Minipost: Wait, what's that Stormpike banner?


So this weekend Alterac Valley was the Call to Arms battleground, meaning the Stormpike dwarves were hanging out in Stormwind trying to get people to come join in their snowy fight.

Since I don't play as Alliance very much, this was the first time I'd seen them. And I did a complete double take when I saw them. Not because of them, but because of their bright red banner.

Why? Because I've seen that banner, many, many times before. And chances are, you've seen it too.

Where?

With the Scarlet Crusade.


I'm not really sure what this banner is, but it's PLASTERED all over the Scarlet Monastery, and in the Scarlet Crusade's hold in Stratholme. So why are the Stormpike flying the same flag?

Here's the symbol in Stratholme.


At first glance, it really doesn't make much sense. The Scarlet Crusade, hated enemies of the Forsaken, teaming up with...the Stormpike dwarves? Who are quite isolated, barely stepping out of the Alterac mountains, and quite preoccupied with their ongoing battle with the Frostwolf orcs? What possible common tie could there be?


Scarlet Monastery graveyard wing:


Maybe the symbol isn't specifically tied to either group, but to a common cause, faith or belief? But what would that be? The Crusade believes strongly in the Light, but the Stormpikes don't have any such connection. Oh, I'm sure they believe in the Light like most humans and dwarves, but they're not really overly religious or anything. No real tie.


Library wing:


The Crusade hate the Forsaken, and the Stormpike hate the orcs. But I don't think there's a lot of crossover. The Crusade really have no specific reason to dislike the orcs, nor do the Stormpike have any personal grudge against the Forsaken. So no connection there, either.


Armory wing:


So why ARE the Stormpike using the same banner as the Crusade? I'll be honest...I have absolutely no idea. This connection has me completely baffled.

I really like the symbol, though. I wish you could get some armor or a tabard with it. I'd totally wear it.


Cathedral wing:


(Look, it's THE FREAKING DOOR!)


It's even on Fairbanks' hat!

(What's he doing, a little dance?)

(I don't know.)

14 Responses Subscribe to comments

  1. gravatar
    Lizzyuh

    Fairbanks probably gets pretty lonely in that room of his. All alone. Only people coming in to kill him dead. Again.

    Maybe he dances to entertain himself.

    June 4, 2012 at 3:35 AM

  2. gravatar
    Tzufit

    Well this is a great way to BLOW MY MIND while I'm trying to eat breakfast. Thanks Rades. :)

    But, really, this can't be intentional right? It doesn't make any sense. It has to be just a really unfortunate re-using of the same image. ... RIGHT?!

    June 4, 2012 at 3:42 AM

  3. gravatar
    Tzufit

    Well this is a great way to BLOW MY MIND while I'm trying to eat breakfast. Thanks Rades. :)

    But, really, this can't be intentional right? It doesn't make any sense. It has to be just a really unfortunate re-using of the same image. ... RIGHT?!

    June 4, 2012 at 3:42 AM

  4. gravatar
    Redbeard

    You're up early, man. And considering all the legwork for the pics.....

    You must have been really loving AV this weekend!!

    June 4, 2012 at 4:10 AM

  5. gravatar
    Aygaren

    Hmm, love a good mystery. Probably just a re-use, but then again?

    June 4, 2012 at 5:17 AM

  6. gravatar
    TheGrumpyElf

    I guess it is entirely possible for two different groups to use the same symbol.

    In real life it has actually happened many times but in a game where this stuff is designed I can't see how that happened.

    Perhaps there is some connection that no one ever even thought about.

    You are really into lore and thinking of such things and if nothing comes to your mind I doubt it would to anyone elses.

    The only connection I could conceive is that that they saw the crusade with the symbol and liked it so they used it.

    That's all I got. Admittedly not very good, but still the only thing I could come up with.

    June 4, 2012 at 6:00 AM

  7. gravatar
    Anonymous

    Interesting that the Stormpike Tabard uses a totally different design:

    http://www.wowhead.com/item=19032/stormpike-battle-tabard

    Also, I don't recall seeing that banner design within the halls of Stormpike itself. I think you'll have to queue for AV on Alliance and investigate further! :)

    June 4, 2012 at 6:07 AM

  8. gravatar
    Kamalia

    The thing I've always found amusing and a little boggling about the Stormpike Emissaries is that the robe they wear was only available to Warlocks on the Alliance side, at a time when Dwarves didn't have Warlocks, or to Horde who'd done a specific quest chain in Silverpine. There was no way a Dwarf player could have dressed up like a Stormpike Emissary! Sadly, that robe isn't available anymore in the game at all.
    But I guess I'd never noticed how their flag matches the Scarlet Crusade -- I guess I haven't paid enough attention to either group.

    June 4, 2012 at 7:23 AM

  9. gravatar
    Fletcher

    I believe it's a generic symbol of the Light - check out some graveyards around Azeroth, there are wooden grave markers using the same symbol.

    That the Stormpike dwarves are using it is odd, particularly as they do have their own banner.

    June 4, 2012 at 7:37 AM

  10. gravatar
    Shadda

    The symbol seems to represent the holy light. You'll sometimes see graves marked with the same symbol at various graveyards. I still don't know what the that has to do with the Stormpike though, especially since their tabard shows a bow and arrow.

    June 4, 2012 at 9:21 AM

  11. gravatar
    Anonymous

    That is strange. I thought their banner was blue, like this:

    http://www.wowpedia.org/Stormpike_clan

    June 4, 2012 at 10:58 AM

  12. gravatar
    K. White

    I know there's white banners with that symbol that mark off Dwarven District in Stormwind.

    June 4, 2012 at 12:00 PM

  13. gravatar
    Anonymous

    I’ve always seen that symbol as a generic sign for the Holy Light. It is plastered all over churches, scarlet or not. It is also found in graveyards, as a marker for graves in the same way a cross would be used for christians in real life. It is also used as a model for the following priestly weapons:

    http://www.wowhead.com/item=7721
    http://www.wowhead.com/item=22406

    Those have always been some of my favorite models…

    As for why the Stormpikes are using it…I’ve always assumed that using the Holy Light as a rallying cry against an enemy would be a useful way to attract other Light-worshiping races to the cause. Adding a religious element to any conflict always increases the fervor of your combatants, doesn’t it? So why not make your battle one of good v. evil, of right v. wrong, empowering your soldiers to stomp the terrible orcs into dust?

    June 4, 2012 at 6:05 PM

  14. gravatar
    Anonymous

    That's really interesting. I've never noticed that before... Love the pics too :)

    June 5, 2012 at 4:42 AM