Quote Originally Posted by EdwinLi View Post
There are some hints that the Garlean Empire's rise to power may have been influenced by the Ascions in the game similar to how the Ascion's influence the Allagan Empire by providing them information how to create their advance technology, among being the technology to capture and seal Bahamut, and eventually tricked them into destroying the world.

As of now the Garlean Empire is the Asicon's greatest asset to bring about Zodiark's return due to the amount of corrupt and dark hearted natured people in high position of power. Garlean Empire is not so "united" as they make themselves to be as we seen several times that they are suffering from constant conflict and power grabs from within behind the scene just like every other Civilization.
On the other hand, Yoshida is on record multiple times as saying that the Ascians have very little to do with Stormblood.

I would personally greatly prefer it if Garlemald has as little Ascian meddling as possible. That might be a pipe dream, given typical Ascian activities, but it's too convenient to have them be doing what they're doing because of mystical arbiters of darkness and destruction. It greatly dilutes any themes related to human nature.