History Main / AncientOrderOfProtectors

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': The Brotherhood of Steel, full stop. They were originally a California-based military unit that went rogue after discovering that the [[MadScientist government scientists]] under their care were performing inhumane SuperSoldier experiments on volunteers that more often than not left the participants [[BodyHorror horribly mutated]]. After the bombs fell, they founded the Brotherhood in order to preserve old world technology and prevent dangerous tech from falling into the wrong hands. While a noble goal, they were ultimately indifferent to the goings-on in the Wasteland, preferring to [[AlienNonInterferenceClause remain politically neutral]] and stepping in only when events force their hand, such as when [[ChurchOfEvil The Unity]] tried to [[AssimilationPlot forcibly turn every living human into Super Mutants]] (a horde of immortal, violent, orc-like monsters that ended up ravaging the wasteland for 210 years). In ''Videogame/Fallout2'', the Brotherhood was well on it's way to demilitarizing and becoming a simple research group when they got blindsided by [[TheRemnant the Enclave]] - technologically advanced remnants of the U.S government that were trying to kill ''[[AbsoluteXenophobe everything and everyone, everywhere]],'' forcing them [[GuiltFreeExterminationWar take action or die]]. Ever since then, the Brotherhood has expanded their mandate to include [[FinalSolution aggressively destroying any advanced tech they think they can't control]]. One Brotherhood chapter was dispatched to the East Coast to recover tech - when they encountered [[WretchedHive post-war Pittsburgh]] and it's thoroughly mutated and deranged inhabitants on the way, [[GenocideDilemma they exterminated the entire population]] and developed an [[TragicBigot ongoing hatred of all mutants]] that persisted into their occupation of the Capitol Wasteland. By ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', the Brotherhood has become the ''de facto'' governing body of the Capitol Wasteland, and launches a crusade into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to defeat the [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate Institute]] and eradicate it's [[ArtificialIntelligence Synths]], under the reasoning they are protecting the Commonwealth and the wider world from the threat of a second apocalypse caused by [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow technology gone mad]]. By this point, [[GuiltFreeExterminationWar they aren't interested in taking prisoners]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': The Brotherhood of Steel, full stop. They were founded by a military security detail protecting a supersoldier laboratory. When security discovered that the scientists were mutating P.O.W.s into what would eventually be named Super Mutants (which are an immortal, violent, dumbass horde of orcs that ravage the wasteland for 210 years), they executed the scientists and went rogue - on the very day that the apocalypse happened. Resolved to never let unregulated technology fall into the wrong hands and bring about a second apocalypse, the Brotherhood hoards all advanced technology to prevent scientists from playing god. Unfortunately, they stagnate over 200 years and by the time they're officially Ancient, they also hoard lifesaving tech from the commoners out of tradition, and generally shoot down scientists who know too much.

* Unusually, the ''Disney/HowToTrainYourDragon'' trilogy centers around the founding of an ancient order. In Viking times, the village of Berk domesticated dragons, which up until then had been predators hunted by humans. Unfortunately, the concept of 'wildlife conservation' didn't really exist back then, so in order to protect dragons from warmongers and trophy hunters (like the one who [[spoiler:almost drove Night Furies to extinction]]), the Berkians sent them back to live wild in the cavernous 'lost world' from which they originated. They settled an island nearby, vowing to keep the lost world hidden [[TheWorldIsNotReady until]] humanity was ready to respect its inhabitants. [[spoiler:Similarly, the dragons passed down respect for humans through the generations.]]

* Unusually, the ''Film/HowToTrainYourDragon'' trilogy centers around the founding of an ancient order. In Viking times, the village of Berk domesticated dragons, which up until then had been predators hunted by humans. Unfortunately, the concept of 'wildlife conservation' didn't really exist back then, so in order to protect dragons from warmongers and trophy hunters (like the one who [[spoiler:almost drove Night Furies to extinction]]), the Berkians sent them back to live wild in the cavernous 'lost world' from which they originated. They settled an island nearby, vowing to keep the lost world hidden [[TheWorldIsNotReady until]] humanity was ready to respect its inhabitants. [[spoiler:Similarly, the dragons passed down respect for humans through the generations.]]

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'': Paladins seeking [[DropTheHammer The Silver Hand]] learn of it from the Tyr's Guard, and ancient and secret order who have charged themselves with keeping the resting place of the Titan Tyr secure and hidden. The Legion's invasion renders their purpose moot, forcing them out of secrecy, assisting the [[PlayerCharacter Highlord]] in securing the artifact.

