Rise of the Red Dawn Questline in Patch 11.1.7 – Rewards and Playthrough (Story Spoilers)

WARNING: Patch 11.1.7 Spoilers in this post!

Rise of the Red Dawn Rewards

Players who complete this questline receive a few rewards:
Stromgarde TabardHammerfall Tabard

Rise of the Red Dawn Questline Playthrough

The Rise of the Red Dawn questline starts with the quest Trouble in the Highlands, from Faerin Lothar at the front of the inn in Dornogal. She tells us that both Overlord Geya’rah and Danath Trollbane have received word of civil unrest in the Arathi Highlands, with raids on both Mag’har and Stromic outposts. They’re going to Arathi Highlands, and Faerin asked to come along, as she wished to reconnect to the Arathi.

According to Faerin, surprisingly, Geya’rah was willing, but Trollbane was the one who took some convincing.

Geya’rah: You people have broken their word, Trollbane.
Danath: I understand your frustration, Geya’rah. But do not rush to conclusions.
Danath: We must investigate before we have another war on our hands. <Player>? Lamplighter?
Faerin: Ready and behind you, Danath. Thanks for accompanying us, <Player>.

As we arrive in Arathi Highlands, we learn that Marran Trollbane, Danath’s niece, is the one who was left in charge of the Arathi Highlands while Danath went to Khaz Algar, but was then imprisoned by Danath and relieved of her official duties after recruiting the 7th Legion to claim Horde territory.

Danath: Hmph. Pity that a family squabble could make me loathe to return here.
Geya’rah: Family squabble? Feh. Marran’s lucky she’s your niece. I would have killed her for what she did.

As we talk to Faerin, a cutscene plays, where Faerin marvels at Thoradin’s Wall, and she talks with Danath about how embellished Arathi story is. As they talk, they’re interrupted by someone crying for help!

We approach a farmer named Walker Gresham, who seems to have slain as a bandit. At this point, there are a few small differences between whether you play Alliance or Horde, but the story remains the same.

Gresham: Finally! The Alliance has sent us help!
Danath: Finally? What’s happened here, Walker?
—
Gresham: Horde savages too? Stay back!
Danath: Easy, Walker. We’re here to help. Tell us what happened.

Walker tells us that these bandits were different from before—they didn’t want livestock, grain, or money; instead, they seemingly focused on torching his farm. We recover stolen torches in Torches and Tar and discover the fates of Marshall and Sharon Witshire and a plushie named Ellie in Finding Family. It is noticeable that the bandits raiding the area are Defias, which is not a common sight so far north of Stormwind.

As we kill invading bandits in the area, we loot an Unfamiliar Emblem looking like a rising sun with long rays emanating from it, which starts the quest Emblematic of Things to Come. We also learn from Marshall that they call themselves the Red Dawn.

Gresham: Why now? Why us? What do they want?
Sharon Wiltshire: They… they looked like Defias. But what would they be doing here?
Marshall Wiltshire: They called themselves the Red Dawn. They wanted me to join them!
—
Maggie Wiltshire: Daddy! Mummy!
Sharon Wiltshire: Oh! Maggie! You’re all right.
Marshall Wiltshire: My lord, who are the Red Dawn?
Danath: I… do not know.

With the name Red Dawn known, Geya’rah mentions returning to Hammerfall to see what the Mag’har knows in the area. At the same time, Danath goes to Stormgarde Keep in Ill Tidings, to check in with Veronica Nials, the colonel left in charge of Stromgarde after Marran’s imprisonment, and Roderick Brewston, of Stormgarde Warfront fame, Nials’s second-in-command. We learn from Nials that they can barely contain the unrest in Stromgarde.

Geya’rah: The Red Dawn? I will go to Hammerfall and see what they know of this.
Danath: We must continue to Stromgard. Unless, Faerin…
Faerin: Danath, I am a soldier and an Arathi–just like you. I would not abandon you now.
—
Nials: Unrest in Newstead? We don’t have the means to quell the unrest here!
Faerin: If more hands are needed to keep Stromgarde safe… the champion and I are ready to help.

Brewston tells us that Marran Trollbane was imprisoned, and things returned to normal in Stromgarde for a time, but tension has been increasing ever since. We’re asked to deal with Marran supporters in Curfew Kerfuffle and deliver request writs to Stromgarde suppliers in Deputy Delivery.

We learn from a few suppliers that Marran sympathizers are making life in Stromgarde for anyone who’s not a Human, even for other Alliance races like Dwarves. Of note, one of the sympathizers, Joseph the Enlightened, is wearing a tabard that looks suspiciously like the ones worn by the Scarlet Crusade. In addition to this, it seems like any supplies being brought to Stromgarde are being raided by bandits on the way (although some of the natives believe it’s the Horde’s work).

