The Templars are a group of elite warriors in Thedas, the world of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dragon Age. In a world full of magic and danger, the Templars were a natural reaction 168澳洲🤪幸运5开奖网:from the d🎉ominant religion, the Chantry, to contr🎃ol those few people ꦆwho had special abilities.

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Among fans, the Templars can be a contentious subject. Was their founding out of a natural fear of an uncontrollable power or a desire to oppress and control anyone unusual? What should be the scope of their authority? Without them, how do you stop mage tyranny like in Tevinter? To answer all these questions, you should start with a baseline understanding of their history and ideologies. You've come to the right place!

This article mostly describes Orlesian Templars. With Dragon 𒀰Age: Dreadwolf upcoming, set ꦕin Tevinter, we may learn more about Imperial Templars soon, but as of writing, there is little information about them except that they are effectively useless for restraining mages in the Tevinter Imperium.

Founding And History

Dragon Age templar art

The Templar Order was founded after the disbanding of the first Inquisition.

That Inquisition began as a very loose formation of individuals in the year -100 Ancient who wanted to be able to protect people of all races from magical threats. There are conflicting stories about what they were like in those first days, but we do know that many members were Andrastians, even though the group itself wasn't officially associated with the Chantry yet. The Inquisition agreed to join the Chantry in 1:20 Divine and was subsequently disbanded and split into two new organizations: the Seekers of Truth and the Templar Order.

The Templars were put in charge of overseeing the C﷽ircles of Magi, which were also cre💖ated at this time. The Templars upheld a mandate very similar to the one held by the original Inquisition, but now in a more official capacity: protecting the common people from magic. Templars placed all mages into Circles of Magi to be carefully observed; any who resisted were brought in by force or killed. Those few who could escape the Templars became known as apostates and would have to live their life on the run in order to avoid the Templars' hunt for them.

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Over the years, Templars came to be known by most as heroes to be honored and respected for their martial abilities and dedication to the Maker. However, not all were so enthusiastic; mages living in and out of Circles, elves from alienages or Dalish clans, and other skeptics harbored distrust for the organizati🍌on.

Meredith pointing her red lyrium sword towards the viewer in Dragon Age

By the time of Dragon Age 2, tensions between Templars and the mages they imprisoned had reached a boiling point. Knight-Commander Meredith of the Kirkwall Circle of Magi took unprecedented steps when Kirkwall's viscount was murdered, essentially forcing military (Templar) rule on the city. Meredith's mental state was being undermined due to her exposure to red lyrium, so she became progressively more paranoid and imposed harsh restrictions on mages in her Circle.

Eventually, a mage named Anders blew up the Chantry in an act of rebellion and began what came to be known as the Kirkwall Rebellion, leading to the Mage-Templar War across Thedas as other Circles began to rise♛ up too. Duri🌠ng this time, a disgraced former Templar named Samson managed to rally some of the fighting Templars and become their leader, naming his new faction the Red Templars.

Dragon Age Inquisition: Close up of Corypheus in battle.

In an attempt to stop the fighting, Divine Justinia V called a peace summit at the Temple of Sacred Ashes. However, thanks to an ancient Tevinter Magister-turned-Darkspawn, Corypheus, the Temple exploded, killing the Divine and continuing the war. The Inquisition was r🐈eformed to deꦬal with both threats.

The leader of the Seekers of Truth, Lord Seeker Lucius, took over command of the Templars after murdering the Knight-Vigilant. Lucius refused to defend Val Royeaux and takes the Templar Order to Therinfal Redoubt. However, unknown to most, it was actually a demon of envy that had taken Lucius' place. Samson and his Red Templars joined Corypheus and Samson began to give them red lyrium, which they became addicted to even as it drove them to madness. The demon masquerading as Lucius had begun giving the rest of the Templar Order red lyrium so that they could fill Corypheus' army.

