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A high templar
High templar are protoss warriors that use powerful psionic powers to support other protoss forces.
Overview[]
A high templar during the Great War
High templar are the most honored and respected members of the protoss race.[1] They are veteran Templar who forgo the rage and traditional forms of combat common to zealots in order to better develop their psionic powers into potent tools and weapons.[2]
Abilities[]
High templar rely on control and stoicism, as opposed to the battle rage called upon by zealots and archons.[3] Although they are equipped with light armor suits[4] and sometimes through them, psionic blades,[5][4] use of these weapons is regarded as a last resort for a high templar, as they focus on psionic rather than physical mastery.[6]
High templar also calibrate and infuse the crystal matrices that are attached to power suits.[7]
Psionic Powers[]
- Unit description(src)
High templar use the archives to directly commune with their ancient ancestors and thereby gain knowledge inaccessible to ordinary warriors. They may also wear amulets carved from khaydarin crystals to improve their connection with the Khala and thus channel their psionic abilities with greater efficiency.[2] High templar have been observed to levitate while in battle, and move at great speed across the battlefield.[8]
A high templar using psionic energy as a short-range attack
The training high templar undergo amplifies their psionic powers to such a degree that they are capable of disrupting the physical world around them.[6] Those treading the path of the Khala are taught to close their minds to the outside world. For powerful psychics like the protoss this may produce psychic ripples that are harmful to other life forms. High templar are trained to focus these ripples into terrible storms of psychic energy[2] that can rip the minds, bodies, and machines of their enemies to shreds.[6] High templar have also demonstrated the ability to use their psionic powers in the form of a standard ranged attack, such as psionic bolts,[4] and a short-range lightning-like attack.[8]
A more subtle power is the ability for high templar to create illusory duplicates of other objects. While these phantoms have no substance and cannot affect the material world, they are useful to confuse and divert the attention of the protoss' enemies in battle.[2]
The power of psionics
High templar are deeply attuned to the energy flows that surround them. By means of their formidable psionic ability, these warriors can grasp the energy currents present in beings or machines, and drain them through a violent chain reaction. This backlash may cause grievous wounds to living beings, or massive structural damage to machines. If the target happens to bristle with energy, the powerful psionic feedback may destroy it outright.[6]
At one time, high templar merged with another high templar to form an archon, thus sacrificing themselves to complete the Warrior Path and attain legendary status within the archives.[2] After the Brood War, high templar could achieve this by sacrificing themselves, merging with another high templar, or with a Dark Templar.[9]
History[]
- High templar(src)
In the days of the Golden Age of Expansion, attempts were made to train high templars in the way of hand-to-hand psionic blade combat. However, at the advice of Grand Preserver Rohana, these attempts were halted, in favor of keeping the more traditional and focused split between the psi blade wielding zealots and the psionic power wielding high templar.[10]
During the End War in 2506, all high templar were forced to cut their nerve chords and sever themselves from the Khala or fall to Amon's corruption, a loss that was not easily borne.[11] In spite of this, in their race's darkest hour they continued to hone their abilities, enhancing the power of their psionic storms and learning how to channel their power into the plasma shields of their allies.[12]
A Purifier high templar
After extensive experimentation, the Purifiers perfected AI warriors that possess the same distinctive abilities as high templar in the Daelaam. Hierarch Artanis himself is said to have been impressed with their design.
In the aftermath of the End War, many Shelak Tribe high templar wore ancient armor to venerate the role of Khas in uniting the Templar, signaling a cultural shift to artistically move toward the protoss' past. By moving toward their past, they hoped to quiet their fears about the protoss's troubled future.[1]
Other Information[]
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The following article or section contains lore from the StarCraft RPG, which is not regarded as canon. Elements may be regarded as 'flavor lore' however.
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The following section contains information from StarCraft beta that is ambiguously canonical.
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A high templar
Another change brought on by the Brood War was the role of high templar politically. Previously, political decisions had been left to the Judicator Caste.[2] With the destruction of the Conclave however and the disbanding of the Judicator,[13] high templar have been able to take on the role of teachers and leaders of their people.[4]
High templar are considered to be far along the "Warrior's Path" of the Templar Caste, potentially its penultimate step. When two high templar merge to form an archon, they are said to have reached the Path's End.[14]
Game Unit[]
StarCraft[]
- For StarCraft gameplay information see: High templar (StarCraft).
- For StarCraft in-game quotations see: StarCraft High Templar Quotations
StarCraft: Ghost[]
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This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details. |
A vindicator with a high templar in the background
- For StarCraft: Ghost in-game quotations see: StarCraft: Ghost High Templar Quotations.
The high templar was set to appear in StarCraft: Ghost. It had the ability to summon reinforcements.[15]
StarCraft II[]
- For StarCraft II gameplay information see: High templar (StarCraft II).
- For StarCraft in-game quotations see: StarCraft II High Templar Quotations
Known High Templar[]
Famous High Templar[]
Other High Templar[]
A high templar
- Aedus (Turned into an archon with Xerxes).
- Aldrion
- Erekul
- Garius
- Heiberg the Heretic (mercenary leader)
- High Templar Hero
- Ketalis
- Koronis
- Lekila (formerly)
- Master of the Tribunal
- Mess'Ta
- Muadun
- Naganis
- Oong
- Rassidan
- Rihod (formerly)
- Telbrus
- Xerxes (Turned into an archon with Aedus).
Other Faction variant[]
Notes[]
A high templar wearing a khaydarin amulet
The term "high templar" has occasionally been used to refer to high-ranking members of the Templar Caste who are actually zealots or dragoons. For instance, Ladranix[16] and Fenix have been described as "high templar".[17][16] Additionally, Aldaris and Blackman have been portrayed as high templars in-game, when in actual fact they are/were of the Judicator Caste.[18][19]
References[]
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