Sword Templar Knights

“During the darkest days of the war the templars became rabid in their pursuit of victory, losing all sight of the very philosophy they fought in the name of. They were no longer bound by the conscience of their religion, the Chantry, and so the most devious minds were let loose to inspire the most evil intentions of those who had lost their guidance. These manipulators and those who became loyal to them were soon to be known as Swords; such was the resolve of these men to pursue their goals they freely took narrow interpretations of the Andrastian belief and before long acted of their own will.

Even since their numbers dwindled and the Chantry took control once more of their dogs the Swords still hold sway amongst those benefactors whose motivations are not so clear, nor trusted by even allies of both the Chantry and Templar Order. They are an order unto themselves, an authority which their own superiors and the Chantry itself struggle to control; to these people a peace agreement means very little indeed.” - From the journal of an Observer of the Seekers

The group of Templar Knights known as the Swords are a group that have in many ways splintered from the Templar Order and now hold their own authority. They are still bound to the Chantry as Templar Knights but have gained enough influence by way of land and money to benefit from a degree of anonymity in their actions. From their base of the harbour city known as Ostwick they maintain Chantry control of southern Free Marches, whilst holding as the first line of defence should the rebel mages strike from their strongholds to the north.

The members of this sub-faction are notorious for their fanatical doctrine that often causes observers to compare them with the magi terrorists known as the Hand of Justice. There are few who would make vocal such an observation where the Swords might discover it.

The political influence of the group cannot be underestimated, the knights having grown their network of support into nobility and people of wealth across the world over the past decade or so. The leaders of the Swords are some of the most devious, intelligent minds in all of Thedas and thus the group has thrived, even in the face of the Weisshaupt Agreement.

The group believes that all magi should be imprisoned so that the world can be kept safe and that any rebellion to this strict interpretation of the Andrastian religion ought to be utterly destroyed. They use the Right of Annulment freely and it said that only the Seekers of Truth have grown powerful enough to keep the group from increasing its influence and re-igniting the war.