Ardent Watch

**Ardent Watch** is a remote outpost of the Argent Dawn located in the south western corner of the Eastern Plaguelands. It is the home of the **Argent Vanguard**, the foreign fighting force of the Argent Dawn largely associated with its involvement in the *War of the Shifting Sands.*

## History

### Founding

Many years before the onset of the Second War, Lord Gerald Ardent, a nobleman from Stratholme was looking to construct a hunting lodge in southern Eastweald. The forests and foothills surrounding Darrowshire were famous hunting grounds and Lord Ardent determined he should construct his lodge close by. The Lodge would be a retreat for the upper class of Lordaeron to hunt and relax in privacy away from the common peasantry.

Lord Ardent spent many months surveying the land until he came across a hill with a magnificent view of Darrowmere Lake, the coast of which was only a few hours walk away. Engineers rejected the idea as the terrain and remoteness of the location would make construction tedious and the costs of transporting materials great. However, Lord Ardent secured a loan from House Barov by promising them exclusive access to the retreat and to include a small dock by the coast to ease their visit. With the funds in hand, the Lodge was constructed.

### Ardent Hunting Lodge

For many years the Lodge operated as an exclusive hunting destination for any Lordaeronic noble, even accommodating King Terenas Menethil II in his earlier years from time to time. The Lodge served three functions, Relaxation, Hunting and Fishing.

### The Scourge of Lordaeron

During the Scourging of Lordaeron, the Lodge became a vital evacuation point for the upper class of Lordaeron, though many lower class citizens followed the nobles to the location which had been mostly secret until then. The nobles, not wishing to share vital food, water or ammunition with the peasants decided to keep them out and let them 'slow down' the coming Undead. The Peasants assaulted the Lodge, overwhelming its small security team and took control. While some nobles were released, others were thrown out to 'slow down' the Undead.

The citizens would use the Lodge as a safe harbor for any refugees who wished to use the location as a stopover on their travels west or south along the coast of Darrowmere Lake to the safety of Hillsbrad.

### Ember Point

Following the Scourge invasion, much of Lordaeron's millitary was reformed under the Scarlet Crusade. The noblemen who now lead the Crusade knew about the Lodge and set out to turn it into a millitary outpost. High General Abbendis (Senior) managed to negotiate with the Lodge's defenders and they joined the Scarlet Crusade. The grounds were renamed to Ember Point. The Crusaders fortified the location with walls, watch towers and even built a small chapel.

### The Argent Dawn

Following the splitting of the Crusade and the creation of the Argent Dawn. Lord Maxwell Tyrosus was able to convince the occupants of Ember Point to defect to the Argent Dawn. The outpost had been largely neglected by the Crusade and it's defenders were willing to switch sides hoping for better treatment from the Dawn. (Though few of its original occupants now remained)

The Argent Dawn use the outpost to monitor the region, including Caer Darrow, the Thondroril River bridge, The Undercroft, Darrowshire and more. Following the return of the Ardent Watch from overseas, they have settled in the outpost as their new base of operations, constructing a new Flight Pad to land a Gyrocopter on.

## Notes

* The Fate of Lord Gerald Ardent is unknown, some rumors say he was thrown out by the peasants and slain by the Undead, while others believe he escaped.
* Due to the lodge's remote location and history, most of Azeroth and more importantly, the Scourge, is somewhat unaware of it's exact whereabouts and/or existence.

## Trivia

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