Scarlet Crusade

"The Scarlet Crusade" redirects here. For the Classic quest, see  [4] The Scarlet Crusade.

"Scarlet" redirects here. For the similarly-named nightborne, see Scarleth.

Scarlet Crusade
Main leader	Unknown
Formerly	See below
Secondary leaders	Crusader Alrick  Huntmaster Scarborgh  High Commander Galvar Pureblood (status unknown)
Formerly	See below
Race(s)	Human
Formerly	Dwarf  High elf  Undead
Character classes	Various
Capital	Unknown (Lordaeron) New Hearthglen (Northrend)
Formerly	Scarlet Monastery
Other major settlements	Unknown (Lordaeron) Onslaught Harbor (Northrend)
Formerly	Gilneas City, Stratholme, Tyr's Hand, New Avalon, Hearthglen
Base of operations	Scarlet Palisade, Cold Hearth Manor
Formerly	Scarlet Watch Post, Scarlet Bastion, Scarlet Hold
Theater of operations	Lordaeron, Northrend
Formerly	Desolace
Language(s)	Common, formerly Dwarven and Thalassian
Sub-group(s)	Scarlet Onslaught
Former sub-group(s)	See below
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Crippled and divided. The Onslaught stagnates in Northrend. The remnants in Lordaeron have repurposed as the "Scarlet Brotherhood".
Reputation
Tabard

“Can you not see it, brothers and sisters? There is but one way to wipe the Scourge from the face of Azeroth. The Scarlet Crusade offers you the protection that you so desperately desire, and if you will pledge yourselves to us, surely we will reach our ultimate goal. Defy us, and you will be dispatched in a blaze of golden light unlike any you have ever witnessed...”

— Scarlet Commander Renault Mograine

The Scarlet Crusade (also known as the Scarlet Brotherhood or simply the Crusade) is a fanatical religious sect that evolved from the Order of the Silver Hand in the aftermath of the Third War, dedicated to the eradication of the undead from Lordaeron. A major adversary of the Forsaken and Scourge, their name has become synonymous with corruption and extremism. For several years, the Scarlet Crusade maintained several bastions throughout the former lands of Lordaeron, namely the Scarlet Monastery in Tirisfal Glades, and up until the Cataclysm - Hearthglen, Tyr's Hand, the fortified Scarlet Bastion of Stratholme, and several smaller camps and scout towers spread throughout the whole area of northern Lordaeron.

It is one of the hierarchies left over from the kingdom of Lordaeron after its destruction by Arthas Menethil. Following the attack on the Scarlet Enclave, the Scarlet Crusade renamed itself to the Scarlet Onslaught and operated in Northrend, though some members of the original organization did not transfer to the Scarlet Onslaught. Since the fall of the Lich King, the Scarlet Crusade has experienced a downfall, losing many of its holdings in the now-recovering Plaguelands to the Argent Crusade, and many of its surviving members, ironically, to undeath as the Risen.

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, their remnants in Lordaeron regrouped at the Monastery under the command of High Commander Goodchilde, they were soon assaulted by the Knights of the Ebon Blade who totally wiped them out, in order to resurrect Sally Whitemane as a member of their new Four Horsemen. In Northrend, while the Scarlet Onslaught was largely dismantled, New Hearthglen continued to operate, even though it has lost the majority of its leadership and its goals have been dashed away, and was interchangeably referred to as the Crusade and as the Onslaught.

As of the end of the Fourth War, the "Scarlet Brotherhood" was formed, marking a resurgence of the Scarlet ideology in Lordaeron, they declared themselves to be House Menethil loyalists and were politically opposed to the Alliance, which they saw as being led by a traitor. A few years later, their forces recovered enough to launch an assault against the Ruins of Lordaeron under the command of Scarlet Commander Forsythe. Following their failure, the Crusaders withdrew to Gilneas City where they were ultimately defeated by the Gilnean forces, forcing them to go into hiding once more.

History

The Ashbringer

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft manga or comics.

Scarlet Commander Renault Mograine as seen in the Ashbringer comic.

Those who would later become the founders of the Crusade met in Southshore during the Third War, where together they purified a dark crystal into what would become the core of the holy Ashbringer. By that time, a faction had started growing in the Order of the Silver Hand, largely led by General Abbendis. This faction was intolerant of what they deemed as the "lesser races".

Following the death of King Terenas Menethil II and Uther the Lightbringer at the hands of Arthas Menethil, the core of the Crusade's force began as a group of survivors of the Silver Hand who regrouped in Hearthglen after an offer of Taelan Fordring. During a meeting, they determined whether they should pursue and eliminate Arthas or fight to take back Lordaeron from the Scourge. Their meeting concluded with the decision of Saidan Dathrohan to focus their efforts on Stratholme and Andorhal, in order to stop the spread of the undead epidemic. Highlord Alexandros Mograine later led his forces through Lordaeron. Such were his acts that he and his weapon quickly became legends.

During an assault on Stratholme, however, Saidan Dathrohan was separated and lost during the battle against the undead. The knights were overjoyed when he finally reappeared, but none of them could have imagined the truth: that during his absence, he had been killed and replaced by the dreadlord Balnazzar.

In time, the remnants of the Silver Hand managed to strike an alliance with the communities of Tyr's Hand while also establishing a forward base in an old monastery not far of Capital City. However, dissensions started appearing in the leadership of the human resistance. Lord Maxwell Tyrosus suggested that in order to retake their fallen cities, the order should recruit among the night elves of Kalimdor and the dwarves and gnomes of Khaz Modan. Other prominent leaders such as Abbendis disagreed, considering the fate of Lordaeron the affairs of men.

When Alexandros Mograine showed the will to attack the Forsaken, Balnazzar began manipulating the organization to serve his own ends. Together with his brother Varimathras, they devised a plan to remove the serious threat of both Mograine and his Ashbringer sword. As Saidan, he manipulated the Highlord's son, Renault, playing on his desire for approval and recognition, until he eventually managed to convince him to betray his father. Renault led his father and Fairbanks into Stratholme, where they were ambushed by the Scourge. Though Alexandros fought bravely, and many undead fell before his blade, he eventually dropped the Ashbringer, which Renault used to stab him through the back before fleeing. Fairbanks, who had been buried beneath the undead bodies and thought slain, eventually returned to the Monastery and tried to tell the others what had happened, but was ultimately accused of being tainted and executed.

The possessed Saidan Dathrohan then reorganized what remained of the Silver Hand in Lordaeron into the Scarlet Crusade. Other paladins disgusted with their former comrades' immoral zealotry, suspicious of Saidan and his closest companions, and who believed that their comrades had fallen from their once-noble purpose, left to form the Argent Dawn, which took a less extreme approach by remaining faithful to the principles of the Light, and accepted members from all of Azeroth's races into their ranks.

