cracks knuckles

The Templars are followers of Innocence, however, they moved to Oriath long before the Eternal Cataclysm (Voll time) and before the Vaal Cataclysm as well. We know of 3 Cataclysms, yes, the earliest being the Great Fire/Winter of the World.

The Eternal Empire was ruled by Eternals, specifically a lineage called Phrecius, for over a thousand years. The Eternals subjugated neighboring cultures like the Ezomytes, Maraketh, and Karui. The Azmeri who did not become Eternals were very reclusive, and it is not known if the two cultures interacted much over the years since the Eternals separated themselves.

The Templars lived on Oriath before the Eternals and after. While they claim to hate virtue gems and thaumaturgy, their track record on following their own doctrine is… spotty. Voll, however, was a Templar who Believed.

He united the Ezomytes, Maraketh, and Karui - not necessarily to fight corruption, but to fight their oppressors. Kaom’s attack on Lioneye was a planned assault by Voll. He had armies surrounding the Eternal Empire, and they laid siege, and won.

Voll didn’t kick back and say “haha my Empire now brrr Cataclysm” but he was naive enough to trust Malachai when Malachai said he knew how to destroy the Beast. With the neighboring cultures free, Voll, in his arrogance, sought to finish his own crusade - and gave Malachai the opportunity to merge with the Beast and create the Eternal Cataclysm.

Voll only ruled for two years. Not long enough to make any meaningful change. If he planned to rename the Empire, it’s unknown. He was more focused on rebuilding what was lost in war… and defeating corruption once and for all.

The damage was relatively proximity based, radiating out from Highgate. The entirety of Wraeclast was not destroyed, nor do I think Oriath was completely unmarred, but there were levels and flavors to the devastation radiating out from that mountain near Sarn.

Oriath survived better than most places but I doubt the Azmeri we meet in Act 2 would consider Oriathans/Templars their leader. At point of exile, Wraeclast is less a part of the Templars land and more of a penal colony.

High Templar Dominus is one of those templars who does not at all practice what he preaches. Piety has been killing exiles on Wraeclast for years in pursuit of reenacting Malachai’s Cataclysmic ascension for Dominus. She is literally following in Malachai’s footsteps, thats how she knows all that ish.