Scarlet Onslaught | |
---|---|
Main leader | Unknown |
Formerly |
Inquisitor Ward † Grand Admiral Barean Westwind † Archbishop Landgren † Commander Brigitte Abbendis † |
Secondary leaders | Highlord Daion |
Formerly |
Commander Iustus † Commander Jordan † Stable Master Mercer † Lead Cannoneer Zierhut † |
Race(s) | Human |
Capital | New Hearthglen |
Other major settlements | Onslaught Harbor |
Base of operations | Onslaught Base Camp; Scarlet Point |
Theater of operations | Northrend |
Language(s) | Common |
Faith(s) | Holy Light |
Sub-group(s) | Raven priests |
Affiliation | Independent, Scarlet Crusade[1][2] |
Status | Active |
The Scarlet Onslaught is a faction that splintered off the Scarlet Crusade, and traveled to Northrend in the hopes of defeating the Lich King.[3] On the frozen continent, they built their new capital New Hearthglen in Dragonblight, where Brigitte Abbendis led their operations, and the Onslaught Harbor in Icecrown to fight the Scourge. Formed from the most zealous and racist members of the original Crusade,[4] the Onslaught appears to care little about the Crusade's wishes, as it employs shadowy raven priests, warlocks, and even death knights into its ranks.
Following the war against the Lich King, the Onslaught was largely dismantled, but ideologies aren't so easily killed.[5] During the Burning Legion's third invasion, New Hearthglen continued to operate, even though it has lost the majority of its leadership and its goals have been dashed away.
Despite having originally stated to be the replacement for the Crusade, by the time of Legion, they are interchangeably referred to as the Crusade and as the Onslaught.
History[]
At the time of the Onslaught's foundation, the Scarlet Crusade had been under constant siege, with the Alliance and the Horde attacking their forces at the Scarlet Monastery and in Stratholme. There was, however, one region of the Eastern Plaguelands which had been remarkably untouched by the plague that had despoiled the remainder of northern Lordaeron. This region was appropriately known as the Scarlet Enclave, consisting of the Scarlet capital of Tyr's Hand and the towns of Havenshire and New Avalon. These towns came under the protection of the Crusade forces stationed in Tyr's Hand, led by High General Brigitte Abbendis - the last survivor of the Crusade's original founders.
All that changed with the arrival of Acherus in the skies above the Enclave. In short order, the Scourge had established a base camp in the Ebon Hold's shadow and began their campaign of destruction. As the death knights of Acherus began to march on Havenshire, Abbendis claimed to receive visions from the Light, instructing her to take the most faithful of her troops and journey to Northrend. This became known among the Scarlet troops as the "Crimson Dawn", a revival of the Crusade and its "holy mission".[6]
The fall of the Scarlet Enclave[]
By that point, the death knights had laid waste to Havenshire and were now seeking to find out more about this "Crimson Dawn" mentioned in New Avalon's registry, taken from the town hall after they murdered New Avalon's Mayor Quimby. They discovered that a courier had been sent from Hearthglen by High Commander Galvar Pureblood, informing Abbendis that an army of Crusaders from Hearthglen and Tirisfal were being assembled to reinforce the Enclave and battle the forces of Acherus. One of the death knights, disguised as the courier (having murdered the real courier, taking his clothing and Pureblood's message), delivered the message to Abbendis. Realizing that the Plaguelands were lost, Abbendis ordered "the courier" to return to Pureblood, inform him to turn his armies around and prepare for the journey to Northrend. She gave "the courier" a copy of her diary, claiming it would explain everything. It was at this point that she declared that the Scarlet Crusade was no more - that they were now the Scarlet Onslaught.
The message never reached Pureblood, and his forces were annihilated by the Scourge as a result. With the combined army marching to their doom, High General Abbendis boarded her flagship, the Sinner's Folly, and set sail for Northrend, leaving the Crusade to its fate.