One day, Renault's younger brother Darion, who had joined the Argent Dawn, came walking into the chapel of the Scarlet Monastery. Renault initially assumed he had come to join the Scarlet Crusade, until he saw what he was carrying: the Ashbringer. Furious, he began to savagely beat Darion, not noticing that a strange shadow was emerging from the blade. The shadow coalesced into the form of Alexandros Mograine and, after accusing his son of betrayal and murder, killed him. Darion took the Ashbringer and left, and soon after Taelan Fordring was appointed as commander at the Monastery.

High General Abbendis was later mortally wounded by the undead and died in his daughter's arms while defending Hearthglen. The reinforcements from the Monastery led by High Inquisitor Whitemane managed to save the city.

A Cleansing Fire

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft manga or comics.

The Crusaders culling a village of innocent folks.

In year 24 ADP, the Scarlet Crusade patrolled Lordaeron villages, checking them for the plague. On one such patrol, Saidan Dathrohan (possessed by Balnazzar) and Sir Thomas led a group of crusaders into a village, which was deemed corrupted by the Grand Crusader. Thus, the crusaders slew the townsfolk. Later, the crusaders struck at a settlement north of Dalson's Tears in the Western Plaguelands which housed Sir Thomas' family. Unbeknownst to him, Thomas killed his family, and it was too late when he realized what he had done, and went mad. The other crusaders dragged him back to the Scarlet Monastery, where Saidan then convinced Thomas to join the crusaders in an attack against the Scourge during Hallow's End. Although he killed Scourge, Thomas also killed his fellow crusaders. As such, the soldiers were forced to cut down their former brother, then brought his body back to the monastery.

Light's Wrath

At some point, the Scarlet Crusade set out to create a staff of unparalleled holy might. A weapon that would rival even the legendary Ashbringer in righteous fury. As the Ashbringer derived its power from a shadowy artifact that had been purified in the Light and affixed to the blade, the zealots sought to do the same for its staff. The order sent its most loyal crusaders into the war-torn Plaguelands in search of a suitable relic, and the few who returned bore a strange jewel bristling with darkness. Some sources say it had been part of a truncheon carried by one of the first death knights to walk the world. Other accounts hint that the dreaded lich Kel'Thuzad has shaped the jewel with his spectral hands. Whatever the truth, they used the black gem to create the staff known as Light's Wrath.

Ten of the Scarlet Crusade's learned priests gathered in Hearthglen to create Light's Wrath. For weeks, they practiced a ritual that would purify the dark jewel and bind it to the staff. However, when Balnazzar learned of the plans to forge Light's Wrath, he feared that such a weapon could unmask his deception and shatter his hold over the Crusade. The nathrezim disrupted the cleansing ritual, and the crusaders lost control of their delicate spellwork. A storm of holy energy ripped through the meeting place, instantly killing the ten priests. Yet Light's Wrath was left intact. The blast had purified the jewel and affixed it to the staff. Upon close inspection, Balnazzar found that the staff trembled with unstable energies. Wielding it with any reliability would be near impossible. Rather than destroy the weapon, he looked forward to the mayhem it would cause in the years to come.

During a battle near Tyr's Hand, the Scourge outnumbered the Crusade by twenty to one, until the staff was used to destroy the undead. However, it killed its wielder and many of the soldiers at his side, while the surviving crusaders have been left dumbstruck. At some point, the Scarlet Crusade raided a small village in search of the Scourge, using Light's Wrath to "cleanse" the living townfolk, as they were afflicted by the plague of undeath. But once again, the priest using the staff lost control of its power, and what was once the town square became nothing more than a smoldering crater, filled to the brim with bodies. Of all the Scarlet Crusaders who bore Light's Wrath, Inquisitor Halbin's discipline and calculated focus were unmatched among the order's members. In the Scarlet Monastery, he used the staff to sear his Forsaken prisoners, extracting information for the Crusade to utilize in its war against the undead. However, the more Halbin interacted with the Forsaken, the more he grew to loathe the cursed beings. In time, he no longer cared about gathering intelligence from them and simply wanted to hear their screams. One night, anger overwhelmed his thoughts and sealed the inquisitor's doom.

It is unknown exactly when Light's Wrath slipped between the Scarlet Crusade's fingers. Eventually, the staff fell to the care of a troll priest named Jakhar, a member of the Horde Expedition sent to wage war against the Scourge in Northrend. before the elite magi of the Kirin Tor hid it away lest it unleash further deadly calamities.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Please add any available information to this section.

The Scarlet Monastery in Tirisfal Glades.

The Crusade seemingly established their own Church to persuade the folk to join in.

At some point, rumors flew that a plaguebearer was hiding around a village. The Scarlet Crusade had seen to it that every last inhabitant was rounded up and burned alive. Among the villagers was the family of the paladin Lord Thorval, who yearned to hunt down the Crusaders.

Due to its origins as the regrouped survivors of the Silver Hand, the Scarlet Crusade counted members from citizens and races of all over the Alliance of Lordaeron, including high elves of Quel'Thalas, dwarves of the Alterac Mountains and human citizens of Stormwind, Alterac, Kul Tiras and Dalaran. Their opinion of the exterior world turned sour, however, and they started seeing other races than humans as unclean. Seeing this trend, the Forsaken forged some documents to make sure to alarm the Alliance leadership about their supremacist views to prevent any potential of them from joining forces. Human outsiders were still recruited but only after facing dangerous trials. It was additionally suspected that the organization had ties to wealthy intolerant families that supported them.

The Scarlet Crusade continued to cling to their scattered holdings, obsessed with eradicating the undead and retaking their once-beautiful homeland. The Crusaders became intolerant of all non-human races, regardless of alliance or affiliation. They started believing that any and all outsiders were potential carriers of the undead plague - and must be destroyed. The Scarlet Monastery was converted into a Scarlet Crusade stronghold by Scarlet Commander Mograine, who commanded a large garrison of fanatically devoted warriors, and High Inquisitor Sally Whitemane, the true master of the fortress. However, after Commander Mograine's mysterious death, he was eventually replaced by High Commander Goodchilde.

At some point after the formation of the Scarlet Crusade, the Scarlet Monastery was attacked by the Scourge three times in the Summertide Assaults. The Crusade also attempted a strike against the Scourge base in Northrend, and built a fleet specifically for that purpose. The attempt failed, although the Crusaders reached as far as the mouth of Icecrown Glacier. There were many casualties among the high ranks of the Crusade, including its first and only Grand Admiral, first Captain General, and first Chief Assassin.

The Scarlet Crusade also created many new anti-undead weapons, outside of Light's Wrath. The human mage Timolain was also commissioned to create powerful new bows and guns.

