Is Fordola the monster Lyse says she is?

[Theodric]

Do we know if the other claimants were killed during the fighting after Solus died? I can't remember.

The War of Succession is described as being brutal in the lore book and at least some of the claimants to the throne were killed. We also know that there's a title in Garlemald for those who have royal blood but have no claim to the throne so I would not put it past some claimants to simply have cast aside their claim to ensure their survival. Others may have gone into hiding to bide their time and lick their wounds. As it stands, I don't see anyone rising up to challenge Varis' claim nor do I see him being written out of the plot anytime soon. A few people were convinced he was going to be given the 'Gestahl' treatment on Azyz Lla but that did not happen.

If anything, I suspect he may have a change of heart at some point - Rufus Shinra style - and enforce changes that will allow Garlemald to prosper, albeit in a different manner than before. He also strikes me as someone who may very well sacrifice himself for the 'greater good' at some point though they already did that with Regula. Ultimately, though, his main concern is finding some way to put an end to the Eikon threat. Elidibus being involved with him puts a wrench in the works but if he can listen to an Ascian then I see no reason why he cannot come to listen to a genuine attempt at diplomacy on the part of the Warrior of Light for the sake of all those who will perish in a full on war with Garlemald.

(Which is pretty much what the Ascians want to orchestrate, almost certainly...so someone among the protagonists should catch on to that sometime soon...hopefully...)