The Red Templars are a splinter faction of rebel Templars, who have become addicted to the use of the so-called “Red Lyrium”. The commanders of the Templar Order became corrupted and began corrupting the rest of their subordinates, by force if necessary. Soon, physical changes began to emerge and red lyrium veins appear to manifest on the skin of those exposed.  Once their corruption was complete, General Samson took over as leader of the Red Templars.