Pushing us towards Ishgard in this way also seems strange. Surely Merlwyb and Kan would welcome us to either Limsa or Gridania as an ally. Merlwyb states that their own state comes first and then the alliance. If they stay in an alliance with an Ul'dah run by the monetarists after a coup they merely legitimize them. So for Limsa and Gridania to break off ties with the new Ul'dah regime, a regime they surely despise and certainly don't trust for a moment, makes a lot more sense and then taking us in is just another way of showing their solidarity with the legitimate ruler...who ever that is if the sultana is truly dead.

In that case, it would also make a lot more sense for us to go to Limsa/Gridania to stand by our allies than run away to Ishgard.