Changes: Hand of Argus

Hand of Argus
Main leader	Triumvirate of the Hand Vindicator Boros; Vindicator Kuros; Vindicator Aesom;
Race(s)	Draenei
Character classes	Anchorite, Hunter, Paladin, Vindicator, Warrior
Capital	Exodar
Base of operations	Azure Watch, Blood Watch
Theater of operations	Azuremyst Isles, Nagrand, Ashenvale, Broken Isles
Sub-group(s)	Defenders of Blood Watch
Affiliation	Exodar, Alliance, Silver Hand
Status	Active
Reputation
Tabard

Revision as of 12:39, 5 March 2021

“A Hand of Argus is many things: Obedient, brave, intelligent, and above all, honorable.”

— Kessel^[2]

The Hand of Argus is an organization of draenei paladins and vindicators that serve as the primary military and police force of the Exodar draenei. Before the third invasion, their presence was strongest in Bloodmyst Isle, where the greatest of the corruption on the Azuremyst Isles had taken hold.

They are considered elite among the draenei.^[3] Once a mighty order of draenei paladins dedicated to protecting their people from their Legion hunters, their numbers have yet to fully recover from the slaughter in Draenor at the hands of bloodlusted orcs. Yet, Vindicator Boros refuses to let their legacy die. He has dedicated himself to renew their sacred vows at all costs, and the order remains foremost protectors of draenei society.^[4]

The Hand of Argus is led by the Triumvirate of the Hand — Vindicators Boros, Kuros and Aesom. They are based in the Exodar, and stationed in Blood Watch on Bloodmyst Isle. However, despite remaining mostly on Bloodmyst Isle, the Hand's agents have been seen in Ashenvale, Nagrand, and on the Broken Isles.

History

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

In Outland, Prince Kael'thas' blood elves discovered the power of Tempest Keep and successfully seized it. To escape, the draenei came out of hiding and managed to wrestle control of a wing of the keep, the Exodar, and tried to use it to flee and find aid in retaking their home. Before they could, however, the blood elves managed to sabotage what is essentially the "engine" of the draenei's transdimensional travel. The remainder of the Keep lies in Outland in Netherstorm and is now the home of Prince Kael'thas.

A month later, a terrible explosion tore open the skies above northern Kalimdor. At that moment, the great ship Exodar, plummeted from the heavens and crashed upon the world of Azeroth. The Exodar crash-landed on a chain of islands, the Azuremyst Isles, off the western coast of Kalimdor. Their arrival on Azeroth wasn't pretty — they ended up tearing up the landscape over on Azuremyst and Bloodmyst Isle. As the surviving draenei salvaged what they could of their ship and tried to help what was left of their people, they began exploring this new world. The Hand of Argus created two forward outposts in their new home: Azure Watch and Blood Watch.^[5] Eventually they came to discover that Kael'thas's blood elves (known as the Sunfury) had followed them to Azeroth to murder them,^[6] enslave O'ros,^[7] and steal the Exodar.^[8] After fending off the blood elven incursions,^[9]^[10] the draenei from Azure Watch rescued an injured night elf priestess who thought the draenei to be their demonic eredar kin.^[11] Inspired by heroic tales of the Alliance and its victories against the Burning Legion, the draenei sought out and pledged their loyalty to this courageous faction.^[12] Prophet Velen had long foreseen the friendship the draenei would have with the noble Alliance and his prophecy came to fruition when his people made the first contact with the residents of Odesyus' Landing.^[13]^[14]

Together, they uncovered a conspiracy to harm the Alliance and the draenei involving the Sunfury, the Venture Company, and their traitorous agents: Engineer "Spark" Overgrind^[15]^[16] and Sironas.^[17] After further investigation, it is discovered that the traitor eredar Sironas (who has been hiding among the draenei populace) has been leading a group of blood elves called the Sunhawks in abducting draenei survivors, torturing them^[18] until they willingly desire to become man'ari eredar,^[17] and also opening Sun Gates to prime Kalimdor for a blood elven invasion.^[19] After contemplating the direness of the situation, Prophet Velen created a battle plan and ordered Vindicator Boros to organize the military campaign so that they may end the blood elven menace once and for all.^[20]

