Templar Order
The Templar Order is an Acrean military order that is believed to have been founded circa 375 BCE. The Templar Order was formed dually as both a religious organisation and a military organisation, charged as the protectors of Acrea's most important religious site in the High Temple of the Asur, as a bodyguard for the royalty, and as an elite fighting force on campaign. The title "Templar" is believed to have derived from the Old Acrean Nordic word, tempelhofriddari.
For much of Acrean history, the Templars formed the core of Acrea's warrior society. They were considered to be an iconic embodiment of the virtues of ancient Acrean culture such as discipline, fitness, and strength in mind and body. The ancient elite warriors of the Templar Order were historically known as the Arcani. They are also known as Praetorians from the Sabrian name for Templars, Praetorii. The name Arcani was hellenicised by the Makedonians as Archonai. Although membership in the order was at first dependent on a warrior's acceptance following trials, by 275 BCE this had been supplemented by the establishment of the aleiðval. Referring both to the institution and the regime practiced there, the aleiðval was a strict regime of training and education which parents could enter their sons (and in some recorded cases, daughters) into at the age of eight. Sponsored by the state, the aleiðval put pupils through a rigorous curriculum that would last until the age of 20. Although much of the education at the aleiðval focused on fostering martial skills such as cunning, critical thought, and strategy, pupils were also instructed in literature, poetry, academics, and politics. Accompanying this education was sports and wargames, reinforcing a strict fitness regime. Pupils were considered to have passed the aleiðval once they reached the age of 20, having satisfactorily reached all of the milestones and expectations set by their instructors, at which point they were inducted as full Templars. Failing to meet all of these expectations did not necessarily mean that a pupil was cast out from the aleiðval, depending on the aspects of their education that they failed. Although failing the academic portions of their education normally meant expulsion, those who did not prove as physically strong but performed strongly in academics would be retained to serve in the Order's administration. The creation of the aleiðval meant that by at least 200 BCE, being a Templar was often a generational matter as children were born into the Order, and would pass through the aleiðval as their primary schooling and education, thus going on to serve the Order.