[Guide] Blood Knights - by Aerilen
Contents:
- What is a Blood Knight?
- History/Timeline
- Ranks and roles
- Equipment
- Faith
- Relations to the other two factions of Silvermoon
- Speculation
Before I get started I would like to point out that this isnât a mandatory âDO THIS MY WAY OR TAKE THE HIGH WAYâ thing, you pay for your sub so youâre more than welcome to simply ignore whatâs here. All the information from Blood of the Highborne has come from other people so if I am wrong point out some mistakes and iâll correct them!
I would also like to thank Silvaren/Sarinteal for letting me devour, cannibalise, butcher and carve up parts of his own aged Blood Knight guide. And Noraleon for being my proof reader, cheers guys
1. What is a Blood Knight?
When you boil it down the Blood Knights are quite simply a brotherhood of blood elf paladins. There are numerous differences between them, the Silver Hand and the Vindicators which range from their training to their culture. And of course history. The primary role of a Blood Knight is to defend QuelâThalas and fight whoever their enemies are.
âWe Blood Knights are bound to defend QuelâThalas, .â - Lord Solanar Bloodwrath, Quest: A Demonstration of Loyalty.
âThe Blood Knights of Silvermoon are the backbone of the blood elf armyâ - From the trading card âAraelunâ.
Their first few members comprised of former priests and royal guards (BotHB), later more would be drawn to the Order as their reputation soared upwards
2) History/Timeline
This isnât going to be an incredibly thorough tale, if you want that then you can easily go to Wowpedia. The involvement of Blood Knights in each expansion will be summarized in bullet points.
i) The End of WC3:TFT to TBC
-Mâuru was gifted to Silvermoon for the elves to feed from.
-Grand Magister Rommath and Astalor Bloodsworn devised a better use, they pacified the creature and Rommath summoned Liadrin. After telling her of a new order of warriors who can master the Light and not be servants to it, Liadrin agreed and became Lady Liadrin.
-The creation of the Blood Knights was criticised by the Farstriders, their methods were immoral.
-The public held the same view, there were rumours of the knights feeding from âsome creature from the Netherâ.
-Lorâthemar too, had his doubts.
-The Blood Knights begin to train, co-operation and working together is a heavy focus (for this reason a Blood Knight character who refuses to work with others is a little silly). They reclaim Sunsail Anchorage from the Wretched.
-Becoming masters of the Light wasnât pleasant however, forcing the Light to their will caused the Knights to suffer from headaches and other pains, it also awoke suppressed emotional issues â this goes hand in hand with the ability Seal of Blood, which allowed a Blood Knight to do significant damage to a foe at the expense of their own life-force.
-Arthas takes an interest in the Blood Knights, commands drathir to kill and raise them; Drathir becomes enchanted with the idea, sets up an ambush to kill the Knights.
-The Knights prevail and manage to kill Drathir, the opinion of them begins to turn as news of their efficiency and prowess at fending off the undead and their numerous victories spreads.
ii) The Burning Crusade
-The Blood Knights and their powers are viewed positively, their new powers and dominion over the Light is praised. Most noticeably by the Silvermoon City Guardians.
-The Blood Elves join the Horde - in part - due to the prowess of the Blood Knights, they immediately begin to fight over Halaa with the Draenei - for the Horde!!!
-The Blood Knights begin their campaign against the other Paladins of the world, taking every chance they can to one-up their counter parts and prove their dominance. The most notable events is Alonsus Chapel being left vulnerable to the Scourge and Utherâs tomb being desecrated.
-Kaelâthas turns on Silvermoon, steals Mâuru and venture to the Sunwell Plateau.
-With the loss of Mâuru the Knights wield the dregs of Light he left behind.
-Lady Liadrin defects from Kaelâthasâs forces after seeing his treachery, she travels to Shattrath and pledges herself and her Order to the Shaâtar. The Shattered Sun Offensive is formed.
-Kaelâthas and Kilâjaeden are defeated. The heart of Mâuru is used to purify and re-ignite the Sunwell. Liadrinâs faith is renewed.
-The Knights now obtain their powers from the Sunwell, and the old creed of anti-Light begins to wither away.
iii) Wrath of the Lich King
-Sylvanas strong-arms Lorâthemar into sending troops to Northrend despite the wounded from retaking the Sunwell still in sick-bays, some Blood Knights are sent north.
-Liadrin is preaching to blood elven and high elven pilgrims at the Sunwell about the Sunwellâs rebirth.
-The Horde champions at the Argent Tournament are Blood Knights.
-Blood Knights are part of the Korâkron attacking Icecrown.
iv) Cataclysm
-Blood Knights are members of the Reliquary, aiding them in places such as the Blasted Lands.
