The Knights Templar

Summary

GoI-004, commonly referred to as "The Knights Templar", is an ancient militant order that has persisted into the modern era through clandestine operations and the influence of anomalous artifacts. Originally thought to be disbanded in the early 14th century, the order reemerged to reconstitute itself following the discovery of SCP-x████, a demonic artifact unearthed during a 1916 excavation amidst the devastation of World War I. This artifact is believed to have irreversibly corrupted the Templar Order, imbuing its members with immense power at a terrible cost.

History and Corruption

The artifact, identified as a demonic relic originatingfrom the power of SCP-x013, reportedly granted those who came into contact with it extraordinary strength, resilience, and anomalous capabilities. However, prolonged exposure triggered grotesque physical and psychological transformations, twisting the Templars into horrifying amalgamations of flesh, bone, and infernal energy. Historical records from Foundation observers suggest the artifact's corruption fragmented the Templar ranks into cells, with leadership centralized under a figure referred to as The Black Hierarch, whose identity remains unknown.
By the 20th century, the Templars had abandoned any semblance of their former religious alignment, instead turning their worship towards "The Scarlet King", and adopting a philosophy centered on control, domination, and the eradication of perceived impurity—both anomalous and mundane. Few surviving members retain the ability to pass as human, their monstrous defects concealed only by advanced mimicry and unknown thaumaturgical rituals. Those who do maintain their human appearance are believed to have close ties to or to be the members of GoI-586, the Children of the Scarlet King.

Modern Activity

The Knights Templar primarily operate in the depths of SCP-x666, leveraging their demonic power to further an agenda that remains unclear to the Foundation. While direct encounters are rare, recovered intelligence indicates that their activities include:
▣ Retrieval and weaponization of anomalous artifacts.
▣ Assassination of key figures within rival groups or global powers.
▣ Recruitment of individuals susceptible to corruption by the demonic artifact.
▣ Ritualistic experiments aimed at further amplifying their infernal capabilities.
Despite their fractured nature, the Templars exhibit a terrifying level of coordination, suggesting a centralized command structure. Instances of their involvement in anomalous events have been recorded across Europe, the Middle East, and parts of the Americas, often leaving behind evidence of grotesque rituals and biological aberrations. It has been posited that this level of coordination is achievable in some way with the assistance of SCP-x013.




Author(s):
▣ kyphxr, from the Sxlaris Wiki.
Licensed under CC-BY-SA.