The fate of the Templar Order afterward depends on the player's choices during 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dragon Age: Inquisition:

If The Player Recruits The Te𒐪mplars To The Inquisition

If The Player Recruits The Mages To Th𝕴e Inquiꦜsition

The Inquisitor arrives at Therinfal Redoubt and uncovers Lucius' secret. With great effort, and some help from Cole, they manage to defeat the demon of envy and free the Templar Order. The Inquisitor is then faced with a choice to disband or preserve the Order.

The demon's plan is successful and the vast majority of the Templar Order join the Red Templars, serve Corypheus, and become addicted to red lyrium.

The Inquisitor Preserves The Templar Order

The Inquisitor Disbands The Templar Order

The Templars join the Inquisition and help to close the Breach. Templars reꦐmain tied to the Chantry and their Order, though they serve the Inquisition.

The Templars help to close the Breach. Afterwards, the entire Templar Order is disbanded as a group and Templars who wish to continue to serve are recruited as sol𝓰diers in the Inquisition.

At the end of the game, the fate of the Templar Order in Thedas is determined by who becomes the next Divine:

If Cassandra Becomes Divine Victoria

Outcome

Templars Are Recruited And The Order Is Preserved

Cullen Stops Taking Lyrium

The Seekers Of Truth Were Rebuilt

Cassandra reforms the Templar Order. Many Templars choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. Of them, many chose to join the Seekers of Truth instead of serving the new Templar Order.

The Seekers Of Truth Were Not Rebuilt

Cassandra reforms the Templar Order. Many Templars choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. They rejoin the new Templar Order, under the condition that the "leash will not be reattached" (presumably, that they will not be forced to continue to take lyrium).

Cullen Continues To Take Lyrium

Cassandra reforms the Templar Order. Most who were part of the Inquisition chose to join it. Those who stay with the Inquisition become part of the Inquisitor's personal guard.

Templars Are Recruited And The Order Is Disbanded

Cullen Stops Taking Lyrium

Cassandra reforms the Templar Order. Many former Templars, now Inquisition soldiers, choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. When the new Templar Order is created, most of those in the Inquisition who were once Templars choose to remain in the Inquisition.

Cullen Continues To Take Lyrium

Cassandra reforms the Templar Orderꦯ. Some former Templars in the Inquisition ⭕choose to return to the Order, while some choose to remain loyal to the Inquisition.

Mages Are Recruited

Cassandra reforms the Templar 💦Order. It is largely made up of new recruits, as almost all Templars became Red Templars and were killed during the war.

If Leliana Becomes Divine Victoria

Outcome

Templars Are Recruited And The Order Is Preserved

Cullen Stops Taking Lyrium

The Seekers Of Truth Were Rebuilt

Leliana disbands the Templar Order. Many Templars choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. Of them, many chose to join the Seekers of Truth.

The Seekers Of Truth Were Not Rebuilt

Many Templars choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. Afterwards, they leave the Inquisition and rebuild the Templar Order to serve the people as an independent organization unaffiliated with the Chantry..

Cullen Continues To Take Lyrium

Leliana disbands the Templar Order. Most Templars in the Inquisition stay and become part of the Inquisitor's personal guard. Those few who leave become mercenaries or join the Imperial army.

Templars Are Recruited And The Order Is Disbanded

Cullen Stops Taking Lyrium

The former Templars, now Inquisition soldiers, agree with Leliana's decision to disband the Templar Order. Those who want to continue serving do so in the Inquisition.

Cullen Continues To Take Lyrium

Leliana disbands the Templar Order. Most 🧔Templars stay with the Inquisition, making it a powerf❀ul military strength.

Mages Are Recruited

Leliana formally disbands the Templar Order, allowing it to die alongside most of its members who became addicted to r🎃ed lyrium.

If Vivienne Becomes Divine Victoria

Outcome

Templars Are Recruited And The Order Is Preserved

Cullen Stops Taking Lyrium

The Seekers Of Truth Were Rebuilt

Vivienne rebuilds the Templar Order, notably "leashed to her hand" (given the context from Cassandra's possible endings as Divine, it may imply Vivienne is carefully controlling them through their lyrium addiction). Many Templars choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. Of those, many chose to join the Seekers of Truth.

