Order of the Templar
The Order of the Templar, or simply Templars, is a human faction. Led by a High Templar, they govern the theocracy of Oriath in the name of their god Innocence.
The character class Templar is a former member of the Order prior to his exile before the start of Act 1. The player character also encounters Templar soldiers and Blackguards in Wraeclast and Oriath throughout the acts. A historical generation of Templars from the era of Cardinal Sanctus Vox can also be encountered in Legion encounters.
Lore
The Order of the Templar is a faction that govern over the island of Oriath. The Templars also have structures and influences in some parts of Wraeclast. The symbol of the Templars, can be found in the Fellshrine Ruins, a former Templar cathedral. Eramir refers to the symbol as the Descry.
The Templars are involved in several notable historical events in Wraeclast, including the High Templar Voll's Purity Rebellion against Emperor Chitus' Eternal Empire. Voll's reanimated remains in the Dried Lake are fought in Act 4 in the current timeline. Chitus' thaumaturgist, Malachai, who later sided with Voll, retreated into the body of the Beast and triggered the Cataclysm, which destroyed many civilizations in the Wraeclast. The Order of the Templar shifted their base of operations to the unaffected Oriath instead, developing a theocracy. The Templar Courts and the Chamber of Innocence were built not long before the events of the current timeline under the orders of High Templar Avarius.[1].
In the current timeline, High Templar Dominus led the Templars to find valuable artifacts from ruins across Wraeclast, as well as conducting more heretical experiments away from the public eye. Blackguards encountered between Acts 2 to 5 are Templar soldiers under the service of Dominus and Piety. High Templar Dominus was also responsible for the exile of criminals to Wraeclast, including the player's own character, who escapes from a Templar boat prior to the start of Act 1. Dominus is later killed atop the Sceptre of God in Act 3 by the exile.
In Act 5, the exile uses a portal device to return to Oriath through the Slave Pens. The exile eventually enters the Templar Courts and defeats High Templar Avarius, who becomes a vessel for Innocence himself (who is also defeated). Sin captures the Soul of Innocence and later uses a Templar named Bannon as a vessel. As a result of Innocence's defeat and the destruction of the Beast, the Karui god of destruction, Kitava, awakens amongst a Karui slave revolt turned cultist takeover. Many Templars become corrupted as a result of Kitava's influence, turning almost demonic in nature. The exile attempts and fails to defeat Kitava atop the Cathedral with the Sign of PuritySign of PurityWrought from blood and gold, Innocence fashioned a weapon of tempered purity,
capable of banishing darkness, and bringing order to the chaos in men's hearts.. After another journey through Wraeclast, the exile assists in finding
The Staff of PurityThe Staff of Purity"Worry not for the heathens. They are devoid of soul.
Made vessels of wrath, they are damned by holy design."
- High Templar Avarius, and Bannon sacrifices himself to re-awaken Innocence in order to defeat Kitava in Act 10 alongside Sin.
The first Epilogue storyline heavily involved the Templars. In the storyline of Atlas of Worlds [a] an Oriathan named Valdo Caeserius built a map device that was able to travel to another dimension prior to the current timeline. The exile meets Zana and uses the map device in The Templar Laboratory (after version 3.0.0) to search for her father. The exile later encounters the Shaper, who is later revealed to be Valdo, warped by the Atlas of Worlds into a near-eldritch being.[2]
The War for the Atlas expansion introduced the Elder, and the role of Valdo Caeserius and the Templars are expanded upon in Synthesis league. In War for the Atlas, it became re-canonized that Valdo was asked by High Templar Venarius to build a map device based on ruined versions found in the ruins of Wraeclast.[3] Venarius and the Templars play a more active role in Valdo's motivations and history, with the Templars attempting to gain access to the Atlas of Worlds for conquest and power.
Blight league introduced Sister Cassia, a former Templar, who investigates abnormal fungal growths throughout Wraeclast.
The Conquerors of the Atlas expansion re-canonized the previous endgame expansions, with the Shaper and Elder having already been defeated in the current timeline. The new antagonists, the Conquerors, were based on the former exiles in the epilogue. One of the new antagonists, Baran, is a former Templar. After the death of High Templar Avarius and Kitava's initial attack on Oriath, the citizens of Oriath formed a Vanguard led by Officer Kirac, brother of Baran, and reclaimed Oriath now devoid of Templar oversight. It is likely that only smaller groups of Templars currently remain on Wraeclast. At the end of the events of Conquerors of the Atlas, Oriath is completely destroyed by Sirus. According to Helena:
"
Many of the Blackguard are still alive and scattered across Wraeclast, but the organisation has had its back broken after what happened in Oriath. I wouldn't want to run into a random knot of them, especially as they start to get hungry and desperate, but I believe their concerted search for us has ended. That'll give us some breathing room to face new problems."
