Revelations from SHADOWBRINGERS

[Cilia]

That's my point. Zenos is physically strong but as politically weak as a kitten. He's the governor of 2 provinces that are under enemy control, there are rumors that he's actually dead or the puppet of foreign influences, he's infamous for having no interest in administration and for how he was disinherited out of the line of succession. National Leaders aren't chosen by how much they can bench press.

Zenos is so politically weak, nearly any military leader can make viable bid to be Emperorship now, and Zenos wont have time to personally slay every member of the rebel armies and even if he did, he would have just demolished the military strengthen of the Empire to get the throne. Though personally I don't think the writers will go down this path.

While the rumors swirling around him might be a dent, as far as we know Zenos was never formally disowned by Varis, so he would be the legitimate heir to the Garlean throne. He said he wasn't interested in assuming it, but if it gets him a fight with us quicker I'd see Zenos taking it up to draw us out. And while modern folk might not be terribly interested in following a bloodthirsty tyrant, Garlemald has quite a lot of warrior culture, so while the Populares will likely oppose him the Optimates probably would not...

I mean, the man beat down an Ascian in his own body, using a borrowed corpse so effectively said Ascian (a nigh-immortal, immensely powerful sorcerer) decided to get the heck out of dodge. He singlehandedly turned the tide of a war. If anybody opposes him Zenos could probably kill them pretty easily; the number of people able to go toe-to-toe with him and live to tell the tale can be counted on one hand.

[SaberMaxwell]

I thought there wasn't an actual fight between Elidibus and Zenos, Elidibus basically just spilled the beans and booked it. I recall Zenos lamenting this because he wanted to fight his own body.

[Edax]

While the rumors swirling around him might be a dent, as far as we know Zenos was never formally disowned by Varis, so he would be the legitimate heir to the Garlean throne. He said he wasn't interested in assuming it, but if it gets him a fight with us quicker I'd see Zenos taking it up to draw us out. And while modern folk might not be terribly interested in following a bloodthirsty tyrant, Garlemald has quite a lot of warrior culture, so while the Populares will likely oppose him the Optimates probably would not...

I mean, the man beat down an Ascian in his own body, using a borrowed corpse so effectively said Ascian (a nigh-immortal, immensely powerful sorcerer) decided to get the heck out of dodge. He singlehandedly turned the tide of a war. If anybody opposes him Zenos could probably kill them pretty easily; the number of people able to go toe-to-toe with him and live to tell the tale can be counted on one hand.

That's not a given. Zenos was never formally named heir and given Zeno's military track record, I'm not sure Optimates would be enthused at seeing all the provinces of the Empire handed to the enemy on a silver platter like Zeno's provinces were. Zenos might make a good champion of the Empire, but that doesn't mean the Otimates would want to make him their leader as well. The Optimates don't need to give him a crown to beat up the Empire's enemies and if Zenos keeps attacking the Empire, then he's no good for the Empire.

[MrThinker]

/snip...Zenos was never formally named heir.../snip

Are you 100% sure about that? For some reason I was under the impression that formally naming Zenos his heir was one of the first things Varis did to consolidate his power as Emperor after the War of Succession.

[Cilia]

I thought there wasn't an actual fight between Elidibus and Zenos, Elidibus basically just spilled the beans and booked it. I recall Zenos lamenting this because he wanted to fight his own body.

While musing to himself up on the moon Elidibus says that Zenos was able to defeat him, despite having the latter's body with all its "uncanny strength." This, and his new inability to properly conduct events going forward, convinced Elidibus to tell Zenos everything we learned about the true nature of the world in 5.0 and then book it.

That's not a given. Zenos was never formally named heir and given Zeno's military track record, I'm not sure Optimates would be enthused at seeing all the provinces of the Empire handed to the enemy on a silver platter like Zeno's provinces were. Zenos might make a good champion of the Empire, but that doesn't mean the Otimates would want to make him their leader as well. The Optimates don't need to give him a crown to beat up the Empire's enemies and if Zenos keeps attacking the Empire, then he's no good for the Empire.

One of the first things Varis did after assuming the throne was to name Zenos his heir specifically to avoid a succession crisis like the civil war he had to fight against his uncle to claim it. He does say later that he never intended to actually let Zenos on the throne, but I take this to mean that Varis only named him successor as a placeholder until a more suitable candidate could be found.

[Edax]

Are you 100% sure about that? For some reason I was under the impression that formally naming Zenos his heir was one of the first things Varis did to consolidate his power as Emperor after the War of Succession.

The wiki says he's heir apparent so I'm probably wrong about that, so I take that back.

[Alleo]

That's my point. Zenos is physically strong but as politically weak as a kitten. He's the governor of 2 provinces that are under enemy control, there are rumors that he's actually dead or the puppet of foreign influences, he's infamous for having no interest in administration and for how he was disinherited out of the line of succession. National Leaders aren't chosen by how much they can bench press.

Zenos is so politically weak, nearly any military leader can make viable bid to be Emperorship now, and Zenos wont have time to personally slay every member of the rebel armies and even if he did, he would have just demolished the military strengthen of the Empire to get the throne. Though personally I don't think the writers will go down this path.

Isnt Garlemald whole motto that being powerful gives you the right to rule? And if that is the case then Zenos should have no problems because he was just simply more powerful and if people even did not go against Varis I doubt they would raise their weapons against someone that is known to show no mercy and that plays in a whole other league.

Are you 100% sure about that? For some reason I was under the impression that formally naming Zenos his heir was one of the first things Varis did to consolidate his power as Emperor after the War of Succession.

Yes that is the case which is also why Elidibus took over Zenos body because Zenos being truly death might have started another war of succession which they did not want at that time.

[Rannie]

The wiki says he's heir apparent so I'm probably wrong about that, so I take that back.

I wouldn't go by the wiki for information much but it was mentioned in one maybe two of the cutscenes that he was named Heir to, as other have said, to stop the war of succession from occurring again. Cant remember if it was the scions (though that's who I'm leaning more towards. I could swear I remember it being said by Thancred again I could be wrong. ) that said it or it was Varis or maybe both in two different cutscenes.

[KageTokage]

Welp, if he really is heir apparent then I don't think the circumstances of his ascension are going to necessarily matter that much (Outside of potentially drawing the ire of a significant portion of the populace).

I really expect Garlemald to just become his plaything to fuel his selfish desires by the time 5.x nears its close.

[Scintilla]

I wouldn't go by the wiki for information much but it was mentioned in one maybe two of the cutscenes that he was named Heir to, as other have said, to stop the war of succession from occurring again. Cant remember if it was the scions (though that's who I'm leaning more towards. I could swear I remember it being said by Thancred again I could be wrong. ) that said it or it was Varis or maybe both in two different cutscenes.

Yes, Thancred mentions the appointment of Zenos as heir during the second 'The Call' cutscene:
"It is no coincidence that one of Varis's first acts as Emperor was to name Zenos heir apparent - family feuds being so tiresome when armies are involved. Not all welcomed his choice of successor, however."