Parisian Rite of the Templar Order

"For centuries we have focused on the trappings of power: the titles of nobility, the offices of Church and State. Caught in the very lie we crafted to shepherd the masses... In the wake of revolution, the Order will adapt. They will retreat to the shadows and we will, at last, be the secret masters that we were meant to be."

―François-Thomas Germain to Élise de la Serre, regarding the Templars' agenda, 1794.

The Parisian Rite of the Templar Order, sometimes known simply as the Paris Rite, was one of the autonomous factions comprising the Templar Order. The Rite operated throughout Paris and Versailles, during the late 18th century.

The Rite was headquartered in Paris, and notably managed to maintain a truce with the French branch of the Assassin Order, negotiated between the Grand Master François de la Serre and the Assassin Mentor Mirabeau, for several years, despite opposition to the idea among members of both factions.

History

Division

After discovering the Codex Pater Intellectus, written by Grand Master Jacques de Molay, in a vault beneath the Temple in Paris, François-Thomas Germain, a high ranking member of the Rite and a Sage, became influenced by the ideals of the long dead Jacques de Molay - also a Sage - regarding the shape of the Templar Order and humanity itself. Germain proposed radical changes to Grand Master de la Serre, but was cast out due to his fanaticism.

Germain deemed the Order corrupt, its influence in politics making the Templars forget their true purpose. Faking his death, Germain secretly plotted with other members in the Order who shared his ideals, as well as recruiting individuals disillusioned by the corruption of the French monarchy.

In 1789, members of the Order gathered at the Palace of Versailles for the induction of Élise de la Serre, daughter of Francois de la Serre. According to Chrétien Lafrenière, the group had not gathered together since Germain's exile. However, Germain used this opportunity to stage a coup against de la Serre. Two of Germain's agents lured De la Serre into the gardens of the palace and murdered him.

Despite Germain's recognition as Grand Master, he was still opposed by the moderates, supporters of De la Serre who were led by Lafrenière and Élise. Germain was imprisoned in his residence for several months by Lafrenière's men, until he was happened upon by an oblivious Arno Dorian, an Assassin seeking to avenge the death of François de la Serre, his adoptive father.

With subtle manipulation, Germain led Arno to believe that Lafrenière had been behind De la Serre's murder. The Assassin subsequently killed Lafrenière before he could amass his own forces against Germain's followers. In disarray, the remaining members of the moderate faction were wiped out, leaving Élise as the sole survivor.

The French Revolution

With his main opposition crushed, Germain and his followers began orchestrating the French Revolution, to overthrow the French monarchy and to publicly condemn and execute the king. With the monarchy gone, it would be replaced by the Republic of France, headed by Templar Maximilien de Robespierre. Robespierre would enforce the Reign of Terror, to subjugate the populace through violence.

Germain believed that with the horrors of the resulting anarchy, the people would once again submit themselves to a higher power rather than to themselves. Another reason for Germain's desire for the king's condemnation and execution was to avenge the death of his idol Jacques de Molay, who was similarly condemned and executed by Philip IV.

Members

Radical faction

• Arpinon
• Duchesneau
• François-Thomas Germain
• Flavigny
• Jean Gilbert
• Marie Lévesque
• Marcourt
• Denis Molinier

• Payen
• Louis-Michel le Peletier
• Maximilien de Robespierre
• Roi des Thunes
• Frédéric Rouille
• Charles Gabriel Sivert
• Aloys la Touche

Moderate faction

• Jean Burnel
• Jean-Jacques Calvert
• Comte de Choisy
• Crimson Rose
• Le Fanu
• Marquis de Kilmister

• Chrétien Lafrenière
• Magdelaine Lévesque
• Marquis de Pimôdan
• Élise de la Serre
• François de la Serre
• Julie de la Serre
• Marquis de Simonon

Allies

• Jean-Jacques Blaise d'Abbadie
• Pacon
• Perrault
• Jacques Roux