Argent Dawn

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"AD" redirects here. For the dungeon with the same acronym, see Atal'Dazar (instance).
NeutralArgent Dawn
Argent Dawn banner.jpg
Main leader  Lord Maxwell Tyrosus
  Formerly  Lord Raymond George †
Secondary leaders  Commander Eligor Dawnbringer
 Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff
 Argent Officer Pureheart
 Argent Officer Garush
Race(s) HumanHuman Human
DwarfDwarf Dwarf
GnomeGnome Gnome
Night elfNight elf Night elf
DraeneiDraenei Draenei
WorgenWorgen Worgen
OrcOrc Orc
Jungle trollJungle troll Jungle troll
TaurenTauren Tauren
ForsakenForsaken Forsaken
Blood elfBlood elf Blood elf
GoblinGoblin Goblin
Character classes Cleric, Crusader, Defender, Healer, Hunter, Initiate, Knight, Lightbringer, Mage, Medic, Paladin, Priest, Rider, Scout, Soldier, Templar,[1] Warrior
Capital Light's Hope Chapel
Base of operations Chillwind Camp, The Bulwark, Argent Dawn embassy, The Argent Dawn (Stormwind)
Theater of operations Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor
Language(s) Common, Various languages
Sub-group(s) Brotherhood of the Light
Affiliation Independent
Status Merged with the Knights of the Silver Hand in Lordaeron to become the Argent Crusade
Reputation
Quartermaster  Argent Quartermaster Hasana
 Argent Quartermaster Lightspark
 Quartermaster Miranda Breechlock
Tabard ArgentTabard.gif

“The sacrifices of my Argent Dawn brothers must never be forgotten. They believed in the Dawn, though none lived to see the return of the Light to these lands.”

Lord Raymond George

The Argent Dawn (referred to as the knightly order of the Argent Dawn,[2] or simply the Dawn)[3] was an organization focused on protecting Azeroth from agencies that seek to destroy it, such as the Burning Legion and the Scourge. As a worldwide organization maintaining a status of neutrality, the Argent Dawn was not a political body, nor did their members ever wish to become one. Their cause was to fight swiftly and mercilessly against any element of evil that surfaced in Azeroth. To that end, they called both the Alliance and the Horde allies in the cause of stamping out evil and therefore recruited from all races without distinction.[4] Their base camps could be found across all the Plaguelands as well as in Tirisfal Glades, while their agents were also present in Stormwind City, Darnassus, and Everlook.

Following the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, Highlord Tirion Fordring assumed leadership over the Argent Dawn[5] and merged them with the Knights of the Silver Hand in Lordaeron, founding the Argent Crusade. In the aftermath of the fall of the Lich King and the Cataclysm, the Crusade took over the now-defunct Argent Dawn's outposts in the Plaguelands.

History

Ashbringer

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“We are taking our leave of the order and what it has become, those among you who share our concerns may join us at any time.
For those who remain, if you do not rediscover the true teachings of the Light... then you will surely be damned.”

Lord Maxwell Tyrosus[6]
Darion and Tyrosus fighting the Scourge at Light's Hope Chapel.

Following Highlord Alexandros Mograine's demise, the survivors of the Order of the Silver Hand in Lordaeron became more zealous and fanatic and eventually reformed itself into the Scarlet Crusade. However, there were those who believed that their comrades had fallen from their once-noble purpose, such as Lord Maxwell Tyrosus and Pureheart. Some of them suspected that a dark force had taken hold of Saidan Dathrohan and his closest followers, but they could not prove it. Those who were sickened by the Scarlet Crusade, but had refused to give up their holy mission of protecting Azeroth,[7] eventually left to form their own order — the Argent Dawn, which held true to the tenets of the Light, unlike its counterpart.[8]

Lord Raymond George was the first leader of the organization and led his soldiers to fight against the Scourge. Their necromancers later raised the Dawn's fallen soldiers and created twisted golems to slay more of their former comrades.[9] After Raymond's demise, Tyrosus succeeded him at the head of the organization.[10]

