Paladin lore question help!!

[Sounsyy]

(...CONT, Part 2)

This theft shames the Sultansworn—and me most of all. The blame is mine, you see. I grew lax in my duties, and in a moment of carelessness… No, it will do no good to recount the tale now. Since the hour of the theft, we’ve searched frantically for any signs, any whispers as to the whereabouts of the crown. We have found nothing. The identity of the thieves, and their motives, seemed fated to remain a mystery—until you arrived, bearing this ransom note. In it, the criminals state their price for the return of Her Majesty’s crown. And though it pains me to say it, I fear I have no choice but to acquiesce to their demands. Too much is at stake to do otherwise. The crown symbolizes Her Majesty’s birthright, and identifies her as the custodian of the Ul legacy. It must be recovered.

Confused? I am W’bulea of the Sultansworn. I infiltrated the notorious robber gang, the Velvet Hands, after learning of their plans to attempt a bloodless heist at the palace - an attempt I can only assume is meant to emulate Mistbeard and his legendary act of larceny.

Ye’ll notice that every generation’s got its very own pirate king─with each one tryin’ to outplunder the bugger before. Anyroad, the most recent one─that’s ol’ Mistbeard─got it into ‘is ‘ead to raid the Sultan of Ul'dah’s royal weddin’, and, bein’ a darin’ sort o’ soul, went an’ bloody did it. ‘Tis said, once the final tally was taken, the cap'n an’ ‘is crew made off with ten score gold ingots, five an’ fifty pure-bred black chocobo skins, a ten-ponze diamond from th’ wastes of Meracydia…an’ th’ biggest prize of all─th’ virgin bride’s maiden'ead! Now, I cannot rightly vouch fer that last claim, but there be some what say the current Sultana bears a strikin’ resemblance to a certain ‘andsome bandit. Heh heh heh!

Finally, the Sultansworn can enforce the law and deal out justice.

Traitor! I sentence you to death, and decree that your body shall lie here and feed the crows.

For her foul crimes against the sultanate, I hereby declare Ellie of the Mythril Eye─the thief of many faces─an enemy of the state. Deploy all troops and do not rest until she is in custody!

Are the Sultansworn stuck inside the Royal Promenade?

Absolutely NOT!

During the course of my official tenure as a Sultansworn, I traveled the length and breadth of Eorzea. Those experiences molded me into the man I am today.

Western front, clear! Eastern front, clear! For me? From Papashan? A twilight pretzel… My favorite! How did he know!? Can’t fight on an empty stomach, now, can I? Actually…I can’t fight on any stomach. I suppose you could say I have no stomach…for fighting. Brigands beware! The Sultansworn are here to serve and protect!

But the world does not know that, and even the illusion of power is a power of sorts. I can use it to fight back. I will tell my subordinates that I’m fleeing to Snowcloak in Coerthas. When the Monetarists hear of this, as they surely will, they will send assassins after me again. But when they show their hand, I will stand my ground and fight back.

More lore on the Sultansworn is compiled below:

In Belah'dia, the sword was deemed the arm of paladins, and the peasantry were forbidden from carrying them. During the War of the Sisters, however, Ul'dah and Sil'dih both increasingly needed men to fight, and had no choice but to hire Hellsguard and Highlander mercenaries. As more and more inhabitants of Ul'dah came to wield blades, displays of skill became a commonplace sight. From these humble beginnings was the grand gladiatorial tradition born.

For centuries, the elite of the Sultansworn have served as personal bodyguards to the royal family of Ul'dah. Known as paladins, these men and women marry exquisite swordplay with stalwart shieldwork to create a style of combat uncompromising in its defense. Clad in brilliant silver armor, they charge fearlessly into battle, ever ready to lay down their lives for their liege. To be a paladin is to protect, and those who choose to walk this path will become the iron foundation upon which the party’s defense is built.

Once, not so long ago, the Sultansworn could walk the streets with their heads held high. When they marched by, the smallfolk would look upon them with reverence and gratitude. And no one was more respected than the captain. My predecessor.

Around the time the traitor Solkzagyl was named captain, several famed soldiers of the Sultansworn met with untimely deaths. But strangely, our records do not say how they died. Curious, I begged the favor of an old friend and received permission to inspect medical records kept by Frondale’s Phrontistery. I discovered that the soldiers died in various ways─some in combat, some suddenly at night, in the barracks… But in nearly every case, there were signs that poison had played a role in their demise.