The Scarlet Crusade has been raiding the Forsaken's holdings, and the Forsaken of Brill have fended off their incursions, retaliated in kind, and tested their poisons on Captured Scarlet Zealots. The Forsaken in turn enlisted Horde adventurers to aid Nathanos Blightcaller in conducting strategic strikes against the Crusade in Tyr's Hand in order to soften them up for the assault on Stratholme. Nathanos directed adventurers to slay Demetria, the chief advisor to Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan.

Hearthglen under the control of the Crusade.

Meanwhile, Tirion Fordring enlisted the aid of adventurers to redeem his son Taelan Fordring, who has risen through the ranks of the Scarlet Crusade and is now their Highlord. Tirion has the adventurer collect numerous mementos and deliver them to Taelan in order to restore his faith in honor and nobility. Tirion's plan worked; Taelan was moved by the mementos and desires to reunite with his father so they can both become heroes of the Alliance and of Lordaeron. Taelan and the adventurer sneak out of Hearthglen to regroup with Tirion, but they were caught by Grand Inquisitor Isillien who murdered Taelan for his desertion. Tirion Fordring slays Isillien in retribution while the adventurer dispatched Isillien's Crimson Elites. In the aftermath of the battle, Taelan's death had spurred Tirion to redeem the Order of the Silver Hand so that evil, regardless of its politics or pleasantries, is extinguished from the world.

In Stratholme, the undead Scourge — led by the powerful lich, Kel'Thuzad, was locked in battle with a contingent of Scarlet Crusaders, led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan. Both forces held portions of the ravaged city, and both sides were locked in constant, violent combat. The Argent Dawn has been sending adventurers into Stratholme to contend with both factions. Despite their tenuous alliance, Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff of the Argent Dawn condemned the Scarlet Crusade as blasphemers and directed adventurers to slay Archivist Galford and burn down his archives in order to take away the Scarlet Crusade's most valued documents and punish them for their heretical zealotry. Adventurers eventually confronted Grand Crusader Dathrohan and during their battle with him, uncovered that he was really the nathrezim Balnazzar in disguise. Adventurers sent the  [Head of Balnazzar] to Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff as proof of Balnazzar's evil masquerade. Zverenhoff was shocked that the Crusade was manipulated by such an evil force and pondered what the ramifications of Balnazzar's corruption would have on the Scarlet Crusade should the truth come out.

Some Crusaders under the leadership of Scarlet Commander Marjhan allied with the Argent Dawn at Light's Hope Chapel in order to attack Naxxramas, though the temporary truce was not sanctioned by the Grand Crusader.

Season of Discovery

The subject of this section is unique to the World of Warcraft Classic: Season of Discovery.

A group of Crusaders was sent down south to Khaz Modan to track down and apprehend ex-paladin Aeonas whom they considered a heretic. The results of the pact between Argents and Scarlets could also be seen in Naxxramas itself, as Commander Beatrix and Inquisitor Caldoran were seen collaborating with the other races within the necropolis.

When the Argent Dawn and more measured members of the Scarlet Crusade were fighting in Naxxramas, an evil infiltrated Tyr's Hand and the Scarlet Enclave. A force of Dathrohan loyalists left Stratholme and forcefully took over the area from the followers of Beatrix and Caldoran. This resulted in the Scarlet Crusade teaming up with the Argent Dawn against the corrupting influence of Balnazzar, whose infiltration of Scarlet high command was now known to the remaining Crusaders. Still, the new Grand Crusader Caldoran decided to betray the Argent Dawn agents after the demon was dispatched, resulting in Argent retaliation against the Crusaders.

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

By the time of the invasion of Outland, the Scarlet Crusade's misguided zeal was so strong that it had even tainted the blessing spoken over their holy water. The Blood Knights of Quel'Thalas sought to exploit that taint to prepare a mixture that was to extinguish the eternal flame of the Alonsus Chapel in Stratholme.

Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Main article: Scarlet Onslaught

New Hearthglen, the main base of the Scarlet Onslaught in Dragonblight.

Prior to the war against the Lich King, the Scarlet Enclave in the Eastern Plaguelands had been remarkably untouched by the plague, consisting of the Scarlet capital of Tyr's Hand led by Crusader Lord Valdelmar, and the towns of Havenshire and New Avalon. These towns came under the protection of the Crusade forces after successful negotiations between the Knights of the Silver Hand and the local administration years ago. The Crusaders stationed in Tyr's Hand were led by High General Brigitte Abbendis - one of the Crusade's original founders.

Everything changed with the arrival of Acherus: The Ebon Hold. Under the orders of the Lich King, the Death Knights of Acherus began their campaign of destruction, marching on the Scarlet Enclave with the forces of the Scourge. In time, High General Abbendis claimed she had received 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".

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 Glades were being assembled to reinforce the Enclave and battle the forces of Acherus. One of the death knights, disguised as the courier, 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. With the combined army marching to their doom, Abbendis boarded her flagship, the Sinner's Folly, and set sail for Northrend, leaving the Crusade to its fate.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

The Scarlet Bastion in Stratholme.

With the exposure of Balnazzar and Mal'Ganis, their senior leadership eliminated, and Highlord Tirion Fordring retaking his old town of Hearthglen for the Argent Crusade, the Scarlet Crusade had become a shadow of its former self. Only a few loyal members remained in the Western Plaguelands, tortured by hunger, and clinging to the hope that Brigitte Abbendis would return.

It was discovered that the Crusade had completely lost Stratholme, with Balnazzar shedding his disguise and killing the remaining Crusaders, before using necromancy to resurrect them as the Risen. Unknown how, but a similar fate has befallen the Scarlet presence in Tyr's Hand, including the members formerly found at Light's Hope Chapel. Hence, in an ironic twist of fate, the eastern Scarlet holdouts in Lordaeron literally became what they sought to destroy. The Brotherhood of the Light later began a campaign which concluded with the capture of Tyr's Hand from the Scarlet undead.

On the other hand, the Scarlet Crusade expanded their fortifications to the west of the Solliden Farmstead, in a new, small area called the Scarlet Palisade and managed to keep the Scarlet Monastery in their control. Within their ranks, however, Joseph the Awakened formed the Scarlet renegades to reform the order after several members realized the corruption within. They sought redemption and aligned themselves with the Alliance adventurers to seize control of the monastery, until Joseph unfortunately fell into insanity for unknown reasons.

Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

By the time of the Alliance-Horde war on Pandaria, the Scarlet Crusade was still active in their last bastion in Tirisfal Glades, the Scarlet Monastery, and were slowly rebuilding the order. New members have been appointed to lead the Scarlet forces, such as Commander Durand, as well as one surviving member of the former leadership, High Inquisitor Sally Whitemane. Due to the corruption wrought by Balnazzar in the Plaguelands and Mal'Ganis in the Onslaught, the Scarlets became ashamed of their past and have tasked their new archivist and lead mage, Flameweaver Koegler, to burn the pages of history.