At some point, Lord Maxwell Tyrosus found Darion Mograine and brought him to the Chillwind Point, where they learned that Alexandros' spirit might be alive. When Darion joined the Argent Dawn, he asked them to help him attack Naxxramas and free his father's tortured soul. When Maxwell personally asked to help, Darion refused as he was very important to the organization, and instead, found a few volunteers among the present members.[6] Together, they made a daring assault on the well-defended fortress where they faced some of the Lich King's most notable minions, including the fearsome Four Horsemen. However, the leader of the Horsemen was none other than Alexandros Mograine, raised from the grave as a death knight by Kel'Thuzad. Nearly all of the Argent Dawn's party perished in the fighting, except Darion who barely managed to defeat his father and escape with his life through a portal.[11][12]

In time, Lord Tyrosus moved his forces to the Light's Hope Chapel, where the Scourge was mounting an offensive against the holy site. Though the Argent Dawn were greatly outnumbered, Darion stood with them on the front lines. The Battle for Light's Hope Chapel was a desperate last stand, because if they failed, the undead would claim the consecrated ground and all the righteous souls who had been laid to rest there. When the forces of Kel'Thuzad attacked, the tide of battle soon turned against the chapel's defenders, until they witnessed the sacrifice of Darion. As the ultimate sacrifice, and the only act that could free his father's soul, Darion impaled himself with the Corrupted Ashbringer. In response to his noble action, the souls of a thousand vengeful souls interred beneath the chapel erupted in pillars of light that purged the battlefield of all the undead. Nonetheless, while Light's Hope Chapel was saved, the Scourge was still able to collect the bodies of Darion[1] and some others of the Argent Dawn.[12]

Weeks after the battle, it was revealed that the mysterious mage Castillian was in fact an undercover agent within the Argent Dawn. In a secret meeting in the Tirisfal Glades, he delivered a vial of plague-based spores from Naxxramas to his real master, the nathrezim Varimathras, which became a prime ingredient for the New Plague later created by Grand Apothecary Putress.[13]

World of Warcraft

WoW Icon update.png This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands, the headquarters of the Argent Dawn.

At some point, the Siege of the Sanguine was an attack on Light's Hope Chapel by a large army of undead Scourge led by Kirkessen the Zealous. Fortunately, the attack was quickly repelled and Kirkessen suffered an incurable wound from Lord Maxwell Tyrosus that made Kirkessen unable to serve the Scourge in corporeal form.[14]

In time, the Argent Dawn settled an embassy in Darnassus and another one in Stormwind City. In Lordaeron, Argent Officer Pureheart at Chillwind Camp, and Argent Officer Garush at the Bulwark, recruited various adventurers to slay the undead. They gave them commision trinkets,[15] and the heroes in turn delivered them the scourgestones of the Scourge from across the Plaguelands.[16][17][18] They also sent their subordinate, Gregor Greystone, to Everlook in Winterspring to represent the Argent Dawn's interests to the local governance of the Steamwheedle Cartel.[19]

In Northern Kalimdor, Delgren the Purifier and Feero Ironhand offered the night elves of Ashenvale their help to protect their forests from the demons and undead.[20] They traveled to Maestra's Post in order to annihilate the Cult of the Dark Strand, a "strand" of the Shadow Council active at the Tower of Althalaxx in Darkshore,[21] which they accomplished with the help of an adventurer.[22]

The organization was also investigating Twilight Lord Kelris, but he eluded them, and sometimes they thought him dead or missing. They also knew that whenever evil made its presence known in Kalimdor, Kelris had played a role.[23] When many rumors circulate about the union of the Twilight's Hammer and the naga on the coasts of Ashenvale, the Dawn sent Scout Thaelrid to check on the activity in Blackfathom Deeps. However, he was grievously wounded after he found out that the cultists, led by Kelris, sacrificed innocents to the hydra Aku'mai for power.[24]

In Desolace, Azore Aldamort engaged the services of adventurers to retrieve the Sceptre of Light held by the minions of the Burning Blade within the Thunder Axe Fortress.[25] He was also determined to unravel the secrets of naga and sent them to acquire the Book of the Ancients on Ranazjar Isle.[26]

A camp of the Argent Dawn settled within Stormwind City during the Scourge Invasion.

