Some dialogue with RP utility from the first PLD quest, "Paladin's Pledge".
Obviously, the captaincy of Jenlyns has changed this, but previously, the Sultansworn were very exclusive. But in bold, it appears Eorzea has the concept that exists in real life as well, where you can become an officer purely on the basis of something like higher birth or education, not necessarily on earned merit.
As per being "royal guard", that makes sense, but we've already seen Papashan mention that he went all over Eorzea. Reconciling the two, it appears that is one of the two main duties they do; guarding, or going on a great quest on behalf of the Sultana, like knights of yore!
This is probably central to being a paladin, but rather neat.
Swears allegiance to the Sultanate AND serves the realm of Eorzea? Deferring on this one.
This has probably changed given the events of the PLD questline. If you talk to Jenlyns post-50, he says that the Sultansworn "are now growing", and no longer "dwindling".
I've noticed an interpretation that the Sultansworn are not military, but that's an erroneous assumption of how the militaries of Eorzea's historical era work. Our modern day definition of a military is a professional standing force, but in Eorzea's era, all fighting forces who exist lawfully and fight on behalf of the state are military. The Brass Blades are referred to as military by at least one NPC; they are not "law enforcement" (this isn't a modern legalistic state) but a force paid to keep the peace. Even then, royal guard are always considered military, in contemporary monarchies too. For example, this is in line with how in feudal states, the "military" were made of the knights sworn to the nobility (i.e. exactly like the Sultansworn), any drafted militia, and hired mercenaries.Â
There were no standing armies, but Eorzea seems to be going into its own Enlightenment era (Sultana contemplating popular democracy, Chief Admiral trying to bring proper statehood to a pirate city), and Grand Companies fit the emergence of professional militaries in that real life time period.
Obviously they're trying to reconcile the PC being an adventurer and also having the paladin class in-game, but I wonder...is there really any historical precedence in Ul'dah to this? Or can it be argued that Jenlyns is full of shit? Again, since Ul'dah is not a legalistic state like modern polities, everything exists at the whims of individuals with power, so...I would argue the concept of a free paladin is "new" to the Sultansworn (which is confirmed by the first pieces of dialogue, really).
Quote: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.
Obviously, the captaincy of Jenlyns has changed this, but previously, the Sultansworn were very exclusive. But in bold, it appears Eorzea has the concept that exists in real life as well, where you can become an officer purely on the basis of something like higher birth or education, not necessarily on earned merit.
Quote: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.
As per being "royal guard", that makes sense, but we've already seen Papashan mention that he went all over Eorzea. Reconciling the two, it appears that is one of the two main duties they do; guarding, or going on a great quest on behalf of the Sultana, like knights of yore!
Quote: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.
This is probably central to being a paladin, but rather neat.
Quote: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?
Swears allegiance to the Sultanate AND serves the realm of Eorzea? Deferring on this one.
Quote:But the glory of the Sultansworn... Well, much of it is buried in the past now. 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.
This has probably changed given the events of the PLD questline. If you talk to Jenlyns post-50, he says that the Sultansworn "are now growing", and no longer "dwindling".
Quote:And here you are. We shall instruct you in the paladin military arts. You will not be inducted into the Sultansworn, but serve as a free paladin.
I've noticed an interpretation that the Sultansworn are not military, but that's an erroneous assumption of how the militaries of Eorzea's historical era work. Our modern day definition of a military is a professional standing force, but in Eorzea's era, all fighting forces who exist lawfully and fight on behalf of the state are military. The Brass Blades are referred to as military by at least one NPC; they are not "law enforcement" (this isn't a modern legalistic state) but a force paid to keep the peace. Even then, royal guard are always considered military, in contemporary monarchies too. For example, this is in line with how in feudal states, the "military" were made of the knights sworn to the nobility (i.e. exactly like the Sultansworn), any drafted militia, and hired mercenaries.Â
There were no standing armies, but Eorzea seems to be going into its own Enlightenment era (Sultana contemplating popular democracy, Chief Admiral trying to bring proper statehood to a pirate city), and Grand Companies fit the emergence of professional militaries in that real life time period.
Quote: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.
Obviously they're trying to reconcile the PC being an adventurer and also having the paladin class in-game, but I wonder...is there really any historical precedence in Ul'dah to this? Or can it be argued that Jenlyns is full of shit? Again, since Ul'dah is not a legalistic state like modern polities, everything exists at the whims of individuals with power, so...I would argue the concept of a free paladin is "new" to the Sultansworn (which is confirmed by the first pieces of dialogue, really).