The Aggressive nature and quest text wording from TBC is re-done, their antics are no longer as morally questionable.-A group of Blood Knights are sent to help in the attack on Theramore.
v) Mists of Pandaria
-Lorâthemar leads knights into Pandaria, they protect the Reliquary and the Regent Lord in Kun-lai. Some even direct Reliquary movements.
-The largest mobilisation of the Blood Knights since TBC happens in 5.2, they aid the Sunreaver Onslaught in taking down the Thunder King and reclaim whatever titan treasures they can.
vi) Warlords of Draenor
-The Sunsworn are mainly a force of Blood Knights, they are led by Liadrin. They protect Auchindoun with the Draenei and help retake Shattrath from the Legion. However Knights are dotted over the continent.
vii) Legion
-To be updated.
3) Ranks and Roles
Initiate:
What is an Initiate?
An Initiate is exactly what it says on the tin, a Initiate, a trainee, a apprentice to the ways of the Blood Knights, itâs worth pointing out that they are technically not a Blood Knight or considered part of the brotherhood yet either. Itâs not actually said how the player character joins the Order (to my knowledge) however after reaching level 12 youâre summoned by Knight-Lord Bloodvalor.
â<name>, you have excelled in your early training and distinguished yourself among those who would become Blood Knights. You are ready to undertake the next phase of your training and, to that end, Knight-Lord Bloodvalor himself has asked to speak with you.
I have no doubt that Knight-Lord Bloodvalor wishes to set a trial for you to test your abilities and training. You will find him in the Blood Knight headquarters in Silvermoon Cityâs Farstridersâ Square. I wish you well, <name>.â
From this it seems the majority - if not all an Initiate does - is train and once they distinguish themselves and become competent enough, they are summoned for their first trial.
The first trial, is quite simply, a deadly trick.âMastery of the Light* requires a focused mind and tremendous willpower. Without these, you are little better than a street thug.
There is an island in the northeastern reaches of the Ghostlands, called the Isle of Tribulations, that we use to hone these skills. You will find a brazier within a shallow cave there. Kneel before the brazier, light it, and focus on what you see before your eyes.â Knight-Lord Bloodvalor, Quest: The First Trial.
When the brazier is lit a blood elf jumps out of the shadows and ambushes you, after he is killed the character then returns to Knight-Lord Bloodvalor.
âI know what must be going through your mind. Yes, I sent Stillblade to kill you.
Do not take offense, <name>; It was a necessary test. The Blood Knights are a brotherhood, we must ensure that our brothers are alert and prepared at all times. Was it necessary to take Stillbladeâs life to make the point to you? Yes, and that is as much a part of your training as any sword drill.â - Knight-Lord Bloodvalor, Quest: The first trial.
The next quest goes on:
âDo not think me unduly harsh, <name>. Stillblade knew well what he was being sent to do. He understood and accepted his duty and is an example for all aspiring Blood Knights.
âMy words are no eulogy, <name>. Stillbladeâs service to us is far from over and you will be the instrument of his resurrection.â - Knight-Lord Bloodvalor, Quest: A study in Power.
While this trial is certainly deadly, it appears that who-ever perishes is simply resurrected; this is a very touchy spot in role play however. Iâm not going to go into it in this thread. The next part of the description is quite irrelevant at this point. The character is sent to Magister Astalor to learn a new method of wielding the light after Kaelâthas pilfered Mâuru from Silvermoon. In the modern time frame of WoW this is most likely done via faith and belief in the Light or simply using the Sunwell.
The next part of the quest is also irrelevant, you gather the last vestiges of light what Mâuru left behind in a vial; again, this is completely irrelevant now, there are no vestiges of light left and the Order has long since moved on from Naaru draining.
The final part of the quest has you resurrect Stillblade after returning to Knight-Lord Bloodvalor.
âWhile you were preparing the vessel*, I sent a group of initiated to retrieve Sangrias Stillblade. You will find him on the top level of Silvermoonâs inn with an attendant. Make your way there will all haste and unleash the vesselâs magic to restore him to life.
Time is of the essence, <name>. Once he has been dead for too long not even the Light can bring him back to us.â
Again, this is a touchy spot where role play is concerned but the Initiates -are- taught Redemption via this quest, the problem with this quest is that itâs so out-dated now and there isnât really a replacement for it. The new homogenised quests donât teach you redemption. While I think itâs perfectly valid that the first trial is carried out I think that the latter half will have to be done with a lot of creativity from the player; a vial filled with holy waters perhaps or simply a vial filled with holy magic generated by faith?
Adept
What is an Adept?