During the Scourge Invasion, several regions of Azeroth came under attack by Scourge forces. Subsequently, the Argent Dawn organized a worldwide counter to the undead invasion, keeping an eye out for any necropolis sightings and passing on their information to all adventurers willing to aid them in their struggle. As more and more invasion attempts were beaten back by the defenders, the Argent Dawn was able to bestow increasingly more powerful blessings upon those fighting the invaders. Those who wished to take up arms against the undead invaders could speak with a representative of the organization to learn what regions needed help and how the defense was holding up. When necropolises appeared outside the Alliance and Horde capitals, the Argent Dawn heeded their desperate call for help, setting up camps inside the besieged cities and rallying the defense against the undead.[27]

Regardless of their influence, the Argent Dawn did not have the manpower of the Scarlet Crusade, and could not stand alone against the Scourge. A sub-faction of the Dawn, named the Brotherhood of the Light under the lead of Commander Eligor Dawnbringer, worked to keep relations between both organizations from growing violent.[28] As such, they formed an uneasy alliance in order to focus their combined strength against Kel'Thuzad's forces in the Plaguelands. When the Argent Dawn sent word that the Scourge's power was concentrated in Naxxramas, the best-defended of all the necropoli, Bolvar Fordragon recruited scores of Alliance heroes who eventually defeated the lich and stopped the Scourge's short-lived invasion.[29]

When they learned that the necromancers of the Cult of the Damned were creating their own plagued dragons in Scholomance, they worked to destroy the creatures before they could be deployed.[30]

Despite their tenuous alliance, Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff condemned the Scarlet Crusade as blasphemers and directed adventurers to slay Archivist Galford and burn down his archives, in order to take away their most valued documents and punish them for their heretical zealotry.[31] When the heroes confronted Grand Crusader Dathrohan, they discovered that his corpse was possessed by the nathrezim Balnazzar, and brought back its head as proof of the demon's masquerade. This discovery shocked Zverenhoff who pondered what the ramifications of Balnazzar's corruption would have on the zealots should the truth come out.[32] Duke Zverenhoff later ordered the heroes to slay Baron Rivendare,[33] and those who accomplished such a task were rewarded by Lord Maxwell Tyrosus himself with an access to the Argent Hold.[34]

During Season of Discovery, Ardelle Dralta was sent to investigate a Shard of Pure Light that had fallen in the Alterac Mountains. Later, a joint expedition of Argent Dawn members and Scarlet Crusaders could be found inside of Naxxramas as the result of their pact at Light's Hope Chapel.

The Burning Crusade

Bc icon.gif This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

When the Dark Portal was reopened by Lord Kazzak, the Argent Dawn were first to rally behind Nethergarde Keep's call while reinforcements from the kingdoms of Azeroth were still on the march. Led by Agent Proudwell, their mission was to hold the demonic invaders at bay until help from the Alliance and Horde arrived. When the adventurers finally reached the Blasted Lands, the Argent Dawn was fighting a desperate battle, and Proudwell tasked them to help their forces on the battlefield.[35]

Legends: The Journey

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Around the time of the invasion of Outland, a nobleman called Maddox decided to retake Andorhal from the Scourge for his own ambitions. He hired hundreds of mercenaries and enlisted the help of the Argent Dawn with Thorn's help. When Maddox and his group arrived to Chillwind Camp, they found only a hundred of warriors and the Dawn's soldiers Argent Officer Pureheart could afford. Pureheart was convinced that they would be slaughtered if they attacked, but was eventually convinced after Halsand told her that he knew the land and could make a strategy to defeat the Scourge. Maddox then decided to pay triple to all the men that went with him. Nonetheless, the Retaking of Andorhal was ultimately a disaster as the army was bested by the undead who ambushed them at the center of the city, emerging from the ruined buildings and contaminated waters where they had hidden in preparation for the battle.[36]

Wrath of the Lich King

Wrath-Logo-Small.png This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

The Argent Dawn defending Light's Hope Chapel.

