Alistair’s reference is the Templar Order from the Dragon Age Game series Dragon Age is a Canadian media franchise centered on a series of fantasy role-playing video games created and developed by BioWare. The franchise takes place on the fictional continent Thedas and follows the experiences of its various inhabitants. The Templar Order is the military order of the Orlesian Chantry that hunts abominations, apostates, and maleficar and watches over the mages of the Circle of Magi. Templars are officially deemed a force of defenders by the Chantry. Their advocates claim they are saviors, holy warriors, protectors of the innocent, and champions of all that is good. Others see them as symbols of the Chantry's control over magic with a religious fervor that inspires absolute devotion to their mandate rather than moral principles. Their roles are to protect the communities of the faithful from magical threats, protect mages from the populace, and subdue any who refuse to submit to the authority of the Circle. Templars are considered by the common folk to be the saviors and holy warriors of Thedas, protecting the world from the dangers of magic unchecked. As the Chantry’s military arm, they are recruited primarily for their martial skill and religious dedication to the Maker. Given the difficult choices, templars must make in the course of their duty, they must be unswervingly loyal to the Order and maintain an emotional distance from the plight of their charges. It is said that a templar’s obedience is more important to the Chantry than his or her moral centre.