An Adept differs from an Initiate by becoming a fully fledged member of the Blood Knights, while not quite a full knight yet they are no longer an âinitiateâ, they are no longer a trainee; they have learned the duties of a Blood Knight and have worked hard to master the powers of the light.
âInitiate <name>, you have worked hard to master the powers of the light won by our magisters. You have learned the source of our abilities.*â - Master Kelerun Bloodmourn, Quest: The Second Trial.
The path to becoming one can be considered the most difficult task there is to go up a rank within the Blood Knights, first of all soon-to-be Adept is charged with besting four Blood Knight Champions.
âYou stand on the verge of adept status in the order, <name>. First you must prove your worthiness by undertaking another trial. The second trial differs from the first in that there will be no surprises this time. The challenge before you is simple; you must face and best four Blood Knight champions in combat.â - Master Kelerun Bloodmourn, quest: The Second Trial (1)
The player character is then sent along to Knight-Lord Bloodvalor.
âI knew you had potential to pass the trial, <name>. Your remaining duties are mostly ceremonial but they are no less dangerous than staring down one of our champions with his weapon drawn. Listen closely, and I will tell you what else you must do to claim your new rank.â - Knight-Lord Bloodvalor, Quest: Return to Silvermoon.
The next part of the trial involves the Adept crafting the weapon which symbolises the order (more on that later), the blood-tempered ranseur. The weapon is no longer in the game due to the removal of these quests, however the same model can be found but in black and red â Terokkâs Quill. This item is a dungeon quest reward from âTerokkâs Legacyâ in Sethekk Halls.
âBefore a newly-minted adept can be accepted into the ranks of the Blood Knights, <gender> must procure the resources to create our orderâs distinctive weapon, the blood-tempered ranseur. You must also earn the right to wear our orderâs insignia. When the order was founded, a set number was forged and distributed so each new adept inherits <gender> from a veteran.â - Knight-Lord Bloodvalor.
An interesting fact comes from this quest, there are only so many actual Blood Knights and an Initiate can only rise to an Adept and become a member of the order, someone needs to die. Then Aerilen, surely there can only be so many Blood Knight role players? No, I think this is a bit of a caustic attitude to have âme and my friend were playing these guys first, you canât play them because of it. What is played out via role play should never be representative of lore. Besides, we donât know how many were actually made.
Anyway! Onto the items required to forge the Ranseur.
Blood of the Wrathful
âIn order to properly temper the metal of your weapon it must be quenched in the blood of the wrathful. Though blood of most demons holds a substantial amount of power, common blood is not sufficient in the forging of your ranseur.â - [Bloodvalorâs Notes] Quest: The Path of the Adept.
Here itâs insinuated the demon blood needed should belong to that of a greater demon, in the quest the mob that drops the item is a doom guard. Itâs quite staggering how the Blood Knights simply throw their newbies in at the deep end and expect them to obtain the blood of a powerful demon.
âDiscreet Inquiries with the warlocks of Orgrimmar have proven helpful in locating a supply of the blood. The Searing Blade cultists within Ragefire Chasm possess an orb filled with the kind of blood weâll need for your weapon. I am told the orb is guarded by an orc calling himself Jergosh the Invoker.â - [Bloodvalorâs Notes] Quest: The Path of the Adept.
When it comes to role playing out the Adept trial I think itâs worth noting that you canât really follow this by the book any more seeing as the inhabitants of RFC has changed. It also reads like this is handled on a âcase-by-caseâ basis, where one Initiate is sent off to collect the items can be in a completely different place to another; go wild with this.
Item description: âA stoppered Flask of potent demon blood, perfect for quenching a newly-forged Blood Knight weapon.â
Crate of Bloodforged ingots
âOn its own, steel is a fine metal, but a weapon forged from it is unremarkable. Bloodforged ingots represent a superior material created in a process that is a well-kept secret. Rumor has it that any smith bold enough to handle and work the metal becomes cursed, but our craftsmen have proven this false.
"The Metalâs reputation increases its scarcity, but the Forsaken have sent word that a supply may exist within Shadowfang Keep. A skilled smith by the name of Landen Stilwell grew curious enough to smuggle a crate of ingots into the keep. It is not known where Stilwell keeps his stash, but our informant tells us the smith is being held prisoner in the keepâs dungeon. Use any means at your disposal to obtain the ingots.â - [Bloodvalorâs Notes] Quest: The Path of the Adept.
A strong but scarce metal that the Knights hunt down for their ranseurs, itâs very rare so in order to obtain some your character may be raking through the ruins of Shadowfang or some other nook and cranny of Azeroth.