When the Scourge moved to the Scarlet Enclave in the Eastern Plaguelands, they managed to capture several members and transported them to Acherus. More were imprisoned by the Scarlet Crusade at the Chapel of the Crimson Flame, where they were all executed by the death knights adventurers.[37]

Following the annihilation of the Scarlet Crusade at New Avalon and Havenshire, the only bastion of resistance in the Plaguelands was the Argent Dawn at Light's Hope Chapel. The Lich King thus sent the Death Knights of Acherus to lead the assault, with their greatest objective being to draw out Tirion Fordring; by destroying this legendary figure, the Lich King hoped to erode the resolve of the Argent Dawn and the defenders of Azeroth before the next stage of his campaigns.[38] Ten thousand Scourge troops were assembled for this task, led by Highlord Darion Mograine wielding the Corrupted Ashbringer, while the Argent Dawn forces were a comparatively few three hundred defenders of the Light and what remained of the organization's leadership, all assembled at the holy chapel.

During the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, at the head of the paladins of the Knights 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 were ultimately defeated.[38] During his confrontation with the Lich King, Tirion reclaimed and purified the Ashbringer, forcing Arthas to retreat while freeing the death knights from his grip at the same time. As the new champion that the paladins could rally behind, Tirion lamented the loss of souls on both sides of the conflict, then he assumed a leadership position over the organization and called for a union between the Argent Dawn and the remains of the Silver Hand in Lordaeron.[39] Together they formed the Argent Crusade, which sailed to Northrend and fought to end the reign of the Lich King.[40]

Years ago, when adventurers recovered The Phylactery of Kel'Thuzad from Naxxramas, they gave it to Father Inigo Montoy of the Brotherhood of the Light who promised to deliver it to the Argent Dawn.[41] It later turned out that the phylactery never reached its destination, as in reality, Inigo returned it to the Lich King who transformed him into a lich, now known as Thel'zan the Duskbringer.[42]

Aftermath

Following the Cataclysm, most, if not all, members of the organization joined the Argent Crusade, but several individuals are still wearing the Argent Dawn tabard.

During the Ashenvale war, Delgren the Purifier and Feero Ironhand died while defending Maestra's Post against a Horde's attack. Subsequently, their equipment were recovered and sent to the Argent Dawn embassy in Darnassus.[43]

During the Fourth War, Forsaken Argent mages wearing the old tabard of the Argent Dawn could be found within the Pathfinder's Den in Orgrimmar, conjuring a portal to Dalaran.

Members

Main article: Category:Argent Dawn
A member of the Argent Dawn.
Darion Mograine as an Argent Dawn recruit.
Name Role(s) Status Location
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Alen Caretaker Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Azore Aldamort Member Alive Ethel Rethor, Desolace
IconSmall Orc Female.gif Neutral Beitha Lieutenant Alive Darnassus
IconSmall Gnome Female.gif Neutral Betina Bigglezink Member Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Wildhammer Male.gif Neutral Brannigan Thundermaul Member Deceased Military Quarter, Naxxramas
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Briggs Member Deceased Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Carlin Redpath Member Alive Crown Guard Tower, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Undead Male.gif Neutral Castillian Member (infiltrated) Alive Unknown
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Chambers Field Marshal Alive Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Dwarf Male.gif Neutral Dagel Lieutenant Alive Valley of Strength, Orgrimmar
IconSmall Human Male.gifIconSmall Darion.gif Neutral Darion Mograine Former member in life Undead Acherus, The Argent Vanguard, Icecrown
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Delgren the Purifier Member Deceased Maestra's Post, Ashenvale
IconSmall BloodElf Female.png Neutral Lady Eonys Member Deceased New Avalon, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall BloodElf Male.png Neutral Ferelyn Bloodscorn Member Deceased Construct Quarter, Naxxramas
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Feero Ironhand Member Deceased Maestra's Post, Ashenvale
IconSmall Orc Male.gif Neutral Garush Argent Officer Alive The Bulwark, Tirisfal Glades
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Gavin Member Alive Dun Morogh
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Lord Raymond George Former leader Deceased Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Gregor Greystone Member Alive Everlook, Winterspring
IconSmall Orc Female.gif Neutral Grunn'Holde Member Deceased Military Quarter, Naxxramas
IconSmall Troll Female.gif Neutral Hasana Argent Quartermaster Alive The Bulwark, Tirisfal Glades
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Jase Farlane Trade Supplies Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Female.gif Neutral Jessica Chambers Innkeeper Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Female.gif Neutral Jessica Redpath Member Alive Everlook, Winterspring
IconSmall Orc Female.gif Neutral Julek Lieutenant Alive Eversong Woods
IconSmall Dwarf Male.gif Neutral Kregor Lieutenant Alive Exodar
IconSmall Goblin Male.gif Neutral Gally Lumpstain Member Deceased New Avalon, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Undead Male.gif Neutral Leonid Barthalomew Member Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Gnome Male.gif Neutral Lightspark Argent Quartermaster Alive Chillwind Camp, Western Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Female.gif Neutral Lisande Lieutenant Alive Thunder Bluff
IconSmall NightElf Male.gif Neutral Manados Argent Guard Alive Craftsmen's Terrace, Darnassus
IconSmall Maxwell.gif Neutral Maxwell Tyrosus Leader Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Metz Dispatch Commander Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Dwarf Female.gif Neutral Miranda Breechlock Quartermaster Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Nevell Lieutenant Alive Dun Morogh
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Nicholas Zverenhoff Member Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Orrin Lieutenant Alive Stormwind Harbor, Stormwind City
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Proudwell Agent Alive Dark Portal, Blasted Lands
IconSmall Human Female.gif Neutral Pureheart Argent Officer Alive Chillwind Camp, Western Plaguelands
IconSmall Orc Male.gif Neutral Rukag Lieutenant Alive Undercity
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Selgorm Dawnwatcher Alive Craftsmen's Terrace, Darnassus
IconSmall NightElf Male.gif Neutral Shaedlass Dawnwatcher Alive Craftsmen's Terrace, Darnassus
IconSmall NightElf Male.gif Neutral Thaelrid Argent Guard Deceased Blackfathom Deeps
IconSmall Human Male.gif Neutral Thomas Helleran Commander Alive Light's Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Draenei Male.gif Neutral Valok the Righteous Member Deceased New Avalon, Eastern Plaguelands
IconSmall Human Female.gif Neutral Ysida Harmon Member Alive Slaughter House, Stratholme
IconSmall Worgen Male.gif Neutral Lord Harford Member Deceased New Avalon, Eastern Plaguelands