- - Helena "Oriath" -dialogue
Sanctum league introduced Sister Divinia and a newly unearthed Templar catacombs underneath the Fellshrine Ruins called the Forbidden Sanctum. Exploration of the Sanctum provided hints at the more taboo practices of the Templars including lithomancy and necromancy, as well as the revelation of the High Templars' knowledge of the demons of the Scourge. Additionally, unique relics dropped by Lycia also revealed the hidden truth and hypocrisy of the Templar faith and Innocence's ascension to godhood.
Notable members
"ancient era"
- High Templar Voll
- Cardinal Sanctus Vox
"modern / near modern time"
- The Templar (the player character, exiled)
- High Templar Avarius
- High Templar Dominus
- Cavas, Forgotten Spirit (High Templar Venarius)
- The Shaper (Valdo Caeserius)
- Piety (unique monster that appears from Act 2 to 4, hired by Dominus)
- General Gravicius (Act 3 unique monster, stationed at The Ebony Barracks)
- Cato, Scholar of Light (Act 5 unique monster, stationed at The Torched Courts)
- Petarus (Act 4 and 9 NPC, former member of Ebony Legion and the Blackguard)
- Bannon (Act 5 and 10 NPC)
- Baran (exiled)
- Cassia (exiled)
- Alva (former member of Dominus' navy)
- Herules, Gomin and Landren (mentioned in Baran's Journal 1 as "brothers and sisters of the Templar faith in Exile")
- The Blackguards
- The Guard Captain
- Monsters from Heist Bunker, Mansion and Records Office tilesets (Based on lore such as
Contract: The Finest CostumesContract: The Finest CostumesClient: Gianna
Heist Target: Templar Uniforms
Area Level: (80-?)
Requires Deception (Level 3)
Requires Gianna, the Master of Disguise"Make sure it'll fit a small man, or a very large child.
And check for stains! Knew a few people who'd use them for-...
...Just check for stains.")
- The Guard Captain
- Monsters from Oriath areas in Act 5 and Act 10
- Slave Driver and mad version Crazed Driver
- Truth Extractor
Moreover, Piety also led Templar thaumaturgist/scientist to carry out human experiment, thus the following monsters are related to Templar, but not a Templar. In the game file, they did not have "templar" internal tag either:
Items
Several items are named after Templar:
Basetype
Item | Stats |
---|---|
Allflame Ember of The Templar Legion![]() Pack contains Pack LeaderPack monsters can drop Timeless Templar SplintersClick and drag this item over a Monster Pack in the Lantern of Arimor to have those packs in the area replaced with this pack. ![]() | N/A |
Dance - Templar![]() ![]() | N/A |
Desecrated Hands of the High Templar![]() ![]() | N/A |
High Templar Weapon Effect![]() ![]() | N/A |
High Templar's Coin Purse![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Barricade![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Cloak![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Corpse![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Courts Ground![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Experiment Table![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Rug![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Torture Table![]() ![]() | N/A |
Templar Uniforms![]() And check for stains! Knew a few people who'd use them for-... ...Just check for stains." ![]() | N/A |
Timeless Templar Emblem![]() ![]() | N/A |
Timeless Templar Splinter![]() ![]() | N/A |
Unrelenting Timeless Templar Emblem![]() Monsters gain 4% additional Physical Damage Reduction each time they are Revived Monsters gain 4% additional Resistances each time they are Revived 10% increased Experience Gain 10% improved RewardsPlace two or more different Emblems in a Map Device to access the Domain of Timeless Conflict. Can only be used once. ![]() | N/A |
Unique
Item | Stats | Flavour Text |
---|---|---|
Hands of the High Templar![]() Crusader GlovesArmour: (302-417) Energy Shield: (62-84)Requires Level 66, 51 Str, 51 IntCan be modified while Corrupted Can have up to 5 Implicit Modifiers while Item has this Modifier (150-200)% increased Armour and Energy Shield (7-12)% increased maximum Life +(20-30)% to Fire and Lightning ResistancesThe laws of the faith do not apply to its leader. ![]() | Can be modified while Corrupted Can have up to 5 Implicit Modifiers while Item has this Modifier (150-200)% increased Armour and Energy Shield (7-12)% increased maximum Life +(20-30)% to Fire and Lightning Resistances | The laws of the faith do not apply to its leader. |
Footnotes
- ↑ The storyline was based on the game only have 4 acts as that Epilogue was released in version 2.4.0, before the release of the 10 acts in version 3.0.0
References
- ↑ Utula § High Templar Avarius
- ↑ Memory Fragment (Atlas of Worlds)
- ↑ According to the now removed lore objects
Memory Fragment IMemory Fragment I"...A golden machine was found broken in the ruins of Wraeclast.
Believing it to contain some dark infernal secret,
High Templar Venarius asked that I restore it
and weaponize whatever powers it might contain...",
Memory Fragment IIMemory Fragment II"...Though the device seemed to be mostly functioning,
something important appeared to be missing...
...I worked tirelessly in search of answers, until finally,
at the base of that cruel device, I fell into a deep, deep sleep...", etc. or the Book of Memories