Raleigh Samson

"Templars have always been used. How many were left to rot, like I was, after the Chantry burned away their minds?"

Samson is a former Templar, turned beggar.

Background
Samson was, at one point, a good templar. According to Samson, the preceding Knight-Commander, Guylian, personally gave him his sun shield. He claims that he left the Templar Order due to "philosophical differences" in order to help apostate mages escape. In truth he was dismissed because Meredith caught him delivering messages between a mage named Maddox and his sweetheart.

Samson is addicted to lyrium dust, and is clearly suffering from withdrawal. Many templars are known to be addicted, as all templars have to ingest it by the orders of the Chantry; the fear of losing the supply of "dwarf dust" (as Samson calls it) is something that prevents them from leaving the Order.

Trivia

 * Cullen shared quarters with Samson when he was transferred to Kirkwall. He thought Samson was a "decent man" at the time.

Bugs
If Samson is reinstated as a templar, he will still show up at night begging in Lowtown, but when spoken to he will speak as Keran.