Reputation

Players must first complete the Fiona's Caravan quests in the Eastern Plaguelands up through and including N [15-30] Argent Call: The Trial of the Crypt. This will grant enough reputation to get exactly 0/21000 Revered reputation with the Argent Dawn, or none if they are already Revered (from performing Argent Dawn quests before the release of Cataclysm). After this point, Lord Raymond George can be summoned in the crypt behind Light's Hope Chapel. Argent Dawn reputation is obtainable by performing the two repeatable quests N [15-30D] Aberrations of Bone and N [15-30D] Annals of the Silver Hand he provides. As of patch 10.1.5, it is possible to obtain and turn in Scourgestones for reputation.

Argent Dawn Exalted reputation is a requisite for the achievement and title  [The Argent Champion].

Old reputation

Prior to patch 4.0.3a, you could gain reputation from a large number of methods, including repeatable quests and instances. Many of these methods involved the use of an  [Argent Dawn Commission], which allowed players to obtain Scourgestones from any level 40+ undead Scourge enemies in Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.

While Scourgestones are still obtainable by players who have the Argent Dawn Commission equipped, they can no longer be turned in for reputation, and in fact no longer have any use at all. All of the other old repeatable quests have also been removed, and defeating enemies in Stratholme and Scholomance no longer grants Argent Dawn reputation either.

Rewards

The shoulder enchantments are only sold to players who performed certain quests before Cataclysm. The quest Mantles of the Dawn must be completed to purchase the single-resistance enchantments, and Chromatic Mantle of the Dawn must be done for the multi-resist enchantment. Both quests are now unobtainable, but players who performed them before they were removed can still buy the shoulder enchantments.

