Vanguard of the Light
 Vanguard of the Light | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Main leader |
 High Exarch Turalyon |
| Secondary leaders |
 Blood Matriarch Liadrin General Amias Bellamy High Commander Lothraxion Commander Venel Lightblood Commander Koruth Mountainfist War Chaplain Senn |
| Race(s) | Various races |
| Character classes | Paladin, Priest |
| Base of operations | Sunwell Plateau |
| Theater of operations | Isle of Quel'Danas, Eversong Woods |
| Language(s) | Various languages |
| Sub-group(s) | See below |
| Affiliation | Holy Light |
| Status | Active |
“We prayed for a miracle, and the Vanguard of Light answered the call.”
The Vanguard of the Light, often shortened as the Vanguard,[2] is a coalition of champions chosen by the Light, united to oppose Xal'atath and the Devouring Host. When the Voidstorm appeared above the Isle of Quel'Danas, Lady Liadrin beseeched the Light to help them repel the Void invaders; in response, most of the priests and paladins across the world were teleported to protect the Sunwell.
Background
As Xal'atath invaded the Isle of Quel'Danas with the Devouring Host of the Void, intent on claiming the Sunwell, Lady Liadrin supplicated herself before the Sunwell's holy waters, giving voice to her feelings of unworthiness of the Light's intercession -- resolute, however, in the belief that her people were worthy. As Liadrin's prayer gained conviction, the Sunwell's radiance intensified, and a gauntleted hand on her shoulder confirmed the Light's answer. The Matriarch of the Blood Knights then rejoined the battle at the head of the Vanguard of the Light, and declared that the Sunwell would not fall while she drew breath. At Lor'themar Theron's rallying cry, Liadrin and her reinforcements charged to vanquish the forces of the Harbinger, who abandoned the battle.[3][4]
Midnight
“Guests, allies, and saviors, Lor'themar. Rest assured that we will guard your city and your people with the full strength of the Light.”
As the Light called upon the greatest champions of Azeroth, teleporting them to the Isle of Quel'Danas, the paladins and priests from various orders were seen fighting the Devouring Host invaders.[6] While the Vanguard managed to repel them away from the Sunwell, the Void creatures were massing across the Isle of Quel'Danas for another attack.[1] At the head of the coalition, High Exarch Turalyon prepared a counterattack, while Lady Liadrin tasked the heroes to rally their forces at Sunstrider Rise. Some wielders of the Light remained behind to protect the Sunwell.[7]
After the Vanguard hindered the Voidfront forces at Parhelion Plaza, culling their forces to prevent the Devouring Host from maintaining a foothold,[8] Turalyon led the forces of the Light at the north gate to stand against the darkness.[9] Meanwhile, Vanguard priests empowered several dragonhawks with the Light, enabling Arator and the heroes to rescue dozens of sin'dorei civilians.[10] The non-combatants were then evacuated on ships from Silver Landing after Gloomstress was defeated.[11][12] While the Vanguard held the Void forces,[13] the heroes were sent to activate the Quel'Danas Sentinels, destroy the Void-Breach Pylons, and kill the Host commanders, before their allies could be overwhelmed.[14][15]
Since they could not afford to be flanked in their advance, Turalyon ordered the adventurers to kill Norkonahl the Looter and the Shadowguard at Sun's Reach,[16] while Liadrin tasked them to secure the Light-blessed artifacts and weapons that the ethereals were looting.[17] With the power of the holy artifacts, the Vanguard launched their attack on Sun's Reach Harbor, pushing the Host invaders back into their Void portal after they defeated the Voidwake Behemoth. Upon celebrating their victory, however, the Vanguard was forced to retreat as several behemoths arose from void portals.[18] Back to the Sunwell Plateau, the survivors rallied in the Sunwell chamber, where they beseeched the Light once more to help them push back the Harbinger's forces.[19] While Arator and the heroes repelled Imperatus and its forces, the Vanguard paladins and priests began a ritual to focus their holy powers into the Sunwell, until a massive light beam erupted to hold the Voidstorm at bay. Despite their victory, the Void had yet to be defeated, and the Vanguard knew that they could not maintain the ritual forever.[2]
