Paladin lore question help!!

[Sounsyy]

THE SULTANSWORN
(Original post can be found here.)

The Brotherhood of the Sultansworn was formed 600 years ago by Jhal Tristram the True during the founding of Ul’dah from Belah’dia. A young Jhal Tristram went before the sultan, Sasagan Ul Sisigan first of the Ul line and founder of Ul’dah, and pledged his sword and life to serve him. Two more joined Jhal, a Roegadyn and a Lalafellin knight, and together they became the three legendary and first Paladins. For each of his three champions, Sultan Sasagan Ul Sisigan had a sword forged from the same ore as the legendary blade, Oathkeeper. These swords were Curtana (which belonged to Jhal), Joyeuse, and Durandal.

The Sultansworn - personal guard of the sultan - were formed in 969 by decree of Sasagan Ul Sisigan. Originally consisting of paladins who helped to found Ul'dah, they have remained loyal defenders of the royal line for five hundred years, even through changes in dynasty.

While their fealty currently remains with the sultana, the Monetarists have managed to cut the organization's strength to half of what it was in their glory days. Thus, the Sultansworn must now accept the aid of the Brass Blades even in guarding the Royal Palace, and their moral has suffered much for it. The loss of Oathkeeper - the blade Sasagan bequeathed to the first Sultansworn captain - has had a particularly lingering and deleterious effect upon their power.

Long has the sacred sword Oathkeeper been bestowed upon the commander of the Sultansworn, vowed protectors of Ul’dah’s ruler. Yet it is not alone in its greatness. At the time of its making, three other swords were struck from the same ore and forged in the same fires. These brethren blades, Curtana among them, were then gifted to the three noble paladins by whose hand the brotherhood of the Sultansworn was founded.

Fancy yerself a knight in shinin’ armor, eh? Whatever floats yer boat, I s'pose… Anyroad, it’s Curtana ye’ll be wantin’. ‘Twas the blade wielded by Jhal Tristram the True, one of the three first paladins. Story goes that, when the first sultan of Ul'dah formed the Sultansworn, he had three swords forged from the same ore used to make Oathkeeper─one for each of his champions. Curtana was one of the blades, an’ it was laid to rest with its master when he kicked the bucket. Rumor has it, though, that Jhal Tristram’s tomb was plundered recently, an’ Curtana taken.

The first row displays life-size recreations of the three legendary Sultansworn known collectively as the first paladins. Of particular interest are the blades that they brandish. Three blades forged from the same steel, one each bestowed to the three great warriors who would attend the Royal House by the hand of Sasagan Ul Sisigan, first of his name and founder of our nation. Curtana, Joyeuse, Durandal… Eras have passed, monarchs have risen and fallen, but the legends of these blades─and the men who did wield them─live on to this very day.

Jhal Tristram the True would later go on to defeat an Amalj’aa pugilist in a famous duel and begin a legendary quest to lands beyond the sultanate to retrieve a sacred goblet. His tale is recorded in the book, The Song of Tristram, however the tale is quite fanciful and may or may not be 100% historically factual.

A work of literature depicting the valorous deeds of Jhal Tristram the True, one of the three first paladins of the Sultansworn.

Anyroad, let’s talk about that text ye brought. It contains tales of Jhal Tristram’s exploits. Turns out I already knew most of it. To give ye the gist of it: a young Tristram goes afore the sultan, he pledges him his sword, the Sultansworn are formed, Tristram defeats an Amalj'aa pugilist in a famous duel, then sets off on a quest to retrieve the Sacred Goblet… Things get a bit fanciful from then on, but cuttin’ a long story short, Curtana does get a mention. Four crystals embedded in the guard an’ the ashes of a saint in the hilt─these’re the sword’s secrets. In the old days, it was common practice to forge a weapon usin’ body parts. A bit morbid, I grant ye, but folk back then believed the spirits of the dead offered the bearer protection.

Even after Jhal’s death, the Sultansworn continued on for the next six centuries, nurturing and perfecting their battle arts in closely guarded secret while protecting Ul’dah’s throne. It wasn’t until very recent years (5 years ago) that Captain Jenlyns, in response to their quickly dwindling brotherhood, allowed adventurers, mercenaries, and sellswords to be taught the ways of the Paladin and become Sworn or Free Paladins.

When the sultan Sasagan Ul Sisigan, first of his line, founded the nation on Ul'dah, he decreed that the Royal House of Ul would ever be attended by a sworn brotherhood of elite warriors. Under Captain Jenlyns’ leadership, we carry on that sacred tradition. The captain himself labors tirelessly to keep the sultana safe from those who plot against her. Alas, there are many who would welcome her fall…

Apparently─and remember, you heard this first from me─the Sultansworn elite are sharing the secret skills and training of paladins! Incredible, I know. The Sultansworn have an exclusive monopoly on the instruction of paladin skills. Once upon a time, if you weren’t one of those officer-track elites, then you had no chance to learn the arts. And competition to get to the top was very fierce indeed, let me tell you. But anyone who joined had to swear an oath of fealty to the Ul'dahn sultanate. Which meant no more adventuring, no more derring-do, and no more Coliseum─just languishing about in the palace all day polishing plate mail. That’s why this news is so big. Now anyone with a bit of commitment can learn the skills of a paladin, and no memorizing the Fifty-Five Commandments of the Sworn or any other nonsense, either.

