ith the Argent Crusade amassing on the doorstep of Ner’zhul, will the Lich King be able to stand up to this new breed of champions being spawned of steed and lance in North-East Icecrown? The Alliance Herald investigates – The Argent Tournament!

Aspiring valiants enroll in the tournament after a few visits to various officials, and it isn’t long before they’re set straight to work learning the ropes of relatively old concepts; but is fighting on mighty or metallic steeds really the way forward in an age of black powder and lead shot?

The Argent Crusade clearly thinks so; it has acquired the assistance of the Sunreaver and Silver Covenant magi to keep order while both the Alliance and the Horde battle it out in chivalric scraps; with further field-posting to keep them on their toes and put their mounted combat skills to good use.

So, do you want to take up a shiny lance and worm your way to glory for the Argent Crusade or for whoever else? Not to spoil your fun, but here we have a guide of what is ahead of you:

-   When you first enroll, your tasks will be very simple, training on simple targets that don’t fight back (apart from mêlée targets whirling around and hitting you) and on the scourge throughout Icecrown. You may also be tasked with retrieving swords from maidens of fairytale – Good for you if you’re looking for some appreciation!

The successful valiants and champions will charge forth outside the very walls of Icecrown Citadel, and will pit their new skills against the scourge standing defiled and defiant before it. The efforts of the assault on Icecrown have clearly not been forgotten; the scourge seems so crippled that an outpost of wood and horses has sprung up on the very doorstep of Corp’Rethar – The Horror Gate. Rightly named afore the great blue fires that engulf its saronite structure and before now seemed to have warded (or frightened) off any attempt to take a stand, the horror is clearly no barrier to these new great heroes of the Alliance, and the Horde – Not forgetting the Ebon Blade!

-   After the Silver Covenant believes you have proven yourself worth of valiance, they will pit you against a valiant of the Argent Crusade – Defeat him, and your tasks will come from your home nation’s Grand Champion. But now, instead of simple training targets, you will pit your skills against valiants of the Alliance and the Horde! You should best a few valiants to earn your title and to show your skill for the Grand Mêlée. You will also get your first taste of the legions before Icecrown Citadel.

-   Valiants can prove themselves champion-worthy after a minimum of five days. Much like the process of become a valiant, you will be pitted against a champion of the Argent Crusade, afterwards you will assume both the right to champion other races and to fight in the name of the Crusade on the battlefields across Icecrown, around the citadel and even against ferocious frost wyrms and sly, devilish cultists.

So do you think you have what it takes to fight in the Tournament? Head on down to the grounds in North-East Icecrown, and prove yourself a champion of the Alliance!

Have any amazing stories from the tournament, or just want to boast? Write to us, and contribute!