In the Hall of Champions, Armsmaster Harlan dedicated his life to the art of wielding the weapons and indelicate instruments of the Scarlet Crusade, and was pleased to provide a demonstration for the Crusade's blasphemous enemies. At some point, Brother Korloff learned of the monk's deadly arts from pandaren ambassadors. When the crusader demonstrated this martial style to his superiors, they unanimously ordered Korloff to train an entire generation of Scarlet initiates in the ways of the monk.

According to Lilian Voss, the only way to bring the Crusade to an end was to eliminate Whitemane with the Blades of the Anointed, otherwise she would keep coming back because of her immense capabilities of resurrection. Soon after, Lilian and the adventurers entered the Monastery and killed many of the remaining forces along with Sally. In the aftermath, some members of the order went into hiding, while others started to regroup and reoccupy the Monastery.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

High Commander Goodchilde, leader of the Crusade before its fall.

At the time of the third invasion of the Burning Legion, the Knights of the Ebon Blade assaulted the Scarlet Monastery, now led by High Commander Goodchilde, in their quest to resurrect Sally Whitemane as a member of their new Four Horsemen. Thassarian declared they would not leave until every last crusader had been killed and every banner burned.

The Scarlet Onslaught in New Hearthglen appeared to be still alive and well after the death of their leaders, executing heretics and betrayers. A few former crusaders along with their apostate champion Mariella the Heretic later joined the ranks of the Conclave. Several Crimson Pilgrims also appeared in Dalaran.

A lone Scarlet Quartermaster settled at Darkmoon Island in order to sell Crusade-related paraphernalia in an attempt to raise funds for the order.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

A set of Scarlet Brotherhood propaganda pamphlets can be found near the Calston Estate in Tirisfal. In the pamphlets, the Brotherhood proclaims that King Anduin Wrynn of Stormwind is an undead-loving traitor who worked with his "lover" Sylvanas Windrunner to stage a fake massacre at the Gathering in the Arathi Highlands. According to the Brotherhood, this was done in order to drum up sympathy for the Forsaken and to lure out Princess Calia so that she could be murdered and raised into undeath, allowing Anduin to marry her and usurp Lordaeron. The pamphlets advise members of the order to rally behind the worgen king Genn Greymane and help him wipe out the Forsaken, after which they will turn on Greymane and destroy the worgen as well in order to ensure that Lordaeron belongs only to "pure-blooded humans". Finally, the pamphlets state that the Brotherhood has secretly raised someone that they claim to be the son of Princess Calia and an Arathi nobleman and therefore the rightful king of Lordaeron, whom they will reveal and place on the throne after the undead and worgen have been wiped from the land, thereby restoring the Menethil dynasty.

Most of these pamphlets, if not all, are not true. Of note, Calia's child is actually a daughter, not a son, and her husband was a Lordaeron footman, not an Arathi nobleman. Whoever the Scarlet Brotherhood has, if they have anyone, is likely not actually the Menethil heir as they claim.

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Following the Fourth War, Mathias Shaw mentioned in his reports that the Scarlet Crusade in the Eastern Plaguelands has retreated, its influence having waned over the last few years, but above all that he was informed, at least from what they know, that the Crusade was totally wiped out by the Ebon Blade when they went to the Monastery to destroy them and resurrect Sally Whitemane to integrate her into the Four Horsemen. He also mentions the existence of a group which calls itself the "Scarlet Brotherhood", and whose only attacks consist of anonymous pamphlets uttering absurdities.

Shadowlands

This section concerns content related to Shadowlands.

In the Shadowlands, Houndmaster Loksey and Fanatic Crusaders could be found atoning for their sins in Revendreth.

By the time the Forsaken started rebuilding Brill, Scarlet Warriors patrolled the road to Cold Hearth Manor and around Stillwater Pond.

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Years later, following the war against the Jailer, the Bronzebeard brothers reported that even with their leadership wiped out by the adventurers, there were still enough members of the Scarlet Onslaught in New Hearthglen to continue their twisted crusade against anyone they think an enemy. They also mentioned a surprising number of crusaders in the Onslaught Harbor.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

The Crusade battling the Forsaken on Fenris Isle.

Following the reclamation of the Ruins of Lordaeron by the Forsaken, the Scarlet Crusade mounted an assault on the undead yet again, claiming Fenris Isle and the Dawning Isles in Silverpine Forest under the command of Scarlet Commander Forsythe. On the isles, they were training, and their archmages were holding portals for more of their footsoldiers to join them from somewhere. They also took Valgan's Field and had a small presence at the Decrepit Fields. The crusade was infiltrated by a hero of the Forsaken, and Forsythe was eventually slain by the hero and Lilian Voss, driving the Crusade out of Fenris Isle.

Once part of Grand Crusader Dathrohan's inner circle, the Scarlet Cultist Jerome Hayton wanted to restore the Headless Horseman in order to cleanse Azeroth. He used the spirit of Suzannah Thomson as bait, and managed to trap the spirit of Sir Thomas to perform a ritual that he learned from the works and legacy of Dathrohan. Although he was successful in restoring the Horseman, the latter instantly killed Jerome. Suzannah implored adventurers for aid, and after the Headless Horseman was defeated, husband and wife reunited and departed for the afterlife.

After their defeat in Silverpine Forest, the Scarlet Crusade attempted to regroup under Inquisitor Fairbell, who took refuge in Gilneas City. Like the undead, the Crusade viewed the worgen as cursed monsters and heretics that needed to be purged, and hoped to make the ruined kingdom their new stronghold in Lordaeron. Shortly after the night elves moved to Amirdrassil on the Dragon Isles, King Genn Greymane and his people (further supported by the Desolate Council) launched a campaign to finally reclaim their home, clashing with the Scarlet zealots who attempted to stop them. The Scarlet Crusade even attempted to exhume the bodies of fallen Gilneans buried in Aderic's Repose in order to burn their bones and "return" them to the Light. King Genn learned of this and with the help of Alliance adventurers, prevented the zealots from defiling the Gilneans who sacrificed themselves for their kingdom. Despite the Scarlet Crusade's efforts, Fairbell was killed by King Genn, his daughter Tess, and the adventurers, forcing the zealots to abandon Gilneas and go into hiding once more.

Organization

Leadership

According to Deathstalker Commander Belmont, despite the Scarlet Crusade being defeated many times and members leaving to join less fanatical orders, there is always some old leader or new opportunist willing to take up their accursed banner.

Main leaders

Taelan Fordring, former Highlord of the Scarlet Crusade and lord of Hearthglen.