Yes, poison. Carefully, invisibly administered. The more I read, the more I saw the dark hand of Death’s Embrace at work─assassins in the pay and service of the Monetarists. A society so secretive that few believe it truly exists. But no matter how skilled and devious the assassins, they should not have been able to kill so many of the Sultansworn elite without being discovered. Not, that is, without help from within our own ranks. So I asked myself: who had the most to gain from their deaths? One by one, the former captain, his trusted aides, the most capable of the Sultansworn who might become future commanders─all of them, slain by an invisible hand. And with their deaths, the way was open for Solkzagyl to become the Sultansworn’s youngest captain in a century.

Does it surprise you to see me dressed so, Sounsyy? I was once a Sultansworn, you know, though it’s been fifteen years since I put down my sword, and took up the role of stationmaster. It is a capacity in which I am no less proud to serve, lest you doubt. Whenever Her Majesty ventures outside the gates, I have the honor of protecting her person. Never before had I seen her so despondent as when news of the crown’s theft reached her ears. But thanks to your valiant efforts, she is returned to her former vibrant self. You have the gratitude of every Sultansworn, Sounsyy.

A proud man of the Dunesfolk, Papashan once numbered among the Sultansworn, even acting as the right hand of Solkzagyl, the former captain. When Nanamo came to the throne, he served as her personal guard. To the young sultana who had no living family left, he became a second father.

Upon retirement from active service, Papashan became stationmaster at the Ul'dah Dispatch Yard operated by Amajina & Sons Mineral Concern, a prestigious position as befits a man who has seen sixty-four winters. However, behind his persona of a good-natured elderly man, he continues to secretly offer what aid he can to the Sultansworn. He also delights in taking strolls with Nanamo when she leaves the palace in the guise of "Lady Lilira," himself masquerading as a steward.

The outside world believes Ul'dah to be a sultanate, ruled by Her Majesty Nanamo Ul Namo. Truth is, though, it’s the six wealthiest citizens that hold the most sway—the Syndicate. Be that as it may, the sultana’s still got the support of the people… But she might struggle to keep even that if a certain incident becomes public knowledge. It pains me to say it, but the crown of Her Majesty, symbol of the royal dynasty, has been stolen.

No matter what the circumstances, once a man has left the Sultansworn, he cannot return. No, I followed my own path, and on it I will stay.

I have a trial for you. I want you to seek the gallant armor, the legendary raiments worn by generations of the finest soldiers of the Sultansworn. In accordance with Sultansworn tradition, the set that would be yours has been scattered across southern Thanalan. Each piece has been locked within a coffer, which will be guarded by two men. You must best the Sultansworn themselves if you are to claim their armor.

This sacred armor has been kept within the Sultansworn for many generations. It was given only to those Sultansworn who had, through feats of arms and deeds of great courage, earned the privilege to wear it. But something tells me that, for the first time since it left the armorer’s forge, this armor should go to someone who is not of the Sultansworn. If I allowed myself to be a slave to tradition, the paladin who deserves it the most would never wear it!

History tells the tale of some six score years ago, when a fisherman rescued a half-drowned Sea Wolf off the coast of Thanalan. The bedraggled Roegadyn’s name was Caerkympf, and he had hitherto lived the life of a brutal pirate. His gratitude towards his savior was such, however, that he swore an oath to liberate the fisherman’s village from the ravages of the local Amalj’aa tribe. True to his word, the Sea Wolf drove off the beastmen, and the story of his exploits reached the ear of the sultan in Ul’dah. The ruler rewarded Caerkympf with a suit of armor of such impressive splendor that, for some time afterwards, armorsmiths across the land were harried to emulate its design.

One of the sacred teachings of the Sultansworn. Using a soul crystal as a median to condense aether, a paladin encases himself in a sheath of nigh-impenetrable energy.

This technique focuses aether into the tip of a blade, then releases it in a dazzling flare of light. As well as causing temporary blindness, Flash unfailingly draws the foe’s attention away from allies and onto oneself.

The best examples of the Sultansworn in action are in the PLD questline, the 2.5 Hildibrand questline, and in the early Ul’dah story quests. Specifically: Nothing To See Here, Secrets and Lies, and Duty Honor Country.

Hope this helps!