The Codex Templarianus

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The Codex Templarianus is a collection of writings by, of, and about the Templar Order. Every Templar Commandery has a copy, which is required reading for every Templar as part of their training.

Although Templars refer to "the" Codex, each Codex is actually a unique compilation. Different codices often contain slightly different works, or different versions of a given work. The writings themselves are by a wide variety of authors, often from both the current Age and from previous Ages. Most codices are carefully selected writings by well-known past Templars about the tenets of the order, with a common core of particularly popular works. However, some codices contain works about the order by non-Templar sages, while others contain every scrap of writing the compilers could find by any Templar, regardless of subject.

Some Templars even carry a Codex with them on their journeys, but many others never read it again after their initial training.

Templar Codex
Price 50 gp; Weight 3 lbs.

This book is a bound compilation of scrolls and loose leaves of parchment and paper which contain writings about the Templar Order. If it is consulted for at least an hour, it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on any Knowledge checks related to the Templar Order (particularly History, Local, Nobility, and Religion).

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Be strong of body. Weakness is a sin. Be strong of spirit. Cowardice is a sin. Be strong of honor. Dishonor is a sin. Above all, be strong of faith. Doubt is the greatest sin of all.
-Sir Beoric the Strong, Knight Templar Knight of the Third Age

Templars are the Sword of the Church. Inquisitors may find Evil, but Templars destroy it. Never compromise with Evil - slay it!
-Sir Caldarese, Templar Commander, Leader of the Second Holy Crusade

Templars are the Shield of the Church. Templars defend the defenseless. If there is a choice between slaying a foe and saving an innocent, always save the innocent. Always. The only reason to slay a foe is to save others.
-Sir Palomedes, Templar Commander, Captain in the Second Holy Crusade.

Honor and Courage. That is the definition of a Templar. A Templar must always act with honor and must always show courage in the face of evil. As evil is by definition dishonorable, it is always honorable to slay evil, and doing so when a lesser man would hesitate is courageous. Follow Sir Ezekial's maxims of honor.
-Sir Gar Jax, Knight Templar of the Tabule Commandery

Sir Ezekial's Six Maxims of Honorable Attacks:

1. If you encounter someone brandishing a weapon, you can attack him. It is obviously self-defense.

2. If you encounter someone who is armed but does not have armed but does not have a weapon in his hands, you can attack him. This is merely the good tactical move against an obviously worthy opponent. By "drawing before the other guy" you are able to avoid his inevitable treachery.

3. If you encounter someone and you cannot determine if he is armed or not (no visible weapons), you can attack him. He probably has concealed weapons. Once he is subdued or killed, you can find out if he was "carrying".

4. If you encounter someone who is unarmed, you can attack him. he could be a monk, spell-caster, have invisible weapons, or weapons implanted in his body, or be serving as a decoy or bait. Once again, after he is subdued, you can find out about his true intentions.

5. If you encounter someone who is not only clearly unarmed but otherwise appears to be an "innocent civilian"; you must treat the situation with extreme caution and initiate attack. You have Probable Cause - Feeble old people, minors, cripples, etc. could very well be enemies in disguise, they could be using illusions, etc. Any act such as waving or talking (i.e., casting spells) can be interpreted as hostile, and then you can attack them in self-defense.

6. Anyone who avoids, runs away, or attempts to evade a Templar is guilty of something, so he can be attacked. Eventually, he would probably have done harm to others if you hadn't brought him down.
-Sir Ezekial "the HackMaster", Knight Templar of the Tabule Commandery

As all Templars know, weakness and cowardice are sins. But they are sins for those who have taken the Templar Vows, just as failure to abide by celestial signs are sins for those who have the vows of the Celestine Order. Templars have willingly committed themselves, body and soul, to a higher cause. We cannot judge others by the standards we apply to ourselves. Templars are strong and courageous; we must use that strength and courage to defend the weak and fearful, not to berate and belittle them.
-Ser Delilah, Knight Templar of the Fourth Age

We say that weakness and cowardice are sins. But is weakness? What is cowardice?

If weakness of body is a sin, does that make a child sinful for being a child? Does that mean halflings are an inherently sinful race? Does that mean that humans are sinful while giants are paragons of divine grace?

We cannot decide what body our soul will inhabit. But we can control what we do with that body. We can make choices that darken or enlighten our souls. We must be strong of spirit and faith. We must do what is right, not what is easy. We must not condemn those who are weaker than we - that is the easy route. We must be strong - strong enough to recognize others' limits - and our own. We must be strong enough to fight for those that cannot - or will not - fight for themselves.

Is fleeing from an enemy cowardice? When the Six Hundred charged the Dark Engines of the Crimson Lords during the Second Holy Crusade, they were destroyed to a man, and caused no harm to the forces of the Crimson Lords. Was this courage? Or would real courage have been to stand up to Sir Caldarese and refuse his senseless orders?

When Sir Beoric insisted on going alone to openly confront the Great Green Wyrm Grendathraxis in her lair, was this courage? He was slain, and the priceless relics he bore were lost to her hoard. Was not the real courage displayed by Sir Gawain? He bore the disdain and contempt of his fellow Templars, and took counsel with the Enchantress Morrigan to entrap the Wyrm in mystical slumbers. He was banished from the order by the Knight Commander of his commandery for cowardice - but he knew this was the penalty he would face for his actions, and he willingly paid it to stop a great evil. Is this not true courage?
-Sir Erkenwald, Knight Templar of the Waypointe Commandery