Possible [spoiler] between Dragons and Garleans?

[Duuude007]

This was an encounter with a reporter NPC, back in 2011:

Petyr Winsome: Why hello there adventurers, My name is Petyr Winsome, reporter for the Harbor Herald.

Petyr Winsome: Say have you heard the rumors about some beastmen tribe attempting to ally themself with the Empire?

Uni Neko: not really, but considering how the empire feels about beastmen, I don't see an alliance happening

Petyr Winsome: It does seem unlikely, and the rumors were unsubstantiated. But from what I have heard it was some sort of really big Beastmen.

Uni Neko: Amal'jaa? I'm sure they're on the empire's genocide list

Jaison Aurelio: I wonder if it's the Ixali! Isn't Garuda their primal?

Petyr Winsome: I do not think it was them, was some tribe I have not heard of, all I heard was that they were very big.

Uni Neko: like trolls?

Petyr Winsome: Perhaps. The only other part of the rumor said that they had an icy demeanor.

Uni Neko: I've met my share of trolls over the year, though they tend to be more obnoxious jerks than "icy"

Petyr Winsome: Then again this all could just be bunk, made by the mind of someone who spent a little too much time rummaging around underground.

Uni Neko: maybe, there sometimes is truth in rumours though

Jaison Aurelio: I wonder where this beastman tribe could be found?

Petyr Winsome: Yes, there is usually some grain of truth somewhere in a rumor. Only time would tell though.

Nyeik Knight: Great, so now we wait.

Petyr Winsome: The report I saw with the rumor said something about "up north" somewhere.

Petyr Winsome: No real specific location was mentioned unfortunately.

Jaison Aurelio: I wonder if we adventurers can travel there at the moment?

Uni Neko: must be pretty cold up north

Jaison Aurelio: I want to confront these icy beastmen!

Taylor Tots: and negotiate with my fine tip sword to their throats!

Petyr Winsome: I wonder that myself honestly. But I think I'll leave first contact to you strong adventurers.

Petyr Winsome: A bit too old to be wandering about in dangerous territory now.

Jaison Aurelio: I wonder if these icy beastmen call upon Shiva as their primal!

Petyr Winsome: I think that would make sense, certainly more so than having it be Ifrit. I do believe that one would get cold up there.

Petyr Winsome: Well I must be off now to get these notes to my editor. You have been a great help. Thank you kindly.

While it is true that dragons are effectively immortal and tend to hold grudges, the Battle of Silver Tear Skies ended largely in a stalemate, with no clear representation of either side being enemies of the other- rather, the Garleans were investigating the region's concentrated aether, and were effectively attacked for trespassing.

Fast forward to 3.0- Garleans just got walloped by the Eorzean alliance, and are losing their foothold in the region. The Dragons played their best card by attacking Ishgard head-on, with the help of their new found access to Primal Shiva- And were also effectively trounced.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend"... I believe that based on the state of affairs across Aldenard, and the quotes listed above, that we may be soon running into a powerful alliance between these former rivals. Especially since these "unsubstantiated" rumors appear to be entirely factual, at least so far.

Thoughts?

[WyrahFhurrst]

Could be the dragons, or the Giants, or even the Cyclopses. Lots of routes to explore with those last two that we haven't seen yet, and both of them seem to enjoy the weather of Coerthas.

[Duuude007]

Could be the dragons, or the Giants, or even the Cyclopses. Lots of routes to explore with those last two that we haven't seen yet, and both of them seem to enjoy the weather of Coerthas.

Except we already know that Shiva is in league with the dragons...

[Dalvy]

I don't think they are in league with each other. Midgardsormr said that dragons do not forget past crimes, and attacking grandpappy is probably the most serious of crimes...

[Duuude007]

I don't think they are in league with each other. Midgardsormr said that dragons do not forget past crimes, and attacking grandpappy is probably the most serious of crimes...

Technically the dragons initiated the attack... and 'grandpappy' was supposed to be their superweapon.

And the way the 'GM dressed as a reporter' worded it, the dragons would be the ones seeking the alliance.

And since when has Shiva not shared a common goal with the dragons? The main attack on the steps of faith was made possible thanks to the woman who is host to Shiva. It may not be in line with 'ancient' Shiva's original interests, but the evidence is pretty clear on who influences her now.

[Anonymoose]

That'd be one way to explain why the Garleans keep putting dragons on their regalia (though it doesn't quite mesh with my current theory).

Not a Spoiler - Just a Big Ol' Image

[Nalien]

Would they really refer to Dragons as Beastmen? Seems like that would be a demotion for a Dragon...

I'm incline to speculate that maybe the Gnath are allied with Garlemald... They seem to be polluting the area with fumes (their territory seems reminiscent of Bluefog and the Ceruleum Processing Plant), perhaps they managed to strike a deal with the Garleans to supply them with resources... Giant and icy kind of fall off the table, but they're the only new beast tribe we seem to be getting "up north", unless you count the Vanu Vanu, but they seem to be skybound, rather than northward.

[Anonymoose]

Would they really refer to Dragons as Beastmen?

Yoshi-P referred to the dragons as a Beast Tribe, hinting that they may have Gods to summon, but whether or not that was limited to Bahamut foreshadowing, I dunno.

[Nalien]

Yoshi-P referred to the dragons as a Beast Tribe, hinting that they may have Gods to summon, but whether or not that was limited to Bahamut foreshadowing, I dunno.

Just seems odd to me, a Dragon is a Dragon, I don't know where the ambiguity in the claims would be coming from. How does one mistake Dragons for a just something "really big" with an "icy demeanor" (and surely Dragons would have a fiery demeanor?), it just doesn't add up for me. Seems more likely the original plan was for Shiva to actually have a beast tribe rather than heretics and that plan got canned between 1.0 and now. Perhaps some of the concepts got carried over into a new tribe, in which case I wouldn't be surprised to hear the Gnath had dealings with the Garleans.

I guess it is possible the Garleans and Dragons have some deal though, it would explain why both Dragons and Garleans and occupying The Keeper of the Lake without really bothering each other (and we've had mobvmob mechanics as early as Wanderer's Palace, so it's not like they couldn't have had some Garleans fighting some Dragons there...).

[Lainmyst]

This was an encounter with a reporter NPC, back in 2011

I am correct in guessing this conversation took place in 1.0? Since FFXIV ARR was not launched until the end of August 2012.