Brewston: Obliged for your help. But keep your eyes open. There are… agitators about.
Brewston: A word of warning: you may be deputized, but for some people here, the Horde is unwelcome.
Danath: Apologies for putting you to work. We will speak again after I have briefed Nials and Brewston.
—
Balinda Darkstone: Maybe it’s time to pack up and leave Stromgarde.
Balinda Darkstone: Our last shipment o’ iron was stolen by bandits, but I’ll do what I can.
Faerin: We could try to recover those shipments. I will speak to Danath.
—
Amy Hardy: People keep saying the attacks are just bandits. But I think the Horde is behind it.
Amy Hardy: Bandages? If Lord Danath would stop talking to orcs and start killing them, we wouldn’t need bandages!
Faerin: The orcs are not your enemy. Lord Trollbane is doing what he can to keep you safe.
—
Bertram Barleybeard: That’s three Caravans to date that have nae made it to Stromgarde.
Bertram Barleybeard: Tell Brewston we’re already doin’ everythin’ we can to help.
Faerin: Confronting Xal’atath left no one to protect Stromgarde. No wonder these people feel neglected.
—
Joseph the Enlightened: Marran, true heir of the Trollbanes, will deliver us from the Horde. She will be Stromgarde’s salvation!
Joseph the Enlightened: What’s this? Danath Trollbane’s minions threatening me for speaking the truth? Is this justice? Is this righteous?
Joseph the Enlightened: I will comply–for now. But a new dawn is approaching for all humanity! Be ready my friends!

Nials briefs us in Marran Trollbane, where we meet with Lady Trollbane herself, while Faerin attempts to speak with her. Faerin and Marran talk about names and how much they carry weight.

Nials: Danath would have introduced Marran himself, but Geya’rah summoned him urgently to Hammerfall. Come with me.
Faerin: Strange that Danath would leave without us… and want us to talk to his estranged niece.
—
Faerin: You are a prisoner. Why does Colonel Nials defer to you?
Marran: You should know names carry weight, Faerin Lothar.
Marran: Despite your… elven blood, a great Arathi warrior returning gives us hope.
Marran: That those dissatisfied with Lord Trollbane’s rule…
Marran: With our old Stromic ways forgotten, with famine, unrest, and orcs on our lands, and dwarves and elves in our cities.
Marran: All will rise up and embrace “a new dawn”.
Marran: And that when they do, I hope you’ll be a part of it, Faerin.
Faerin: I would like to see Stromgarde as it was. But your promises are empty. And I would never betray Danath.
Marran: You say that now. But you’ll see it in my way. In time.
—
Faerin: Colonel, she all but told me she was involved with the Red Dawn!

Nials then tells us we should talk to Danath about our theory of Marran being involved with the Red Dawn and meet him at Refuge Pointe—a settlement in the heart of the Arathi Highlands. We’re going to meet with him in Finding Refuge at Refuge Pointe.

As we arrive in Refuge Pointe, we notice a bloodbath, which includes a dead Scarlet holding an emblem that looks just like the one we saw the Defias carrying earlier. We see an Orc on the offensive as we check further on the tracks. We learn from her that not only was Refuge Pointe attacked, but Hammerfall as well.

With Karga Bloodfury’s suspicions that something bigger than the Horde and the Alliance is coming to the Highlands, we venture into Refuge Pointe to further investigate – By killing the leader of the attack there in A Familiar Face and collecting supply crates in Supply Run. Refuge Pointe is left in ruins by the Scarlet Crusade, and the leader of the attacks is Joseph the Enlightened, the Scarlet we saw earlier in Stromgarde. Like a good Paladin, he bubble hearths away before we’re able to kill him.

Joseph the Enlightened: You dare think you can stop what’s coming? You dare think you can stop the Red Dawn?
Joseph the Enlightened: Hnng! No matter. Our job here is done. You will never defeat all of us!

Returning to Karga, we learn that Danath was never called to Hammerfall.

Faerin: You’re saying Danath was never called to Hammerfall?
Karga Bloodfury: On my life. Geya’rah said nothing of it.
Faerin: If Danath did not come here, and Geya’rah did not call him to Hammerfall, then… gah.
Karga: Go to Hammerfall. If your lord is not there, Geya’rah and Eitrigg can help you.

We then go Onward to Hammerfall with Faerin to try to find Danath. As we arrive, Eitrigg tells us they haven’t seen Danath.