Item description: âA crate filled with dark metal ingots radiating a sense of wrongness.â
A corrupted Kor gem
âThe Magistersâ tomes record that these gems are used by some spell casters to hold energy for their magics, making them even deadlier. Although purified versions of the gem can be safely used by journeyman spellcasters, they are too weak for our purposes.
In the caves of Blackfathom Deeps, naga spellcasters have imbued kor gems with their own dark powers, augmenting them in a way that makes them perfect for use in your ranseur. Slay them mercilessly until you have secured the gem you will need.â - [Bloodvalorâs Notes] Quest: The Path of the Adept.
There are still naga within the Blackfathom Deeps, the inhabitants havenât really changed so if you wish to have your character venture there and retrieve some then go wild. Alternatively you can always find the corrupted kor gems elsewhere. For example when I dmâd the trial for a friend, they were held by a group of undead scarlets who were up to no good.
I also think this item plays into the difference between the mace which the Silver Hand use and the Ranseur, as mentioned later in the guide (in the equipment section) Liadrin channels spells through her ranseur like it was a staff. The Ranseur also has more int than the alliance equivalent though it also has less strength.
The Insignia isnât needed to forge the weapon, it doesnât become part of the weapon,
âA small black and red enameled metal pendant in the shape of a falcon.â - Item description.
With it being a pendant, itâs safe to assume itâs usually attached to a necklace.
âThe insignia you will wear as an adept was last carried by a brave and fearless Blood Knight from the Dawnstar family. His exemplary service is a good omen for your own life in the order.â - [Bloodvalorâs Notes] Quest: The Path of the Adept.
This insinuates that the insignias carry a reputation of who has worn them and their deeds. Perhaps an insignia which has had a history of craven, alcoholic or weak owners can be a bad omen for the soon-to-be Adept?
âBlood Knight Dawnstar led a daring, but unsuccessful attack on the Scourge stronghold of Deatholme. His body rests where he died, locked in combat with our greatest foes.â
This will be unique to every character, everyone will retrieve an insignia from a different corpse. In a different part of the world. It also raises questions about what Blood Knights do with their own dead. Do they simply leave them where they drop for new Adepts to set out and find? Or do they retrieve the bodies if they can? This quest implies itâs the former but there isnât a great deal of information on it.
Once turned in the Knight-Lord congratulates you and sends you to Bemarrin to have the weapon forged.
âOnce again, you have proven yourself worthy before the order and your peers. It is with great pleasure that I bestow upon you the rank of adept, <name>. Prince Kaelâthas will be proud of you.*
Any of us would be honoured to fight by your side on the field of battle. Continue to serve as an example for those who aspire to join us. Show neither mercy nor weakness, defend your people and your brothers tirelessly, and hone your mastery of the Light*.â - Knight-Lord Bloodvalor, Quest: Forging the weapon.
If you speak to the Knight-Lord again to get the progress chatter text he says:
âCongratulations, <name>. Achieving the rank of adept is no mean feat, believe me. Iâve seen the number of people who enter that building, and how few of them last long enough to visit me bearing these materials.â
The trials to join the order fully can be very taxing and has clearly claimed a fair few lives.
The final quest isnât worth mentioning, you hand over the items to Bemarrin and he simply forges the item for you; nothing of note is said. The character is an Adept and has the weapon of the Blood Knights alongside an Insignia to prove it; they are a Blood Knight.
Blood Knight
What is a Blood Knight?
This is by far the most common rank of Blood Knight add you will see, there are dozens if not hundred of them; from trash mobs in Outland to faction aligned characters; the the large amount of them stood in formation in Dawnseeker Promontory to those who are helping the Reliquary such as Kaelis Sunsoar. They are easily identified by the black and red armour, the tabard and shield. They also seem to fill a vast range of roles which will be covered later.
The player Character becomes a Blood Knight after obtaining the first paladin mount (which was at level 40 a long time ago), I cannot remember if there was an epic quest chain for this, I canât find anything after a good hour of trying to rake around for it.
Master
What is a Master?
Masters are members of a circle which represent the best that the Blood Knightâs have to offer, knights are hand-picked by the leadership of the Blood Knight Order to undergo the trials to become a Master. Masters are identified by their mounts, the Chargers.
âWithin the ranks of our Order, there exists an inner circle of elite knights. Members of the circle represent the most dedicated, skilled and trustworthy of all Blood Knights and are handpicked by the leadership. Most simply know the masters by their thalassian charger mounts.
Each candidate for membership must have a sponsor within the circle and must demonstrate their dedication to the Orderâs central tenets. I have chosen to sponsor you for standing as a Blood Knight master, if this is your wish.â - Lord Solanar Bloodwrath, Quest: The Masterâs Path.