Name	Role(s)	Status
Saidan Dathrohan	Grand Crusader of Stratholme. Killed and possessed by Balnazzar to corrupt the Crusade.	Deceased
Caldoran	Grand Crusader of the Scarlet Enclave during the events of Season of Discovery.	Killable
Taelan Fordring	Highlord of Hearthglen and Mardenholde Keep. He defected but was killed by Isillien.	Deceased
Abbendis	High General of Tyr's Hand. Killed during a Scourge assault on Hearthglen.	Deceased
Brigitte Abbendis	High General of the Scarlet Onslaught. Killed by the adventurers in Northrend.	Deceased
Beatrix	High Commander of the Scarlet Crusade during the events of Season of Discovery.	Killable
Goodchilde	High Commander of the Scarlet remnants. Killed by the Knights of the Ebon Blade.	Deceased
Forsythe	Commander of the Crusade forces during the assault on the Ruins of Lordaeron.	Deceased
Sally Whitemane	High Inquisitor of the Crusade in life. Champion of the Ebon Blade in death.	Active
Isillien	Grand Inquisitor. Executed by Tirion Fordring for killing his son, Taelan Fordring.	Deceased

Secondary leaders

Name	Role(s)	Status
Mason	Grand Admiral of the Scarlet Crusade's fleet.	Deceased
Barean Westwind	Grand Admiral of the Scarlet Crusade's fleet. Killed and possessed by Mal'Ganis.	Deceased
Galvar Pureblood	High Commander leading the Scarlet armies from Tirisfal and Hearthglen.	Unknown
Valdelmar	Crusader Lord of Tyr's Hand, killed and raised into undeath after the Cataclysm.	Deceased
Renault Mograine	Scarlet Commander of the Scarlet Monastery, killed by the heroes	Deceased
Durand	Scarlet Commander of the monastery and successor to Renault Mograine.	Deceased
Benedictus Voss	High Priest of the Crusade in Tirisfal Glades. Killed by his daughter Lilian.	Deceased
Fairbell	Inquisitor and leader of the Crusade forces in Gilneas City.	Deceased
Alrick	Current champion of the Scarlet Crusade after the Fourth War.	Alive
Scarborgh	Current huntmaster of the Scarlet Crusade after the Fourth War.	Alive

Subgroups

Scarlet Onslaught

Main article: Scarlet Onslaught

The banner of the Scarlet Onslaught.

The Scarlet Onslaught are the rallied forces of High General Brigitte Abbendis that sailed to Northrend to combat the Lich King. Establishing numerous footholds, such as New Hearthglen; they sought to find justice for Lordaeron and their own crusaders who had been slaughtered at the Scarlet Enclave. Despite this, they remained overtly hostile to any and all outside forces. Rallied by the returning Barean Westwind, who claimed to have survived by a miracle of the Light, they moved to Onslaught Harbor to assail Icecrown Citadel directly. Here, they were once again harried by heroes at the behest of the Knights of the Ebon Blade. Similar to the Crusade's own Saidan Dathrohan, Barean's corpse was in fact possessed by Mal'Ganis, who had harbored a desire for vengeance after his near-death in battle against Arthas Menethil. It is the only branch of the Crusade that is still active with a militant force, though they are extremely far from their homeland and their objectives, if they have any, are completely unknown.

Scarlet Fleet

The Scarlet Fleet was once the navy of the Scarlet Crusade, and later of the Scarlet Onslaught, under the leadership of Grand Admiral Barean Westwind.

Crimson legion

The Crimson legion was a contingent of Scarlet Crusaders led by Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan, guarding the Crusaders' Square within Stratholme. They held their own version of the Scarlet Crusade tabard, an alternating pattern of white and red with a white version of their Scarlet flame iconography in the middle. Alongside most of the Crusade in the Eastern Plaguelands, they were eventually decimated by various forces, and put to an end when Balnazzar revealed his treachery, raising them all into the ranks of his Risen.

Scarlet renegades

The Scarlet renegades were former members of the organization who have openly rebelled against the order, seeking to reform it after they realized the evil corruption within. They allied themselves with the Alliance heroes and asked for their aid to seize control of the crusade and, while successful in doing so, their leadership appears to have fallen to madness. Their status following Mists of Pandaria is unclear.

Territories

Monuments to the Scarlet heroes.

The Crusade once controlled much of the Plaguelands in northern Lordaeron. Their major holdings have since been destroyed or taken over by other forces.

In the Eastern Plaguelands, they had the city of Tyr's Hand, and the Scarlet Bastion within the ruins of Stratholme under their control. Both fell to the undead when its inhabitants were transformed, at least in Stratholme, into the Risen. Prior to the war against the Lich King, they also lost the Scarlet Enclave to the Scourge.

In the Western Plaguelands, the Crusaders once settled the town stronghold of Hearthglen, but they would ultimately lose it to the Argent Crusade, who transformed it into their new headquarters after the fall of the Lich King. They held outposts throughout the plagued region as well, though, these have all been purged; such as the Charred Outpost.

In Northrend, the Onslaught primarily operates out of New Hearthglen, located in the Dragonblight. There are two other bases in the region: the Onslaught Base Camp located north of the Carrion Fields beneath Naxxramas, and the Scarlet Point east of the Crystal Vice. There is also a more secluded base, the Onslaught Harbor, set on a broken island off the mountainous, western coast of Icecrown.

The last bastions of the Crusade were located in the Tirisfal Glades. The Scarlet Monastery, a peaceful monastery that was converted into a stronghold of the fanatical Crusade, and the Scarlet Palisade, an outpost which protects the Solliden Farmstead, as well as several towers scattered through the zone. One of these towers, the Scarlet Watchtower, was dispatched by the Forsaken, killing its leader, Captain Perrine. They also dispatched the Crusaders at the Scarlet Palisade as well after rescuing Lilian Voss. The Scarlet Watch Post was then slaughtered when their leader, High Priest Benedictus Voss was killed by his daughter, Lilian, in vengeance. The monastery was noted as being attacked several times, though it was ultimately finished off by the Knights of the Ebon Blade when they sought to raise Sally Whitemane as one of the Four Horsemen.

The status and safe locations of the Scarlet Brotherhood are largely unknown. They reference having the last Menethil heir in a secure safe location, which is specified to be secret. While it is possible this location, and heir, is fabricated (namely as Calia was noted as having a daughter, not a son as the Scarlet Brotherhood claims); it is unknown. The only hint of their presence is that the Brotherhood's pamphlets are entirely centralized in Tirisfal Glades, namely near the Calston Estate. The last remaining Scarlet tower in Tirisfal to not have been destroyed is the Crusader Outpost. Led by Captain Vachon, the area is assailed by adventurers sent by High Executor Derrington . Rather than kill the captain, however, the area is merely assailed to set the Crusade back, and the Captain is never actually killed; despite being present through both this attack and a previous attack from Lilian Voss. Whether he or any of his remaining crusaders became part of the Brotherhood or were slain another time is unknown.

