As Gaius was working with Lahabrea, I believe Ishgard is working with the Ascians and Garlemald.

For the Ascians, Ishgard would be a logical and appetizing target. All that religious fervour screams SUMMONING. As behind the scenes manipulators, they would steer this zeal to convince the people of Ishgard to summon their deity, as they influenced the Ala Mhigan youth in Southern Thanalan.

After striking down Ala Mhigo, The Empire advances towards Silvertear Lake and strikes down a Dragon King, Midgardsormr. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Having dealt such an admirable blow against their sworn enemy, they take a passive attitude towards Garlemald.

The two things don't need to be necessarily connected. However, given Ishgard drops the Alliance and neglects the summons to meeting regarding Gaius' ultimatum and adding Lahabrea's collaboration with Gaius, seeing a consortium between Garlemald and Ishgard having Lahabrea as their liaison, doesn't seem all that unlikely.


I have to disagree with the tempering and summoning talk about Ishgard. Regarding the tempering, I see no comments from Eorzeans mentioning a change in Ishgard's behaviour as they observed with the tribes. As for the summoning, our Scions friends did not detect any disturbance in the aether to suggest a primal (or a God, for that matter) had been summoned in Coerthas.