Landfall in Northrend[]
Sailing across the North Sea for many weeks and losing one of her ships to the kvaldir, Abbendis and her chosen followers made landfall on the coast of the Dragonblight in southern Northrend. Their banner was planted on the heights above the Forgotten Shore, where they began construction of their capital, New Hearthglen. This, Abbendis declared, was the "Crimson Dawn", the foundation of a new Crusade.
Within a month of the Onslaught's arrival in Northrend, Abbendis received an unexpected visitor: Admiral Barean Westwind, the Scarlet Fleet commander who had been believed dead on these shores many years earlier. Westwind claimed to be the only survivor of his fleet and assured Abbendis that he was not there to usurp her, but rather serve as her adviser. The Admiral - secretly possessed by the dreadlord Mal'Ganis, thought to have been the first to fall to Frostmourne nearly a decade before - guided the Onslaught's actions from thereon out. The men took with great zeal to Westwind, who founded the raven priest sect by passing on a "blessing" to High Abbot Landgren and ordered the construction of Onslaught Harbor off the coast of Icecrown. Yet despite Westwind's assurances and the troops' belief that he would bring them victory, Abbendis suspected that the Admiral was not as he seemed.[7]
During the war against the Lich King, adventurers were sent by the Horde, the Alliance and the Knights of the Ebon Blade to destroy the Onslaught and its leadership in Dragonblight and Icecrown.
Continuing activities[]
Though their leadership was destroyed, the rank and file of the Scarlet Onslaught survived and continued their crusade against all who opposed them. When members spoke out against their atrocities, they were jailed and executed.[8] Many of these so-called heretics were rescued from New Hearthglen by the High Priest of Netherlight Temple, who sought their aid against the Burning Legion.[9]
Years later, following the war against the Jailer, the Bronzebeard brothers reported that even with their leadership wiped out by the adventurers, there are still enough members of the Onslaught in New Hearthglen to continue their twisted crusade against anyone they think an enemy.[10] They also mentioned a surprising number of crusaders in the Onslaught Harbor.[11]
When the brothers Bronzebeard entered Frostmourne Cavern, they reported that the Scarlet Point at its entrance is a shattered, half-finished fortification, but didn't mention the presence of the crusaders.[12] It is unknown if they managed to sneak past them or if the outpost was abandoned.
Bases[]
The Onslaught primarily operates out of New Hearthglen, located in the Dragonblight, on Northrend's southern coast. There are two other bases in Dragonblight: The Onslaught Base Camp located north of the Carrion Fields beneath Naxxramas, and Scarlet Point east of the Crystal Vice.
There is also a more secluded base, Onslaught Harbor, set on a broken island off the mountainous, western coast of Icecrown.
Members[]
Commanders[]
- Brigitte Abbendis, Commander of the Onslaught
- Barean Westwind, Grand Admiral of the Scarlet Fleet, actually possessed by Mal'Ganis
- Archbishop Landgren, Leader of the Onslaught after the death of High General Abbendis
- Commander Jordan, Leader of the Onslaught paladins
- Scarlet Highlord Daion, Highlord of the Scarlet Onslaught
Other notables[]
Unnamed[]
Beasts[]
Former members[]
Ranks and classes[]
Notes and trivia[]
- With both the Scourge and the Onslaught leaderless, Magni Bronzebeard wondered if the crusaders could be convinced to refocus on a new enemy. However, his brother Brann replied that they are people that cannot be reasoned with.[10]
References[]
- ^ [45] Scarlet Redemption
- ^ [45] Apostate Liberation
- ^ Web archive
- ^ [15-30] Materiel Plunder
- ^ Alex Afrasiabi on Twitter: "the Onslaught was dismantled, but ideologies aren't so easily killed."
- ^ Death knight starting experience
- ^ [The Path of Redemption] / [The Diary of High General Abbendis]
- ^ [45] Apostate Liberation
- ^ [45] Unexpected Guests
- ^ a b Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 84
- ^ Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 130
- ^ Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 91
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