Relations

Despite their "alliance" against Kel'Thuzad in the flying citadel of Naxxramas, the Scarlet Crusade and the Argent Dawn were strongly opposed to each other. At Light's Hope Chapel, Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff denounced the blind zealotry of the Crusade, and how they have destroyed many innocents in the name of the Light, even calling them blasphemers for their crimes. During their meeting, Eligor Dawnbringer of the Brotherhood of the Light managed to keep relations between the organizations from turning violent, but he threatened them to leave them to the justice of Tirion Fordring and the Knights of the Silver Hand if the representatives of the Crusade were no longer present on amicable terms. Another example of their hostility, after raiding a Scarlet Crusade prison house, the Death knight of Acherus discovered that there were a number of Argent Dawn prisoners there, with apparently most of them already dead.

Membership

Main article: Scarlet Crusade members

High Inquisitor Sally Whitemane in life.

Military ranks

• Grand Crusader
• Scarlet Oracle
• High General
• Grand Inquisitor
• Highlord
• Crusader Lord
• Grand Admiral
• Captain General
• High Abbot
• Archbishop
• High Inquisitor
• High Priest
• Scarlet Commander
• High Commander
• High Clerist
• Lord Paladin
• Commander
• High Protector
• Cavalier
• Ranger Captain
• Scarlet Champion
• Cannon Master
• Captain
• Houndmaster
• Stablemaster
• Foreman
• Lieutenant
• Huntsman
• Instructor
• Guardsman
• Infantryman
• Elite
• Crusader
• High Wizard
• Arcanist
• Chief Assassin
• Wrathcaster
• Mayor
• Centurion
• Champion
• Vanguard
• Soldier
• Trainee
• Trooper
• Councilman
• Fleet Defender
• Defender
• Gallant

Classes

• Ambassador
• Prisoner
• Assassin
• Hunter
• Warrior
• Messenger / Courier
• Zealot
• Acolyte
• Bodyguard
• Abbot
• Adept
• Battle mage
• Beastmaster
• Chaplain
• Cleric
• Conjuror
• Diviner
• Evoker
• Executioner
• Gryphon rider
• Archivist
• Inquisitor
• Laborer
• Interrogator
• Judge
• Knight
• Marksman
• Medic
• Miner
• Monk
• Myrmidon
• Neophyte
• Peasant
• Preacher
• Protector
• Scout
• Sorcerer
• Wizard

Notable members

Lilian Voss as a Scarlet agent in life.

Name	Role(s)	Status
Anton	Emissary figthing undead in Desolace. Found dead after the Cataclysm.	Deceased
Arellas Fireleaf	High Wizard locked in eternal combat with Diesalven.	Unknown
Borugh	Lord Paladin and commander of New Avalon's defense.	Unknown
Braun	Scarlet Houndmaster who replaced Loksey in the Scarlet Halls.	Killable
Crowley	Emissary at the Cathedral of Light, he is unaware of the Crusade's corruption.	Alive
Demetria	Scarlet Oracle and chief advisor to Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan.	Deceased
Doan	Arcanist and Keeper of the Monastery's Athenaeum.	Deceased
Dorgar Stoenbrow	Scarlet warrior and Lord of the Red Caverns. Last seen in the Alterac Mountains.	Unknown
Fellari Swiftarrow	Ranger Captain of the Scarlet Crusade. Last seen in the forests of Silverpine.	Unknown
Ferren Marcus	High Abbot killed during the First Summertide Assault on the Scarlet Monastery.	Deceased
Halbin	Inquisitor and former wielder of Light's Wrath. Killed by his own weapon.	Deceased
Harlan	Scarlet Armsmaster who replaced Herod in the Hall of Arms.	Killable
Harthal Truesight	Lord Paladin missing in action during an attack on Stratholme.	Unknown
Herod	Scarlet Champion in the Scarlet Monastery. Killed by the adventurers.	Deceased
Invar One-Arm	First Chief Assassin of the Crusade. Last seen on the shores of Northrend.	Unknown
Koegler	Flameweaver tasked to burn down all the Crusade's shameful events.	Deceased
Korloff	Monk responsible for physical and spiritual training inside the Scarlet Monastery.	Killable
Loksey	Houndmaster training the Scarlet Monastery's hounds.	Deceased
Orman of Stromgarde	First Captain General of the Crusade. Lost at the mouth of Icecrown Glacier.	Unknown
Rodrick	Scarlet Commander of the forces in the Scarlet Enclave.	Killable
Yana Bloodspear	Second Chief Assassin of the Scarlet Crusade. Last seen in Tirisfal Glades.	Unknown

Ex-members

See also: Risen

Name	Role(s)	Status
Efrem the Faithful	Crusader who defected to become the Lich King's champion.	Unknown
James Vishas	Once a interrogator of the Scarlet Crusade, now a gladiator in the Brawler's Guild.	Killable
Jerris	Scarlet foreman raised into undeath after the Cataclysm.	Killable (Undead)
Joseph the Awakened	Scarlet Champion and crazy leader of the Scarlet renegades.	Unknown
Leopold	Once an ambassador at Light's Hope Chapel, he was raised into undeath.	Killable (Undead)
Lilian Voss	Daughter of Benedictus Voss, now a member of the Forsaken's Desolate Council.	Active (Undead)
Marcrid	Scarlet foreman raised into undeath after the Cataclysm.	Killable (Undead)
Marjhan	Once a Scarlet commander at Light's Hope Chapel, she was raised into undeath.	Killable (Undead)
Mataus the Wrathcaster	Once a wrathcaster at Light's Hope Chapel, he was raised into undeath.	Killable (Undead)
Raleigh the Devout	Defector who tasked heroes to kill several key-members of the Scarlet Crusade.	Alive
Renee Lauer	Once a captain of the Scarlet Crusade, she is now a Forsaken innkeeper.	Active (Undead)
Rohan the Assassin	Once an assassin at Light's Hope Chapel, he was raised into undeath.	Killable (Undead)
Sir Thomas	Paladin hero, corrupted by Balnazzar into the Headless Horseman.	Deceased
Thalnos	Sadistic bloodmage killed by the plague. Now known as Thalnos the Soulrender.	Killable (Undead)
Timolain the Accursed	Mage commissioned to create weapons, later betrayed by Grand Inquisitor Isillien.	Active (Undead)
Valdelmar	Crusader Lord of Tyr's Hand, he was raised into undeath after the Cataclysm.	Killable (Undead)

Books and other texts

•  [News From The North]
•  [Priestly Preening: Be Like Your Betters]
•  [Turning the Other Cheek]
•  [Musings of the High General]
• Grand Inquisitor Isillien's Journal
•  [The Cursed Old Wolf]
•  [The Last Menethil]
•  [The Traitor King]
•  [The Would-Be Queen]

In the RPG

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

A member of the Scarlet Crusade in Dark Factions.