The Hand of Argus went on to establish Blood Watch, where they spearheaded the campaign against the Sunhawks and Sironas. Recognizing that the draenei of the Exodar would require allies and resources to fend off future threats, Anchorite Paetheus sent draenei adventurers to Auberdine, the closest Alliance settlement, to propose cooperation in the fight against their common foes.^[21]^[22] They have also sent Emissary Valustraa to Darnassus and Emissary Taluun to Stormwind City to maintain diplomatic ties with their new allies and direct their adventurers to support their allies in their troubled lands. Eventually, the Alliance destroyed the Sun Gate^[23] and defeated Sironas and her Sunhawks; which consequently prevented Prince Kael'thas from invading Kalimdor and corrupting the draenei into demons.^[24]

The Hand of Argus is also present at the Eye of the Storm, since Iravar is considered as a member of the Hand and all the other named battlemasters as well, they led the Alliance effort to take that battleground before the Blood Knights of the Horde.

Wrath of the Lich King

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

A draenei delegation under the lead of Harbinger Vurenn was sent to Valiance Keep in order to coordinate the draenei involvement in the War against the Lich King. However, both Counselor Talbot and General Arlos were reluctant to accept the help and the general decided to make use of the delegation in an advisory role, preventing the arrival of draenei battalions.^[25]

After Vurenn's suspicions on the measures against the Cult of the Damned presence in the keep,^[26] Vindicator Yaala conducted a secret investigation^[27] that lead to the defeat of the cultists.^[28] Yaala, however, felt that it wouldn't be the last time the Alliance would see the cultist, stating that "darkness has a way of hiding in plain light".^[28]

Prophet's Lesson

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

With Prophet Velen in deep contemplation on the eve of the Cataclysm, the Hand of Argus' leaders returned to the Exodar in an effort to reconnect with their brethren on Azeroth, and convened to discuss their people's future on Azeroth in light of the Exodar's repair. Vindicator Maraad came before them, and was outspoken with his opinion: that the draenei should leave to rebuild their second home on Outland and assist the Lost Ones remaining behind. The Triumvirate agreed, and it was decided that unless Velen ordered otherwise, within a week the Exodar would take flight for old Draenor.

Tensions were raised by the presence of Alliance refugees from across the ocean, who had come to Azuremyst to seek Velen - whom they saw as a mighty deity - and the draenei's protection. However, violence broke out when the increasingly paranoid refugees began slurring the vindicators as "demons" and became belligerent. Unsurprisingly, the battle was one-sided in the angered vindicators' favor, leaving the humans broken and dispersed.

Following the conflict, Velen himself emerged to quell the unrest, and peace was restored. Some of the vindicators were ashamed of having been riled to anger; but others, such as Maraad, were unmoved, feeling justified in their response. It was decided that the draenei would remain on Azeroth to combat the incoming threat.^[1]

Forest Song New — Forest Song in Ashenvale

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Vindicator Vedaar went to Ashenvale to destroy the remaining forces of the Burning Legion in the regions known as Felfire Hill, Demon Fall Canyon and Demon Fall Ridge,^[29] preventing in the process a planned demonic attack against the draenei settlement of Forest Song by destroying the dreadlords Diathorus and Gorgannon.^[30] ^[31] Some are even seen in the Stonetalon Mountains.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

The Triumvirate leads the Hand of Argus to the Sanctum of Light, beneath Light's Hope Chapel, to pay their respects to the fallen Tirion Fordring. Boros steps forward and pledges his order's support to the new Highlord of the Silver Hand.

Several units of the Hand defended Exodar during the Legion's invasion. Some of them also appear at Deliverance Point on the Broken Shore, where they occasionally spar with Stormforged Valarjar, bless people with [Blessing of Kings] in front of the pond, and heal wounded paladins.

Notable members

Main article: List of Hand of Argus paladins

The members of the Triumvirate of the Hand are the leaders of the Order.