The Seekers Of Truth Were Not Rebuilt

Vivienne rebuilds the Templar Order, notably "leashed to her hand" (given the context from Cassandra's possible endings as Divine, it may imply Vivienne is carefully controlling them through their lyrium addiction). Many Templars choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. They refuse to rejoin the Templar Order and form a knightly order known as the Silver Shield.

Cullen Continues To Take Lyrium

Vivienne rebuilds the Templar Order, notably "leashed to her hand" (given the context from Cassandra's possible endings as Divine, it may imply Vivienne is carefully controlling them through their lyrium addiction). Most Templars choose to rejoin the Order under the new Divine. The few who remain in the Inquisition become the Inquisitor's personal guard.

Templars Are Recruited And The Order Is Disbanded

Cullen Stops Taking Lyrium

Vivienne rebuilds the Templar Order, notably "leashed to her hand" (given the context from Cassandra's possible endings as Divine, it may imply Vivienne is carefully controlling them through their lyrium addiction). Many former Templars, now Inquisition soldiers, choose to follow Cullen's example and stop taking lyrium. Of them, most chose to remain with the Inquisition rather than rejoining the Order.

Cullen Continues To Take Lyrium

Vivienne rebuilds the Templar Order, notably "leashed to her hand" (given the context from Cassandra's possible endings as Divine, it may imply Vivienne is carefully controlling them through their lyrium addiction). Some former Templars return to the Order, but the rest stay with the Inquisition and make it a significant military strength.

Mages Are Recruited

Vivienne rebuilds the Templar Order, notably "leashed to her hand" (given the context from Cassandra's possible endings as Divine, it may imply Vivienne is carefully controlling them through their lyrium addiction). It is largely made up of new recruits, as most former Templars served Corypheus and were addicted to red lyrium.

Ideology

Dragon Age - Templar on left, Mage on right, Ferelden Circle concept art in centre

The Templar Order is a branch of the Orlesian Chantry. As such, they are devout Andrastians who believe in the Maker. One of the Chantry's core beliefs is that magic is a corrupting influence. One of their commandments is that "magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him." While many disagree about the meaning of this phrase, the Orlesian Chantry believes that it means that mage♔s must be carefully controlled.

The Templars are the Chantry's practical method of doing this. They follow a few basic ideas:

  • All mages should live in a Circle under constant supervision in case they decide to use their magic against the people of Thedas or become vulnerable to possession by a demon
  • Blood magic is the only form of magic that is unacceptable under any circumstances
  • The Right of Annulment is an unfortunate but necessary ritual that strips a dangerous or weak mage of their connection to the fade, subsequently turning them into an emotionless husk of their former self

Are There Many Restrictions On Templars?

Carver as Templar in Dragon Age II.

Templars ar🎶e generally given freedom, but to (what they see as) a reasonable🤡 limit.

Templars can be male or female. Dwarves and Elves can be Templars, but it is uncommon; most Templars are human.

Templars are not expected to avoid sex (marital or otherwise), marriage, or having children. However, it is generally difficult to get involved in serious relationships due to their responsibilities and is also discouraged by senior members. Templar marriages require permission from the Order and are usually only permitted if the other partner has a way to suppor꧋t themselves without the Templar𝔉. Relationships between Templars and mages in a Circle are not considered acceptable.

Ranks And Duties

Dragon Age Asunder Templars in Dragon Age 2

Knight-Vigilant

The Templar Order is ruled out of the White Spire in Val Royeaux by one Knig🐈ht-Vigilant.

Duties include...

  • Ruling the Templar Order, responding to emergencies
  • Working closely with the Grand Enchanter and the Divine

Knight-Divine

The Knight-Divines are unique members of the Order who serve 𒊎the Divine directly. They also seem to work closely with the Knight-Vigilant on the daily operations at their headquarters.

Duties include...

