Durandal

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==
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==
==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.Xenosaga Weekly, Episode I vol 3 pg 7
==Gallery==
===Episode I===
Durandal Bridge.png|Durandal Bridge.
Altered footage (XS1).png|Altered footage depicting the Durandal attacking the Woglinde.
===Episode II===
===Episode III===
Durandal (XS3) render.png|Model of the Durandal.
Destroyed Durandal texture.png|Destroyed Durandal background texture.
Abel's Ark - Durandal's wreckage.png|The Durandal's wreckage.
==References==
Category:Ships (XS)