What do you think Garlemald currently is?

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

I agree in theory. But as far as we know, Garlemald does not need to conquer to ensure their own survival; as far as we know, Garlemald's dominion is not keeping some worse or equally dubious power at bay, or creating stability where there previously was none*; as far as we know, Imperialism isn't the status quo in Aldenard. Thus, I can't really see how "setting relativism" applies here, like it would in The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones. Their actions are VERY morally dubious, even by the standards of the setting.

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*This is admittedly something I could see changing, though.

[Khalithar]

But as far as we know, Garlemald does not need to conquer to ensure their own survival; as far as we know

Sometimes I feel like they conquer because they don't know else to do. They build this massive army of conscripts from countries they invade and as such need something for them to do, why not have them invade? Although thinking about how the Garleans enslave people to turn them in to soldiers to then send them out to conquer and enslave more people made me think of this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave-making_ant