History Main / THEOrder

The Order is often grounded in an AncientTradition, which may or may not be public knowledge. Many fictional Orders also train their members in the use of some SecretArt -- in which case they are likely to [[FantasticRecruitmentDrive only recruit]] [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne those with the potential to use it]]. The Order is itself often (but not always) a part of TheChurch, making them {{Church Militant}}s. This is probably a holdover from real life knightly orders, groups dedicated to the advancement of Christian interests and officially acknowledged by the Catholic Church. Similarly, you can expect many fictional Orders to have a distinctly chivalric flavor -- even if the setting isn't otherwise medieval.

** It's stated in a couple places that Spectres have access to stocks of rare and highly advanced equipment. Also, they can requisition Council resources as necessary, e.g. extranet bandwidth

The Order is often grounded in an AncientTradition, which may or may not be public knowledge. Many fictional Orders also train their members in the use of some SecretArt -- in which case they are likely to only recruit [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne those with the potential to use it]]. The Order is itself often (but not always) a part of TheChurch, making them {{Church Militant}}s. This is probably a holdover from real life knightly orders, groups dedicated to the advancement of Christian interests and officially acknowledged by the Catholic Church. Similarly, you can expect many fictional Orders to have a distinctly chivalric flavor -- even if the setting isn't otherwise medieval.

* The Watchers Council on ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.

* the backstory of TheStormlightArchive has the ten orders of Knights Radiant, who disbanded centuries before the story starts. They were [[MagicKnight Magic Knights]], who protected humanity from the [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Voidbringers]].

* VillainOfTheWeek "Kenny the enforcer" from the Jusenkyo Morals Committee is a comedic take on this concept from a filler episode of RanmaOneHalf.

* The ''DresdenFiles'' has the Knights of the Cross, a group of three men who each were given swords that are said to have one of the nails of Christ's cross embedded on it. This gives them the ability to fight off forces of evil, and they've helped Harry Dresden many a time in defeating dark supernatural creatures. Interestingly, only one of them is truly Catholic, and he's easily the nicest, least ChurchMilitant person ever; out of the other two, one got converted by mistake, and the other one is a skeptic who believes heavenly creatures -- ''including the archangel that gave him his sword'' -- can just as easily be SufficientlyAdvancedAliens.

The Order is often grounded in an AncientTradition, which may or may not be public knowledge. Many fictional Orders also train their members in the use of some SecretArt -- in which case they are likely to only recruit those with the potential to use it. The Order is itself often (but not always) a part of TheChurch, making them {{Church Militant}}s. This is probably a holdover from real life knightly orders, groups dedicated to the advancement of Christian interests and officially acknowledged by the Catholic Church. Similarly, you can expect many fictional Orders to have a distinctly chivalric flavor -- even if the setting isn't otherwise medieval.

Orders can be secret or public, good or evil, but much like TheKingdom, good Orders represented far more often in fiction. Heroic Orders are likely to also be HeroesRUs, and dead Orders usually inspire OrderReborn plots. {{Paladin}}s are usually part of an Order.

* The Knights of the Silver Hand from the {{Warcraft}} setting were founded by the first {{paladin}}s. It had quite a few members at one point, but was largely wiped out by Arthas after his corruption. It was later [[OrderReborn reformed]] by Tirion Fordring, and then merged with the Argent Dawn to form the Argent Crusade.

When the AncientTradition takes a more hands-on approach, you get The Order. The Order is a highly exclusive organization formed for some certain purpose that requires lifelong commitment from its members. In addition to offering various membership benefits, many fictional Orders also train their members in the use of some SecretArt -- in which case they are likely to only recruit those with the potential to use it. The Order is itself often (but not always) a suborganization of TheChurch; if it's also militarized, it's a ChurchMilitant.

Orders can be secret or public, good or evil, but much like TheKingdom, good Orders are overwhelmingly overrepresented in fiction. Heroic Orders are likely to also be HeroesRUs, and dead Orders usually inspire OrderReborn plots.

* The Jedi Order of ''StarWars''.

* The Order of the Phoenix from ''HarryPotter'' series.

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* The Medjay in the Mummy trilogy.
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* The Grey Wardens of ''DragonAge'' were formed to guard against the Blight. Likewise, [[CainAndAbel the Templars and the Circle of Magi]].
* Order of Talos from ''TheElderScrolls'' series.
* Order of the Hammer a.k.a. Hammerites in the ''{{Thief}}'' series.
* Order of the Sunspears, Order of Whispers in ''GuildWars''.
* The Spectres in ''MassEffect'' series are a SpaceOpera example, reminiscent of the Jedi Order (minus the SecretArt). They are a ''very'' exclusive organization (naming a person a spectre requires unanonimous decision by the Citadel Council, so Shepard was the first human to gain the title) pledged to the service of the Council and "there's no such thing as a 'former Spectre'" (though Shepard has a option to quit "thanks" to [[IGotBetter being technically dead for two years]]).
* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Order]] from ''{{Freelancer}}''

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* The Black Order of ''DGrayMan'' collects Innoncence and the children capable of using it to fight Akuma.

* The Grey Wardens of ''DragonAge'' were formed to guard against the Blight.

* The Order of Phoenix from ''HarryPotter'' series.

Orders can be secret or public, good or evil, but much like TheKingdom, good Orders are overwhelmingly overrepresented in fiction. Heroic Orders are likely to also be HeroesRUs, and if they're dead, they generally inspire OrderReborn plots.