  • Bodyguarding the Divine
  • Taking on special assignments for the Divine
  • Helping the Knight-Vigilant establish rules for the rest of the Order

Knight Commander

Knight-Commanders are high-ranking ๊members that lead branches of Templars. Most of the branches are Circles of Magi.

Duties include...

  • Command Knight-Templars and Knight-Captains in their branch
  • Sending Templars in their branch to aid local conflicts
  • Make judgments on special instances, such as investigations and arrests
  • Overseeing Circles of Magi
    • Working with First Enchanters
    • Oversee Harrowings and Rights of Annulment
  • Overseeing Chantries
  • Overseeing apostate hunts

Knight-Captain

There are not many Knight-Captains, because they serve as right-hand advisors to Kinght-Commanders. There's not usually more than one, perhaps two, assigned to a Knight-Commander.

Duties include...

  • Dealing with the day-to-day logistical operations of a Templar branch
  • Lead training drills for other Templars
  • Acting as the Knight-Commander's deputy in the Knight-Commander's absence
  • Relieving a Knight-Commander of duty for becoming unsuitable for the job

Knight-Lieutenant

Knight-Lieutenants are the highest rank in the Templar Order before entering a t🃏rue leadership role.

Duties include...

  • Leading squads of Templars in battle
  • Supervising groups of Templars in branches

Knight-Corporal

It's unclear what distinguishes Knight-Corporals from Knight-Templars besides their name. Presumably, they are more experienced than the Knight-Templars and serve in supervising roles, in addition to the other duties of a Knight-Templar. Carver Hawke is the only known Knight-Corporal (depending on player decisions).

Knight-Templar

Knight-Templars are often just called Templars, and they are the most basic kindꦓ of soldier. They take vows of knighthood upon finishing their training.

Duties include...

  • Hunting apostates, abominations, and demons
  • Bringing young mages to a Circle
  • Observing mages in Circles to ensure they don't injure themselves or others or succumb to a demon
  • Fight in conflicts, even unrelated to mages, as commanded by Knight-Commanders and Knight-Captains

Templar Recruit

Templars are recruited early in life to be trained. They live with other recruits during the process and often experience some kind of segregation from society, to a lesser or more sever🍌e degree.

Duties include...

  • Combat and religious training to become a Templar
  • Training in special Templar abilities

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Unique Abilities And Use Of Lyrium

Dragon Age Inquisition Cullen Lyrium Addiction

Templars receive special training to combat mages, demons, and abominations. However, their really impressive skills are the ones that allow them to counter magic entirely by temporarily cutting off a mage's ability to reach into the Fade. They describe it as "declar[ing] the world real"ꦫ; because mages casting spells are essentially changing the reality of the p𓃲hysical world. Learning these abilities lead to a natural physical resistance or immunity to magic for Templars.

However, in order to perform these abilities, Templars must consume lyrium daily. It is provided to them by the Chantry and, without it, they slowly lose the abilities they were taught. Over time, Templars become addicted to the lyrium. While they are still in the Order this addiction does not imped♔e their work, as they receive it regularly and it does not have negative physical effe💖cts, but if they leave the Order they usually cannot continue to take lyrium as its trade is quite regulated. A Templar who has left the Order and stopped taking lyrium will experience severe symptoms of withdrawal. All Templars must ingest lyrium; they are not given an option.

What We Know About Tevinter Templars

Dragon Age Origins - Art of the Magisterium in Tevinter

As fans of Dragon Age probably know, mages rule in Tevinter, and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:there's an entirely different Chantry there, which means that the Templars are entirely different too. Mages in Tevinter at Circles of Magi fall under the jurisdiction of the Magisters, not the Templars. Templars are also under the Magisters' authority.

Tevinter🌃 Templars do not use the special, lyrium-fueled abilities that Orlesian Templars d🐈o in order to counter magic.

Between their inability to counter magic and the religious doctrine of the Imperial Chantry, Templars don't really have any power to control mages in Tevinter. They are more like a glorified police force.

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