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Comment by g0urra

R.I.P. Crusader Bridenbrad.

Comment by naiohme

this was a sad ending =(

Comment by 70779

They didnt need to add a reward to the end of this quest line, experiencing the quest itself was a reward. This should go down as EASILY one of the most memorable quests in Wrath-- if not the whole history of the game.

Comment by 177089

I really wish they would offer more blue cloth rewards with spell hit or crit rating... They aren't really being good to mages in northrend imo...

Comment by 186529

One of my favourite chains so far but it was a big pain in the butt going back and forth on my crappy 60% flyer I guess thats what I get for taking a break before expansion

Comment by Femimid

R.I.P mate =)

Comment by 280905

On the contrary to what Slavkei says, I think the quests show the differences in the Light and it's enemies, as a Champion of the Light is never forgotten and will always have a place in people's hearts and minds.

A'dal also suggests this when it says: "The light does not abandon its champions."

It's truely an awesome questline and you really get a sense of accomplishment.

Comment by 282577

Comment by Abron

Slakvei, what the quest is actually telling you is that his death was inevitable from the start

The actual attempt for A'dal was allow him to pass without allowing the plague to entrap his spirit in his rotting corpse, which happens whenever the plague takes control of a living being.

Comment by 284732

"But here, I've been sent on a series of quests to retrieve an acorn, get some dragonbreath, and the promise of a crystal guy powerful enough to one-shot Fel Reaver but too lazy to leave his city and smack Kael'thas around. Then, I go again to meet this stranger, who's done nothing but tell me to go away, thanks, but I'm gonna die... and lo and behold he dies."-slakvei

Riiiight, A'dal floats his gigantic ass to TK, nukes kael to bits then we, the players, get to raid an empty instance, very smart. Do you even read your own posts?

"Pardon me? Is this Warcraft or the Bible? If I've been sent all the way to Shattrath to save a man's life, and I bring A'dal from that blasted city in a world I have utterly scoured of its greatest evils, why should I listen to A'dal, the one time I come to -him- for assistance instead of being asked to go kill Kael'thas or Illidan, when he tells me "Oh, this guy died, but hey, at least he's going to Heaven!""

RP nerdrage

"I'm playing World of Warcraft, I expect something truly awesome... not this story out of a children's religious storybook. "The most powerful forces in the world couldn't save him, but God graced his passage to heaven." BAH."

RP nerdrage

Comment by 52815

In comment to all the people who think the naaru aren't doing their job:

1. When players encounter the naaru,outland -is- the biggest threat. You might say that for a lvl 58-68 character, Illidan still lives. That is what your quests tell you at those levels anyway. They did go on with Fordring and some others, but the naaru could have been excluded to avoid making a 'deja-vu' expansion with a similar story only to outland on a continent covered in snow.

2. The naaru aren't almighty. As someone said before,they can be corrupted. They fear becoming a weapon against the light itself. Secondly,as they use their power, they weaken and when they are depleted they turn into an avatar of the void. Just like the Ashbringer was easily corrupted after it had been used extensively.

3. Some things are dogmas. Why doesn't Velen just look into the future to see what to do? Why isn't Tyrande coming to rain stars from the heavens and save the day? Why are both thrall and Varian still in their far away homeland? Why didn't we just rebuild felreavers and use them as 40 people landmounts capable of destroying cities? Hell, why didn't the Lich king shoot down dalaran yet if it's so close by? The same reason why we alternate 'Avenge this death' by a 'catch these fish' quests. It's a game.

Comment by 226817

I know it takes a lot travelling from Crusaders Pinnacle to Brindenbrad but definitely do this chain. If not for lore than for this: total quest rewards at lvl80 is 219g 21s and 1980 reputation with Argent Crusade. Plus at the end you will recieve a blue item, of course

Comment by Exciteholdt

Interestingly some of you seem to believe the reference to a ' religious ' notion with regards to the Naruu, i wonder how many of you have read the booklet that came with the game. Go to the back and check the list of people Blizzard wish to thank and at the top of the list is Jehovah.

I found this interesting

Comment by 97468

I have only 1 comment.If you have an epic fly mount,the quest is a peice of cake,but if you don't(like me),you'll spend allmost all of your time flying to the guy.Nice quest line tough,with nice rewards.

Comment by Aillen

No longer get +19g 86s at 80

Comment by 16126

Better fly by Windrider to Grom ´Arsh Crash Site in Storm Peaks and then by wind rider over the Mountains ( West Side ) a bit Shorter then from Argent Vanguard in Icecrown.

If u have a Normal Windrider like me it may be usefull...