Once calm had returned, Turalyon and his allies traveled to the Sanctum of Light in Silvermoon City, requesting quarters and supplies from Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron in preparation for the coming conflict.[20] During the negotiations with the sin'dorei leaders, the High Exarch assured them that the Vanguard of the Light would protect the Sunwell, consenting to protect the citizens of the elven kingdom when the Regen-Lord reminded him that they were here as guests.[5] As the citizens of Silvermoon were informed of the situation, General Amias Bellamy conscripted a majority of the Blood Knights to empower the Sunwell, leaving Turalyon to handle the negotiations so as not to leave Quel'Thalas defenseless.[21]
Some time later, after the adventurers investigated the Lightbloom, uncovered the Twilight's Blade, and repelled an Amani incursion, a meeting took place in Silvermoon. Regent-Lord Lor'themar testified that the light wielders were put under immense strain, dangerously approaching their limits, while High Exarch Turalyon confirmed that the Vanguard could not hold the front without the help of the sacred well.[22] Tasked to help the Vanguard in their mission,[23] Bishop Alonsus Faol met Arator and the adventurer at the Sunwell,[24] where he gave them his holy staff to renew the paladins and priests' spirits, so they could maintain the ritual longer. The defenders had exhausted themselves, giving of their own faith and power, all in order to keep the Harbinger's forces at bay.[25] At Light's Hope Chapel, the group helped Maxwell Tyrosus and the Ebon Blade to repel a Scourge invasion,[26][27] then entered the Sanctum of Light to gather several holy artifacts.[28] Once they recovered the Scarlet Crusade's relics in the Scarlet Monastery,[29][30] the group returned at the Sunwell and gave the artifacts to severals Vanguard members, sustaining their ritual.[31] Lor'themar later received reports that Faol's plan had worked, giving the defenders enough power to hold back the Voidstorm for another day.[32]
As the war effort progressed, tensions arose between Silvermoon's hosts and guests. In addition to the many Blood Knights conscripted to reinforce the Vanguard at the Sunwell, the city's goods were requisitioned for the Vanguard's use, and Void-aligned agitators infiltrated Silvermoon to further demoralize and distress its citizens. Some blood elf soldiers, dissatisfied with the perceived lack of zeal among their own leaders, assumed leadership positions in the Vanguard and persecuted dark magic users in the city. Temperate voices among both the Vanguard and the sin'dorei petitioned Silvermoon's regency to de-escalate the situation.[33]
Organizations
- Main article: Vanguard of the Light members
Patch changes
- Patch 12.0.1 (Beta): Added.
References
- ^ a b
[80] Last Bastion of the Light
- ^ a b [80] Light's Last Stand
- ^ Intercession
- ^
[80] Midnight
- ^ a b [80-83] Diplomacy
- ^ [80] A Voice from the Light
- ^ [80] Champions of Quel'Danas
- ^ [80] Where Heroes Hold
- ^ [80] The Hour of Need
- ^ [80] Luminous Wings
- ^ [80] The Hour of Need
- ^ [80] A Safe Path
- ^ [80] The Gate
- ^ [80] Severing the Void
- ^ [80] Voidborn Banishing
- ^ [80] Ethereal Eradication
- ^ [80] Light's Arsenal
- ^ [80] Wrath Unleashed
- ^ [80] Broken Sun
- ^ [80-83] Silvermoon Negotiations
- ^ [80-83] Paved in Ash
- ^ [80-83] Fractured
- ^ [83-88] Arator
- ^ [83-88] Meet at the Sunwell
- ^ [83-88] Renewal for the Weary
- ^ [83-88] Flickering Hope
- ^ [83-88] To Light's Hope
- ^ [83-88] Relics of Paladins Past
- ^ [83-88] Cleanse the Halls
- ^ [83-88] Light Repurposed
- ^ [83-88] Relinquishing Relics
- ^ [83-88] The Journey Ends
- ^ [80-83] Deepening Shadows
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