Midgardsormr and the Crystals

[Anonymoose]

I have to assume is because he's playing more of a long game, hoping that as we more fully manifest our Echo we'll sway to the Ascian side.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Elidibus as being strictly on the Ascians' side.

...as far as I know the aciens there were collecting horns similar to Tupsimati for whatever reasons, but they're apperantly "keys".

I'm still not sure what was up with the 1.0 horns, but my suspicion was that they wanted the horn associated with the Sahagin's history for assistance in materializing Leviathan.

On the topic of Tupsimati:

Let's not overlook the possibility that Tupsimati's origins and intended use might end up being irrelevant to why Nabriales coveted it (if, of course, that doesn't turn out to be the main point). It has the power to manipulate the aether with such strength as to summon twelve gods at one time with zero crystals. If your goal is to destabilize the aetherial balance so utterly as to allow for Zodiark's second coming, which is one possible interpretation of the Ascian plan, that could be a powerful tool. Discounting their desire for it could be like saying someone should have no interest in specifically stealing a flamethrower because their only goal is to somehow destroy something that is completely unrelated to flamethrowers (and incidentally flammable).

As for the "Seal"

I've got nothing. Well, next to nothing. Lahabrea and Elidibus are not the same as the others; they are of this world. The nature of the seal that barred entry to the Ascians ascended from the other world eludes me for the time being, as does whether it was at all in any way related to the seal on the aether confluence Midgardsormr protected.