Comment by 319082

For those of you who think the quest is fruity:

That's what I thought first as well. Lorewise, Alexstrasza's power should trump that of a silly windchime, and of course running all over the place just to see him die was !@#$y. He also had no lore whatsoever besides being called a great hero by Fordring. However, when I visited the crusader's page, I found the following information.

It appears that this is a tribute to a real life person. In the WLK manual ( /Data/enUS/Documentation/Manual_WLK.pdf ) there is a Bradford C. Bridenbecker R.I.P. 6.18.2007 listed in the special thanks (Page 16, 2nd column).
He had been a City Manager for La Habra (a city very close to Blizz's offices in Irvine)

From Assemblyman Michael D. Duvall
On June 21st, 2007, I requested that the California State Assembly adjourn in the memory of La Habra City Manager Brad C. Bridenbecker, who passed away on Monday, June 18th after a long battle with cancer. He was just 35 years young.

Brad grew up in Orange County, attended college at Cal Poly Pomona and grad school at USC. He started with the City of La Habra back in 1994 as a part-time intern and was steadily promoted through the ranks until his appointment as City Manager on June 16, 2002.

A number of significant projects in La Habra were completed under his leadership, including: Westbridge Plaza, Costco, La Bonita Park Phases 1 and 2, and the reconstruction of La Habra Boulevard.

Brad was diagnosed with cancer shortly after being appointed City Manager and worked continuously until taking a leave of absence in April of 2006.

Brad was a bright, capable and dedicated public servant, and wholeheartedly a family man. He loved being a dad and spending time with his wife, Beth, and two daughters, Victoria and Katie.

He will be sorely missed.

Robert Bridenbecker works at Blizzard. Brad was a brother?

TL;DR: It's a tribute to an IRL family member of a Blizzard employee who died of cancer.

Comment by 335057

I think this quest was really cool but not nearly amazing as some of the early quests and the tragety in them and also of Bolvar.

Comment by Mydge

Would have been really nice to keep the tabard as something you could wear. Would have taken that over all the blues on offer. (permanent memento of a very cool questline)

Comment by omerc10696

After handing this quest in a Crusader of Virtue says "Thank you <my toon's name>, from the bottom of my heart, thank you" Could he have been reborn as a Crusader of Virtue or is this someone related to him?

Comment by Deathclocks

Hes at

Comment by 233502

A'dal says: Fear not, young one, for this crusader shall not taste death.

A'dal says: In life, Bridenbrad was the bearer of great deeds. Now, in passing, he shall taste only paradise.

A'dal says: The light does not abandon its champions.

Comment by 300995

I don't think Blizz have ever made such an epic quest line. The ending made me so sad I cried...dinged 80 on hand in... and cried some more. Bring Him back Blizz!

Comment by 352056

So this is my first time posting here, and I made an account simply so I could post on this quest.

A lot of people are complaining that there's religious tie-ins with this quest (and I'm sure other quests as well). Well, I for one can see the comparison, but I disagree that it's directly religious, at least in terms of real life religion. The main difference for me, is that 'The Light' in WoW isn't per-se some imaginary force, it's something that can be wielded and used, like what gives Paladin's their powers. And the Naruu are also real, as opposed to faith in something that is ultimately, let's just say 'invisible', for lack of a less offensive word. So having "Faith in the Light" is not the same as having faith in God, despite some (admittable) similarities. But I feel that that aspect of religion almost needs to be in place, because, agree or disagree with it, it allows you to understand The Light, and what it is, without the need of a lengthy back story.

As for the actual quest itself, it is somewhat disappointing that you meet this character already on the verge of death, and do not get to accompany him on his path more then simply playing fetch to save his life. With Blizzard's new element of Phasing enviroments, such as with the Death Knight starting quests, and the amazing Wrathgate questline, there could have been more done to make this quest more memorable in the eyes of the players, instead of being "that guy who's dying by the fire". But on the flipside, why would so much work need be put in over a character who is ultimately not a 'main' character, and is not much different from any other Champion of the Light? There really is two sides to everything.

But I will say that Blizzard has put an incredible amount of work into the lore with Wrath. I never started reading all of the quests until Wrath, and the story told through the quests is incredible in itself. The fact alone that so many people can debate over a small quest chain that pretty much has you running around and gathering items is proof to Blizzard's ability to create memorable characters, even if in the end, they're simply "that guy who's dying by the fire".

Kudos, Blizzard.

Alliance
Erilon- Blade's Edge

Comment by 313212

Ok.... I finished this quest chain but I'm still honored with Argent Crusade... do I just finish to exalted through doing Heroics or what?

Comment by v3rgil

^&*! arthas!