Role playing one can be difficult and I would only suggest you let your character become one if youâre not really intent on dick-waving and plan on leading a guild. No doubt some people would love for me to say âtoo many people are role playing these, tone it down folksâ but it would be hypocritical of me after the âwhatâs role played isnât representative of loreâ. But I can safely say that as far as Argent Dawn is concerned, there are a swathe of people who donât quite grasp what a master is.
The first task, âA gesture of commitmentâ.
âA Blood Knightâs Loyalty does not stop at the end of <his/her> blade, . The order asks more of its members than mere drilling and combat. A true knight contributes to all of the orderâs activities, even the ones that may not seem glorious on the surface.â - Lord Solanar Bloodwrath, Quest: A gesture of commitment.
In this quest the player character is to give a load of expensive and rare items to help support Magister Astalor Bloodswornâs draining of what remains on Mâuru after he was pilfered. But again this is no longer relevant but there are countless other situations you can insert, âwe need these metals and furs and cloth for repairsâ and they can be as equally or more expansive as you wish them to be; I canât see this âtaskâ being a cheap one.
âWe Blood Knights are bound to defend QuelâThalas, . This is a central part of your training. Our enemies are fierce and unrelenting. Silvermoon and its people remain free by our efforts and our alliesâ. - Lord Solonar Bloodwrath, Quest: A demonstration of loyalty.
Again, I think this is something that varies from case to case, in the player-characterâs own theyâre sent to kill off some skeletal siege engineers near the Thalassian Pass. Dream up what you want here. A good example would be to do something with the Cultists in Windrunner Spire, War Crimes stated that theyâre still there. Maybe theyâre trying to branch out and they need to be contained? Maybe theyâre trying to craft another abomination to harass Tranquillien with?
The final part of this quest tasks you with extinguishing the eternal flame in Alonsus Chapel, which is no longer relevant; the Blood Knights are no longer in the business of pissing all over the Silver Hand to prove theyâre the masters of the Light. But itâs worth mentioning that the new Baron in that dungeon could have gotten into that situation by the player destroying the protective enchantment on the Chapel, the Scourge got to him and he was raised. But thatâs just speculation.
Again, youâll have to generate something of your own to finish this off if youâre pursuing this. The chain is ended with:
âWell done, <name>. All who would oppose us would do well to heed the warning you delivered. Our foes should know that they are in peril, from the lowest foot soldier to the mightiest hero. You have earned your place in the ranks of the masters. Your dedication and prowess serve as an example for all Blood Knights. As a symbol of your new status, I grant you the ability to summon and command the thalassian charger.â - Lord Solonar Bloodwrath, Quest: True Masters of the Light.
Whatâs odd with this quest is that you also get the tabard, but the tabard isnât unique to Masters alone; the two initiated near the entrance to the Halls of Blood (the building in which the Knights locate themselves in Silvermoon) wear it.
Masters also seem to take on the training of those below them although it looks like they are very specific with who.
âMaster Pyreanor, a senior Blood Knight and advisor to the Warchief requires your presence in Orgrimmar. He has taken an interest in your training, .â - Champion Bachi/Champion Cyssa Dawnrose, Quest: Seek Out Master Pyreanor.
Knight-Lord
What is a Knight-Lord?
The majority - if not all of them - are mentioned in the novella Blood of the Highborne, they were the first few Knights alongside Liadrin when Rommath created the Order. And from whatâs experienced in the quests they manage everyone below them, from Initiates to Masters; they make sure the Order is running smoothly.
Matriarch
What is the Matriarch?
The Matriarch is Lady Liadrin, she is the leader of the Blood Knights and she is only answerable to Rommath and Lorâthemar Theron.
The oddity, Champion
Itâs hard to really nail down where abouts in the table of ranks a Champion stands, they seem very varied. On one hand they hand out some quests for you and are very prestigious such as Vranesh. On the other⌠four of them get beaten up by an Initiate (though this may be due to it being the player character).
Edit: From my own speculation, I would say that they simply sit alongside âMasterâ or slightly above due to Champion Vranesh wandering back and forth between Farstridersâ Square and the Royal exchange on a charger. There isnât a great deal of information on what the Champions do beyond the old player interactions with them â you beat four of them for your Adept trial (arguably because the player character is an âadventurerâ) and Champion Bachi taught you your spells. I could be completely wrong on this and the mount can simply be an oversight by Blizzard.
*I have thrown asterisks on these parts because the wording would have most likely changed, Kaelâthas is no longer praised and the Order no longer encourages bastardising the Light or defiling tombs if we go by the new (homogenised and bland) quest text alongside the tone of the Order post TBC.
