So if 'r' key works in sailfish_linux_chroot then try same sync in containers: copy xkb files, read all xkb options from dconf on sfos and set them after xfce is running via setxkbmap. Not sure what error message you have in mind but some xkb errors are expected and fine.

About orientation: do you use my "default allowed orientations" patch and do you have correct dconf value set? IIRC gemini have inverted landscape display but without proper dconf set. sfos-4.2.0 branch in sailfish_linux_chroot should have auto orientation enabled but I only tested it with chromium.