Tyr's Guard

Not to be confused with Tirisgarde.

Tyr's Guard
The Exemplars of the reformed Tyr's Guard. (From left to right: Talthis, Nolaki, Hadwin, and Valunei.)
Main leader	Captain Travard
Race(s)	Human  Blood elf  Lightforged draenei  Zandalari troll Watcher
Formerly	Vrykul  Iron vrykul
Base of operations	Tyr's Rest (Tyrhold)
Formerly	Tomb of Tyr †
Theater of operations	Dragon Isles
Formerly	Tyr's Fall
Faith(s)	Holy Light, Tyr
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Reputation
Tabard

The Tyr's Guard is a secret order of paladins dedicated to the will of the Keeper Tyr, once sworn to protect his tomb in Tyr's Fall and the Silver Hand. Originally an order of vrykul dedicated to protecting Tyr's body for eternity, they were replaced upon their death by their human descendants, who carried out their secret mission for centuries. However, even after they became paladins following the Second War, the Tyr's Guard was decimated by the undead Scourge during the Third War, but the survivors continued to carry out their duty under the leadership of a paladin named Travard.

During the third invasion of the Burning Legion, the cultists of the Twilight's Hammer and their leader Twilight Deacon Farthing threatened the safety of their secret charge, and the Tyr's Guard requested aid from the paladins of the reformed Order of the Silver Hand. After they secured the legendary hammer at the Sanctum of Light, the Tomb of Tyr was believed to have collapsed with all its secrets, with Travard as the last surviving member of the order. It was later revealed that the tomb had only partially collapsed, and that Travard resumed his duties alone for years.

After the reawakening of the Dragon Isles, Watcher Koranos and the adventurer returned to the tomb and recruited Travard to restore Tyr; the tomb at last collapsing in earnest while Travard dedicated himself to reviving the legendary keeper in the order's name. Using Tyrhold as their new base of operations, Travard and Koranos recruited new paladin members across the Dragon Isles to restore the Tyr's Guard, and together, they began their quest to retrieve the disk containing the keeper's memories. Once in its possession, Tyr was resurrected and met the Tyr's Guard, asking them to help him understand this new world.

Background

Origins

The Silver Hand, Tyr's legendary weapon.

Thousands of years ago, the titan-forged Tyr, Archaedas, Ironaya and their followers fled Ulduar after stealing the Discs of Norgannon from the corrupted Loken. To pursue them and recover the discs, Loken sent two of the most powerful C'Thrax generals, Zakajz and Kith'ix. Fearing for his allies, Tyr faced them alone for days and sacrificed himself to defeat them, killing Zakajz and forcing Kith'ix to flee. In honor of her friend, Ironaya named the surrounding glade "Tyr's Fall", or "Tirisfal" in the vrykul tongue. The titan-forged built a tomb to bury Tyr and Zakajz where they lay and placed Tyr's silver hand atop it as a memorial to his sacrifice. They entombed Tyr's hammer, the Silver Hand, with his corpse and then enchanted the tomb with protective wards. They bound the Silver Hand to these magical seals, thereby preventing anyone from touching it in the future.

The tomb's first stone was placed by Tyr's champion, the iron vrykul Yrgrim, who decided to stay and stand vigil over the tomb. Moved by Yrgrim's decision, the other vrykul decided to stay as well. Archaedas and Ironaya honored the vrykul's wishes and took the rest of the titan-forged south to Uldaman. Yrgrim stayed in Tirisfal for many years, teaching the other vrykul to dedicate themselves to the pursuit of nobility and justice in order to keep Tyr's ideals alive in more than stories. Once he had taught them all he could, Yrgrim left the region.

Many years later, the first humans were left in the care of Tirisfal's vrykul by their Dragonflayer parents. The region's iron vrykul slowly died off as they succumbed to the curse of flesh. One group of vrykul lasted longer than the others and formed the secretive Tyr's Guard to protect the Tomb of Tyr. Knowing that they would not live forever, they inducted some of the fledgling humans into their ranks and taught them the history of the fallen keeper, his tenets of self-sacrifice and justice, and the truth of what lay in the tomb.

