Durandal

Durandal
Main Engine	Unknown
Length	4000m
Weight	Unknown
Weaponry	Photon torpedo tubes, a main frontal laser cannon, railgun batteries, High Velocity Cannon, A.G.W.S.
Crew Members	Jr., Shelley Godwin, Mary Godwin, 100-Series Observational Units
Affiliation	Kukai Foundation

The Durandal is a ship in the Xenosaga series. It operates on behalf of the Kukai Foundation and is commanded by Gaignun Kukai Jr.. When Jr. is absent, it is left under the command of Mary and Shelley Godwin.

Description

The Durandal resembles a red sword with two white wing-like orbiters circling around it. The Durandal contains a residential area, a park, the hangar, the bridge, and a dock. Additionally, there is a restricted Isolation Area that contains Joachim Mizrahi's 12 Zohar Emulators, as well as Gnosified bodies such as Betty. When docked at the Kukai Foundation, the Durandal functions as a skyscraper.

Story

History

The Durandal is a 4000m class heavy armor battle cruiser. It is owned by the Kukai Foundation and is set up to be able to dock with the Kukai Foundation headquarters. When in this state it acts as the main propulsion system for the Kukai Foundation.

Episode I

The Durandal first appears when Jr. investigates the destroyed remains of the Woglinde. The Durandal gets into a battle with a U-TIC Battleship and defeats it. The Durandal later appears when the Elsa escapes from the Cathedral Ship and it helps in attacking Gnosis in the areas. Shion and the others head on board and meet Jr.. After meeting up with the Kukai Foundation, Jr. and Gaignun show Shion and the others the Zohar Emulators they have stored on board, as well as a room of people who have partially transformed into Gnosis. The Durandal docks with the Kukai Foundation, taking on the appearance of a skyscraper that appears within a large body of water within the Foundation. While on board the Durandal the party is able to take a shuttle to the Kukai Foundation, or head to the Elsa, which is docked onboard. Footage of the Durandal attacking the U-TIC Battleship is later manipulated by the U-TIC Organization to make it appear as if the Durandal destroyed the Woglinde. The party members are held captive on board the Durandal, but are let loose by Lapis Roman and make their way to the Elsa in order to dive into KOS-MOS' Encephalon. When a giant group of Gnosis attack the Kukai Foundation, the civilians are all evacuated to the Durandal. The Durandal acts as a hub of operations for the party for the rest of the game. The party is able to return to it via the Elsa, and use it as a way to get to the Kukai Foundation.

Episode II

The Durandal does not play a major role in the plot in Episode II, but the party is able to travel to it at various points throughout the game. The number of areas that can be traveled to within the Durandal have been reduced to the Dock, Bridge and Park areas. It appears to help the Elsa as it escapes from the Ormus Stronghold.

Episode III

While the party is distracted at Merkabah, Dmitri Yuriev takes control of the Durandal, using his control of the body of Gaignun as part of the effort. He shoots Mary and seizes the Arbiter Code from her and Shelley. By the time the party arrives at the Durandal, the halls are littered with dead bodies and guarded by Yuriev's minions. The party must travel through the residential area, finding Canaan and Shelley in one room and Mary and Juli Mizrahi in another. After doing so they head to the Isolation Area where Citrine guards the way. The party battles and kills her, heading in further to find that Yuriev has unleashed all of the Zohar Emulators. Yuriev says he has moved past wanting to destroy U-DO and now wants the power to become god-like himself. He forces the Durandal towards Abel's Ark and the party is forced to rush to the Elsa and retreat. The destroyed remains of the Durandal can be seen by the party while in Abel's Ark. The only survivors are Mary and Shelley Godwin, Juli, Canaan, and Alby.

As an area

Main articles: Durandal (XS1), Durandal (XS2), Durandal (XS3), Durandal (XS1&2)

The Durandal appears as an area in all three mainline Xenosaga games, with it serving as a dungeon in Episode III. The Durandal also appears as an area in Xenosaga I & II.

Database

Episode I

Durandal

A 4000m class heavy armor battle cruiser owned by the Kukai Foundation.

It is designed to dock with the Foundation's headquarters, a free orbiting colony. Once docked, it functions as the colony's main propulsion system.

Episode III

Durandal

A heavily-armed Foundation ship.

A heavily-armed Kukai Foundation ship that extends over 4000 meters in length. Jr. is normally in command of the ship; otherwise, it is run by the sisters Mary and Shelley.

Its front end plunges into the center of the Foundation colony to dock with it, turning the whole ship into a Metropolis. It has now become a tourist attraction, and is even listed in travel guides.

This specialized design came about as the result of careful thought over the evacuation of the colony in an emergency. In such a case, citizens could evacuate directly into the Durandal, which would then take off, abandoning the colony.

The Durandal's activities mainly involve missions from the Second Miltian government or Contact Subcommittee that must be kept from the public eye. As a result, the Durandal's movements are not a matter of public record. The U-TIC Organization has taken advantage of this situation to ensnare the Durandal in the past.

Currently, its contracted mission is to protect the Zohar emulators and hunt down the Gnosis.

Xenosaga I & II

デュランダル

全長4000mを超える、クーカイ・ファウンデーションの所有の重武装艦。
通常はJr.が艦を指揮し、それ以外の時はメリィ、シェリィの姉妹によって運行されている。
ファウンデーション・コロニーに入港すると、先端部分が中央に向かって突き出す形になり、そのままメトロポリスとなる。
現在は、ゾハルエミュレーターの保護と、グノーシス掃討の任務を請け負っている。

This section needs to be translated. This quote has not officially been translated into English. You can help translate it.

デュランダル　その２

ファウンデーションとドッキングする特殊な設計は、有事の際に住民をそのままデュランダルへと避難させて脱出することを考慮した結果である。
デュランダルの活動は主に、第二ミルチア政府及び接触小委員会等からの依頼による、いわゆる表沙汰にできない仕事であり、それゆえデュランダルの活動が公式に記録されることもない。
その為、U-TIC機関にそういった事情を逆手に取られ、罠にかけられてしまった事もある。

This section needs to be translated. This quote has not officially been translated into English. You can help translate it.

Trivia

• The Durandal gets its name from the holy sword of Roland, one of Charlemagne's 12 knights described in the European legend, the Song of Roland.

Gallery

Episode I

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  Durandal Bridge.

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  Altered footage depicting the Durandal attacking the Woglinde.

Episode II

This page or section could use some images.

Episode III

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  Model of the Durandal.

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  Destroyed Durandal background texture.

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  The Durandal's wreckage.