Rep Item Cost Type
Friendly  [Enriched Manna Biscuit] x5 60s Food/Drink
Honored  [Recipe: Transmute Air to Fire] 1g 50s Alchemy (275)
 [Plans: Girdle of the Dawn] 2g 20s Blacksmithing (290)
 [Pattern: Dawn Treaders] 2g 20s Leatherworking (290)
 [Pattern: Argent Boots] 2g 20s Tailoring (290)
 [Recipe: Powerful Anti-Venom] 10g First Aid (300)
 [Formula: Enchant Bracer - Argent Versatility] 3g Enchanting (290)
Revered  [Plans: Gloves of the Dawn] 4g Blacksmithing (300)
 [Pattern: Golden Mantle of the Dawn] 4g Leatherworking (300)
 [Pattern: Argent Shoulders] 4g Tailoring (300)
 [Formula: Enchant Bracer - Healing Power] 6g Enchanting (300)
 [Blessed Sunfruit] x5 60s Food
 [Blessed Sunfruit Juice] x5 60s Drink

WoW Icon update.png The subject of this section was removed from World of Warcraft in patch 4.0.3a but is present in Classic Era.

Argent Dawn - Friendly
Superior Armaments of Battle
Reward (choose one) Type
 [Band of Piety] Ring
 [Band of Resolution] Ring
 [Verimonde's Last Resort] Main hand Dagger
 [Supply Bag] 18-slot bag
 [Leggings of the Plague Hunter] Mail armor
 [Sanctified Leather Helm] Leather armor
Epic Armaments of Battle
Reward (choose one) Type
 [Amulet of the Dawn] Necklace
 [Bracers of Hope] Cloth armor
 [Bracers of Subterfuge] Leather armor
 [Medallion of the Dawn] Necklace
 [Talisman of Ascendance] Trinket
 [The Purifier] Gun
Argent Dawn - Revered
N [60] Mantles of the Dawn
Enchant Cost
 [Arcane Mantle of the Dawn] 10g
 [Flame Mantle of the Dawn] 10g
 [Frost Mantle of the Dawn] 10g
 [Nature Mantle of the Dawn] 10g
 [Shadow Mantle of the Dawn] 10g
N [60] Chromatic Mantle of the Dawn
 [Chromatic Mantle of the Dawn] 40g

In the RPG

Icon-RPG.png This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Organization

The Argent Dawn is a lawful good organization and is divided into branches based on location, each of which has its own ranking and structure. Non-members are not permitted to know the ranking of members of the organization, since that would make obvious targets of leadership figures, and the leader is not known to the public.[44] This has sometimes resulted in the Argent Dawn being called a secret society. However, it seems their ranking structure is surprisingly simple; specific regions have a "Commander", who directly leads day-to-day activities, a council of officers, a group of elite templars, and then the body of membership. Templars have no real authority over standard members, but they are highly respected. Branches include the Brotherhood of the Light.[45]

The Argent Dawn has no official headquarters, but small branches exist in several major cities — including Stormwind and Darnassus. The majority of their members in the Plaguelands work out of the Light's Hope Chapel on the far east side of the Eastern Plaguelands, but a good number of them inhabit a camp at Chillwind Camp on the border of the Western Plaguelands and the Alterac Mountains as well. The templars at Chillwind have plenty of work to do. The courageous templars and knights have to contend with ogres to the south and an undead infested graveyard right on their borders.[44]

Scarlet Crusade and Argent Dawn members looking at each other.

Through its actions, the Argent Dawn has created several powerful enemies, notably the Burning Legion, the Scourge, and the Twilight's Hammer. Despite common interests (and an alliance at Light's Hope Chapel), there is also a great deal of mistrust, and even open ire, between the Argent Dawn and the Scarlet Crusade — particularly because the Scarlet Crusade views all non-members as potentially evil.[44]

Military tactics

An Argent Dawn member fighting a Black Dragon.

In the Plaguelands and other parts of the world that the Alliance and Horde alike have abandoned, the Argent Dawn stands as a last shining bastion of hope against the Scourge, the Burning Legion and other threats. Contrary to what one might expect, the Argent Dawn rarely defends any given location; rather it remains mobile, attempting to strike where it is least expected. This is clearly a strong contrast to the more straightforward Knights of the Silver Hand.

The knights and freedom fighters of the Argent Dawn rely on hit and run tactics, using their magic and knowledge of the terrain to compensate for the disadvantage of their small numbers. Each group is assigned an officer, who chooses when to engage enemies in combat or avoid them; if there is any major risk to the group, the officer avoids the conflict unless there is an impending threat that must be stopped. The Argent Dawn is unwilling to risk even a single member if it can be avoided, for every sword lost could be another to join the Scourge. The Argent Dawn is not a group of cowards; far from it. They willingly risk their lives each day.