In the ancient days, the only time they ever failed their task was when the legendary human king Thoradin, obsessed with his race's history after abdicating his throne, eventually managed to discover Tyr's final resting place. When Thoradin arrived at the tomb, the Tyr's Guard confronted him, and though they did not want them to disturb the gravesite, they also did not want bloodshed. However, Thoradin and his followers forced their way past, and the Tyr's Guard knew that Thoradin's magi had broken the tomb's wards. As they feared that further meddling could reawaken Zakajz and unleash its evil on the world, they made a vow that they would not enter the catacombs again.

Great Wars

For thousands of years, the Tyr's Guard continued its sacred duty. New members came and went, and over time they adopted more techniques to help them protect Tyr's tomb. In particular, the defenders felt an affinity toward the paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand, holy warriors who arose to battle the orcish Horde in the Second War. The Guard's members learned how to wield the Holy Light, and they became mighty paladins.

During the Scourging of Lordaeron, the Tyr's Guard was decimated by the undead Scourge. Only a few brave members, led by the paladin Travard, remained to uphold their ancient vows.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

The Tomb of Tyr beneath Tyr's Fall.

At the time of the third invasion of the Burning Legion, Travard and Efrina went to Dalaran to seek help, but with the ongoing invasion, no one wanted to come to their aid, and the old paladin hoped that the remnants of their order would be enough to carry out their duty. Following the Battle for Broken Shore, a champion of the Light was sent by Lord Maxwell Tyrosus to find Travard in the city, and to bring him at Krasus' Landing to help his organization.

In order to save Azeroth from the Legion, Tyrosus asked the hero paladin to search for legendary holy artifacts. At their request, he redirected them to Travard, announcing that the small order of paladins has come forward claiming to know the location of the Tomb of Tyr. The old paladin then explained that they are the protectors of The Silver Hand, and that recent intrusions of the Twilight's Hammer have revealed the secret position of the tomb, endangering the ancient weapon.

While he prepared a strike force for the tomb, Travard sent the hero paladin to Dragonblight in order to find his brother Galford, as the latter journeyed to Northrend to find the Spark of Tyr, a mysterious artifact that would allow them to pass the wards protecting the warhammer. However, after he learned about the fight between Tyr and Galakrond from the blue dragon Lanigosa, and discovered the Spark of Tyr at Galakrond's Rest, Galford tried to meet the titanic watcher Jotun (without knowing about his curse) and was killed. The champion of the Light then fought Jotun, who handed them the Spark of Tyr in a moment of lucidity, and they brought the artifact back to Travard who learned with sadness of his brother's death.

The Grave-Prison of Zakajz beneath the tomb.

As too many knew about the location of the tomb, Travard stated that it was necessary to close it forever, but only after they recovered the hammer. With the help of Tyrosus, the old paladin gathered the members of the Tyr's Guard and departed with troops of the Argent Crusade. When the hero paladin arrived at Tyr's Fall, Travard and his paladins had just finished eliminating the cultists of the Twilight's Hammer at their camp, although there had been casualties during the battle. When they entered the tomb, they discovered many abominations of the void and had to eliminate them before Travard could begin the ritual to claim the hammer. However, the ritual could not be performed as one of the Sparks of Tyr was stolen and taken into the depths of the tomb. During their descent towards the Grave-Prison of Zakajz, the Tyr's Guard eliminated many void creatures, until they encountered the Horrific Aberration who killed Efrina and her brother Duvall. After they slew the monster, Travard resumed the ritual while his allies protected him from Mordoth the Hunter, and once they recovered The Silver Hand, everyone fled from the tomb which began to crumble.

