Lore Reasons for Cimmerian Dark Templars in Character Creation

Quite possibly one of my most despised and questionable decisions since Age of Conan's release, that being the inclusion of Dark Templars for Cimmerians of all races, the race notably mentioned to DESPISE sorcery of all kinds even in their race description noting they cannot be mages, but here we are... So I figured I'd bring forth a few valid lore explanations or character reasons as to why this race/class combination even exists in game to begin with!

Reason 1: Seduced/Corrupted by Dark Powers

Quite possibly one of the more likely explanations, afterall Cimmerians are Humans and not at all immune to said corruption of the mind and soul, let alone the body... But simply say they happen to be cursed or gifted by a dark god, or some forlorn artifact of the nightmare empire of Acheron like some talisman or blade, with some other examples of a cursed gift being of the Cimmerian in question being cursed with some form of immortality or vampirism that requires the consumption of blood of living mortals, or the Cimmerian in question even being subject to a demonic curse mark placed onto them that will develop body or mind-altering effects onto them or even demonic traits.

This reason is one of my own choosing for a character of mine but has an extensive backstory behind it, this is also one of the more exotic reasons as to why a Northern Hillman would suffer such unholy traits or powers, so think wisely when considering this option at least. all of which are proper reasons as to how this may occur of course!

Reason 2: Possessed By A Dark Spirit/Soul

Possibly one of the better explanations considering the lore of the game, with you the player bearing the Mark of Acheron but maintaining your identity but not your memory whereas others of the mark are driven by mad Acheronian Spirits with no mind or memory to them, but who's to say you don't completely survive and your body is used as a vessel for the spirit of a long dead Sorcerer or Lich of Acheron instead? Given the sturdy bodies of the Cimmerians and how Cimmeria never fell to Acheron, it wouldn't be out of the picture for an Acheronian to like the strong & sturdy frame of a Cimmerian host body to inhabit as oppose to the frail weaker body they once had in life.

Reason 3: Servant/Herald of A Dark God

Similar in idea to those of the Heralds of Xotli for example and even the first reason of this guide, this is another reason as to why a Cimmerian might find themselves commiting the dark arts, possibly under the god's influence and seduced by their power in some way, the Cimmerian could use said demonic or dark powers of this god bestowed onto them for a time to carry out their will on the battlefield and feed their thirst for blood and carnage.

Reason 4: Trained By or Serving Dark Masters

Typically a case of your Cimmerian being a servant or lackey in service to a dark sorcerer in a far distant land from Cimmeria since childhood after being bought and sold as a slave or found in most cases, the Cimmerian will be unlike any other Cimmerian and will have no real ties to their culture and homeland with them being raised or brought up as a willing and or hopeful servant of a mighty sorcerer or cult, one of which has taught them the dark arts well to which they carry out their duties with zeal and devotion.

Reason 5: Using The Cimmerian Race As A Template For Another Race

When creating a character, it is possibly to create another race other than those on the creation menu simply through choosing certain options like those already used in game for other races, Cimmerians as a base for Nordheimers or Hyperboreans or Atlanteans, Aquilonians as a base for Zingarans or Kothians or Argoseans, or even Stygians as a base for Turanians or Zamorans or Kushites.
So you could easily create a "Vanir Dark Templar" or more likely a "Hyperborean Dark Templar" using the Cimmerian race template as a base, if not even an Undead/Vampiric Atlantean Warrior or Lich of Yog or Golgor instead!

How They Might Interact With or Be Seen By Other Cimmerians & Other Societies

So while they would be feared in most cases even outside of Cimmeria, their dark ways might even gain them a bit of ire and hatred too given Cimmerian's distrust and superstition of unholy things, as most Dark Templars would already not be looked upon in not a favorable light by other cultures and peoples as the dark arts are well known to be feared and shunned, especially of the Mitran faith predominately who shun the worship of other gods, dark ones most of all. Most Dark Templars, or others of their kind, might be seen as dark brooding loners or fearsome and brutal warlords and mercenaries on average to be feared and shunned typically, possibly even as the devils of Crom himself sent to spite and slaughter the living. But even a powerful dark warrior like them would be capable of saving those of their Cimmerian ilk from invading Vanir or Hyperborean threats, As long as their goals aligned with doing so at least, and for the right price... Gold or glory otherwise, if not for the blood itself...

Lesson Complete!

I hope these reasons greatly help as to why there might be the strange Cimmerian Dark Templars out there, or even for creating your own Cimmerian Dark Templars but want a proper reason as to why it should even be an option from a personal story/lore perspective. This issue has been bothering me and the fanbase for AGES now so I hope I was able to aid in some lore explanations for said strange class/race combo.

[The Black Death]

I agree, I really only made this guide as for some valid or lore-friendly reasons of how you could even have one really. But yeah some of those NPCs you mentioned tend to be different races/cultures just using the Cimmerian race template, even some Hyperborean witches in the game use the Cimmerian bodies as a template.

[Man of God]

I think Cimmerian in general are the most played race though. But yeah DT should be specific to maybe all except Cimmerian. Weirdly though when I have played through a few times, there are at least groups of Cimmerian soldier NPCs that use DT abilities on you.

[The Black Death]

Yeah you could play an Aquilonian DT way more lore accurately than a Cimmerian one for sure, sadly Cimmerian ones are the most popular in the game for some reason. x-x

[Man of God]

Well done mate. I also don't understand how every single race can play this class. My main is an Aquilonian DT, so at least there's some kind of lore friendly reason.

[The Black Death]

Characters in AoC don't necessarily "serve" Conan, more like take quests from just about anyone really. In-character you could just say you aren't affiliated with Conan at all outside of just regular gameplay or whatever.

[Velovar]

So why would such a character server Conan