There's so much that could be done thematically if we were to get Nero in the party as a proponent of full technological deregulation, paired off with a Sharlayan Archon in favor of total unified control (you know, like that one). So much potential, but then I'm reminded that Heavensward didn't have the most elegant solution to the Estinien/Ysayle dynamic.

The backstory for the Circle of Knowing, combined with the shenanigans of the Astrologian storyline, kind of gives me the impression that we'll see Sharlayan move into an antagonistic position, but only once we've weakened the Empire enough for them to sweep in and clean up.