Templars: What they do and how.

The Templar Order are an Order of Knights who answer to the Chantry (church) and oversee the Circle of Magi. They're duties are to protect the world from the dangers of magic and to protect the mages from the danger that is the world, hunt down Apostates where ever they are found, and when abominations or demons arise, they combat these too.

Now since fighting demons and abominations is pretty straight forward, kill it as fast as possible and if possible, I will cover how the templars combat Magic and Mages (when they go bad).

The Templars consume processed lyrium, which is mana in it's physical state. Over time and steady consumption of Lyrium, the Templar will developed a natural resistance and immunity (partial and pertaining to weak spells more often then not, example: Spirit magic will go right through this immunity). They are also taught methods to dispel, silence, and other wise interrupt the casting of spells (not very effective vs blood magic). This can be considered a form of magic in itself (not really). This makes a Templar a formidable opponent to a Mage. However the lyrium that they ingest is addictive. Very addictive. Every Templar (Knights and higher, Recruits aren't.) They can go for a time without it but once this time passes they will need their dose of Lyrium or they will begin to lose their mind.

When it comes to hunting Apostates, the Templars are at a disadvantage when it comes to finding them unless they were previously a member of the Circle of Magi and did not destroy their phylactery prior to leaving. A Phylactery is a sample of blood taken from every Mage when they join the Circle as an Apprentice. This sample is then stored in the tower until they pass their Harrowing, when this occurs it is moved to the White Spire at the Orlesian Capitol. When a Mage leaves the circle and becomes an Apostate, Templars will use the Phylactery to find the run away Mage. This is done by technically using Blood Magic but most Templars aware of this would say it is a necessary evil. When an Apostate did destroy their phylactery or simple was never in the Circle, it is very difficult to track them.