[HoE] Templars (was No, I said Posse!)

[DarrinBrig@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/31/99 12:54:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, Disco92@aol.com
writes:

> That sounds very interesting.  I was considering developing an entire sect
of
>  "Dark Templars" for use as enemies in my game.  Did either of you make new
>  powers, or does he just have a different outlook?  Also, does he still
honor
>  his oaths, and what made him leave Simon?

I was considering something similar, namely a sect of Templars modeled after
the Red Cross.  I was thinking about calling them the Red Crescent, but the
name wasn't really important.

These Templars represented doctors, nurses, and caregivers that survived the
last war and were desperately struggling to bring medical relief to survivors
in the Wasted West. Simon initially recruited them because he wanted his
Templars and troops to have medical training to complement their own healing
powers, since Lay on Hands can only do so much. They became responsible for
the medical training of the other Templars, as well as protecting valuable
medical supplies and giving relief and aid to other survivors.

Unfortunately, the Red Crescent's idea of who needed aid differed greatly from
Simon's... they believed everyone should deserve medical aid, regardless of
their "moral virtue". As you can imagine, many Templar leaders reacted very
badly to this sort of stance, and the rift in ethos was large enough to spark
a small civil war.  Simon was apalled at how many of this brethren were
willing to shed their own blood, and even though he disagreed with the Red
Crescent's ideals, he struck an uneasy truce.  In his mind, the debate on who
was morally deserving of aid was not worth Templars killing one another.

The Red Crescent members were "exiled" and are not allowed to enter Boise or
interfere with other Templars. Loyal Templars are not allowed to hunt down or
kill Red Crescents, and the two factions have reached a somewhat uneasy
peace... they live alongside one another, and operate separately, but at least
they aren't killing one another. Many of the soft-hearted Templars (not a big
majority, unfortunately) understand and respect what the Red Crescent is
trying to accomplish, even if they disagree with their methods and ideals.

Unfortunately, Templars tend to be a strong-headed bunch, and outside of
Simon's watchful eyes some of the more vengeful and righteous-minded Templars
like to hunt down Red Crescents for violating their Oaths.  This is strictly
against Simon's edicts, but so far Simon has turned a blind eye to such
things. Red Crescents therefore prefer to travel in pairs or groups if
travelling away from Boise. 

To non-templars, Red Crescents are still treated and respected as Templars and
healers... probably moreso than the more fickle of their brethren, as they can
be depended on to render aid to the needy in almost any situation. But when
they are not at least tolerated by other Templars, they are almost always
despised.

Since their break with Simon's Templars, most Red Crescents no longer wear the
maltese cross, or if they do, wear the red cross that many survivors used to
associate with the American Red Cross. Many of them have opted to wear a red
crescent to distinguish themselves from the other Templars, and this symbol is
now being recognized throughout the Wasted West as a symbol for medical aid
along with the older red cross.