If you aspire to paladinhood, you should understand what it means. A paladin swears allegiance to the sultanate. A paladin shall be the sword and shield of the sultanate. A paladin defends the people of the realm. Sellswords and gladiators and others of their ilk wield their blades for themselves, but a paladin serves the greater good. Do you understand me? The battle arts that the paladin learns have been held secret, nurtured, and perfected within the ranks of the Sultansworn elite for nigh on these six hundred years. Of all those sworn to protect the sultanate─the soldiers, the mounted guards, and the knights─we are the elite of the elite. Our conviction unwavering, our hearts true, our sword skills without peer. But the glory of the Sultansworn… Well, much of it is buried in the past now.

Jenlyns accredits this decline in their ranks to the theft of Oathkeeper, supposedly at the hands of the Sultansworn’s former Captain, Solkzagyl. In actuality, Solkzagyl was framed by the Monetarist faction, one of the political parties in Ul’dah who oppose the Sultan(a) and support Syndicate rule. The 52-60 PLD questline follows the trail of the still-missing Oathkeeper to the Monetarist-controlled Death’s Embrace, the group of assassins responsible for dismantling the Sultansworn and stealing Oathkeeper.

Our brotherhood grows smaller by the year, we are a shadow of what we once were, and the sultana turns to sellswords to defend her palace. All this, because of one traitor─no, because of a blot of dishonor left by one who shall not be named… And because of him, we have been forced to seek the help of able-bodied adventurers.

There were many reasons for the fall, but the loss of Oathkeeper… Yes, that was the mortal blow. The sword Oathkeeper was bestowed upon the first captain of the Sultansworn by the then sultan of Ul'dah. In time it became our standard, the symbol of the oaths we had sworn, and it was treasured by each new captain for generations. Possession was proof of Sultansworn command.

But then the unthinkable came to pass─Oathkeeper was stolen by the traitor. It shook our brotherhood to the core. How can we be trusted to protect the sultana if we cannot even hold on to the symbol of our fealty? We have been tarnished, in the eyes of ruler and ruled alike. If the Sultansworn are to survive, we must find the traitor and recover Oathkeeper. But…the Sultansworn have grown too weak, and we cannot do it ourselves. We’ve been forced to recruit outsiders to help us in our cause.

Some years ago now, there was a struggle for influence between the sultanate military and a faction within the Syndicate known as the Monetarists. The latter emerged triumphant, and the army’s authority was diminished dramatically. Although Solkzagyl was still captain of the Sultansworn elite, he knew his position was perilous─so he fled, taking Oathkeeper with him. In doing so, he went against the words that he had spoken on bended knee before his royal liege. Solkzagyl served for over thirty years as captain of the Sultansworn elite, and he is a formidable foe─few can match his skill with the sword.

What is the difference between a Free Paladin and the Sultansworn?

We shall instruct you in the paladin military arts. You will not be inducted into the Sultansworn, but serve as a free paladin. First and foremost is this: you are a paladin now─a custodian of traditions ancient and noble. A free paladin has no master. Instead she travels all lands, and in every place takes up the cause of the unarmed and defenseless. You swear fealty not to a lord, but to yourself─you are nobility amongst adventurers.

Of all those sworn to protect the sultanate—the soldiers, the mounted guards, and the knights—the Sultansworn are the elite of the elite. Our conviction unwavering, our hearts true, our sword skills without peer. We are bound to defend Sultana Nanamo Ul Namo, even in death. Such is the solemn oath that we have taken.

A paladin swears allegiance to the sultanate.” “A paladin shall be the sword and shield of the sultanate.” “A paladin defends the people of the realm.

What does a Sultansworn do?

First, and most obviously, the Sultansworn protect the Sultan or Sultana of Ul’dah from all threats. Whether that be in Ul’dah or abroad.

The sultana has declared she will soon make a journey to Scorpion Crossing to provide her royal blessing to the people who have labored there to rebuild their lives. The Sultansworn will see that she is provided with more than enough protection; however, no chances can be taken. The royal court seeks adventurers to travel to Scorpion Crossing and clear the area of any and all threats before the procession begins.

And so Ishgard rejoins the Eorzean Alliance… Her Grace will be very busy in the days ahead - as will we, I expect. Have no doubt that the Sultansworn stand ready to serve as her sword and shield. Escorting her Grace to the Holy See was an unexpected challenge, though we were glad of it. I should think that there will be other political visits to be made in future, if recent events are any indication.

Second, the Sultansworn protect the Royal Promenade, but also the sultanate at large from imminent or immediate threats to the Sultan or Sultana.

Beyond lies the upper tier of Ul’dah, home to nobles and aristocrats alike. Know that here the eyes of the Sultansworn are upon you at all times.

The Heart of the Sworn lies beyond. State your business. …Pardon? Did you say a lost heirloom? Ahem. Proceed. What are you playing at, adventurer? Did Momodi truly send you? If this is some sort of prank, there will be consequences!

Third, the Sultansworn protect the Royal Treasures. Sometimes, they go undercover to do this.

…I can tell you this much, though. Whatever the thief’s got his eyes on, it’s got the Sultansworn in a right dither. Word has it they’ve formed a regiment o’ their best and brightest to safeguard the royal vaults from this very threat.

You’ll be wanting to speak with Phillice. She’s one of the ‘Sworn’s best, and something of a history buff, it’d seem. When she heard the thief was targeting the four relics of Belah'dia, she personally stepped forward and volunteered to lead the investigation.

All artifacts of Belah'dian origin have been sealed within the royal vault, and a regiment of our finest assigned to its protection. I have furnished all the guards with a supply of demasking dust, and instructed them to be on the lookout for any suspicious personages. But there are even more disturbing matters at hand. Doubtless you have heard of the recent rash of murders perpetrated by our quarry. The Sultansworn have launched an investigation, but the truth of the matter is that we have been far too occupied with the defense of the vaults to make any meaningful progress. We would be most grateful for any assistance you could offer.

(Part 1, CONT...)