Comment by 450604

What a great ending to an awesome quest chain, I am glad I followed the advice to see it through to the end. Nice reward as well :)

Comment by Whiterock

THE CRUSADERS' PINNACLE Quest Tree From Whiterock
Give + to 11/22/2008 xentaros and 12/18/2008 jestyr aswell.

N)Judgment Day Comes!{H}
1)Honor Above All Else
|_______________________________________________________________
| | |
2)Scourge Tactics 2)Defending The Vanguard 2)Curing The Incurable
|_________________|____________________________________________|
|
1)If There Are Survivors...
3)Into The Wild Green Yonder
1)A Cold Front Approaches
1)The Last Line Of Defense
2)Once More Unto The Breach, Hero {Death Knight special}
|___________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | |
3)The Scourgestone 3)The Purging Of Scourgeholme | 3)The Restless Dead |
| | | | |
3)The Air Stands Still 4)The Stone That Started A Revolution | 4)It Could Kill Us All
|_______________________________________________|___________|______________________|
|
1)Into The Frozen Heart Of Northrend
5)The Battle For Crusaders' Pinnacle-->5)The Crusaders' Pinnacle
6)A Tale of Valor |->The Skybreaker(A)*
5)A Hero Remains |->Orgrim's Hammer(H)*
7)The Keeper's Favor
7)Hope Within the Emerald Nightmare
6)The Boon of Remulos
5)Time Yet Remains
7)The Touch of an Aspect
7)Dahlia's Tears
6)The Boon of Alexstrasza
5)Hope Yet Remains
7)The Will of the Naaru
6)The Boon of A'dal
5)Light Within the Darkness
Quest Zones:
1)Argent Vanguard_____2)Valley of Echoes_____3)Scourgeholme_____4)Crystalsong Forest_____5)Crusaders' Pinnacle_____6)Silent Vigil_____7)Unique zone
N)Not-needed
*Click to see more info about that quest-line.
The Icecrown is done! Leave your comments/sugestions at my comment in Icecrown zone. Thanks everyone who helped me to make it via comments on wowhead and in-game pre-quest tracking.

Comment by A2Panther

Hi,
I read through all the comments seeing if anyone else had the same thoughts as I did so I wouldn't repeat. Here's my two cents.
1. Marines nor other military leave their men behind, hence the known quote, 'We leave nobody behind.' (Semper Fi)
2. I think when Highlord Tirion Fordring realizes the possible outcome of Bridenbecker, I think all players wouldn't want to be left to the demise of the Scourge and Lich King. So, he does everything possible to give him the best chance in escaping the Scourge or (Cancer) after death.

3. Now, nobody has listed this finding: https://www.wowhead.com/wotlk/npc=11996
Rob Bridenbecker and his family are located in Elwynn Forest, just outside Stormwind.

4. Yes, his resume is listed too. I'm figuring he's changed his cellphone by now!
5. Go BRONCO's! I too am a CalPoly Alumni. Keep up the honoring of those who have passed before us.
A2Panther :)**
P.S.
A good story as rated by Critics, Professors and other writers, is that in which the story makes you think, be inspired or take an action on whether its to write a protest or applaud, or move you to take on a project in support of the information presented.

Comment by Fellwing

I've been copy-pasta'ing this over the line, just so people get the word.

For those that didn't know, this quest line was a dedication to a one Brad Bridenbecker, brother to Rob Bridenbecker VP of Online Technologies. Brad had suffered from cancer and was an avid WoW player. His brother requested some memorial be set up for his brother and Chris Metzen, along with others, thought up this quest line to immortalize his battle with cancer within our beloved fantasy realm.

Hats off to you, Blizzard, Chris Metzen, and the whole Bridenbecker family. As a childhood cancer survivor myself, you have my utmost respect and loyalty to your honor and vision. You've truly epitomized the struggle of one going through the sickness, the battle, in the most accurate way possible, and bring honor to all of us who have suffered, and have watched those who have suffered, the same battle.

Lok'tar, brother Brad. Lok'tar.

So, yes, Blizzard and all others who enjoyed/endorsed this quest line, I salute you. This is an amazing remembrancefor someone who had so hard a struggle. Like I said, I know. I was diagnosed myself with Osteosarcoma of the Right Dystal Femur when I was 16. (Bone cancer in my right knee) I know what this guy went through, and the team at Blizzard, Metzen, Bridenbecker, and everyone else involved, did an AMAZING job of... putting our struggle into a tangible, readable, feelable form. I have nothing but respect for the people at Blizzard, and will continue to have such so long as I live.

Lok'tar Brother Brad, and all those at Blizzard. You bring great honor to us all.

