3.5/4.0 Speculation & Discussion (Spoilers)

[Theodric]

Mm. Garlemald is a very much of a product of how it was treated in the past. Their rise to immense power is in itself a fairly recent affair but the lorebook confirms that they've been treated like dirt for centuries - forced to move from fertile, warm lands into a wasteland where every day was a struggle for survival. Enduring attack after attack led them to resort to whatever means were needed to survive and prosper - and whilst that doesn't exactly excuse their behaviour in the present day at the same time it sort of...does if you look at it from their perspective.

Incidentally this makes me wonder how innocent Garlemald's neighbours actually are - and whether this includes Ala Mhigo. I'd also be very curious to learn who, exactly, lives in the region that the Garleans were driven out from and if they descend from the same people(s) responsible. If so, what are their views? Are they remorseful? Did they attempt to co-operate in recent years or did they remain defiant and look down upon the Garleans right up until they began to conquer neighbouring lands?

I think that whilst Garlemald's darker elements need to be eliminated there also needs to be some sort of compromise that allows the Garleans themselves to benefit - be it through favourable tribe or being allowed to move freely through other lands without discrimination. Much of the dislike their bear for 'lesser races' is no doubt spawned from enduring centuries of persecution as a people.

Hopefully at least some of these scenarios will be addressed in 4.0 and beyond - which seems likely if they do indeed intend to explore 'shades of grey' as promised.