If an Argent Dawn force is attacked while guarding a specific person or location, the members form a defensive circle around the target and attempt to repulse their enemies with ranged attacks. If any attackers make it to melee range, paladins and templar move to eliminate the target, then return to their positions in the circle if possible. If the Argent Dawn has multiple locations to defend, it prioritizes and potentially abandons one location completely, depending on the situation; if there are living people to defend in both locations, the Argent Dawn sends just enough people to the less important locations to evacuate anyone who may need help.

Before entering combat, Argent Dawn units prepare with as many beneficial spells as possible. Priests cast spell resistance, holy word shield, and bear's endurance on everyone they can to increase their chances of survival. Paladins and Argent Dawn templar enhance their weapons with holy sword if they can cast it; and if not, they focus on other spells to increase their damage-dealing abilities, such as bull's strength.

Once in combat, each spellcaster powerful enough to incapacitate a target with hooks of binding or another spell uses it to thin the enemy group's numbers. After that point, the group focuses its firepower on enemy spell casters (if applicable), moving from what appears to be the strongest target to the weakest. One priest maintains a healing rain if the group fights undead. When fighting intelligent enemies, Argent Dawn groups focus on enemy leadership first, expending their powerful abilities (holy strikes and high-level spells) to destroy that target swiftly, then retreat if necessary.[46]

Membership

Argent Dawn members battling undead.
Argent Dawn members battling undead.

The Argent Dawn admits members of any race and profession, so long as they are dedicated to the opposition of evil in the world. The organization draws members from both Alliance and the Horde, but not equally. Though independent they favor the Alliance.[44] The focus on the Holy Light makes the organization more appealing to the Alliance, especially to people with a background with the Church or Silver hand. Magi also support and sometimes join the Argent Dawn, since they have similar goals.[45] The Horde has a healthy relationship with the Argent Dawn as well, but it does not actually serve as a sponsor for the faction's activities. Rather, the Horde (mainly the Forsaken) reinforces the Argent Dawn's troops, and works with them only when it seems beneficial (which is often the case).[47]

They screen their members carefully, however, so this seemingly open-ended recruitment policy can be misleading. Most potential members are required to use minor magic items to gather “scourgestones” from defeated undead creatures to prove the combat ability of the applicant. Others have to fight demons in order to prove themselves. Members are also expected to uphold the virtues of the Light, even if they are not followers of Light themselves. They can be strict about what their members do or say, especially in public.

Members of the Argent Dawn often have differing strategies in furthering the group's aims: some make alliances against the undead; others fight directly; some study new forms of magic or alchemy to combat demons and undead with greater effectiveness. The Argent Dawn is noted for unusual ways of utilizing the Holy Light for new spells, but this draws ire from the most traditional members of the Church of the Holy Light.

Younger members of the Church and the Knights of the Silver Hand find the youthful Argent Dawn appealing, since the organization seems to be less burdened by older (and perhaps outdated) traditions. The Argent Dawn as a whole seems unusually youthful, some leaders appear much younger than they should be.[48]

Apart from the Knights, Argent Dawn membership also numbers some former (and current) members of the Kirin Tor. Since their home city of Dalaran was hit by the Scourge, many of the Kirin Tor wish to strike back. Both groups also find common ground in their interest in magical research.

Presence in Azeroth

One could find the Argent Dawn in many places across Azeroth. They were primarily centered in the northern parts of the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, addressing the specific threats of the Scourge and the Burning Legion, respectively. In the Eastern Kingdoms was their foremost stronghold: Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands. Their influence in the southern part of the Western Plaguelands was also significant, as they attempted to rout the undead from near Uther's Tomb, Caer Darrow, and Andorhal. They also maintained a less active but more stable headquarters in Darnassus.[49]

Notes and trivia

  • The  [Argent Tome] is a blessed tome filled with the words of the Argent's Dawn's wisest.
  • Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff was one of the Dawn's most respected leaders.[50]
  • The re-appearance of the Argent Dawn was possibly planned for the Legion Invasions with Sedona Ironshot.
  • Among the unused members of the Argent Dawn are Gracchus Spiritlight and Yuree.
  • Argent is an uncommon English word used to refer to the color silver. It is derived from the French word argent, where it refers to silver as a metal, and ultimately from the Latin argentum with the same meaning as in French. This word is particularly common in heraldry, where it is capitalized and may refer either to a variety of colors from silvery light-gray to white. Thus, the Argent Dawn's tabards (where, in real life, heraldry would usually be displayed) depict a silvery-white sun - a sun Argent, in heraldic terms.
    • Interestingly, however, the tincture of Argent is commonly used to represent the moon in heraldry as opposed to the sun as it is used by the Argent Dawn.