Roles that a Blood Knight can fit in to
Blood Knights can be found pretty much anywhere! Some are within the Reliquary such as Elijah Dawnflight or Kaelis Sunsoar. While others may find themselves serving under Halduron Brightwing such as Kelantir Bloodblade.
The Errand Runner
Delivering objects and messages, not very glorious but it is done. By the looks of it Initiates are the main source of errand boys/girls but higher ranks may be used if thereâs nothing better for them to do.
âExcellent. It appears everything is here. Donât worry, your next task will include plenty of opportunities to wield your weapon again, I promise.
Iâll have an initiate bring it all to Magister Astalor. Thereâs no need to send you on such a trivial errand when there are more important things to be done.â - Lord Solonar Bloodwrath, Quest: A Gesture of Commitment.
Guardian
Master Pyreanor is a good example of this, pre-Cata his official duty was to protect the Ambassador to the Warchief and eagerly spars/trains with other Blood Knights. He mirrors Champion Cyssa Dawnrose in this aspect, though Dawnrose is stationed in the Undercity. There are also numerous Blood Knight Honor Guards dotted over Azeroth and Outland.
Perhaps your knight is/was guarding some blood elf of minor note on their tasks/ventures?
Soldier
âWe Blood Knights are bound to defend QuelâThalas, <NAME>.â - Lord Solanar Bloodwrath, Quest: A Demonstration of Loyalty.
âThe Blood Knights of Silvermoon are the backbone of the blood elf armyâ - From the trading card âAraelunâ. I would however take this source with a grain of salt, as the same TCG labels Velen a shaman and Lorâthemar a paladin.
This one is rather obvious.
Leader
There are numerous examples of this, such as Kaelis Sunsoar who has found himself within the Reliquary and being a commander for them in 5.1; he hands out dailies in Ruins of Ogudei. Blood Knights can make the perfect leader for a guild or fit into an officer position quite easily, though of course it depends on what the subject matter of the guild actually is â naturally they wonât be heading .
Advisor
âMaster Pyreanor, a senior Blood Knight and advisor to the warchief, requires your presence in Orgrimmar.â Champion Cyssa Dawnrose/Champion Bachi, Quest: Seek out Master Pyreanor.
This links in with what I mentioned above, they can be an advisor to a guild leader or it could even be a one-off in some grand server campaign! Not to mention that it can make for some interesting backstory details.
4) Equipment
Blood Tempered Ranseur
What even is a Ranseur, Aerilen? A ranseur is a spear that was used across Europe in the 15th century and used again as a more ceremonial weapon in the 17th century. Six foot long and shaped somewhat like a trident, the two extra âprongsâ were used to trap a foeâs weapon and pull it from them or the person with it onto their !@#/off their horse.
As mentioned earlier it is a weapon that âInitiatesâ gather the materials for in order to rise and become an âAdeptâ, the materials are quite unique and rather powerful.
According to Blood of the Highborne the weapon itself is a blend of a mace and a stave, a blend of strength and balance. It is the iconic weapon of the blood knights in a similar vein that the warhammer is for the Silver Hand. Interestingly Liadrin uses it somewhat like a stave in that she channeled a spell through it. This could go hand-in-hand with the difference in stats between the two weapons - the warhammer has more strength and less intellect while the ranseur is the opposite.
Scourgebane
Scourgebane is a trinket developed by Mehlar Dawnblade and Lady Sylvanas Windrunner.
The player character is sent off to gather twenty Scourgestones after speaking with Argent Officer Garush (Quest: Prove your Hatred). Returning them to him he crushes them up:
âthe Scourgestones are weak when separated from the skeletal grasp that once held them. Simply holding them in my hands caused them to fracture and breakâ - Mehlar Dawnblade, Quest: Wisdom of the Banshee Queen.
Windrunner is irritated that you show her these stones though she advises you to âacquire something equally vile to fortify them.â Youâre tasked with acquiring the [Putrid] Vine from the corpse of Atalâalarion in the Temple of AtalâHakkar.
âThe Banshee Queen has guided you well. This is precisely what I need to combine the fragments. <Mehlar watches as the vine interweaves through the fragments, binding them together.>
There! Scourgebane, I shall call it. Be wary when you use it, for it serves you against its will.â - Mehlar Dawnblade, Quest: Ancient Evil.
The trinket gave a significant damage increase against undead and demons when it was used, it also caused the playerâs weapon to have a bright white glow while the buff lasted.
Mounts
Thalassian Warhorse - Received upon becoming a knight, âA loyal companion to any who would protect Silvermoon.â
Thalassian Charger - Received upon becoming a Master, âBasking in the power of Mâuru has strengthened its will.â
Hawkstriders - Itâs not uncommon for Knights to ride these, Aenea who accompanies the Horde hero in a mogu-dominated area in the Valley of Emperors rides one.
