Future leader of Apa Mhigo

[Belhi]

That, plus the fact that before being crushed by Garlemald, it had expansive plans of its own for Gridania. Hardly a sorry victim of circumstance.

I haven't seen anything to indicate this is true and a lot to indicate Ala Mhigo had too much internal politics to even think about expansionism. The only time we have of Ala Mhigo attempting to take over Gridania was the Autumn war which was 100 years prior to the current time. Its hardly fair to hold people who weren't alive at the time for the actions of their forebears. We have nothing indicating that Ala Mhigo had any intention of attempting to annex Gridania since then.

At this point, it would take a hell of a lot to convince me that a character from Garlemald presenting themself as a moderate is being genuine about it. Garleans never seem like the type to do anything halfway -- Cid, Lucia, and even Nero all seem to have cut their ties completely, so it's difficult to imagine a character that could still be loyal to Garlemald, while disagreeing with part of its culture. Because on the other side of the coin, any and all Garleans we've seen, as well as most of the characters who've defected to the side of the Garleans (the final boss of the Ninja quest line is the first example that comes to mind) all seem to be fanatically subscribed to the ideals that the empire preaches.

Basically, asking for us to work with any moderates in Garlemald assumes a few things: That these Garleans are still loyal to their country but somehow still willing to work with us, and that in spite of their difference in opinion, they managed to rise to a position of power or influence, enough that their actions in working with us could affect things in Garlemald. And I don't think that's very likely, from what I've seen so far of the empire.

If you had met the wrong type of Ishgardian you could easily have the same view of Ishgard. However Ishgard isn't a single mind. It has more moderate elements that are still very loyal to their country. Infact the fact their country has these more hardline elements is often even more a reason for them to fight for their home and try and change things.

Garlemald isn't a hive mind. Its going to have a lot of people with differing ideas and there are many paths to power.

[Morningstar1337]

Garlemald isn't a hive mind. Its going to have a lot of people with differing ideas and there are many paths to power.

Gee if only an Ala Mhigan who dosn't match what we assume all Aha Mhighans are like approached us as an act of showing that. An emissary draped in white perhaps? :P

Before People Bring up Raubahn and Erik, Raubahn... I think I feel similar feelings about him and Ala Mhigo then Theodric does for Cid, Lucia and Garlemald. Not to the extent of claiming he's a traitor, but I'd argue that Raubahn might be more loyal to Nanamo then he is to Ala Mhigo. Erik might be a possibility though, but it seems like he let Ala Mhigo go as well, and thus a little closer to committing "betrayal" then Raubahn.

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

Garlemald isn't a hive mind. Its going to have a lot of people with differing ideas and there are many paths to power.

While likely true, it is worth noting that pre-Heavensward Ishgard and Garlemald-thus-far haven't been presented the same way. Even before the game started building towards the expansion, there were more moderate Ishgardians in the Central Highlands, whereas the Garlean forces have been very much as Mysterysword said.

Granted, the circumstances surrounding our encounters with them aren't comparable either, so maybe once (if) we get onto more neutral territory, that will change. But I find it kind of doubtful that we'll find much moderate ground in the invasion forces.

[Laili]

I haven't seen anything to indicate this is true and a lot to indicate Ala Mhigo had too much internal politics to even think about expansionism. The only time we have of Ala Mhigo attempting to take over Gridania was the Autumn war which was 100 years prior to the current time. Its hardly fair to hold people who weren't alive at the time for the actions of their forebears. We have nothing indicating that Ala Mhigo had any intention of attempting to annex Gridania since then.

Tell that to the Dravanians, I still don't buy that garbage.

[Mysterysword]

Garlemald isn't a hive mind. Its going to have a lot of people with differing ideas and there are many paths to power.

So far, we have seen nothing to indicate that anyone who doesn't truly believe in absolute, crushing strength and power in the empire manages to climb their way to a position of power and influence. Are there such characters in Garlemald that don't believe in strength as the ideal? Sure, the Indolent Imperial comes to mind, but he's just a grunt.

Gaius perhaps could've been the moderate faction we needed, but he's dead, and even at the end, he still believed wholly in the empire's ideals. And between 2.0 and 3.2, we still haven't seen any signs that there is anyone like Gaius left in Garlemald. Even less likely since Varis has come to the throne, and while this is just an assumption, I don't think it's too far-fetched to say that Varis is the type to crush anyone who doesn't 100% agree with him, or at least strip them of their positions.