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 Dawn and its successor, the Argent Crusade, 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.

Patch changes

  • Cata-Logo-Small.png Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Many members and locations have been converted from the Argent Dawn to the Argent Crusade.
  • Bc icon.gif Patch 2.2.0 (2007-09-25): The following old-world factions have had their acquisition rate significantly increased: Cenarion Circle, Argent Dawn and Timbermaw Hold.
  • WoW Icon update.png Patch 1.7.0 (2005-09-13): Argent Dawn vendors now show you their entire inventory regardless of current reputation, allowing players to peruse their full range of wares. The items in question now require the appropriate reputation level to make use of them.
  • WoW Icon update.png Patch 1.6.0 (2005-07-12): Additional Smithing/Leatherworking/Tailoring/Enchanting Recipes added to Argent Dawn at Honored and Revered Reputation. Also new First Aid recipe added to Argent Dawn at Honored.
  • WoW Icon update.png Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19): The range of restock time for Argent Dawn vendors has been widened.
  • WoW Icon update.png Patch 1.3.0 (2005-03-07): The Argent Dawn is offering new rewards to heroes who are Revered and Exalted to the Dawn. Speak to a quartermaster of the Argent Dawn for more information!

See also

References

 
  1. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Ashbringer, Issue 4: Dust to Dust
  2. ^ Shadow of the Necropolis
  3. ^ Gregor Greystone#Quotes
  4. ^ Argent Officer Pureheart#Quotes
  5. ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, Updated and Expanded, pg. 190
  6. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Ashbringer, Issue 2: Ashes to Ashes
  7. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 127
  8. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 103
  9. ^ N [15-30D] Aberrations of Bone
  10. ^ N [15-30] Argent Call: The Trial of the Crypt
  11. ^ World of Warcraft: Ashbringer, Issue 3: Naxxramas (comic)
  12. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 130
  13. ^ Ashbringer, epilogue
  14. ^ Compendium of Fallen Heroes
  15. ^ N [55] Argent Dawn Commission
  16. ^ N [55] Minion's Scourgestones
  17. ^ N [55] Invader's Scourgestones
  18. ^ N [55] Corruptor's Scourgestones
  19. ^ B [52] The Everlook Report
  20. ^ A [18] The Tower of Althalaxx
  21. ^  [Journal Page]
  22. ^ A [31] The Tower of Althalaxx
  23. ^ B [27D] Blackfathom Villainy
  24. ^ A [24D] In Search of Thaelrid
  25. ^ N [33] Sceptre of Light
  26. ^ N [38] Book of the Ancients
  27. ^ Archived page
  28. ^ N [60R] Echoes of War
  29. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 131
  30. ^ N [58D] Plagued Hatchlings
  31. ^ N [60D] The Archivist
  32. ^ N [60D] The Truth Comes Crashing Down
  33. ^ N [60D] Above and Beyond
  34. ^ N [60] The Argent Hold
  35. ^ N [60] Into the Breach
  36. ^ Warcraft: Legends Volume 1, The Journey
  37. ^ N Death Knight [8-30] A Special Surprise
  38. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 174
  39. ^ N Death Knight [8-30] The Light of Dawn
  40. ^ Argent Crusade#Reputation
  41. ^ N [60R] The Fall of Kel'Thuzad
  42. ^ A [15-30] An End And A Beginning
  43. ^ A [7-30] Respect for the Fallen
  44. ^ a b c d Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 150
  45. ^ a b Dark Factions, pg. 126
  46. ^ Dark Factions, pg. 169, 170
  47. ^ Dark Factions, pg. 125
  48. ^ Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 150, 151
  49. ^ Dark Factions, pg. 124, 125
  50. ^ N [52] Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff

External links