Uniform
You can easily obtain the stereotypical outfit that the Blood Knights wear, it is simply the level 60 rare PvP set in combination with the shield [Blood Knight] (drops from Watchkeeper Gargolmar in Hellfire Ramparts) or [Bloodforged Guard] which is a quest reward from âBlast the Infernals!â in Shadowmoon Valley. The sword is [Archmageâs Guile] which is bought from Eldara Dawnrunner if youâre revered with the Shattered Sun Offensive.
You can also obtain most of the stereotypical Adept outfit, minus hand and shoulder slot items although itâs all mail items. [Felstalker Breastplate], [Felstalker Bracers] and [Felstalker Belt] are all leatherworking items that can be crafted. You can get the leggings from two different items. [Sunfury Legguards] From the Shadowmoon Valley quest: Varedis Must be stopped or [Magâhari Huntsmanâs Leggings] from the Nagrand quest: There is no Hope. The boots are obtained from Damek Bloombeard at the Molten front, they are [Fiery treads]. Adepts also wield [Archmageâs Guile] while their Shield is [Outland Shield of ] which is a world drop in Outland, thereâs usually one or two on the AH.
Though, there are a fair few Blood Knight adds that donât adhere to the uniforms or have aggressive variations of them. Usually named figures (Such as Mehlar Dawnblade), they tend to at least adhere to the black and red colour code.
Enchantments
Again, itâs not uncommon for some Blood Knight NPCâs to have their weapon enchanted, the most common is a flame enchantment upon their swords.
Insignia
âA small, black and red enameled metal pendant in the shape of a falconâ. As mentioned earlier in the Adept section, itâs insinuated the history of the people an Insignia has been carried by is important. Theyâre owned by anyone who has passed their Adept trial.
5) Faith
Faith in the Light certainly wasnât dead in Silvermoon or Eversong, if a paladin character clicked on a priest they would dismiss them with âI donât have the time for a sermon nowâ. Not to mention the priests were actively working -with- the Light to help Silvermoon rather than using it to help Silvermoon.
âAlready the rangers speak of your blessings with awe and respect. Now you can see how the Light serves us, allowing us to help others, but only after we have helped ourselves.â - Ponaris, Quest: Cleansing the Scar.
While there may certainly have been a minority of knight which may have followed the Light still, the majority were disillusioned and disenfranchised like Lady Liadrin.
However, since the renewal of the Sunwell the reverse seems to slowly be coming true; the revised quest texts for example lack a lot of the open hostility towards other Paladin orders who revere the Light, and towards the Light in general. However, due to the Sunwell radiating holy as well as arcane magic now, you donât need faith to channel it.
Edit/Big Update: A faithless Blood Knight concept is just as valid as one with faith, though one who still clings to the mindset which was apparent in TBC may turn a few heads, not only that but they still suffer the same headaches and emotional instability that was caused from leeching from Mâuru:
https://twitter.com/MickyNeilson/status/669361548582739968
Hi, question! Are there side-effects to drawing from the Sunwell like we saw with Mâuru in TBC?
Yep! Side effects were described in Blood of the Highborne.
6) Relations to the other two factions of Silvermoon
Silvermoon is split up into three influential factions; the Farstriders, the Blood Knights and the Magisters (not the Magisterium or the Magistry).
Relation towards the Farstriders
This is probably the easiest one to delve into, itâs very obvious what both factions think of each other. Blood of the Highborn states that they view the Blood Knights as immoral and that carried on into TBC. There is also this interaction - which no doubt Silvermoon role players have gotten sick of.
âChampion Vranesh surveys the small ranger practice ground with a condescending smirk.â
To which the Rangers will respond with after he departs; âTheyâre nothing more than petty thieves, thatâs what they areâ; âTheyâll see the Light, I hopeâ; âWith Mâuru gone, perhaps those haughty Blood Knights will see senseâ; âIs there no sanctity left in this world?â
In more recent times the relationships between the Rangers and the Blood Knights were shown once more in 5.1 with Ranger Orestes and the Blood Knight Aenea.
âLorâthemar Theron: Orestes! Aenea! you are to accompany on his mission.
Aenea: Yes, my lord.
Ranger Orestes: Another mission with Aenea? If I must.â - Quest: Legacy of the Korune
Ranger Orestes certainly doesnât seem impressed to be partnered with Aenea, whether that is due to her being a knight or personal interaction is up for interpretation.
