Just met with Lord Hien. Spoilers!

[Rosenoire]

When Grynewaht came bumbling in looking for us I was sure he'd conveniently cause a scene that really impressed on the Xaela that they're a threat and worth fighting, but it didn't really play out that way, at least not very strongly.

I would still like to know a) how he got to the middle of the Steppes, and b) where he went when we foolishly didn't kill him. His presence suggests that the Xaela are now on the Imperial radar.

[SicariusSeven]

I would still like to know a) how he got to the middle of the Steppes, and b) where he went when we foolishly didn't kill him. His presence suggests that the Xaela are now on the Imperial radar.

He probably came through Yanxia since if you go from the Steppes to Yanxia you end up on the other side of that force field/wall and closer to Doma Castle. He probably came back the same way. Also considering how dumb he was portrayed and how he was the only one who survived again, I am certain he most likely forgot to mention the Xaela. Heck how many Garleans even survived after we all stormed Doma Castle?

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

But he didn't. Since the WoL is the one who actually claimed the ovoo, we're the khagan. My Xaela WoL is more than a little concerned about the fact that the Xaela may have come to the Empire's awareness, and that Hien doesn't seem to remember that.

Whether you're the Khagan or Hien is, it's a moot point. Hien's plan was to use the influence of the Khagan - whether that be him, you, or a Mol ally - to rally the Xaela tribes against Garlemald, and you were (as per the story) 100% on board with that, so it's the same outcome.

[Theodric]

His presence suggests that the Xaela are now on the Imperial radar.

I doubt it.

Garlemald had no interest in claiming the Steppes and Grynewaht wasn't even acting in Garlemald's best interests - he was after vengeance due to the Warrior of Light beating him. Like almost everybody associated with Garlemald this expansion, nothing he did was of any real benefit to Garlemald itself. His entire reason for existence was to be a thorn in the Warrior of Light's side as a 'comic relief' rival along the lines of Team Rocket. Complete with the 'tragic' demise when he finally pushed himself too far in an effort to overcome the Warrior of Light.

[Annana]

His presence suggests that the Xaela are now on the Imperial radar.

The Xaela of the Steppe were always on Garlemald's radar. They just don't see the Steppe as worth the time or resources to conquer yet. A bunch of scattered tribes don't make much of an Imperial province, after all.

[Rosenoire]

The Xaela of the Steppe were always on Garlemald's radar. They just don't see the Steppe as worth the time or resources to conquer yet. A bunch of scattered tribes don't make much of an Imperial province, after all.

Now, though, the Xaela are fighting alongside the Domans, and they're connected to the Warrior of Light. If I were Varis, I might be thinking about sending a legion over there just to remind that bunch of savages that I know they're there, and that they need to stay in their tents where they belong. As an added bonus, it would be yet one more thing for that do-gooder Imperial Nuisance to have to deal with while I'm off trying to subvert Doma.

[SicariusSeven]

Now, though, the Xaela are fighting alongside the Domans, and they're connected to the Warrior of Light. If I were Varis, I might be thinking about sending a legion over there just to remind that bunch of savages that I know they're there, and that they need to stay in their tents where they belong. As an added bonus, it would be yet one more thing for that do-gooder Imperial Nuisance to have to deal with while I'm off trying to subvert Doma.

Would that be really worth his time and resources though? Send a bunch of troops, maybe put them in their places but how much would they lose/gain from such an endeavor? It seems the only concerning thing they want from Doma is Yotsuyu as shown in the MSQ. If anything Varis might just not bother with the small fry and hit a bigger city like Gridania or something to cripple the Eorzean Alliance.

[Theodric]

-snip-

Nah, that'd be a poor move. The Gration could be restored, enhanced and brought to fire on the Xaela only for the Warrior of Light and Scions to swoop in and save the day. Garlemald isn't a threat anymore. It's the Team Rocket of Hydaelyn - something to cause a bit of mischief every now and then but otherwise just serve as plot convenience and fodder to be mowed down to glorify the protagonists. The Warrior of Light is incredibly powerful, after all. He isn't going anywhere - and neither are most of his allies, either. So everybody they interact with on good terms has nothing to worry about...ever. Aside from, perhaps, what colour bow to use when wrapping everything up in a neat little package.

[Rosenoire]

Would that be really worth his time and resources though? Send a bunch of troops, maybe put them in their places but how much would they lose/gain from such an endeavor? It seems the only concerning thing they want from Doma is Yotsuyu as shown in the MSQ. If anything Varis might just not bother with the small fry and hit a bigger city like Gridania or something to cripple the Eorzean Alliance.

Hitting Gridania would bring the Alliance into it, and if Asahi's comments about the political situation in the Empire are true, a protracted conflict like invading Gridania would be a disaster, because it would give political ammunition to the less militaristic faction. Going and beating up on a weak opponent, however, provides an excuse for everyone to rally around the standard.

On October 25, 1983, Ronald Reagan sent Marines on their way to Lebanon to invade the tiny Caribbean island nation of Grenada. I'm old enough to remember the news coverage, and how it was framed as a huge victory for U.S. troops to invade and occupy a country with a population smaller than many U.S. states. It would be a way to distract from the rumors that the Empire managed to lose both Doma and Ala Mhigo. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it would be an intereting possibility, and one that might force the Warrior of Light and the Scions into having to make choices about who to defend.

[Dualblade]

As far as the Garleans are concerned the Xaela weren't worth anything prior to Doma's freedom. And they still wouldn't be after because they were only one part of a larger whole that was primarely directed by the Domans under Hien. If anything was going to bring the Xaela to Garlemald's attention it would be the rather magitecky things they have hidden away, which either A.) Were already investigated and were decided to not be worth the time compared to what they have, or B.) they literally wrote the Xaela off as the savages of the savages and probably will continue to do so even now.

If the Xaela actually are in the cross-hairs of Garlemald, then so is the rest of Othard by that point.

As far as Hein's plan with the Xaela: He was most likely already aware that the Mol's gods wanted them to compete. He also knows that atleast two more tribes would most like relish the challenge of facing the Garleans, but wouldn't just fight for him if he brought such a thing up since he had no influence on any of the tribes. and the Mol aren't averse to fighting either even if they know they aren't as strong as some other tribes, or atleast believe they aren't.

Oh and for the one who asked how long Hein had been with the Mol: Since around patch 2.1, since Yugiri came with the Doman refugees around that point. The time bubble futz with things a little because of this. Personally I'd put him being the Mol for around a year.