Faerin: Danath never arrived? Then… where is he?
Eitrigg: Hm, I do not know. But you have my word we will find him.

Eitrigg then reveals that Hammerfall is hosting human refugees from Stromgarde, and we distribute supplies to them in A Different Point of View. Also, the Orcs helped them when bandits attacked and brought them to Hammerfall for safety. Things are getting serious. As we distribute supplies to the humans, we can see some Hordes also being dismissive of the human refugees.

Eitrigg: Dispatch all available outriders to search for Danath.
Eitrigg: Geya’rah has told me much about you, Faerin. You are welcome here in Hammerfall.
—
Arathi Refugee: Marauders burned down my farmstead. The orcs drove them off and brought me here for shelter.
Arathi Refugee: Is there spiced bread in there? Orcish food is hard on my reeth.
Slagg: If our food’s so tough, human, then don’t eat it!
—
Drum Fel: Not so long ago these humans wanted to kill us. Why is Eitrigg helping them? Better to leave them to their fate.

As we finish delivering supplies, we meet up with Eitrigg and Faerin and have a conversation about Eitrigg’s motivations and his inspiration from Tirion Fordring, with whom Eitrigg shared an honor-bound agreement due to them saving each other’s lives in different circumstances during the Second War.

Faerin: If orcs have long warred against humans, why help them?
Eitrigg: Long ago, a human showed me great kindness. I strive to honor his memory by protecting the weak and defenseless.

We learn from Faerin that Geya’rah has not yet learned of Danath’s disappearance because Geya’rah is busy at Go’Shek Farm fending off a Witherbark Troll attack. The Witherbark has become increasingly aggressive lately, and we go check out on her in To See a Troll. As we arrive to Go’Shek Farm, we see a human named Barclay, clad in Syndicate colors, who says they’ll share information if we help him.]

Geya’rah says the Witherbark are pissed at something and attacking human settlements, and she believes this is the Red Dawn’s work. We slay Witherbark trolls in Withering the Witherbark while rescuing Barclay’s friends from the troll settlement in Crime Family. We learn from Barclay’s brothers (who are not being attacked by the Witherbark, just pretending) that the Red Dawn hired the Syndicate to attack the Witherbark trolls to make it look like the Horde was attacking them. We also learn from them that the Syndicate is on its way to attack Hammerfall.

Heeding their warning, we return to Hammerfall in The Syndicate Strikes Back — Which was left defenseless due to the orc outriders being dispatched by Eitrigg to look for Danath.

As we arrive in Hammerfall, we see the Syndicate attacking, and immediately take into action – By putting out fires in The Burning of Hammerfall, killing Syndicate agents and rescuing people in Hammerfall Down, and attack Joseph the Enlightened once again in Once Bitten Twice Shy (who manages to bubble hearth away a second time).

As we clean up the Syndicate from Hammerfall, an orc outrider arrives and tells us that he has located an ambushed Stromic caravan, which could be Danath’s. We go check it out in Danath’s Disappearance — And Orcs seemingly ambush the Caravan, but Eitrigg does not believe so.

Faerin: These look like orc weapons. Why would your people attack Danath?
Eitrigg: No, they would not. Something is wrong here.

Geya’rah analyses the situation and believes the spot was chosen on purpose (as it is the fastest route to Hammerfall), and the troops from the caravan were taken down very efficiently. We investigate the area in False Flag. We learn that this is a setup by the Red Dawn.

Geya’rah: This was no random attack. Whoever did this knew exactly where and how to strike.
Eitrigg: That axe was forged at Ar’gorok. We abandoned many like it with the fortress at the end of the last war.
Geya’rah: Danath is not among the dead. He was overwhelmed and abducted. No easy feat–for his opponent.
Faerin: We’ve seen that emblem twice before. Was this the work of the Red Dawn?
—
Geya’rah: If we had taken Danath, we would not have left our axes behind.
Eitrigg: The Syndicate brothers must have taken from Ar’gorok and planted them for the Red Dawn. But why?
Faerin: To start a war that would destroy both Stromgarde and Hammerfall. And leave them in power.
Eitrigg: Then we must search for Danath–starting at Ar’gorok. And alert Stromgarde of what we’ve found.

With this, we return with Faerin to Stromgarde to warn Nials in Return to Stromgarde, while Geya’rah and Eitrigg head to Ar’gorok and search for Danath… but as we arrive there, we’re ambushed by Nials and her men, where she reveals she is also working with the Red Dawn!

After being knocked unconscious in the cutscene, we wake up in the Barracks prison, but Roderick Brewston frees us. Brewston is not aligned with the Red Dawn!

