Knights of the Silver Hand Knights of the Silver Hand ( a . k . a . Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand , Order of the Silver Hand , or simply the Silver Hand ) was the order of paladins created after the First War by Uther the Lightbringer and Archbishop Alonsus Faol . During the time of the Second War , the Silver Hand allied the Alliance of Lordaeron to fight against the Orcish Horde . When the Third War involved the kingdom of Lordaeron , the Silver Hand was suspended by Prince Arthas when Uther the Lightbringer refused to attack the city of Stratholme . Later , Arthas became a death knight and returned to kill Uther and decimated the remaining leadership of the Silver Hand . Years after its decimation , the order in Lordaeron was then reformed by Tirion Fordring , who later merged it with the Argent Dawn to form the Argent Crusade in order to take the fight against the Lich King and the Scourge in Northrend . When the Burning Legion launched its third invasion on the world of Azeroth , the Silver Hand was reorganized by former remants of the Argent Crusade . Some members of the Hand of Argus , the Blood Knight s , and the Sunwalkers joined the newly reformed Silver Hand . In the wake of Tirion ' s death ( and failure to raise him ) , the Silver Hand is now led by the Highlord of the Silver Hand , who has taken up a legendary weapon and begins to lead the Silver Hand to fight against the Burning Legion and prevent evil from corrupting Azeroth . History . Foundation and the Second War . The former order led by Faol , the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics , was devastated during the First War . When Faol refounded the order in Lordaeron , he recruited noble knights and former clerics to train in the ways of war and the Light . Even a few members of the priesthood decided to take up the more physical and steadfast path . In Alonsus Chapel in Stratholme , Uther the Lightbringer was appointed the first of the paladins , followed by Saidan Dathrohan , Tirion Fordring , Turalyon , candidates recommended by Alonsus Faol himself , and Gavinrad the Dire , a candidate proposed by Lord Anduin Lothar . The Silver Hand was thus born . The paladins were instrumental in winning the war , and the sight of them wielding their mighty warhammers and holy powers gave others inspiration on the battlefield and the home front . Uther and his paladins were truly a sight to behold . Even some of the Alliance ' s greatest knights and warriors were in awe when they saw them smashing orcs down while healing fallen allies at the same time . Uther is the first paladin known to have manifested his powers on the battlefield . Destruction of the original Order . The introduction of the Plague nearly marked the end of the Order of the Silver Hand . The Knights of the Silver Hand entered a dark period when one of their own , Prince Arthas , turned his back on the order in his dark pursuit of vengeance . He fully embraced the evil he had been hunting and became a death knight in the service of the Lich King . Returning to Lordaeron , Arthas killed Uther Lightbringer and decimated the Order . After the Third War . Even after the triumph at Mount Hyjal , the paladins remember Arthas ' s betrayal , and just how close their order and all of Azeroth came to complete destruction . While the Alliance still had the Knights of the Silver Hand , few paladins were left in the order , and they were not up to the task of defeating the Scourge . The stalwart paladins of the Silver Hand who had traveled to Kalimdor worked to establish a new church there . Many paladins felt responsibility for Arthas , because the Holy Light teaches that every person can strengthen other people . Since they were unable to strengthen Arthas , the entire world suffered . The remaining knights hunt Arthas ' s servants , the undead , with a ruthlessness that frightens some , but they are determined to fix their mistakes . Though decimated in Lordaeron , the Silver Hand eventually bounced back . The Knights of the Silver Hand is an organization of paladins who have also studied and devoted themselves to the three virtues . It is the holy order that gives the paladins their sense of righteousness and allows a sense of community to strengthen their resolve . Although it is a proud organization , the paladins must give up a great deal to join , including their independence . Humans began the Knights of the Silver Hand , and they remain the bulk of its membership . They are proud of the paladins ' contribution to the Second and Third Wars , though they are shamed at Arthas ' s betrayal . After such an enormous breach of trust , the paladins have resolved anew to eliminate all traces of corruption in their ranks . The new order has also began to accept dwarves into the ranks to replace paladins lost during the Third War ( although they had previously accepted a few dwarven paladins as far back as the Second War , it was uncommon ) . The order is not nearly as active as it once was , however those belonging to the organization are some of the most active members of the Alliance . Some knights of the Silver Hand ( and former paladins ) are also members of the Argent Dawn . The Knights of the Silver Hand have a noble history . They continue draw upon the power of the Holy Light to protect their allies and smite their enemies . World of Warcraft . Though the paladins of Stormwind and Ironforge were referred to as the Knights of the Silver Hand , the order had no presence in Lordaeron until Tirion Fordring came out of exile . When his son Taelon was killed for trying to leave the Scarlet Crusade , Tirion vowed to create a new order , dedicated to extinguishing the evils of the world . In Burning Crusade . The Silver Hand had recently been in rival of the Blood Knight s , a group of Blood elf paladin s who had come to restore their lands that belonged to them in the northern parts of Lordaeron . It is revealed that some of these blood elves were once high elves that had once been loyal knights of the Silver Hand before the Third War , such as Mehlar Dawnblade , a former pupil of Uther who held his former master