Name	Title	Role	Affiliation	Status
Boros	Vindicator	First-in-command of the Hand of Argus and Champion of the Silver Hand	Exodar, Silver Hand	Alive
Kuros	Vindicator	Second-in-command of the Hand of Argus	Exodar, Silver Hand	Alive
Aesom	Vindicator	Third-in-command of the Hand of Argus	Exodar, Silver Hand	Alive
Saruan	Vindicator	Former Second-in-command of the Hand of Argus, killed by Matis the Cruel	Exodar	Deceased
Vedaar	Vindicator	Commander of the Hand of Argus at Forest Song, Ashenvale	Exodar	Alive
Justinius	the Harbinger	Commander of the defenses of the Dark Portal, Blasted Lands	Exodar, Argent Dawn	Alive
Maraad	Vindicator	Uncle of Garona Halforcen, military leader in Draenor, killed by Blackhand	Exodar, Valiance Expedition	Deceased
Zunade	Knight-Defender	Leader of the Defenders of Blood Watch at Blood Watch, Bloodmyst Isle	Exodar, Defenders of Blood Watch	Alive

Notes

Azure Watch on Azuremyst Isle is one of their forward bases, though they do not have an active presence there in-game.^[5]
A draenei player may become a member of the Hand of Argus by completing [1-30] Ending Their World and acquiring the [Tabard of the Hand].

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.

The presence of Arbiter Khan in the alternate Nagrand seemingly indicates that the Hand also existed on the alternate Draenor and thus on its main universe counterpart.
The Triumvirate of the Hand may be an attempt by the draenei refugees to recreate the Council of Exarchs.
The Light's Chosen may be a subgroup of the Hand.

References

External links

[Prophet's_Lesson-1] Prophet's Lesson

[2] [1-30] Report to Exarch Admetius

[3] Prophet's Lesson, pg. 6

[4] [10-45] Champion: Vindicator Boros

[BWq-5] [1-30] Blood Watch

[6] [1-10] Blood Elf Plans

[7] [1-30G] Matis the Cruel

[8] [Traitor's Communication]

[9] [1-10] Blood Elf Spy

[10] [1-10] The Blood Elves

[11] [1-30] An Alternative Alternative

[12] Draenei (playable)

[13] [1-30] The Prophecy of Velen

[14] [1-30] A Small Start

[15] [1-30] Tree's Company

[16] [1-30] Show Gnomercy

[WWDKQ-17] [1-30] What We Don't Know...

[18] [Galaen's Journal]

[19] [1-30] Audience with the Prophet

[20] [1-30] Truth or Fiction

[21] [1-30] Newfound Allies

[22] [15] The Way to Auberdine

[23] [1-30] The Sun Gate

[24] [1-30] Ending Their World

[25] [10-30] Enlistment Day

[26] [10-30] Enemies of the Light

[27] [10-30] Further Investigation

[THiO-28] [10-30] The Hunt is On

[29] [7-30] Destroy the Legion

[30] [7-30] Diabolical Plans

[31] [7-30] Never Again!

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@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 They are considered elite among the draenei.<ref>''[[Prophet's Lesson]]'', pg. 6</ref> Once a mighty order of draenei paladins dedicated to protecting their people from their [[Burning Legion|Legion]] hunters, their numbers have yet to fully recover from the slaughter in [[Draenor]] at the hands of bloodlusted orcs. Yet, [[Vindicator Boros]] refuses to let their legacy die. He has dedicated himself to renew their sacred vows at all costs, and the order remains foremost protectors of draenei society.<ref>[[Champion: Vindicator Boros]]</ref>
-The Hand of Argus is led by the [[Triumvirate of the Hand]] — Vindicators [[Vindicator Boros|Boros]], [[Vindicator Kuros|Kuros]] and [[Vindicator Aesom|Aesom]]. They are based in ''[[Exodar]]'', and stationed in [[Blood Watch]] on [[Bloodmyst Isle]]. However, despite remaining mostly on Bloodmyst Isle, the Hand's agents have been seen in [[Ashenvale]], [[Nagrand]], and on the [[Broken Isles]].
+The Hand of Argus is led by the [[Triumvirate of the Hand]] — Vindicators [[Vindicator Boros|Boros]], [[Vindicator Kuros|Kuros]] and [[Vindicator Aesom|Aesom]]. They are based in the ''[[Exodar]]'', and stationed in [[Blood Watch]] on [[Bloodmyst Isle]]. However, despite remaining mostly on Bloodmyst Isle, the Hand's agents have been seen in [[Ashenvale]], [[Nagrand]], and on the [[Broken Isles]].
 ==History==

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