As the only remaining member of the Tyr's Guard, Travard explained that Tyr's body and its secrets, as well as the prison of Zakajz the Corruptor, were now buried and protected under tons of stones and water. He then announced that the champion of the Light was in his opinion the most worthy person to carry and protect the legendary artifact, and that they would soon meet again.

Following the restoration of the Order of the Silver Hand, with Travard's assistance, the Head archivist Sister Elda recorded the writings of the Tyr's Guard in the Libram of Ancient Kings.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

Captain Travard in the Tomb of Tyr.

At some point after his order was decimated and the artifacts within the Tomb of Tyr were secured; Travard found that the tomb had not fully collapsed. He endeavored instead to remain, standing vigil over it as the last remaining Tyr's Guard for several years. However, at some point, the defense systems locked him out for unknown reasons.

When a hero alongside Watcher Koranos ventured to the tomb to find the memories of Tyr, they found Travard frustratedly locked out. The old paladin decided to aid them by activating the various mechanisms in the tomb, hoping that they contained enough memories to activate the Silver Scale in order to revive Tyr's new body. He defended the group in the main chamber before leading them to the Darkwalk; where they found a second console after the first short-circuit. The hero activated the console with the Silver Scale, showing them Tyr's last stand against Zakajz the Corruptor. When the keeper faced an image of Mordoth the Hunter; Travard realized that the creature who eliminated his brethren was hunting for Tyr. After witnessing Tyr's sacrifice, Travard told Koranos and the hero that his faith had been renewed and returned to Thaldraszus with them, while the Tomb of Tyr collapsed once more, this time definitively.

In Tyrhold, Travard was present when the Silver Scale was presented before Tyr, and then stated that his new mission, as the last of the Tyr's Guard, was to aid the Dragon Aspects in restoring the legendary keeper. He stated that he would gather elements of the Knights of the Silver Hand to aid in restoring him, and that if Tyr was awakened, he would aid him in his mission.

Fury Incarnate

As he had faith Tyr would need him again soon, Travard made the hard decision to leave the past behind and reforge the Tyr's Guard. If Tyr was to walk the world again, the Tyr's Guard would be his vanguard and his servants, following his values and carrying his will. He and Watcher Koranos later met a representative of the Silver Hand to find worty recruits. However, while the Silver Hand envoy gave them the names of a few of their paladins, none of them were what they were looking for. As a result, they ended up seeking out four paladins he felt fit the virtues he was after. These came in the form of the Zandalari prelate Nolaki, the blood elf Talthis, the Kul Tiran Hadwin, and the Lightforged draenei Valunei. From their camp near Brackenhide Hollow, which served as their training grounds, Travard began their rigorous formation and taught them the story of the legendary keeper.

To triangulate the location of Tyr's disc, Chronormu tasked the Tyr's Guard to help the adventurer deliver three beacons to three different places in the timeways. Before they began their quest, Travard announced that his recruits were now ready for their last assignments to become full-fledged members of the Tyr's Guard. After each new recruit received their equipment, all of them were sent to fight against the decay gnolls and their corruption around Brackenhide Hollow with the help of the adventurer. Once they all successfully completed their trials, Travard organized the Tyr's Guard initiation ceremony on the steps of Tyrhold. Bathed in the Light, their tabards changed to a brilliant gold and white, signifying the Guard's reformation.

Now ready, the Tyr's Guard met Chromie and Eternus who announced they had determined where the paladins needed to place the beacons. Three groups were sent to place them in the timelines, Travard and the adventurer traveled at the Temple of Order during the Winterskorn War, Hadwin and Nolaki went to an unknown destination, while Talthis and Valunei ended up in Ny'alotha at the time of the Black Empire. Since the latter were the only ones who did not return, Travard led the Tyr's Guard to help them and discovered that Valunei had fallen prey to a n'raqi who took the appearance of her former master Iriska. Once the abomination was killed, the paladins guarded the last beacon until the signal was operational.