indirectly responsible for the fall of Quel ' Thalas . To prove that they still hold their will in the Light and fight against the darkness , the Blood Knights were sent to defile the Alonsus Chapel , a founding place of the Silver Hand . During the takeover , the Blood Knights united to fight against Aelmar the Vanquisher , Cathela the Seeker , Gregor the Justiciar , Vicar Hieronymus , and Nemas the Arbiter that were defending the chapel and would find peace . In Wrath of the Lich King . After the Battle for Light ' s Hope Chapel , Tirion called for a union between the Argent Dawn and the Order of the Silver Hand . Together they formed the Argent Crusade , which sailed to Northrend and fought to end the reign of the Lich King . Along with the Knights of the Ebon Blade , they were instrumental in Arthas ' s ultimate defeat ( with Tirion himself using the Ashbringer to sunder Frostmourne ) . In Cataclysm . During the cataclysm , Paladin trainers in the kingdoms of Stormwind and Khaz Modan remain part of the Silver Hand that did not merge with the Argent Crusade , and instead remained loyal with the Alliance while Paladins who were members of the Sunwalkers and Blood Knights remained loyal to the Horde . In Legion . After Highlord Tirion Fordring appeared killed during the battle in the Broken Isles , the Silver Hand was eventually reorganized by the Highlord of the Silver Hand . Symbolism . The Order of the Silver Hand took its name and symbol from the legend of Tyr . A paragon of order and justice , Tyr sacrificed his right hand in a fight against an unfathomable evil . Although it was within his power to fix his hand after the fighting had ended , the hero instead chose to replace it with a closed fist made of the purest silver . In this way , he impressed upon those who followed him that true order and justice can only be accomplished through personal sacrifice . No one knows what became of Tyr ' s fabled silver hand , left behind in ages past at the heart of Tirisfal Glades . The silver hand was a common symbol for the human tribes inhabiting the region . It appeared on clothing and pendants , worn to ward away evil spirits , protect warriors in battle , and cure disease . Status of the Order . According to Brann Bronzebeard ; According to the Tirion Fordring questline , from his perspective and opinion , the order no longer exists , having been destroyed by Arthas . After losing their leadership and being driven from their headquarters , the paladins scattered all over the continent , with some even following Jaina Proudmoore across the ocean to stay in Theramore . Tirion Fordring believes that no other paladin had the right to take up Uther ' s mantle as the leader of the Silver Hand . However , spurred by his son Taelan ' s death , Tirion vows to reform the Order , and to take his place as Highlord to combat the Scarlet Crusade and the Scourge . Time will tell how many paladins will unite under his banner : the fact that Uther Lightbringer himself ordered his exile might keep some hardliners of the old order from trusting his way . However , other characters in the game have a different view regarding the current status of the Order . Several in - game sources and the Warcraft RPG indicates that an " Order of Silver Hand " in some form is still in existence . According to the paladin history in character selection screen ( pre - patch 2 . 01 ) : " " Although paladins were once exclusively human , number of stout - hearted dwarves have recently been welcomed into the Order of the Silver Hand " " Several paladin trainers in Stormwind City and Ironforge consider themselves to be part of the Order . A human paladin , Brother Sammuel , invites a new human paladin into the Order of the Silver Hand : " " But until then , be patient . . . Knight of the Silver Hand . " " The dwarven paladin Bromos Grummner also invites a new dwarf paladin into the Order of the Silver Hand : " " You ' re a Knight of the Silver Hand now , be ready to play the part . " " Even articles and short stories in the RPG , for example " Alliance Player ' s Guide " of 2006 , confirms the current existence the Order , and that there are still individuals calling themselves " Knights of the Silver Hand " in modern times . Although it appears to be much smaller than the original order , as well as reference to some kind of leadership which is still in control . Trey Lightforge is described as being a Knight of the Silver Hand . For example , according to " Alliance Player ' s Guide " , it says that the Argent Dawn has members who are still Knights of the Silver Hand ( as well as members who were former Silver Hand Knights ) . The book also discusses that organization of the Knights of Silver Hand still exists , even though it was nearly wiped out , and elsewhere in the book that Tirion Fordring has not yet taken over leadership of the Silver Hand and is still in exile . They are members of a " current " order of the Silver Hand , which " bounced back " after its decimation . Tirion is pledging to reform the original Order by reestablishing himself as the leader of the current one . The RPG discusses the existence of the current Order of the Silver Hand that still exists . Brann believed if Tirion Fordring could be recruited into the Silver Hand , he could whip it back into action , and also bring the Scarlet Crusade back into the realm of sanity . In Wrath of the Lich King : Return of the Silver Hand . It was announced at BlizzCon 2007 — based on the quest chain involving him and his son — that Tirion Fordring will appear in the new expansion , " " , near the port of Valgarde in the Howling Fjord . He has been identified as " Highlord " Tirion Fordring ( he hinted at this after completing : " " I now take my place as Highlord of the new Order of the Silver Hand " " ) . After , the last of the death knight quests , Fordring unites the Silver Hand and the Argent Dawn into the new Argent Crusade . Now along with the Knights of the Ebon Blade , they travel to Northrend to end the Lich King ' s reign . Members . For a complete list of Knights of the Silver Hand , see List of Knights of the Silver Hand paladins .