When the AncientTradition takes a more hands-on approach, you get The Order. The Order is a highly exclusive organization formed for some certain purpose that requires lifelong commitment from its members. In addition to offering various membership benefits, many fictional Orders also train their members in the use of some hidden art -- in which case they are likely to only recruit those with the potential to use it. The Order is itself often (but not always) a suborganization of TheChurch; if it's also militarized, it's a ChurchMilitant.

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[[folder:Comics]]
* The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas from ''{{Batman}}'' comics.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theorderimage.jpg
[[caption-width:485: Because the giant pointy stake is surely a weapon for ''good.'']]

->The terrible thing about the truth is that sometimes you find it.

Alex Bernier is a priest. And not just any priest. He's a trained exorcist, raised in the Catholic Church by another priest and his mentor after his parents died. He is also hopelessly in love with Mara, a woman once tried to kill him. Bound by the oaths of his order, he dares not pursue her.

But she pursues him. All the way to Rome, where Alex is summoned after his mentor, Dominic, is found dead. Worse, though, Dominic was declared a heretic just before his death, and is to be ex-communicated. Alex refuses to let this happen, and is joined in Rome by another friend and fellow disciple of Dominic's, Father Thomas.

In Rome, Thomas and Alex encounter several demons Dominic apparently summoned before his death. It's apparent Dominic was attempting to atone for something, but they are at a loss for details until they are led to a mysterious man called William Eden.

Eden is eternal, not quite a demon but no longer just a man. He is a Sin Eater, the only person on Earth capable of forgiving men of their sins and allowing them entrance into Heaven...even after they have been ex-communicated. Thomas believes Eden is evil, a perversion against the Church, but Alex is torn. Eden convinces him to give up his order to pursue Mara.

For about a day, Alex experiences perfect, blissful happiness. But alas, it's not to be. [[spoiler: After a session of love-making, Alex leaves Mara alone. While painting sunflowers, she's interrupted by Eden, who murders her while attempting to make it look like she took her own life. Alex arrives home and sees her. He performs the Sin Eater ritual that Eden showed him, and absolves her sin. But finding no mortal taint on her, he realizes what Eden must have done and seeks him out.]]

[[spoiler: Alex and Thomas have in their possession in a special insturment and a set of instructions that seemingly describe how to kill an immortal like Eden. Blinded by his anger, Alex performs the ritual before Thomas can stop him. For Thomas has translated the instructions completely now, and they don't describe how to kill a Sin Eater. Yes, Eden is destroyed, but in his place Alex becomes what he sought to kill.]]

The movie stars Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, and Mark Addy...all of whom were in ''AKnightsTale'' together, which was also directed by Brian Helgeland. The film bombed at the box office, with many critics saying it had several good ideas, but poor execution. YourMileageMayVary.

!!This film provides examples of:

* AGodAmI - Eden seemed to feel this at first. Alex does, too, when he first absolves a sin.
-->'''Alex:''' I performed the ceremony. I found [[spoiler: Mara]] dying. I did it to set [[spoiler: her]] free.
-->'''Eden:''' How did it feel?
-->'''Alex:''' Like I was God.
* BadassPreacher - Alex and Thomas both qualify
* BigLippedAlligatorMoment - Exactly what is going on with the guys in the sewers who can tell the future by hanging guys?
* BrokenBird - Mara, who is seriously messed up, so much so she once tried to kill Alex
-->'''Detective:''' Is says here she tried to kill you at an - exercise class?
-->'''Alex:''' She tried to kill me at an exor''cism''.
* TheCallHasBadReception - Alex is a nice guy and a trained exorcist who believes he's being tasked to destroy the Sin Eater. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, the manual he's using is actually on how to ''become'' a Sin Eater.]]
* TheChessmaster - Eden, full stop. [[spoiler: He manipulates Dominic into raising Alex, going so far as to plan Alex's parents' deaths. He then manipulates Alex into doing everything he wants of him.]]
* ChristianityIsCatholic - justified in that it's about a sect within the Catholic Church
* CreepyChild - we get two, in the form of the two demons haunting Alex
* DeathSeeker - [[spoiler: Eden]]
* EmbarrassingTattoo - Thomas has one on his ankle. [[spoiler: Which allows Alex to identify him at a crucial moment.]]
* TheHeretic - Dominic is called this, and thus ex-communicated
* HeroicBSOD - Alex has one [[spoiler: after Mara dies]]
* HoYay - Alex/Eden, not helped by the fact that both actors are [[EstrogenBrigadeBait so]] [[EvenTheGuysWantHim pretty]].
* InnerMonologue - Alex gets one towards the end of the film
-> [[spoiler: And now it is I. I have been blessed and cursed... for now I possess the keys to the kingdom of heaven. I will forgive those who deserve freedom. I will damn those who have damned themselves. I will learn to live after love has died. I am the sin eater.]]
* IrishPriest - Thomas
* NeverSuicide - [[spoiler: Mara, who's death was made to look like suicide by Eden so Alex would perform the ritual to absolve her sins]]
* ReligionIsMagic - Or at least, it can make you immortal, allow you to summon and vanquish demons, and absolve people's sins by eating some bread and salt.
* ReligiousHorror
* SinisterMinister - Driscoll
* TakesOneToKillOne - [[spoiler: Apparently the only way to kill a Sin Eater is to then become one]]
* TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow - how Thomas views the rituals surrounding the Sin Eater and his powers
* TomatoInTheMirror - [[spoiler: Alex, in the end]]
* [[{{UsefulNotes/VaticanCity}} Vatican City]] - the setting for much of the movie
* WhoWantsToLiveForever - Eden
* XanatosGambit - [[spoiler: Eden's plan to get Alex to become a Sin Eater.]]
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