The Scarlet Crusade is a group of maddened zealots so dedicated to the removal of all undead that they commonly attack the living. In the Western Plaguelands, the Scarlet Crusade strikes against the Scourge from Hearthglen. Many Knights of the Silver Hand remained on Lordaeron for several reasons ranging from missing the fleeing boats, to a sense of duty to clear their homeland of the undead. With the destruction of Lordaeron in front of them and the knowledge that Arthas had betrayed them, some knights actually went mad. They hunt the undead in Lordaeron with a zeal that frightens. Many innocent mortals have been killed through misunderstandings, or simply "just making sure". These paladins have a frightening policy: When in doubt, assume the person is undead and kill him. These knights would never admit that they walk the same dark road that led to Arthas’s damnation, but few of them continue to follow the three virtues. Those who question their leaders are assumed to be undead sympathizers and are slain. Many serve the Scarlet Crusade out of fear, as to speak up means instant death.

The Scarlet Crusade is what happens when mad zealots take over a good cause. While the Alliance is in agreement that the Scourge needs to be eradicated from Lordaeron so they can return home, few Alliance members would agree with the methods used by the Scarlet Crusade. The Crusade’s members are mostly soldiers — many are Knights of the Silver Hand — who saw such devastation wrought by the Scourge that they resort to extreme measures to destroy the undead. This includes killing any mortal they assume to be undead, killing mortals to get to undead or killing mortals who may sympathize with undead. “Sympathizing with the undead” is how Crusaders interpret someone arguing that their methods are severe. They are the natural enemies of the Scourge and the Forsaken, but they are also the enemy of anyone who cannot prove that he is alive — usually within ten or so seconds. The Crusade has indeed destroyed several undead encampments on Lordaeron. They may end up alone on the continent — or more likely, die trying. The Scarlet Crusade sees no difference between the Forsaken and the Scourge and battle the Forsaken zealously.

Despite its excesses, the Crusade is a powerful force in the eastern kingdoms, having already destroyed several undead encampments in Lordaeron and defeated a number of dangerous Liches as well as the Dreadlord Beltheris. They are expected to continue battling until either the Scourge are driven from Lordaeron or the Crusade itself is destroyed.

The Scarlet Crusade distrusts any non-humans although they once had other races, such as High Elves and Dwarves, in their ranks.

History of the Crusade

Scarlet Crusader

Isillien was formerly a priest of the Holy Light in Lordaeron, assigned to be the liaison for the Knights of the Silver Hand. There he worked closely with the elder High General Abbendis and his youthful charges, tutoring the young paladins in their quest for truth. Priests and paladins fought as the Scourge attacked the city, but they fled as Lordaeron fell around them. Some whisper it was the wounds both men received in battle, or perhaps just the shock of seeing their whole purpose destroyed, but since that day both Isillien and Abbendis had become quite insane. Isillien and Abbendis wandered the area as the Scourge defiled the land, destroying what undead they could, gathering what warriors would join them. They had but one concern: eradication of all that had destroyed Lordaeron.

Isillien and High General Abbendis gathered together several other people to join them. Among them were Abbendis's daughter Brigitte, Alexandros Mograine (wielding the newly-forged Ashbringer) and his son Renault, Taelan Fordring, and Saidan Dathrohan. This group was focused on the singular goal of defeating the Scourge in all its forms.

In the times after the ascension of the Lich King and the rise of the Forsaken, the elder Abbendis and Isillien felt that although they had a good base, they really needed to attack the Scourge where they were the thickest: in the Eastern Plaguelands. Isillien took on the title of Grand Inquisitor, while the elder Abbendis led the majority of the forces to Tyr's Hand in the east to strike at Stratholme. As they established their bases and took in many more warriors, they destroyed any undead they found.

Taelan Fordring, one of Isillien’s protégés, adored his tutor and his general. He offered his family’s keep and land, untouched by the undead, for their base of operations. The group gained members whose lives had been ruined by the Scourge. Most members have seen a loved one die and, more often than not, be raised to fight alongside her murderer. Isillien became the spokesman for the group, his ravings gaining more followers than repelling them — and who could argue with the man that the undead were evil?

Some had reason to pause when Isillien’s young page was found with Isillien’s knife through his heart, and the priest calmly reported that the page had died that afternoon while hunting, and the undead had raised him and sent him back as an assassin. He was so convincing that the incident cemented the fear for most: if a freshly killed and raised undead can look just like a regular human, they had no idea who among them may or may not be with the Scourge. After a month of quarantine, all priests and warriors with the Crusade were declared clean. Frequently, groups of refugees fleeing the undead also fell beneath their furious swords. As the Grand Inquisitor claims, one cannot be too careful. All undead — good, evil or neutral, Scourge or Forsaken — are the rivals of the Scarlet Crusade. The undead are abominations and must be destroyed before the land and the people can heal. They count the Alliance and the Church of Holy Light as their allies, but these organizations quickly distance themselves from these fanatics and instruct all travelers to give a wide berth to any Crusaders.

Organization

A Scarlet Crusader on the cover of Lands of Conflict.

The Scarlet Crusade is structured much like the military. The male Abbendis and Isillien were the leaders. Abbendis was the official head of the Scarlet Crusade. He considered himself the arm of the Crusade while Isillien is the heart. Abbendis guided the military attacks of the Crusade from Tyr’s Hand in the Eastern Plaguelands, communicating frequently with Isillien, who guides the priests in the Crusade in their new roles as inquisitors, based in the Western Plaguelands. He is in charge of questioning undead and mortals alike to ferret out whatever information he can on the movement and settlement of the undead. Isillien acts as the leader of the priests and guides the inquisitions in the west along with his impressionable paladin Taelan, while Abbendis controlled the warriors in the east. The Crusade has thirteen generals leading the lower ranks: 2,000 troops based in Hearthglen and 10,000 based in Tyr’s Hand. The generals were not only chosen by the ranks they had in the war, but also by their dedication to the cause. Few make it very high in the ranks if they do not have a burning fervor to destroy all undead. Veterans who have fought the Scourge before are quickly promoted. Any dissent in the ranks is considered to be caused by undead infiltration, for the Crusade cannot fathom a reasonable mortal having any disagreement with the elimination of the undead. Such individuals are considered to be undead themselves, or worse, deranged undead sympathizers. Thus the organization of the Scarlet Crusade is flawless, as the crusaders work with one mind towards one goal. If they do not work with total agreement, it is at least complete fear of their superiors that keeps them in line. It's based in the Plaguelands, but hunts undead everywhere it can in northern Lordaeron. With the death of the elder Abbendis fighting the scourge, his daughter took over as High General.

Currently, the head of the Scarlet Crusade is Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan. Serving beneath him are Demetria (the Scarlet Oracle), High General Abbendis, Grand Inquisitor Isillien, Highlord Taelan Fordring, and Crusader Lord Valdelmar. The grand crusader handles the grisly, prolonged siege of Stratholme. Abbendis commands military assaults and assists the grand crusader in the siege, while Isillien handles interrogations and intelligence in the west.

