Templar Order

Lore & Background

Before the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition, the Templar Order operated under Chantry authority to ensure magic remained safe and controlled. However, after the Kirkwall Chantry exploded and civil unrest grew across Thedas, the Order made a decisive break from their religious overlords. They seceded entirely to conduct their own war against mages, viewing the Circle of Magi as compromised by rogue elements. This separation set the stage for a fragile truce attempted at the Conclave near Haven in Ferelden, where Divine Justinia V tried to negotiate peace between the two factions. The conflict came to a head when a mysterious tear in the sky called the "Breach" opened at this very Conclave, unleashing dangerous demons upon the world. The explosion and subsequent demonic invasion effectively shattered the peace conference and left the Templar Order fractured. While some members may have joined the Inquisition led by the player character known as the Inquisitor to close the Breach, the organization itself was no longer a unified body under Chantry command but a force divided by war and survival.

In Their Own Story

The Conclave near the village of Haven in Ferelden was meant to be a turning point for peace. Divine Justinia V orchestrated this meeting to settle the civil unrest between the seceded Templar Order and the rogue Circle of Magi. Tensions were already high following the Kirkwall explosion, with both sides hardened by years of conflict. As leaders gathered to discuss a truce, the sky above them tore open. A massive breach appeared, unleashing dangerous demons directly into the heart of the negotiation. The Templars found themselves fighting for survival against creatures they had sworn to protect the world from. In the chaos that followed, the peace conference collapsed instantly. The Templar Order, already separated from the Chantry, faced a new existential threat alongside their former enemies. This event forced survivors, including potential members of the Order, to align with the newly formed Inquisition to close the Breach and restore order to Thedas.

Reader's Guide

The Templar Order is defined by its secession from the Chantry during the Mage-Templar War in Dragon Age: Inquisition. They are no longer under direct religious command but act as an independent military faction waging war on mages until the Conclave incident at Haven. Their status changed fundamentally when the Breach opened, forcing them to confront a common enemy alongside mages. Players encounter the remnants of this conflict while exploring the semi-open worlds of Thedas. The Inquisition seeks to close the Breach and settle civil unrest, which involves interacting with both Templars and Mages. Depending on player choices regarding the story's narrative, these factions may be allies or enemies. The Templar Order's role shifted from enforcers of Circle Law to a seceded army fighting its own war, only to be swept up in the larger crisis of the Breach. Their involvement is central to the game's opening events and the political landscape players must navigate.

Did You Know?

• The Templar Order seceded from the Chantry to wage their own war on mages following the explosion of the Kirkwall Chantry.
• Divine Justinia V attempted to halt the Mage-Templar war by orchestrating a peace conference at a Conclave near Haven in Ferelden.
• The peace conference was destroyed when a mysterious tear in the sky called the "Breach" opened, unleashing demons on both Templars and Mages.
• Dragon Age: Asunder (2011) details events leading up to the Circle of Magi going rogue before Inquisition begins.