Scarlet Monastery

The Scarlet Monastery is the fortified stronghold of the Scarlet Crusade in the northeast of Tirisfal Glades. It is a dungeon complex split into four separate instances, or wings: the Graveyard, the Library, the Armory and the Cathedral. Together they cover roughly levels 26 to 45, which makes the monastery one of the most-run dungeon sites in Classic for both factions.

Background

Before the Third War, the monastery was a great church of the Holy Light, with famous libraries and a seminary where paladins trained. Alexandros Mograine spent time there in his youth.

When the kingdom of Lordaeron fell to The Scourge, the survivors who refused to give up formed the Scarlet Crusade, a militant order sworn to destroy the undead at any cost. They drove the last undead out of the old monastery, renamed it and made it one of their main bases. Over time their hatred grew to cover anyone not of their order, and they now attack Forsaken, orcs, elves and fellow humans alike.

The monastery is ruled by two of the Crusade's leaders. Scarlet Commander Mograine is Renault Mograine, the elder son of Alexandros, who betrayed his father and left him to be killed. The story of that betrayal and of the Ashbringer runs through the Crusade's later history. High Inquisitor Whitemane is the Crusade's chief inquisitor and a priestess who can raise the dead. Herod, the Scarlet Champion, commands the Armory.

Wings and bosses

Each wing has its own entrance in the monastery courtyard and its own instance. The Armory and Cathedral doors are locked and need [The Scarlet Key], which is found in Doan's Strongbox at the end of the Library. Rogues can pick the locks instead.

Graveyard

The Graveyard, about levels 26 to 36, is the shortest wing: a crypt and the cemetery outside it, full of undead and the Crusade's interrogators.

The three rares share one spawn point; at most one appears per run. During the Scourge Invasion event of patch 1.11, [[forever:npc:14693]] could also appear here.

Library

The Library, about levels 29 to 39, holds the Crusade's archives.

Armory

The Armory, about levels 32 to 42, is the Crusade's barracks and training ground.

Cathedral

The Cathedral, about levels 35 to 45, is the heart of the monastery.

High Inquisitor Fairbanks was added to the Cathedral in a later patch of the original game.

Quests

• In the Name of the Light (Alliance): Raleigh the Devout in Southshore asks for the deaths of Whitemane, Mograine, Herod and Houndmaster Loksey. It follows Down the Scarlet Path, given by Brother Anton in Desolace. Rewards: [Sword of Serenity], [Bonebiter], [Black Menace] or [Orb of Lorica].
• Into The Scarlet Monastery (Horde): Varimathras in the Undercity sets the same four targets. Rewards: [Sword of Omen], [Prophetic Cane] or [Dragon's Blood Necklace].
• Mythology of the Titans (Alliance): Librarian Mae Paledust in Ironforge wants a book from the Library. Reward: [Explorers' League Commendation].
• Compendium of the Fallen (Horde): Sage Truthseeker in Thunder Bluff wants the Compendium of the Fallen from the Library.
• Hearts of Zeal (Horde): Master Apothecary Faranell in the Undercity wants 20 Hearts of Zeal from the Crusaders.
• Vorrel's Revenge (Horde): Vorrel Sengutz, a dying man in the Graveyard, asks players to take his wedding ring to his wife in Tarren Mill. Reward: [Vorrel's Boots].

Strategy notes

• Graveyard: Interrogator Vishas is a short fight. Bloodmage Thalnos casts Flame Spike and Shadow Bolt.
• Library: Houndmaster Loksey fights with his dogs and casts Bloodlust. Arcanist Doan shields himself in an Arcane Bubble at half health and then casts Detonation, a strong area blast. When the bubble goes up, move away from him.
• Armory: Herod uses Whirlwind and charges random players. At low health he enrages. When he dies, a crowd of Scarlet Trainees rushes in from the training yard. Many groups fight them in a doorway with area-of-effect damage.
• Cathedral: the main hall is packed with Crusaders who call for help. At the far end, Mograine fights first. When he dies, Whitemane enters, puts the group into a Deep Sleep and brings Mograine back to life. The group then fights both. Killing Whitemane quickly is the usual plan, and a group with crowd control can stop her heals.

The monastery's routes are popular for repeated runs: high-level players often take lower-level friends through all four wings in a few hours.

History

The Scarlet Monastery shipped with World of Warcraft at launch in November 2004. Splitting one site into several short instances let groups pick a wing that suited their level, an approach Blizzard used again for Dire Maul in patch 1.3. Scorn arrived with the Scourge Invasion in patch 1.11.

Later history

Mists of Pandaria (patch 5.0.4) reworked the four wings into two dungeons, Scarlet Halls and Scarlet Monastery, with new bosses. Later lore, in the Ashbringer comic series, has Darion Mograine come to the monastery, where the spirit of Alexandros kills Renault for his betrayal. The original four wings returned with World of Warcraft Classic in 2019.

Sources

• Scarlet Monastery, Warcraft Wiki
• Scarlet Monastery of Old, Warcraft Wiki
• The Scarlet Key, Warcraft Wiki
• WoWDB quest and loot data for patch 1.12