* ''Film/BattleForTerra'': The Elders are a case this HidingInPlainSight, they are the leaders of their people, but they also suppress the development of new technology, and they keep their people from discovering [[spoiler: the ancient war machines that nearly destroyed them centuries ago.]].

* ''TabletopGames/KingdomDeath'': The order of the Twilight Knights guard what precious little history humanity has managed to gather. White Speakers may also qualify.

* The FFC in EscapeFromEdenPark, a fraternal order that attempted to record paranormal disturbances and, if possible, correct them.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout'': The Brotherhood of Steel, full stop. They were founded by a military security detail protecting a supersoldier laboratory. When security discovered that the scientists were mutating P.O.W.s into what would eventually be named Super Mutants (which are an immortal, violent, dumbass horde of orcs that ravage the wasteland for 210 years), they executed the scientists and went rogue - on the very day that the apocalypse happened. Resolved to never let unregulated technology fall into the wrong hands and bring about a second apocalypse, the Brotherhood hoards all advanced technology to prevent scientists from playing god. Unfortunately, they stagnate over 200 years and by the time they're officially Ancient, they also hoard lifesaving tech from the commoners out of tradition, and generally shoot down scientists who know too much.

* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', Indy encounters the Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword an ancient order dedicated to protecting the location of the HolyGrail. Later they unsuccessfully attempt to prevent Donovan’s party from reaching the Grail’s hiding place.

* ''Film/{{The Mummy|1999}}'' has the Medjai, the descendants of the royal guards of Pharaoh Seti I who attempt to drive off any who might awaken Imhotep. Interestingly, while they know that the gods of Ancient Egypt are real, all the tribes of the Medjai have converted to Islam. And no, they were not ''invented'' for the movie; they're actually based on [[[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medjay an Ancient Egyptian elite paramilitary police force of the same name]].

* ''Film/{{The Mummy|1999}}'' has the Medjai, the descendants of the royal guards of Egypt who attempt to drive off any who might awaken Imhotep. Interestingly, while they know that the gods of Ancient Egypt are real, all the tribes of the Medjai have converted to Islam.

This is the Ancient Order of Protectors, an organization whose purpose can be defined as “keep this knowledge out of everyone else’s hands by any means necessary”. This usually means that the heroes will be forced to fight them one or more times along the way, since PoorCommunicationKills, but this does not necessarily mean they are evil. Quite often, after misunderstandings have been cleared up, the heroes will [[EnemyMine team up]] with the Protectors to fight the BigBad or work with them to prevent a global catastrophe.

* ''Film/BattleForTerra: The Elders are a case this HidingInPlainSight, they are the leaders of their people, but they also suppress the development of new technology, and they keep their people from discovering [[spoiler: the ancient war machines that nearly destroyed them centuries ago.]].

* In ''Series/MythQuest'', there is an unnamed Chinese secret society that exists to prevent anyone from accidently releasing Gorgos, a trickster god, from his stone and wreaking havoc on the mythology of the world.

* The order known as the Blades in ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' universe serves as the protectors of the Dragonborn, who are essentially person-shaped [[MacGuffin Mac Guffins]], sometimes [[PersonOfMassDestruction Persons of Mass Destruction]] and sometimes [[BarrierMaiden Barrier Maidens]]. They also moonlighted as an intelligence service, and were apparently about killing dragons at first (''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' brought in some -- somewhat problematic, in light of what had earlier been established -- retcons to their origins and original purpose).

* In [[http://clichequest.com/index.php?pos=12 this]] TheNoob, Ohforf joins a guild. Upon learning their name, "The Righteous Protectors of the Crimson Star", he imagines them as this trope, but it turns out they're just a roleplaying guild with a NonIndicativeName.

* ''Film/TheMummy1999'' has the Medjai, the descendants of the royal guards of Egypt who attempt to drive off any who might awaken Imhotep. Interestingly, while they know that the gods of Ancient Egypt are real, all the tribes of the Medjai have converted to Islam.

* The US Department of Energy has considered different methods to protect nuclear waste repositories from trespassing in the far future, including an [[http://mentalfloss.com/article/27476/ray-cats-artificial-moons-and-atomic-priesthood-how-government-plans-protect-our "atomic priesthood.:]]

* The US Department of Energy has considered different methods to protect nuclear waste repositories from trespassing in the far future, including an "[[http://mentalfloss.com/article/27476/ray-cats-artificial-moons-and-atomic-priesthood-how-government-plans-protect-our atomic priesthood]]".

* ''Franchise/{{BIONICLE}}'': The Order of Mata Nui had a few members guarding the Mask of Life on Voya Nui.

* The Magical Counsel of the Ancients in book 3 of the Literature/TheDaringDoAdventureCollection.