highdea: could Unukalhai be a messenger of Hydaelyn?
Unlike the Ascians throwing us into the danger of a Primal threat he informs the WOL and understands the dangers of their existence, threatening races and absorbing aether in droves.
Also, though he comes across aesthetically like Ascians, mostly Elidibus, his mask bares no homage/allegiance to that of Zodiark. Lastly, like Elidibus his welcoming comes from a Scion friend, Urianger, instead of a provoked introduction. It all seems to rhyme symbolically yet they both hold a systematic purpose behind their goals, one to bring rise and acting as a herald to a god and another to nullify a threat(s) and this will also prolong Zodiarc's likely inevitable coming.