The Templar Caste are an order of protoss warriors, in service to the Daelaam and the Protoss Empire before it.
Overview[]
Under the Protoss Empire, the caste was comprised of the protoss holy warriors who followed the Khala's disciplines to achieve ever-escalating pinnacles of psionic power.[1] Their ranks comprise some of the most powerful individuals in the Koprulu sector.[2]
Templar were trained from youth to harness fear and to give their lives if necessary.[3] Members of the Templar Caste who are particularly skilled psychics are known as high templar.[1] Both high templar and any member of the Templar Caste are sometimes simply referred to as "Templar."[4]
The Templar Caste was led by an executor.[3] At various times there have been multiple executors.[5][6][7] During the Protoss Empire, the leading executors of the Templar Caste resided in the Citadel of the Executor in Antioch.[3]
During the Golden Age, Templar wore brilliant armor to convey their status and honor as warriors.[8] Up until the fall of the Conclave, female protoss were uncommon among the commanding ranks of the Templar Caste.[9]
The following section contains information from StarCraft beta that is ambiguously canonical.
|
The Templar Caste employs (or employed) a concept known as the "Warrior's Path." High templar are far along the 'path', but the final step is considered to have been reached when these high templar merge to form archons.[10]
History[]
Early History[]
Before the advent of the Khala, each tribe had a definite proclivity or strength. The dictates of the Khala advised a three caste system, which each tribe fit easily into. The Templar tribes were those who had great physical prowess or agility, or tended towards strategy. In the early days of the Khala, they fought to protect the new protoss culture from those who disagreed with it. When the battles ended, the Templar defended their people from fearsome fauna and later from hostile alien beings while settling their colonies.[3] The Templar Caste were called to battle their own during the Discord, as rogue tribes rejected the Khala.[11] Even in times of peace, rare as they were, Templar would train constantly.[12] Before the Fall of Aiur, members of the Templar Caste would often make pilgrimages to various sacred sites on the planet.[13]
Conflict with the Zerg[]
In the early phases of the Great War, the Templar deployed the Koprulu Expeditionary Force to combat the zerg infestation on the terran worlds.[1] After the fighting on the terran worlds abated, the fleet's commander, Executor Tassadar, opted to follow the zerg to Char rather than return to Aiur,[14] taking only his command ship with him.[9]
The Templar were engaged during the zerg invasion of Aiur. Uninspiring leadership by the Conclave hampered their efforts. Further difficulties arose with the return of Tassadar and the short lived civil war which further divided the Templar's resources.[15] Ultimately the battle was lost and the Khalai were forced to abandon Aiur for Shakuras.[16]
During the Brood War many Templar rallied to Judicator Aldaris in an abortive uprising against Matriarch Raszagal.[17] In the years after the conflict, the Templar often called for a return to Aiur.[18] In 2502,[19] the Templar were quick to respond to resurgent zerg activity in the Koprulu Sector. They secured the xel'naga temple on Artika from the Terran Dominion and the zerg Swarm.[20]
A New War[]
The Templar operated as the fighting force of the Daelaam.[21] In 2506, Templar warriors were abducted by the Tal'darim and handed over to the Moebius Foundation to be used as test subjects in the creation of hybrids. These Templar were freed by Praetor Talis and Prelate Zeratul,[22] and subsequently took part in an assault on the Temple of Erris, a Tal'darim stronghold.[23] The Templar gave their lives so that Zeratul could warn Artanis of the looming Tal'darim invasion.[24]
In 2506, the Templar Caste took part in the Reclamation of Aiur. The zealot Kaldalis and cadre of Templar serving as the akhundelar of the invasion established a pylon, allowing ground forces to warp to the surface.[25] Templar warriors, alongside their Khalai Caste and Nerazim allies, pushed through the ranks of the zerg that held Aiur, but encountered hybrid as they attempted to clear the warp conduits on the planet.[26] Amon then corrupted the Khala, chaining all Templar warriors who were bound to it to his will. Zeratul gave his life to free Hierarch Artanis, who then set about to free what other Khalai protoss he could.[27] Artanis and the liberated Templar escaped the planet on board the arkship Spear of Adun.[28] The corrupted Templar then set out with the Golden Aramda under Executor Selendis to carry out Amon's will and purify the universe of life.[29]
On board the ship, the ancient Templar warriors and dragoons onboard were brought out of cryosleep after thousands of years, and had their nerve cords cut to prevent Amon's corruption.[30] Templar warriors served alongside Artanis during the evacuation and destruction of Shakuras,[31] the defense of Korhal,[32] and the reclamation of new Purifier technology from Glacius.[33] They also helped unseal Ulnar,[34] and after Artanis was trapped by Amon, they aided in his rescue.[35]
Templar's End[]
- Artanis(src)
The following section contains timeline information which isn't necessarily in chronological order.
|
Artanis's freed Templar took part in the operation to free the ancient Purifiers locked in stasis near Endion,[36] and in the push to instate Alarak as Highlord of the Tal'darim, ending their alliance with Amon.[37] Both of these operations were successful, and the Purifiers and Tal'darim stood united with the Daelaam. Meanwhile, the corrupted Templar began engaging with the Terran Dominion, and began to break through their weakened fleets.[29]
When Matriarch Vorazun's dark templar tracked Amon's hybrid breeding operations and the headquarters of Moebius Corps to an asteroid field named Revanscar, Artanis sent forces to investigate. However, Moebius Corps battlecruisers trapped the Spear of Adun, forcing Artanis's best Templar to stay behind to defend the arkship while a Khalai Caste member, Phasesmith Karax coordinated an assault on the facility. Karax's attack was successful in destroying the base and crippling Amon's army, and the boarders on the Spear of Adun were repelled. The act of Karax proved to Artanis that the age of the caste system was over, and that through deeds all should be able to become Templar. Thus, the Templar Caste was abolished that day.[38]
Templar's Purpose[]
- Maitana(src)
Despite Artanis's declaration, protoss warriors continue to be referred to as Templar.[39] After years of suffering the dark consequences of the End War, the protoss' triumphant past burns even brighter in their memory, and the Templar proudly revived their ancient raiment.[8] This led to a revival of the artistic styles of the Golden Age of Expansion, and a celebration of the past of the protoss among many templar, starting with the high templar of the Shelak Tribe and spreading through many Templar. However, this celebration of the ancient Protoss Empire has caught the ire of some Nerazim; Templar traditionalists were willing to adopt Nerazim technology, simply changing the aesthetics.[40]
As the protoss adjusted to peacetime, many Templar were forced to deal with the realization they no longer had a battle to fight. Many prepared for battles yet to come, but found themselves isolated and without purpose, lacking the Khala for any sort of guidance or assurance.[41]
Known Templar Tribes[]
Notable Members[]
Main article: List of Templar
- Executor Adun
- Executor Andraxxus
- Executor Selendis
- Executor Tassadar
- Executor Zoranis
- Admiral Urun
- Praetor Artanis (currently the protoss Hierarch)
- Praetor Fenix, Steward of the Templar
- Praetor Karass
- Praetor Talis
Notes[]
- The Templar were a Catholic military order founded in the 12th century.
- In the StarCraft alpha, "Templar" was the term used to describe what would become dragoons in the game's final incarnation.[42]
References[]
|