Is 'Hydaelyn' a misnomer based on a misconception?

[Theodric]

I guess the whole Steppe section in SB is an example of what Theo is talking about. We drag the Xaela into the war to serve our own ends (well Hien's ends) and we use our capabilities as the WoL to do so by winning the Nadaam and becoming Khagan. No Ascians involved in that as far as I remember

Correct! There's also the political plot surrounding the Kugane Castle dungeon, where the Warrior of Light is enlisted to resolve a hostage situation. Arguably justified, though it's a clear example of history not being allowed to evolve naturally. Had the plot succeeded, Kugane would once again have been closed off to the outside world.

There's a bunch of other situations along those lines where the Warrior of Light's power and influence is exploited in order to deliver victory to one faction over the other. Of course, I'm not suggesting that the Warrior of Light should not be helping people in need. Merely that it is impossible for the reins of history to truly be in the grip of mankind when they're beholden to the influence of Hydaelyn and her champions.

As for the Xaela, I was rather disappointed to see that the Scions held their proud traditions in such contempt. They were manipulated not only to get them to join the war effort but also in order to gain access to the Allagan device located within the Steppes. I consider the former situation to be much worse than the latter, though.

[Rannie]

As for the Xaela, I was rather disappointed to see that the Scions held their proud traditions in such contempt. They were manipulated not only to get them to join the war effort but also in order to gain access to the Allagan device located within the Steppes. I consider the former situation to be much worse than the latter, though.

Honestly, it didnt take a lot of manipulation to get the people of the steppes to fight. If any manipulation was used at all. They all are a Proud Warrior Race, and even then the Mol are too just weaker than the rest of the tribes. If we, (the WoL) have been manipulating them, the we would have had to do a a lot more than just win their Nadaam. They themselves have pretty much shown that most of them are willing to fight at the drop of a hat. (*looks at both Magnai and Sadu as the main culprits*) Also while yes we did do it (it meaning that we won and became the Khagan) we leave the general ruling to the actual Mol Clan. (Which was all part of Hien's plan to help them out due to Cirina saving his life.) Also we didnt manipulate them to use that Allagan device either, we had to go and ask the main clans for permission to use it... that turned into a rematch between us and Sadu with Magnai interrupting us and then getting the greatest burn in all of history from Y'shtola.

Ohh yeah also one thing else we didnt tell the Mol to fight in the Nadaam either... Old lady Mol had a vision that they were to fight in it that year.

[Lersayil]

Honestly, it didnt take a lot of manipulation to get the people of the steppes to fight. If any manipulation was used at all. They all are a Proud Warrior Race, and even then the Mol are too just weaker than the rest of the tribes. If we, (the WoL) have been manipulating them, the we would have had to do a a lot more than just win their Nadaam. They themselves have pretty much shown that most of them are willing to fight at the drop of a hat. (*looks at both Magnai and Sadu as the main culprits*) Also while yes we did do it we leave the general ruling to the actual Mol Clan. (Which was all part of Hien's plan to help them out due to Cirina saving his life.) Also we didnt manipulate them to use that Allagan device either, we had to go and ask the main clans for permission to use it... that turned into a rematch between us and Sadu with Magnai interrupting us and then getting the greatest burn in all of history from Y'shtola.

Ohh yeah also one thing else we didnt tell the Mol to fight in the Nadaam either... Old lady Mol had a vision that they were to fight in it that year.

True, but they didn't have a reason to fight the Garleans either (yet). If you twist it around a bit, we've basically found and utilized a legal loophole in their... electoral system? To get them involved in a war, they did not care about. Sure, they are conveniently a warlike race, and they didn't much care about how we've used the fine print of the Nadaam to insert oureslves in the decision making process, but the base morals are still somewhat questionable behind... Hiens plan? I think it was Hiens plan. Who only has to gain from such an outcome.

Somethimes I wonder if these small moral idiosyncracies left in the story are intentional for the underlying commentary of "we're not so different from the villains", or just brushed aside by the writers as justified since it was us, and it turned out fine.