Relation towards the Magisters
Blood of the Highborne states that the Magisters simply viewed the Blood Knights with pragmatism, beyond that there isnât anything that really defines their relationship; there are only two magisters that actually have directly anything to do within the Blood Knight Order and thatâs Grand Magister Rommath and Astalor.
And on the flip side thereâs nothing that really highlights the Blood Knight attitude towards the Magisters, there certainly doesnât seem to be any animosity.
7) Speculation (this has a lot of opinion in it)
Are/Can Blood Knights be city guards?
This idea stems from three sources, the first which is from the card game âWhen Silvermoon City Sentinels enters play, it deals 1 holy damage to each hero for each ally named Silvermoon Sentinels in your partyâ.
The second being their reaction towards hunters asking for the hunter trainer: âOh. Youâre seeking one of⌠them. Well, if you truly want to waste your time speaking with those backwards individuals, youâll find the rangers in Farstridersâ Square. Zandine can take care of you.â
The third being Gatewatcher Aendor, a Blood Knight who is harassing a citizen alongside some guardians and a golem.
However, even with these sources I donât think they are strong enough to solidly plant Blood Knights as being guards in the traditional sense.
On the first source: Beyond doing holy damage in the card game, nothing else actually confirms that they are knights. In-game they do not do holy damage and none of their few abilities are actually even related to holy magic. And even then Blizzard blurs the lines of âclassesâ by giving mobs and adds abilities which should belong to other classes, take Lorâthemar - a ranger - and his mass charm/mind control ability for example. It doesnât make him a priest and it doesnât make him belong to the priesthood either.
On the second source: I think this falls more in line with the Farstriders becoming the least influential faction of Silvermoon and the guardian being very opinionated (and outright rude). Take what he says about professions for example. The Farstriders are essentially Silvermoonâs skinning and Leatherworking industry and yet:
âTyn is quite the talented skinner; she produces the finest lynx hides Iâve yet seen. If you wish to learn from her, youâll find her on the southeast end of the Walk of Elders.â
âAlong the southeast end of the Walk of Elders, Lynalis has set up a fine leatherworking stand. Sheâll train you⌠for a fee.â
While he considers Farstriders backwards, he seems to sing the praises of a noteworthy skinner and is rather indifferent to leatherworking.
âIf digging in the dirt is the sort of past time you find enjoyable, go share your insanity with Belil in Farstridersâ Square. Iâm certain heâd be happy to see heâs not the only crazy one.â
âBemarrin teaches the trade of Blacksmithing in Farstridersâ Square. While a somewhat⌠dirty trade, I suppose it has its merits.â
âAn odd choice⌠but I suppose Iâm not one to judge. Danwe is the one youâre after; her engineering stand lies near the Court of the Sun, on the path to Farstridersâ Square.â
Itâs odd that they donât seem to object to skinning - which some could consider barbaric and very dirty - while believing mining and blacksmithing to be âcrazyâ and dirty respectively. They also find engineering âoddâ.
I simply believe that everything the guardians churns out is a simple and shallow stereotype of blood elves, the Farstriders have fallen out of favour so heâs rude about them. Mining gets you dirty so he thinks the idea of it is crazy. Tyn makes fine products so he sings her praises. Engineering is believed to be odd because of the blood elven conservative nature.
On the third source: Gatewatcher Aendor is the only instance of a Blood Knight shown to be âguardingâ but it seems to be a very unique position because heâs not a âguardianâ heâs a âGatewatcherâ. His scene helps uphold the idea that Silvermoon is a totalitarian state, just like the priest Kathâmar in the Bazaar. However, just like the priest Kathâmar he seems to have a very unique role in Silvermoon. I think that both characters are there to simply uphold the new policies and direction the blood elven leadership have taken. Kathâmar silences dissenters and Aendor shakes down those who may/have caused trouble. Iâd also like to throw out that a Gatewatcher does not equal a city guard either. Also, given how far Blood Elves have progressed and how âstableâ their nation has come, would there be any need for the iron-fisted totalitarian approach? Are Kathâmar and âThe Gatewatcherâ even needed any more? We donât know.
Overall I donât think thereâs any solid lore to suggest that Blood Knights are guards or they take it upon themselves to patrol the streets to catch thieves and/or unruly elves. The City Guardians seem to be under influence of the Blood Knights at the very least, you can have them kneel for you if you emote /eye upon them. I donât even think theyâre close to being paladins never mind Blood Knights, the argument for them being Blood Knights falls down completely when they address Vranesh:
âOur lives are yours, Blood Knight.â
If they were then they would address him as their superior rather than âBlood Knightâ. Not to mention their uniform is completely different in both design and colour scheme.
The Golems and Guardians are the City Guards and it should be left at them, IMO.
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