 High Inquisitor Fairbanks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Title | High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Crusade | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race | Human (Undead / Humanoid) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class | Priest | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resource | Mana | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former affiliation(s) | Scarlet Crusade, Knights of the Silver Hand, Kingdom of Lordaeron | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former occupation(s) |
High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Monastery, Chief Advisor to Highlord Mograine and member of the Silver Hand | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Crusader's Chapel, Scarlet Monastery Cathedral | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Deceased[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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High Inquisitor Fairbanks was an undead hidden in a secret chamber in the Cathedral of the Scarlet Monastery Cathedral, where his corpse is still located in the revamped Scarlet Monastery.
Once a priest and member of the Knights of the Silver Hand, as the closest advisor to Highlord Mograine, he was also the former High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Crusade (though his death may actually pre-date their proper founding). Executed by the crusaders for his blasphemous accusations against Saidan Dathrohan and Renault Mograine, he eventually became an undead and was later freed by adventurers sent to kill him by Dominic.
A living version of Fairbanks can still be seen in Old Hillsbrad Foothills.
History[]
Ashbringer[]
Fairbanks in the comic.
Fairbanks battling the Scourge alongside Alexandros Mograine at Stratholme.
At the time of the Third War, Fairbanks was Highlord Mograine's most trusted adviser and a member of the Knights of the Silver Hand. He was summoned with his brothers of the Order to the meeting of Alexandros Mograine at the inn of Southshore, among them were present Isillien, Doan, and Abbendis. He reported the situation in Lordaeron and the growing number of undead, before agreeing to participate in Doan's experiment, and together, they succeeded in purifying what would later become the heart of the Ashbringer.
After Lord Commander Saidan Dathrohan informed them of the Culling of Stratholme and Prince Arthas' suspension of the Silver Hand, Fairbanks followed Alexandros Mograine to Ironforge to ask King Magni Bronzebeard to forge the mighty blade, despite his reluctance to trust the dwarves.[2]
Later, Fairbanks was tricked and led along with the Highlord by Mograine's son Renault to Stratholme where legions of the Scourge awaited them. Fairbanks was the first to fall, but did not die - he was trapped and hidden under the corpses of the undead. He bore silent witness to Renault's betrayal of his father, hearing Mograine's anguished cries as the Ashbringer was plunged through his heart and fouling the blade.[3]
He managed to survive and returned to Hearthglen where he told the story to anyone who would listen. Those who believed him broke away from the Crusade to found the Argent Dawn. Later, Fairbanks was executed by the remaining crusaders for his blasphemy as well as possibly showing symptoms of the plague. His body was discarded in a secret chamber of the Scarlet Cathedral.
While dreaming, Darion spoke with Fairbanks who gave him advice and the courage to continue the fight. Before the dream ended, he confessed his fate, before telling him to meet Tirion Fordring.[4]
World of Warcraft[]
The undead Fairbanks could be found in a secret chamber in the Scarlet Monastery and could be killed but no quest originally required that. It is accessible by using a torch on the wall in the right prayer room behind the altar in the Cathedral.
The Burning Crusade[]
In the Old Hillsbrad instance of the Caverns of Time, Fairbank is present in the inn of Southshore for the meeting with the other members of the Silver Hand, the two paladins Alexandros Mograine and Brigitte Abbendis, the priest Isillien, and the mage Doan, wearing the same tabard of Lordaeron as the other members of Mograine's circle of trusted friends. Unlike the Ashbringer comic, High General Abbendis is not present but is replaced by his daughter, while Tirion Fordring is present although it is not the case in the comic.
Death and legacy[]
Fairbanks as an undead in the Scarlet Monastery.
After the Cataclysm, the undead Fairbanks was killed by the adventurers sent by Dominic.[5]
High Inquisitor Fairbanks' undead body can be found in the secret room of the Scarlet Monastery, lying on the ground lifeless. Which confirms that he was eliminated by the heroes sent by Dominic.
Before his execution by the Scarlet Crusade, Fairbanks managed to give one last testimony on Alexandros Mograine's last fight with the Ashbringer against the Scourge and his son's betrayal. This testimony was later written in the Libram of Ancient Kings, allowing the Knights of the Silver Hand to know the truth about the death of Highlord Mograine.[6]
With the Corrupted Ashbringer[]
The following section was retconned by the comic and no longer refers to the current lore.