Membership

Membership in the Scarlet Crusade is high, relative to the human population of the region. The strong sense of abandonment, futility and fear runs high in all humans on Lordaeron, and the Scarlet Crusade feeds that fear with reassurance that the evil will fall while the good remain untainted. The Crusade attracts mostly warriors, people who find in this post-war state that living by the sword is the only way to survive. They feel the need for a strong community where their skills will be utilized, and the Scarlet Crusade maintains that they need strong warriors for their cause. Some priests are drawn to the righteous eradication of the undead, but they often see the Crusade for the zealots they are and rethink their entry. This, of course, is considered suspicious, and they are often slain for their misgivings. The biggest problem prospective members encounter is assuring the Crusaders that they are not undead themselves. Since the Grand Inquisitor was almost killed by his own page (so the story goes), the group is incredibly paranoid about the undead infiltrating their ranks. There is however one undead in their ranks (High Inquisitor Fairbanks) however he has been locked away in an secret room, why the crusaders haven't killed him yet remains a mystery. The supposedly common knowledge that undead are hideously deformed and easy to discern from the living makes no difference to these people; they believe necromancers are capable of disguising the undead as living. Thus, new members (if they survived alerting the Crusade to their desire to join) are quarantined for 30 days to see if they begin to exhibit signs of the plague or being an undead. They are visited by the Grand Inquisitor or the High General during this time and are "questioned". No Scarlet Crusader discusses his quarantine and initiation.

Membership is comprised chiefly of human warriors, ex-paladins, priests and paladins (dark or otherwise), scarlet knights, scarlet inquisitors, Scarlet Chaplains, Scarlet Crusaders, and scarlet battle mages professions.

Military

Scarlet Crusade and Argent Dawn members looking at each other in Dark Factions.

Despite their increasingly small numbers, the members of the Scarlet Crusade never falter, turn aside, or retreat. The Scarlet Crusade fights directly and it fights to the death.

Most military forces fight conservatively and hoard their members, but the crusaders take no care for their own lives. They wade into battle with zealous fervor, slashing and hacking until they either fall or vanquish all enemies.

Only the backing of the priests and paladins keep the order alive, both literally and figuratively. The impassioned speeches and charismatic leadership of the order’s healers motivates their troops into battle, and their healing magic keeps their zealots whole. The military training of the order’s paladins serves the crusade well, as the paladins train the members in basic troop formations and simple tactics that increase their odds of survival.

Generally, members of the Scarlet Crusade don’t bother flanking their enemies, as they’re used to fighting undead that are slow and easy to strike and immune to backstabs. Scarlet Crusade units fight in tight formations. They form rings whenever possible, standing shoulder to shoulder, so no one member risks being surrounded by a shambling mob of undead. If forced to disperse, members try to pair up and fight back to back.

Paladins and priests freely use their healing abilities and spells in combat, not only to bolster their own troops, but to harm undead enemies. Paladins and priests try not to use their turn undead ability, as their goal is to destroy their enemies, not scatter them. If overwhelmed by superior numbers, though, or confident in their ability to destroy nearby undead with a turn attempt, the commanders call upon their holy power. Many Scarlet Crusade priests can rebuke undead; they force their undead foes to cower long enough for the knights to do their work.

When fighting living opponents, the Scarlet Crusade varies its tactics only slightly. The Crusade rarely takes on hordes of living enemies; when they do engage the living, it is usually to target individuals or small groups. Members of the Crusade do use flanking maneuvers when fighting the living. They’re most concerned with preventing the escape of their prey, as living opponents move much faster than undead, and often panic. Mounted knights run down fleeing enemies, while the foot soldiers remain behind to engage slower targets. Foot soldiers also use trip attacks to reduce the odds that their prey will escape.

Locations

The Western Crusade’s headquarters are in the rural area of Hearthglen, the inheritance of Taelan Fordring. Their main headquarters are in the Eastern Plaguelands in the small community of Tyr’s Hand. They command from the Scarlet Basilica. The community is also host to several churches including a newly built Scarlet Monastery, a massive building that draws refugees looking for safety.

Notes and trivia

• Mathias Shaw describes them as a cruel and narrow-minded cult.
• The Forsaken called them the Scarlet Scum.
• Before the Cataclysm, the Scarlet Crusade in Stratholme celebrated the Midsummer Fire Festival.
• According to Chris Metzen, the Church of the Holy Light fully supports the Argent Crusade and hates the Scarlet Crusade.
• The Scarlet Crusade was unique among the human factions for having many houndmasters and huntsmen even before the hunter class was introduced to the human race in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
• In vanilla World of Warcraft, it was stated the Scarlet Crusade was founded by High General Abbendis, High Inquisitor Isillien, and the Scarlet Highlord Alexandros Mograine, and the Crusade was at first a noble order. The madness and zealotry only occurred later under Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan, and this is presumably why the Hall of Champions in the Scarlet Monastery pays homage to various races other than humanity. The Ashbringer comic, published after vanilla, depicted the formation of the Crusade occurring after Alexandros and Fairbanks' deaths, in which case they would have never been members.
• There is a roleplaying server called Scarlet Crusade US.

Speculation

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.

• Several items that dropped within the level 60 incarnation of Naxxramas bore the title "Grand Crusader" such as  [Belt of the Grand Crusader],  [Leggings of the Grand Crusader], and  [Spaulders of the Grand Crusader]. This hints that one the organizations's Grand Crusaders may have at one time attempted to raid Naxxramas with their men, but were then repelled by the servants of Kel'Thuzad who then claimed parts of their armor in the process.
• It is known that the naaru gave visions of the Light to several human prophets following the Troll Wars. These visions were of holiness, protection, justice, retribution, and compassion. Mereldar and the other prophets codified and wrote down these emanations of wisdom, which would eventually lead to the creation of the Church of the Light. As such, it is possible that the spiritual leaders of the Scarlet Crusade focused their worshiping on the "retribution" aspect of the Light and chose to ignore the others when they created their own version of the church.

Gallery

• 

  The Crusade has adopted the symbol of Lordaeron as one of their standards.
• 

  Symbol of the Holy Light, Scarlet Crusade variation.
• 

  Whitemane and her Crusaders in Heroes of the Storm.
• 

  Crimson Clergy card art in Hearthstone.

Trading Card Game

• 

  Scarlet Beastmaster
• 

  Scarlet Champion
• 

  Scarlet Conjuror
• 

  Scarlet Protector
• 

  Scarlet Monk
• 

  Scarlet Sorcerer
• 

  Scarlet Torturer
• 

  Aura of Fanaticism

Fan art

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Videos

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Video Link

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• The Story of Sally Whitemane (And the Scarlet Crusade)

See also

• Crimson Dawn

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB