Is Fordola the monster Lyse says she is?

[Eyvhokan]

I think Varis didn't think highly of Solus, or his rule and methods.

[Alleo]

My feeling is that her relative unfamiliarity with the Echo will be key.

Nice idea I never thought about it this way. This could be a good way to not only see more about her past but also for her to see the past of others and maybe the suffering that she, her team and Garlemald brought to the people. This way she might realize what she had done and try to change (but this should still be over time imo) but at least it makes more sense, since she would literally see those things instead of just hearing it which should leave a bigger impact on someone.

[Rocl]

I think Varis didn't think highly of Solus, or his rule and methods.

Eh? If you're drawing the conclusion from him spitting on a royal coffin, I think that's more likely to be his uncle's than his grandfather's given his uncle was his the other claimant to the throne and this passage from the lore book:

The second Emperor of Garlemald, Varis zos Galvus has many achievements to his name, having served as High Legatus for nine years. He is thus said to favor his grandfather far more than any other member of the royal family. Yet, he did not become Emperor without a fight. Indeed, his uncle--second son of Solus zos Galvus--also laid claim to the throne, supported by one faction that opposed Garlemald's expansion policy and its mandate to eradicate all eikons. A war of succession ensued, and Varis emerged victorious. Though he is said to respect his grandfather's achievements, it has been reported that he also blames the first Emperor for inviting the internal strife by being too lenient with his own son.

Varis thought Solus was too lenient on his son (the second-born, likely) which actually makes sense with how Varis regarded his own son, Zenos.

Also, the cruelty Garlemald faced from its neighbors was some six centuries ago, and Gaius at 56 is the oldest Garlean we know of (excluding Solus, obviously). It's likely that the surrounding countries weren't on the best terms with the burgeoning Republic, but that was more or less when the whole hiring of mercenaries and sacking took place.

[YianKutku]

Varis thought Solus was too lenient on his son (the second-born, likely) which actually makes sense with how Varis regarded his own son, Zenos.

Lorebook confirms that the uncle who lost the succession crisis was the second-born son of Solus.

I've always wondered what happened to the rest of Varis's family. Obviously he should have a father and mother, but we hear nothing of them. And Zenos should also have a mother, but again, we hear nothing of her.

Varis's father should have been the third-born (or more) son, assuming male inheritance. Solus's first-born died of illness "when the boy was still young" (according to the lorebook), which implies not having been old enough to bear a son like Varis.

[Eyvhokan]

Eh? If you're drawing the conclusion from him spitting on a royal coffin, I think that's more likely to be his uncle's than his grandfather's given his uncle was his the other claimant to the throne and this passage from the lore book:

Huh, I always assumed it was Solus' coffin. It surprises me that in a violent claim to the throne the loser would even get a dignified coffin like that.

[CaesarCV]

Looking at the cutscene again, it seems it was Solus's coffin. The characters were talking about Solus and his death during the whole coffin scene, and only mentioned the Uncle afterwards.

[LineageRazor]

He is thus said to favor his grandfather far more than any other member of the royal family.

I'm pretty sure that "favor" in this case does not mean that he LIKED his grandfather, but that he WAS LIKE his grandfather. It's a semi-archaic but still-used phrase. For example: "With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she favors her maternal grandmother more than her paternal."

In this case, the Lorebook is emphasizing Varis's achievements and ambitions as showing that he is very much like his grandfather, more than any other member of the family. Still plenty of room for him to despise the man, in that case.

[CaesarCV]

It's logical enough that he might have some sort of grudge against his grandfather even if he respected his accomplishments. Even the lorebook states that:

"Though he is said to respect his grandfather's achievements, it has been reported that he also blames the first Emperor for inviting the internal strife by being too lenient with his own son."

Given that the man went through a (apparently quite brutal) civil war and might blame Solus for that, it makes sense that he might be rather bitter towards his grandfather. Not to mention it reflects well with the sort of callous attachment towards family he showed with his own son's death later in the story.

[Cilia]

So there actually is a faction of Garleans opposed to the imperialist and genocidal mindset instilled by Solus... interesting. I hope we get to meet them someday.

[YianKutku]

So there actually is a faction of Garleans opposed to the imperialist and genocidal mindset instilled by Solus... interesting. I hope we get to meet them someday.

There are, but they lost the civil war, so I don't know how many of them are left, between casualties from the war (both during the war and after the inevitable purges) and former peace faction members who decided to join the expansionist faction out of self-interest (whether to join the winning team, or just to avoid the purges).

It's highly likely that if any of them are left, they are completely spent as a political force.