3.1 MSQ Reaction [SPOILERS]

[Cilia]

Snip

If you were tempted to join Gaius' cause at all, he was written well enough to the point where he's not a black antagonist to our white heroism.

While Garleans in general are ruthless racists, those are two things Gaius didn't follow to the letter. Keep in mind that Rhitatyn was the first ever non-Garlean tribunus, as well as that instead of just using the Ultima Weapon to mercilessly crush Eorzea under his heel he gave the city-states the option to surrender. He was also opposed to Project Meteor, though it was more out of concern for the destruction of the land leaving nothing for him to conquer than for Eorzeans. Simply put, Gaius had standards unlike the majority of the other Garleans we've seen, and genuinely believed Eorzea would be better under imperial rule.

That said, he was still villainous because he tried to take away Eorzean freedom by force, and while he did have standards he didn't hesitate when push came to shove.

While Livia probably wasn't the best choice to send on that kind of mission, well... it's war, open or otherwise. Anyone resisting is fair game. We don't exactly have the option to tell all the Garlean soldiers in Castrum and Praetorium to stand down, and they're fighting for convictions they hold just as strongly. That is why war is so tragic, and remember that history is written by the winners.

[Tenkuu]

If you were tempted to join Gaius' cause at all, he was written well enough to the point where he's not a black antagonist to our white heroism.

Yup, I totally agree.

While Garleans in general are ruthless racists, those are two things Gaius didn't follow to the letter. Keep in mind that Rhitatyn was the first ever non-Garlean tribunus, as well as that instead of just using the Ultima Weapon to mercilessly crush Eorzea under his heel he gave the city-states the option to surrender. He was also opposed to Project Meteor, though it was more out of concern for the destruction of the land leaving nothing for him to conquer than for Eorzeans. Simply put, Gaius had standards unlike the majority of the other Garleans we've seen, and genuinely believed Eorzea would be better under imperial rule.

That said, he was still villainous because he tried to take away Eorzean freedom by force, and while he did have standards he didn't hesitate when push came to shove.

This goes back to the idea that Gaius' proffered "choice" was really nothing more than a choice between a rock and a hard place though. Ie, it was no choice at all.

While Livia probably wasn't the best choice to send on that kind of mission, well... it's war, open or otherwise. Anyone resisting is fair game. We don't exactly have the option to tell all the Garlean soldiers in Castrum and Praetorium to stand down, and they're fighting for convictions they hold just as strongly. That is why war is so tragic, and remember that history is written by the winners.

True, but the point here is that Gaius simply didn't care all that much, and that's not exactly honorable behavior. Obviously he would have known that the Waking Sands was not exactly full of skilled combatants, else he would have sent a bigger force against them. So, knowing exactly what kind of reception he could expect there, he still sent one of his more unstable warriors to lead the charge, not really caring whether or not there would be bloodshed and, I might add, showing no remorse about it when he faces us. And you can be certain that he *did* know that Livia should be able to take on the three remaining Archons he knew would be there (assuming he knew about Lahabrea having possessed Thancred) since he himself faced the four of them back in 1.0 and it was a fairly even match-up.