Templar Order

Justiciars over Magi

The Templar Order is a military order that serves as a part of the Chantry. Their purpose is to hunt apostate and maleficarum and watches over the mages from the Circle of Magi. While templars are officially deemed a force of defenders by the Chantry, established to protect the communities of the faithful from magical threats, they are in fact an army unto themselves: well-equipped, highly disciplined, and devoted to their duties.

Templar Recruitment

Templars are considered by the common folk to be the saviors and holy warriors of Thedas, protecting the world from the dangers of magic unchecked. As the Chantry's military arm, they are recruited primarily for their martial skill and religious dedication to the Maker. Given the difficult choices Templars must make in the course of their duty, recruitment processes are difficult and force potential Templars to maintain emotional distance those they serve over.
It is this sense of ruthless piety that most frightens mages when they get the Templars' attention: when the Templars are sent to eliminate a possible blood mage, there is no reasoning with them, and if the Templars are prepared, the mage's magic is often useless. Driven by their faith, the templars are one of the most feared and respected forces in Thedas.
Templars go through a rigorous process of recruitment and training, sometimes in monastic refuges segregated from everyday society. While the majority of their members are male, some female Templars do exist, having chosen to serve the Maker as a defender of the faith rather than a spiritual guide for the community.
Non-human recruits such as elves are not barred from joining the Templars, but are not common in their ranks.

Duties

Templars are sworn to protect the world from the dangers of magic, but they also protect mages from the outside world, a world that fears these magic users for very good reasons. It is the Templars' place to watch their charges for signs of weakness or corruption and, should they find it, to act without hesitation for the good of all. One of the Order's most important duties occurs during a mage's Harrowing. During this, a Templar watches over the body of the mage, ready to kill them if demonic possession occurs. In addition, Templars are responsible for seeking out mages newly come into their power and bringing them into the Circle. Inevitably, the Order must also pursue mages who escape the Circle but typically can track the fugitives using a phylactery of blood from their quarry.
In the extreme event that an entire Circle of mages becomes corrupted, Templars also have access to the Right of Annulment which authorizes them to "pacify" or kill all of the mages in that Circle. This would be used in the event that total chaos was unleashed by the mages and there is no chance that anyone in the Circle could be saved. This Right has only even been invoked once, in Rivain following the Goliath invasion.

Abilities

Templars are the ideal foils for mages, having been trained specifically to counter and "deny" magic. This is done by a unique method of reinforcing the reality and immutability of the world. When a mage, or a demon, seeks to work magic they tap into the Fade in order to reshape reality. A templar's ability "declares the world real" and closes off a mage's access to the Fade. Magical effects dissipate and the mage is unable to reshape a suddenly stubborn world. From a mage's perspective it appears to be less spell interruption and more a templar reinforcing a reality in which that spell cannot be cast in the first place.
Templar abilities to dispel magic and inhibit spellcasting, as well as develop a considerable immunity to magic, come primarily through ingesting lyrium. It is the case for many Templars as they age to become addicted to lyrium. The exact reasoning or specifications of such have been seldom researched. Most who retire from the order are provided a small stipend of lyrium to keep them from mad. Those who are kicked out of the order get no such treatment and often go crazy.
Even without their abilities, templars are among the best warriors in Thedas. Aside from combat training, they are also taught the Chant of Light, history, and how to improve their mental focus.

Type

Military Order

Notable Members

• Meredith Stannard
• Therminn Danforth

---

Headquarters: White Spire (Orlais)

---

Ranks:

1. Knight-Vigilant
2. Knight-Divine
3. Knight-Commander
4. Knight-Captain
5. Knight-Lieutenant
6. Knight-Corporal
7. Templar