Although they were successful, the paladins barely made it back from their battle with the Black Empire. Worried for his recruits after such an experience, and for himself because of the weight of his responsibilities, Travard asked the adventurer to speak with each member of them to ensure that they were doing well. Once assured everyone was ready to continue their duty, Eternus announced that Tyr's disc was in the Nighthold, and Nozdormu confirmed that Grand Magistrix Elisande was in its possession. However, Travard ordered his subordinates to rest and announced that he and Koranos set up their headquarters in Tyrhold, where they would continue to train and prepare for their future incursion into Suramar City.

Guardians of the Dream

Keeper Tyr and the Tyr's Guard.

Following Fyrakk's defeat, the Tyr's Guard and the adventurer traveled into the Nighthold in another timeline, and convinced Elisande to hand over Tyr's disc after she had gleaned knowledge from it. With the disc and the Silver Scale together, Tyr was at long last revived and greeted Alexstrasza and Nozdormu who were present for his awakening. Both informed Tyr of how long it had been since his death, as well as that Malygos, Ysera, and Neltharion had all since passed on and that new Dragon Aspects had taken their place. Tyr asked if they reforged him to seek his aid, which Alexstrasza confirmed at first but that now was a time of peace and friendship. Travard then introduced Tyr to the Tyr's Guard and asked him to speak to them at their new headquarters, Tyr's Rest.

Tyr later settled into Tyr's Rest with the Guard, and Travard asked what was his will. Confused, he announced that he had much to learn about the changed world, such as what had happened to his vrykul soldiers, to which Travard explained that humans like him were their descendants. Tyr then decided that his will was for the Tyr's Guard to help him learn about the modern world.

Culture

Before they embark on their last training trial, it is a tradition that recruits receive their gear from the highest-ranking Tyr's Guard, who bestow their tabard and shield on them. The members originally wore the same tabard as the Knights of the Silver Hand, both being inspired by the same story. Since the reformation of the organization, they now use a custom tabard of their own, with the same silver hand iconography and design, but instead, with the colors of gold and white over light blue and silver.

When Travard and Koranos sought recruits to reform the Guard, they recruited individuals who had an intense commitment to the virtues that made Tyr the greatest of the keepers: justice, order, compassion, and self-sacrifice.

They consider themselves to be “Brothers” and “Sisters”.

Members

Named

Name	Role	Status
Travard	Leader of the Tyr's Guard.	Alive
Hadwin	Exemplar of Justice.	Alive
Talthis	Exemplar of Order.	Alive
Nolaki	Exemplar of Sacrifice.	Alive
Valunei	Exemplar of Compassion.	Alive
Efrina	Member of the Tyr's Guard.	Deceased
Galford	Member of the Tyr's Guard.	Deceased
Duvall	Member of the Tyr's Guard.	Deceased
Tyr	Keeper, friend of the Dragon Aspects.	Alive

Unnamed

• Fallen Paladins ^†
• Vrykul caretakers ^†
• Iron vrykul caretakers ^†

Notes

• The order has writings that recount Tyr and Odyn's battle against Ragnaros, and Tyr's death against the C'Thraxxi.
• According to Galford, ancient warnings have been given to the Tyr's Guard, telling them not to go on a pilgrimage to Tyr's homeland in Northrend. While the reasons for these warnings were not given, it is most certainly due to the presence of Jotun, whose curse forces him to destroy anything related to Tyr and anyone who follows his ideals in Northrend.
• Functionally, the Tyr's Guard has replaced the Knights of the Silver Hand as the 'neutral paladin order'. While previously an order hall in Legion, the Silver Hand discarded its neutrality to return to being aligned with the Alliance in Battle for Azeroth; where it fielded against the Horde during the Battle for Stromgarde warfront. Notably, the Tyr's Guard uses near identical iconography to the Silver Hand due to their inspirational origin being the same, and the Tyr's Guard actively aided the Silver Hand during Legion.