Brewston asks us to check for proof of the soldiers Marran recruited to be just bandits in How Old Are These Things? and to try and find Faerin, who Marran and Nials took away in The Search for Faerin. We end up finding items such as Defias Bandana, Stromgarde Tabard, Scarlet Crusade Tabard, Syndicate Emblem, and Orange Bandana, and a lot of propaganda written by Nials and Marran, specifically, on how each group was recruited into the Red Dawn.

<Written on these scrolls is an oath of loyalty to the Red Dawn.>
I henceforth renounce all allegiances and swear my loyalty to the Red Dawn and its leader, Marran Trollbane.
I vow to serve, protect, and defend the cause of humanity to the exclusion of all else.
I promise to unite the people of Arathor once more and see them take their place as the greatest nation of Azeroth.

<This is a piece of Red Dawn propaganda.>
The Defias have been failed by their leadership–first by the Van Cleefs, and now by Ratsbon. These charlatans have been satisfied with banditry and petty thievery. They suffer from a lack of imagination.
The Defias were founded to remove the corrupt nobles of Stormwind. We were to bring justice, honesty, and integrity back to our rulers. We lost sight of that in a quest for revenge.
No longer! Now we have found a new cause and leader. One who will not only cleanse the corruption from Stormwind, but from all human kingdoms!
Rise up, my Defias brothers and sisters! Rise up like the morning sun and join the Red Dawn! Rise up and follow Lady Marran Trollbane!

<This is a piece of Red Dawn propaganda.>
Brothers and sisters of the Scarlet Crusade! Long have we fought to eliminate the scourge of undeath from our land! Long have we suffered defeat after defeat at their hands!
It is time for a change! We must seek our allies to help us in our glorious crusade! But more than that, we must lend our aid to those with even grander aspirations!
Let us not only save this world from the undead, but make it a paradise for humans everywhere! That is what the Red Dawn stands for! That is what Marran Trollbane fights for!
A new dawn for all humanity!

Joseph the Enlightened

<This is a piece of Red Dawn propaganda.>
Many years ago, the Alteraci were one of the first to set up from Strom and build a nation away from Arathor.
The kingdoms of Alterac and Stromgarde have quarreled over the years, but now we must remember our shared history.
It is now time for our people to unite once more. We are not enemies, but cousins. I will take the first step in offering peace and reconciliation.
I invite the remnants of Alterac, known as the Syndicate, to join the Red Dawn.
We are a faction that will fight for all humans, no matter their kingdom or creed. Let us return humanity to the glory it once had.

Veronica Nials

We locate Faerin, who is being kept prisoner at the Stromgarde Mage Tower, and free her. She mentions she managed to overhear Marran’s plans to amass her troops at the gates of Stromgarde, and we must get there fast!

As we return to the front of Stromgarde, we meet up with Geya’rah, who mentions that Danath was found in Ar’gorok, and he’s running ahead with Eitrigg to confront Marran.

We then go against the Red Dawn in Rise of the Red Dawn. First, we encounter Joseph the Enlightened once again, who attempts to bubble hearth a third time. But this time, Geya’rah shatters his shield, and the Scarlet Crusade leader finally meets his demise.

After this, we go for Marran Trollbane, and a cutscene depicts Faerin’s confrontation with her. With this, the Red Dawn is over… for now.

Danath then tells us to check on Faerin in Past Glory. Danath believes she wanted to leave Stromgarde, disappointed with the Arathi people.

Danath: The cycle of war.. it never ends, does it?
Eitrigg: One day, Danath. Times are changing. Even for us old soldiers.
Danath: Go on ahead, <player>. Eitrigg and I have some diplomatic red tape to clean up, I’m sure.

Faerin can be found in High Perch, overlooking Thoradin’s Wall. As we talk to her, Danath arrives to join the conversation, and she talks about her impressions of visiting Stromgarde for the first time.

Faerin: This is not I expected my first visit outside Khaz Algar to go.
Danath: I’m sorry Stromgarde was not what you expected.
Faerin: You were right. I was… naive.
Danath: No, Faerin. I was wrong.
Faerin: Wrong? How?
Danath: I said Thoradin’s Wall was just a wall.
Danath: But what it represents does exist–in you.
Faerin: I don’t see…
Danath: You have been a guiding light.
Danath: Saving my life. Bringing us together. Reminding me of my true mission.
Danath: You look to the past. But you are our future. And I am glad of that.
Faerin: Perhaps… perhaps the new dawn is not what Marran wanted…
Faerin: But us, returning here for our people.
Danath: Hmm. I hope you’re right.