]

The Argent Crusade were involved directly in the recovery of the  [Ashbringer] 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.[33] The Argent Crusade is also involved in the recovery of the artifact  [The Silver Hand] alongside the Tyr's Guard and the Highlord of the Silver Hand at Tyr's Fall,[34] and in the defense of Light's Hope Chapel during the Ebon Blade's assault to recover Tirion's body for themselves.[35]

Battle for Azeroth

Battle for Azeroth This section concerns content related to 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.[36]

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

WoW-novel-logo-16x62.png This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.
Hearthglen, training ground and headquarters of the Argent Crusade.

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,[37] among them the  [Barovian Family Sword] and the  [Barovian Ritual Hood].[38]

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.[39] They also continue to control parts of Stratholme, most notably the Scarlet Bastion.[40]

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.[41]

Shadowlands

Shadowlands This section concerns content related to 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.[42][43]

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.[44]

Bases throughout Azeroth

Reputation

The Argent Crusade banner.

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

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.

Reputation can also be gained by purchasing  [Tabard of the Argent Crusade] 1g 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.

Notable characters

Main article: Argent Crusade characters

Rewards

Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard
<Argent Crusade Quartermaster>
Rep Item Cost Type
Friendly  [Tabard of the Argent Crusade] 1g Tabard
Honored  [Cloak of Holy Extermination] 21g 9s 13c Back
 [Standard Issue Legguards] 46g 18s 42c Plate Legs
 [Special Issue Legplates] 46g 36s 29c Plate Legs
Revered  [Argent Skeleton Crusher] 89g 56s 27c 2H Mace
 [Battle Mender's Helm] 32g 72s 90c Mail Head
 [Design: Guardian's Twilight Opal] 4g Jewelcrafting
 [Fang-Deflecting Faceguard] 37g 96s 85c Plate Head
 [Purifying Torch] 52g 35s 6c Wand
 [Zombie Sweeper Shotgun] 53g 94s 17c Gun
Exalted  [Boots of the Neverending Path] 35g 83s 98c Leather Feet
 [Helm of Purified Thoughts] 53g 67s 12c Plate Head
 [Pattern: Brilliant Spellthread] 5g Tailoring
 [Polished Regimental Hauberk] 61g 23s 79c Mail Chest
 [Signet of Hopeful Light] 28g 49s 83c Finger

Quests

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

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)

Notes

  • It should be noted that, despite the new Tabard the Argent Crusade uses, several of their members can be found using the old tabard of the Argent Dawn - this is referring to members of the Argent Crusade faction in Northrend, not the Argent Dawn members who are found in Eastern Kingdoms/Kalimdor. Those who wear the old tabard range from the common infantry to the commanders and senior members of the Crusade. This may mean that the two tabards are interchangeable in the Crusade, and the old Argent Dawn tabard may still be in production as part of the uniform for the members of the Crusade. Avenger Metz, for example, still uses the Argent Dawn tabard instead of the newer Argent Crusade one.

Speculation

Questionmark-medium.png
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

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.

Gallery

  • A squire of the Argent Crusade.

  • An orc squire of the Argent Crusade.

Patches and hotfixes

References

 
  1. ^ N [37] Northridge Lumber Mill
  2. ^ In-game reputation description
  3. ^ N Death Knight [55] The Light of Dawn
  4. ^ A [71] Guided by Honor
  5. ^ A [72] The Truth Shall Set Us Free
  6. ^ N [74] The Call Of The Crusade
  7. ^ N [74] The Cleansing Of Jintha'kalar
  8. ^ N [76] Pure Evil
  9. ^ N [78] Judgment Day Comes!
  10. ^ N [78] Scourge Tactics
  11. ^ N [78] If There Are Survivors...
  12. ^ N [78] Into The Wild Green Yonder
  13. ^ N [78] The Last Line Of Defense
  14. ^ N [78] Once More Unto The Breach, Hero
  15. ^ N [78] The Purging Of Scourgeholme
  16. ^ N [79] The Air Stands Still
  17. ^ N [79] The Battle For Crusaders' Pinnacle
  18. ^ N [79] The Crusaders' Pinnacle
  19. ^ A [80] Tirion's Help
  20. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3
  21. ^ B [80 Daily] You've Really Done It This Time, Kul
  22. ^ a b N [43] Like Rats
  23. ^ Eligor Dawnbringer#Quotes
  24. ^ N [42] The Brotherhood of Light
  25. ^ Master Craftsman Omarion#Quotes
  26. ^ Korfax#Quotes
  27. ^ The Menders' Stead (quest)
  28. ^ Argent Officer Garush#Quotes
  29. ^ Ultimate Visual Guide
  30. ^ N Paladin [98 - 110] The Search for the Highlord
  31. ^ N Paladin [98 - 110] A United Force
  32. ^ N Paladin [100] Hand of the Highlord
  33. ^ N Paladin [98 - 110] The Search for the Highlord
  34. ^ N Paladin [98 - 110] The Silver Hand
  35. ^ N Death knight [110] The Fourth Horseman
  36. ^ B [120] Restless Dead
  37. ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 74 - 75
  38. ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 85
  39. ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 81 - 82
  40. ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 83
  41. ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 77
  42. ^ A [50] Field Reports
  43. ^ H [50] Field Reports
  44. ^ B [50] The Banshee's Champion

External links

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