Comment by Rodarius

For all those people whining about the questline being totally non-related or being bible-related:
watch the interview on this site: http://www.wow-europe.com/wowanniversary/video/
There it becomes clear that this epic questline was created as a remembrance to Rob Bridenbecker's brother who died of cancer.

Comment by 186529

For all of you haters saying this quest is "lame" or "gay" or a "waste of time" you guys make me sick. This was even worse when that little kid back in BC died (from leukemia i think it was sorry for my spelling) and he got the first Ashes of A'lar. Everyone was complaining that he didn't deserve it and stuff like that. This is worse; you guys are complaining about a single quest. A #$%^ING QUEST think about that. Blizzard is always doing this w/ Merciless Gladiators Cross bow (Ephoenix was the kid). Anotehr person died in Taiwan i think it was (suicide) and was an avid wow player and named a boss after her. So to say that this is horrible and lame and that

Blizzard shouldn't breathe the nuclear polluted air

you can all stick it up your ass, because what Blizzard did was very noble and kind of them.

Oh, Windsor was merely a setback!

I don't care if this gets downrated!

Comment by Lindentree

I was absolutely disgusted by this quest. It made me want to have nothing to do with the Naaru or the Argent Crusade ever again.

A bit of context: My character is a Tauren. A member of a race of people that do not worship or even acknowledge the Light, that worship the Earthmother and the forces of nature. Obviously the Light and the Naaru came into the plot bigtime in TBC, but its effects upon the shamanistic cultures of Azeroth were not explored, and there were no "conversion experience" plotlines. (And I think the Horde would have rioted if there were - the Horde's religious & cultural tolerance & diversity are a huge part of its flavor, and a major distinguishing mark from the largely monocultural, and certainly monoreligious, Alliance. Even Dranny shaman worship the Light, though they may be cut off from its power.)

So after my character runs all over all three expansions doing what I considered a personal favor for Tirion Fordring, A'dal frees the dying Bridenbrad with a heaping pile of dogma that my character doesn't believe, and leaves me with a very interesting clarification of why he is going out of his way to save Bridenbrad, and who else he would be willing to help:

"The light does not abandon its champions."

Which leaves the unaffiliated death knights and blood elves, as well as the champions of the Elements, the Earthmother, and/or the Shadow - all of whom are willing to work alongside the champions of the Light for the common good, but certainly would not identify themselves as champions of the Light themselves - where exactly?

I recognize that the Light stuff tends to be developed from the point of view of the Alliance, but the very least Blizzard could have done was made a Horde version of the quest in which it was NOT implied that if we ever got the plague, A'dal would just leave us to rot.

Comment by 479779

A'dal promises to save him... then, when you arrive, three Naaru just stand there and watch him die, then 'ascend his spirit to paradise', promising you he won't suffer from death.

he said he was going to save him, not stop him from dying. sure, he is dead, but he will never be part of the scourge now.

im almost done with the quest line, it is awesome.

Comment by knarel

i feel this quest line was very deep and even though it has the naaru beaming him up i w2ould say the naaru symbolize a peaceful death and the plague is an awful and painful daeth

Comment by 349210

One more reason to kick Arthas' ass, why did he had to dieeeeeeeeeeeee? :'( Arthas, you are not prepared !

Comment by oldschool89

just done the whole chain now, have to be one of the LONGEST chains i ever done, i feel sorry for whoever does this without epic flying

Comment by 549925

I almost teared up. This quest line was perfect.

I want to see him again. It would top the whole thing off for me, if when you got the Lich King to 5% health, this guy comes with an army of fallen crusaders to finish the job!

Comment by jojopojo64

Well, the tribute to a Blizzard employee's brother is old news, but turns out the questline was pretty representative of what the real Bridenbacker had to suffer through, which might explain the somewhat sad, and perhaps confusing (given what you're able to accomplish through the game) turn of events.

Taken from: http://www.wowwiki.com/Crusader_Bridenbrad

Robert Bridenbecker revealed in the World of Warcraft 5th anniversary interviews that shortly after his brother's death, he sent an e-mail to Blizzard to request a character be created in his honor. Chris Metzen, who had attended Brad Bridenbecker's funeral, heard of this and offered one of two ways: To add him as part of the main storyline for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, or to give him his own epic quest chain. Under the direction of Metzen and Alex Afrasiabi, the Bridenbrad quest chain was created in tribute to Brad Bridenbecker's battle against his illness.

So yes. While it's annoying that you play sled-dog for useless reagents that don't work, ultimately, this quest is all the more beautiful for it when you understand it's backstory, especially for those of you who've tried everything you could and still lost a loved one to an illness or otherwise.

