“The new world! The new god! The red storm will rise!”
The Red Templars are a splinter faction of rebel Templars, who have become corrupted by the use of the so-called "Red Lyrium".
History
Following the disappearance of Lambert van Reeves, Lucius Corin succeeded him as Lord Seeker of the Seekers of Truth and continued to lead the Templar Order in the Mage-Templar War.
With the Mage-Templar War wreaking havoc across Thedas, Samson was able to rally some of the floundering Templar Order and was made their general. Samson had begun serving Corypheus and introduced his Red Templar Order to the Red Lyrium he supplied. Samson inspired his fellow Red Templars to master the red lyrium with the sole purpose of overthrowing the Chantry that cast them aside and to make the world a place free of the Chantry's oppression.[1]
Unbeknownst to the Templars and other Seekers, Lord Seeker Lucius decided to abandon his duties entirely and took over a cult obsessed with the Seekers; the The Order of Fiery Promise. Lucius formed an alliance with Corypheus and willingly supplanted himself with an envy demon to control the Templars. Posing as the Lord Seeker himself, the Envy demon introduced Red Lyrium to the templars at Corypheus' behest, claiming that it was superior to the standard lyrium which the Chantry had supplied. Thinking that red lyrium was just another tool, the templars followed the Lord Seeker's order. The officers of the Templar Order were corrupted first and they in turn began corrupting the rest of their subordinates, by force if necessary. Soon, horrific physical changes began to emerge and red lyrium veins begins to manifest on the skin of those exposed. Thus the Red Templar order was born. Through the power of the red lyrium, the Red Templars gained tremendous strength and new horrific abilities but as red lyrium is lyrium afflicted by the blight, it left them completely under Corypheus' control, due to his ability to manipulate any who carry the Darkspawn taint.
Involvement
In the wake of The Breach into the Fade at the Temple of Sacred Ashes which obliterated the conclave and much of the senior Templar leadership, the Envy demon took a large contingent of Templars and had them garrison themselves at an abandoned Seeker fortress, Therinfal Redoubt, where the corruption of the remaining Templars under its' command could continue uninterrupted.
With the templars of Therinfal Redoubt's corruption complete, Samson takes over as General & leader of the Red Templars. Since the Venatori were unable to bolster their numbers with the southern mages gathered at Redcliffe Village, Corypheus elects to use the Red Templars to attack the Inquisition at Haven. Samson personally leads the Red Templars into battle alongside Corypheus and his artificial Archdemon. The Red Templars raze the village and score a decisive victory over the Inquisition, but the Herald of Andraste escapes along with many villagers and some Inquisition troops.
With the backing of ten influential houses of Orlesian nobles, the Herald of Andraste approaches the Templars gathered at Therinfal Redoubt to secure their aid in closing the breach. The offer of alliance from the Inquisition spreads dissent among the Templars there, with many speaking out against the Templars' withdrawal while the breach threatens Thedas. Fearing they are losing control of the situation, the Red Templars led by Knight-Captain Denam attempt to slaughter all the non-corrupted Templars at the fortress. Led by the Herald of Andraste and Ser Delrin Barris, the remaining Templars expose Envy's true identity and a pitched battle erupts between the Templars and Red Templars. Eventually, the Envy Demon is killed and the Red Templars at Therinfal Redoubt are defeated. With their ranks thinned by their failure to corrupt the other Templars at Therinfal as well as the many Red Templars slain in the battle, Corypheus elects to use the Venatori to assault Haven instead.
The Red Templars continue to further Corypheus' agenda in both Orlais & Ferelden. The Red Templars establish a hidden port on the Storm Coast in north-eastern Ferelden to enable rapid transport across the Waking Sea. They also aid the Freemen of the Dales, deserters turned bandits from the Orlesian Imperial Army who have abandoned the War of the Lions with supplies in exchange for their aid in harassing refugees, Orlesian soldiers and Inquisition forces in addition to transporting and storing Red Lyrium throughout the Emerald Graves. Eventually the Freemen are attacked by the Inquisition. Knight-Captain Carroll attempts to re-establish contact between the Red Templars and the Freemen but is lured into a trap by the Inquisitor and is slain.
Red Templar patrols are also deployed to the Hissing Wastes to help protect the Elder One's research teams there.
The Red Templars also establish a major presence in Emprise du Lion, seizing Suledin Keep as their primary base of operations. They purchase the local quarry and then intimidate Mistress Poulin to hand over the local villagers from Sahrnia in order to mine and grow more red lyrium. The Demon Imshael somehow ingratiates himself with the Red Templars at Suledin Keep and supervises the project to infect Giants with red lyrium which successfully results in several corrupted Giants. Eventually the Inquisition launches a sustained assault driving the Red Templars out of the region and seizing the Keep.
Samson eventually establishes his personal base at the Shrine of Dumat where his Tranquil; Maddox continues to work to upgrade his unique red lyrium armour. Cullen and the Inquisitor track down the Shrine hoping to capture Samson. Samson escapes while Maddox and the other Red Templars at the Shrine hold off the Inquisition and attempt to destroy any information that could be used against the Red Templars.
After suffering several other major setbacks, the Red Templars launch an invasion of the Arbor Wilds at Corypheus' behest, hoping to seize the Temple of Mythal and the Well of Sorrows. The Red Templars are drawn into a protracted battle against the combined forces of the Inquisition, the former Circle of Magi, the Orlesian Army and the mysterious Elven Sentinels guarding the Temple. After taking heavy casualties, the Red Templars successfully breach the Temple, but Samson is confronted by the Inquisitor personally and captured.
With their leader imprisoned and their supply of red lyrium cut off, the remaining Red Templars are left broken and scattered.
Notable Red Templars
Red Templar standards mounted on battlements
Ranks
- Red Templar Knight
- Red Templar Shadow
- Red Templar Horror
- Red Templar Guard
- Red Templar Marksman
- Red Templar
A village razed by Red Templars
Abilities
Thanks to the powers of Red lyrium, all Red Templars possess enhanced speed, strength, stamina and healing capability. At more advanced stages of corruption, they are able to 'sew' red lyrium deposits into the soil.
Red Templar Horrors are also able to create and expel red lyrium crystals at high velocity from their bodies and spew red lyrium in liquid form. Red Templar Knights are able to channel red lyrium into other Red Templars to accelerate the speed of their corruption transforming them into Horrors almost instantly. Knights are also able to use this ability to further enhance the strength and endurance of other Red Templars.
See also
Codex entry: Red Templars
Codex entry: Red Templar Guardsman
Codex entry: Red Templar Foot Soldier
Codex entry: Red Templar Knight
Codex entry: Red Templar Archers
Codex entry: Horror
Codex entry: Behemoth
Codex entry: Shadow
Codex entry: Letter to Smugglers' Wagon Masters
- Samson (short story) Note: This story takes place after the events of Dragon Age II and just before Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Samson (short story)
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