Kingdom of San d'Oria

Sandoriaflag — Flag of the Kingdom of San d'Oria.

The Kingdom of San d'Oria is a large and powerful monarchy in Final Fantasy XI. It has been ruled by King Destin R d'Oraguille for over thirty years. His sons, Prince Trion and Prince Pieuje, are constantly vying for his attention as he has not yet selected an heir to the throne.

Life in San d'Oria

This kingdom of proud Elvaan warriors is situated to the north of the Quon continent and was built on the ashes of a brutal civil war. It has been ruled by a succession of kings from the d'Oraguille royal family for a span of more than five hundred years. The kingdom's capital of San d'Oria is a walled city defended by two orders of knights: the Royal Knights, who patrol the country's borders and seek to expand its territories, and the Temple Knights, responsible for protecting the city itself and maintaining domestic tranquility.

Culture

Despite the fact that San d'Oria's culture revolves around the use of iron, it is a technologically stagnant society. However, with traditional methods passed down over generations, San d'Orian blade smiths forge weapons that rival the swords of the East and are known throughout the world for their quality.

The Elvaan culture also centers around a "better than thou" attitude regarding foreigners and especially Humes. This is most prevalent amongst the royalty and military, still angry over their past defeats to the Republic of Bastok.

Living Standards

The ancient forest capital shows signs of deterioration, but with population growth in a state of gentle decline and many residences left vacant, overcrowding has not become an issue. The region is also blessed with an abundance of fertile land for crops, and food is plentiful. However, heavy taxes and long military tenures leave few hands to work the fields, making life a challenge for the citizens of San d'Oria.

Climate

Even though it lies in a relatively cold region, San d'Oria has long been able to export its verdant crops of wheat and rye, along with shipments of lumber, through the independent town of Selbina. Also, large imported Selbina sheep can be seen grazing in the furthest reaches of the kingdom.

The San d'Orian Military

The San d'Orian army is divided into two arms: the Royal Knights and the Temple Knights. As well as having different duties, both orders are structured in different ways.

The Royal Knights

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The Temple Knights

The Temple Knights are a religious order charged with maintaining civil harmony within the capital. In times of peace, the Temple Knights are responsible for arresting criminals and heretics, providing security for the Chateau d'Oraguille and the cathedral, and putting down civil strife. When war engulfs the kingdom, they are often sent to the battlefield; in war, their duties extend to holding prayers for victorious outcomes and punishing crime and acts of immorality within the San d'Orian army.

The Order of the Temple Knights consists of around sixty units led by a general. An average unit is formed by thirty Myrmidons under the command of a Temple Knight and ten Temple Squires who have been baptized by the papsque. A Grand Temple Knight has ten Temple Knights as subordinates, and accordingly commands a force ten times the strength of a normal unit. All funding for Temple Knight activities comes from the San d'Oria Cathedral, so while they are theoretically under the command of the king, any large-scale mobilization requires the permission of the papsque.

The Royal Guards

The Royal Guard is unit of knights responsible for the protection of the king and the royal family. Exact numbers are unknown, but this unit is thought to hold close to one hundred members, traditionally chosen from the two orders of knights. It is considered to be an extremely high honor to be offered a position in the Royal Guard, and recently many adventurers of remarkable achievements can be found within their ranks.

The Reserve Knights

This title is given to mercenary and volunteer groups that have been officially sanctioned by the King of San d'Oria. Since they are only paid during times of war, most members of these groups take up adventuring while waiting for the call to arms.

The Dragoon Knights

The knights in direct service to the king, these warriors were skilled for their ability with the spear and to control dragons. However, their distinct armor soon vanished from the battlefield, and the last Dragoon soon left the capital on a secret mission never to be seen again. However, word in the streets is that these proud warriors have been seen in the lands to the east. Perhaps their order will someday be reborn.