Edit: And of course I'd miss the post above that replied. But my comments still stand.

Comment by SilverChrono

This was a very tragic quest line. I always do it on all of my main characters ever since because its touching. I do agree with some of the posters here that say there was hardly any justice for this noble crusader to die for all the good deeds he's done. It's so unfair, much like life is. However, the ending does bring about some sort of 'redemption' at the end..

Comment by 301506

I'm forced to disagree here. I was disgusted at this quest - you hear only that Bridenbrad is an awesome champion, and you meet him lying on the ground. You scamper around the world collecting reagents as he lays dying, nothing works. Finally, you're sent to Shattrath, and A'dal promises to save him... then, when you arrive, three Naaru just stand there and watch him die, then 'ascend his spirit to paradise', promising you he won't suffer from death.

Pardon me? Is this Warcraft or the Bible? If I've been sent all the way to Shattrath to save a man's life, and I bring A'dal from that blasted city in a world I have utterly scoured of its greatest evils, why should I listen to A'dal, the one time I come to -him- for assistance instead of being asked to go kill Kael'thas or Illidan, when he tells me "Oh, this guy died, but hey, at least he's going to Heaven!"

I was sorely disappointed, sorely indeed. Perhaps if I had fought by Crusader Bridenbrad in reclaiming this land from the scourge, perhaps if I had walked by his side as he earned his ascenscion, perhaps if I had had... oh, I don't know... a quest chain as in-depth as that of Marshal Windsor's, I might shed a tear.

But here, I've been sent on a series of quests to retrieve an acorn, get some dragonbreath, and the promise of a crystal guy powerful enough to one-shot Fel Reaver but too lazy to leave his city and smack Kael'thas around. Then, I go again to meet this stranger, who's done nothing but tell me to go away, thanks, but I'm gonna die... and lo and behold he dies.

I'm playing World of Warcraft, I expect something truly awesome... not this story out of a children's religious storybook. "The most powerful forces in the world couldn't save him, but God graced his passage to heaven." BAH.

Yes, I know I'm going to get downrated for this comment. I don't care.

... What a loser. Did you not read anything? This was to represent a guy who was killed by cancer? how can you be such a @ss at blizzard because the quest wasnt good enough for you?

Comment by Nekrotik

It's fascinating to come back to this thread and read the discussion here. I hadn't done this quest line for some time - I just completed it again after a year and half since the first time I did it. I wasn't aware of the back story about the programmer's brother until now, yet I was still touched and moved by the ending of the story, exactly as I was the first time around. I wasn't offended by the thinly disguised Christian symbolism and I'm not at all a religious person. As someone said, it kind of touches on the deep mystery of life, death and redemption which transcends all religious affiliations. It's reassuring to me to see how many other people also deeply appreciated and enjoyed this quest line. Sometimes it seems like WoW is over-infested with simpleminded jerks but I see here that's not always true - there are plenty of cool people who play this game. Thanks again to Blizzard for giving the rest of us something to enjoy besides yet another chance to play out our most primitive fantasies by chopping the limbs off of our fictional victims.

Comment by Hapseleg

I just did these quest for the blues and the fat experience :D

Comment by Millidor

Btw, the end of the chain offers +650 rep w/ Argent Crusade.

Comment by FlyingStratus

T-T Anyone else offended by our selflessness being a miracle in itself? Meany Naaru.

Comment by Jawaka

I just finished this quest and the only thing that spoils in now 10+ years later is knowing what afterlife he really has to look forward to with the Jailor in Shadowland

Links

Light Within the Darkness

Bring Crusader Bridenbrad's Tabard to Highlord Tirion Fordring at Crusaders' Pinnacle.

	Crusader Bridenbrad's Tabard (Provided) (1)

Description

<Crusader Bridenbrad's tabard rests in the bottom of the chest, shifting slightly as the howling wind finds its way in.>

Tirion will desire this last remnant of the great crusader.

Progress

Completion

Rewards

You will be able to choose one of these rewards:

	Bridenbrad's Sash		Belt of the Never-Forgotten
	Chained Belt of Remembrance		Girdle of Eternal Memory
	Signet of Bridenbrad

You will also receive:

	Bridenbrad's Sash		Signet of Bridenbrad
	Belt of the Never-Forgotten		Chained Belt of Remembrance
	Girdle of Eternal Memory		Emblem of Heroism

Gains

Upon completion of this quest you will gain:

500 reputation with Argent Crusade

See if you've already completed this by typing:

/run print(C_QuestLog.IsQuestFlaggedCompleted(13083))

Guides

Argent Crusade Reputation Guide for Wrath of the Lich King Classic