Entering the monastery with the 
[Corrupted Ashbringer] from the original version of Naxxramas equipped will trigger an event, whereby High Inquisitor Fairbanks is redeemed by the Highlord's ghost, freeing his spirit. Talking to him initiates an extensive dialogue, which describes the history of the Ashbringer, and how to find the Highlord's other son in Outland, who can forge the blade anew.
Despite popular belief, Fairbanks does not actually give a quest to create a new Ashbringer, or cleanse the Corrupted Ashbringer, or any quests for that matter.
Locations[]
| Location | Level range | Reaction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crusader's Chapel, Scarlet Monastery Cathedral | 40 Elite | Alliance Horde | In Classic; encounter removed in retail. Also appeared as a friendly ghost with the [Corrupted Ashbringer].
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| Southshore, Old Hillsbrad Foothills[35.2, 84.6] | 15-30 | Alliance Horde | As part of the Escape from Durnholde Keep. |
| Crusader's Chapel, Scarlet Monastery | 10-30 Elite | Alliance Horde | No longer accessible; visible via undead tracking. |
Abilities[]
Curse of Blood — Increases the Physical damage taken by an enemy by 1 for 20 sec.- Dispel Magic — Dispels magic on the target, removing 1 harmful spell from an ally or 1 beneficial spell from an enemy.
- Fear — Strikes fear in an enemy, causing it to flee in terror for 6 sec. Only 1 target can be feared at a time.
- Heal — Calls upon Holy magic to heal an ally.
- Power Word: Shield — Wraps the caster in a shield that lasts up to 30 sec., absorbing a maximum of 801 Physical or magical damage. While the shield holds, spells will not be interrupted by Physical attacks.
- Sleep — Puts nearby enemies to sleep for up to 6 sec. Any damage caused will awaken them.
Loot[]
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[Branded Leather Bracers] | 
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[Dusty Mail Boots] | |
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[Inquisitor's Shawl] |
Quotes[]
- Main article: Corrupted Ashbringer/Scarlet Monastery Event#Dialogue with Fairbanks
- Main article: Ashbringer/Old Hillsbrad Ashbringer event
Notes[]
- Following the release of the Ashbringer comic, there's an inconsistency with him being a member of the Scarlet Crusade. In World of Warcraft, it was stated that Alexandros Mograine and Fairbanks were both founders and members of the Crusade.[7] The Ashbringer comic would depict the formation of the Crusade occurring after Alexandros and Fairbanks' deaths, in which case they would have never been members, and Fairbanks would never have held the title of High Inquisitor. No in-game explanation of the current situation was given either in the game or the comic.
- It can be speculated that he was, in fact, exposed to the plague when hiding under the undead bodies, and when he was killed and left to rot in the Monastery chamber, his body transformed into an undead.
- It can be speculated that the attire was put on him by the Crusaders when they killed him as a sign of mockery. Alternatively, he may have been forced to join the Crusade and was killed soon after.
- Judging by the title, he was succeeded by High Inquisitor Whitemane.
- During the now non-canon Corrupted Ashbringer/Scarlet Monastery Event, Fairbanks was turned from an undead into a human ghost seemingly free from the Lich King. Contrary to popular belief, he was not cured of undeath and does not become alive again.
- Despite most dungeon loot being upped to rare quality in patch 1.10, Fairbanks remained one of the few encounters that dropped entirely uncommon quality loot until patch 3.3.0.
- He was apparently planned to appear in Legion at some point.
Relatives[]
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This section includes speculation on characters that might be related, usually because they may share a last name. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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He is possibly related to Gerald Fairbanks and Officer Fairbanks.
Gallery[]
Fairbanks as a purified ghost.
Fairbanks in Old Hillsbrad Foothills
Patch changes[]
- Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Removed as a boss. His corpse is still present in the revamped Scarlet Monastery.
See also[]
- High Inquisitor Fairbanks, TCG card
References[]
[39D] 
External links[]
| Monastery | Old Hillsbrad | Legion | Transform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Unknown |
Position: High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Crusade |
Succeeded by: High Inquisitor Whitemane |