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The Order of the Temple is aware of how close the end of the
world is. It knows the duties it must perform for the mortals of
Aarklash. It knows that the gods worshipped by most peoples
are bogus icons and perfidious magical creatures who abuse
the gullibility of mortals. These soldiers are at the heart of a
merciless struggle to save the people of Aarklash and bring
them into Merin’s Light. They have chosen a symbol that resembles their mission: the Griffin, as it combines the determination of the lion and the vigilance of the bird of prey.
The Order of the Temple governs four protectorates scattered
across Aarklash: the Ivory Dunes, part of the Bran-Ô-Kor, the
Plain of Tears and an enclave in the Barhan city of Icquor. Each
of these territories is governed by a templar commander who
answers only to the grand master of the Temple and to the Emperor. However, each commandery includes a chapel of Merin
and a priest appointed by the pope. The Order of the Temple
still has to deal with the official church of Akkylannie.
The Order of the Temple is famous for the fanaticism
and ardor of its soldiers, the divine power of its priests and
the accuracy of the fusiliers. Guided by their faith in Merin,
the brothers of the Temple never give up. They are aided by
powerful Incarnates, instruments of a divine force determined to see Light spread across Aarklash. Each victory for
the Temple is a new stone added to the building of a collective
dream: one god, one empire.

== Chronology ==

*''571'' : Revelation of Arcavius.
*''573'' : Foundation of the Empire of Akkylannie.
*''676'' : Heresy of Dirz.
*''677'' : First Crusade (Syharhalna).
*''994'' : Second Crusade (Bran-Ô-Kor).
*''1 003'' : Invasion of Akkylannie by the Devourers.
*''1 004'' : Empire of Syharhalna off ensive.
*''1 005'' : Battle of Arcavia, death of Emperor Octavius IX.
*''1 009'' : Battle of the Braziers, selection of the new imperial leaders.

== Templars of Akkylannie ==

To be a templar means one needs to be truly Akkylannian:
a loyal servant of Merin and an instrument working towards
the rise of a new Creation. It means belonging to the most
civilized and organized people on Aarklash.
In Akkylannie children are instructed by the Church from a
very young age; they go to church at least once a week to learn to
read and write. Shortly before adulthood, every male Akkylannian has to serve in the army for five years as a conscript. This
conscription makes the imperial army one of the most powerful
armies on Aarklash. It guarantees that every Akkylannian gets to
serve his god. It also allows the various layers of society to mingle
and mix regardless of the conscripts’ background. Conscription
is the mortar of the Akkylannian nation and makes this people
one of the most enlightened and well-read on Aarklash.
Akkylannians are very proud of their craftsmen. Th eir armor and weapons are true masterpieces, deadly efficient and
remarkably beautiful. Such excellence is only possible because
of the quality of the ore mines of the Akhylahn Mountains.
Powerful corporate guilds make sure this precious expertise
is passed on correctly.

Nonetheless, being Akkylannian also means believing in
Merin. As a monotheist empire, Akkylannie shows a different face compared to other nations of Aarklash: on holidays
everyone stops working. And during religious celebrations the
streets of every city, town or village are filled with shouts of joy.
Th e Akkylannians’ fervor is equaled only by their ambition:
they are firmly set on converting all the mortals of Aarklash in
order to save them! This led to numerous excesses, such as the
burning of books and many people being burnt at the stake.
But those times are now over in Akkylannie.

Finally, Akkylannians are proud of their State: the Empire of
Akkylannie is the only government on Aarklash to be so organized and structured. It is the only country whose existence
and legitimacy exists beyond its leader. It is the only country
where the servants of the nation are appointed into office regardless of their social class. For the enemies of the Empire,
there is no point trying to behead the country: the Empire exists beyond the individuals who serve it. The country is forever
indestructible. However, the downside to this is the country’s
complex hierarchy and tentacular administration. Even the
most modest craftsman will need to fi le heaps and heaps of
paperwork before being allowed to open a stall!

Among this united and fervent people, the templars constitute a military and spiritual elite. They are not only there
to defend Akkylannie and to pray to Merin, they also fight at
the four corners of Aarklash against the servants of Darkness.
Blind obedience to the holy scriptures and to those working
for the church is not enough for them. Every day they question their own ethics to make sure they are still worthy of the
perfection of the new Creation. It is not their mission to massacre those who don’t hear the message. However, they are
ready to defend the future Merin has in mind for them against
any threat. Having themselves the souls of pilgrims they are
all very respectful, especially the templars of the West, of the
order’s creed of hospitality. The doors of their lodges and commanderies are open to everyone with good intentions.

The templars are proud of their expertise, no matter how much sacrifice is involved. They are glad to bear the word of Merin everywhere on Aarklash to serve as an example to the peoples of the Ways of Light. Their engagement and conviction is so high that in the heat of battle they reach a form of trance. They become formidable warriors, transcended by divine anger. To the Templars, their war fury is a godsend from Merin.


== Protectorates of the Temple ==

The mission of the Temple has always been to spread the faith of Merin and the ideals of Light across Aarklash. The
brothers of the Order have traversed the entire continent. They have founded countless small commanderies, often to
the local populations’ surprise. In four strategic points they have built great fortresses, the four cardinal temples, which
also used as rallying points for every pilgrim of Merin. Recently these commanderies had to extend their military
and political influence beyond their walls. By building fortifications and watchtowers around the fortresses, they have
favored the settlement of pilgrims in these areas. Terrible battles have taken place in the immediate surroundings of these
protectorates, but the monarchs of Aarklash were forced to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Temple over these lands.

*The '''protectorate of the North''' is surrounded by unwelcoming plains and constantly overcast wooded marshlands. Many pilgrims still chose to settle there, determined to colonize these lands at the crossroads of Aarklash. Such a gamble has proven particularly hazardous. Today, the protectorate is almost entirely occupied by enemy armies: those of the Hyena, the Wolf and the Scorpion. The many watchtowers are still not enough to protect the remaining villages. The temple itself is under siege from the wolfen. Built in the middle of the swamps, its austere fortifications are overlooked by an ominous keep, called the “Crow tower” because of the commander’s tamed birds.

*The '''protectorate of the West''' is in fact a district of the Barhan city of Icquor. The templars living there shelter and care for the poor of the city, as well as the wounded of the Ways of Light on their way back from the front. The temple itself looks more like a monastery than a military barracks; and it still runs the old dispensary, a library and a printer’s workshop. It is as much a place of knowledge as it is a stronghold, and the presence of the templars is much appreciated in the barony and across the Kingdom. It is also the venue for jousting tournaments between templar riders and knights of Alahan.

*The '''protectorate of the South''' is only sand and stone. The templars fight there every day to keep the Syhar at bay. No other Akkylannian lives there. The templars have built their temple there and erected fortifications around the few surrounding oasis, strategic points in the scorching Ivory dunes. Water can become so hard to find there that it is sometimes called “blue gold”. The temple itself bears the scars of the last Syhar offensive, the Dance of the Scorpion, and templars are working day and night to repair its white stone fortifications.

*The protectorate of the East encompasses a large part of the area’s many canyons. Exalted by the now confirmed presence of Arcavius’ tomb, thousands and thousands of pilgrims travel there and their encampments bloom around the temple. The temple itself, almost entirely destroyed during the Dance of the Scorpion, was rebuilt incredibly quickly with the aid of all the pilgrims living in the protectorate. So once again the white walls of the fortress overlook the desert, its artillery guns and towers ready for war.