Quote Originally Posted by Cilia View Post
I'm more inclined to believe it's Sharlayan. If the hint we have - "review Heavensward" - holds true, and Garlemald is not on the table due to dealing with them in both Werlyt and Bozja, I can't think of where else it could be.

The first act of Heavensward climaxes with the uncovering of truths long hidden from Ishgard. Likewise many such truths were hidden from the peoples of the world until we learned them in Shadowbringers; what we are fighting for and why, as well as how the conflict actually started. Things are a bit different, however; while Hydaelyn may have deceived the peoples of the world she's just following her programming to bind Zodiark, and the Ascians' plan of committing genocide times over and omnicide on the Reflections is not the same as how the Dragonsong War began. It is similar, but not the same; and unlike the Dragonsong War there were no parties willing to make a compromise, or make amends. Hydaelyn cannot violate her programming any more than Elidibus (Zodiark), and none of the Ascians have any interest in making peace with Hydaelyn or trying to coexist with the races of man (such as they are now); that is to say we've inflexible instigators on both ends of the conflict, no Aymeric or Hraesvelgr to try and bridge the divide. With the last of the Unsundered gone, however, all that remains is to clean up the Sundered Ascians still active and that will finish it. (The fault is still ultimately with the Convocation's unwillingness or inability to accept the losses during the Final Days, and shortsighted belief Zodiark was the end-all be-all solution to any and all problems they may face; whether the latter is due to tempering or otherwise is immaterial.)

Why Sharlayan though? It's home to all manner of secrets to which we are not privy, plausibly up to and including the selfsame truths we learned in Shadowbringers. The Sharlayans are not keen on letting important secrets slip out, and what we learned could shake the world to its core. I can easily see them trying to suppress that information and coming into conflict with us to do so. (They put a hit out on a fortuneteller for trying to share healing arts derived from the same; the upheaval brought about by telling everyone Hydaelyn's really a primal would cause way more problems than that. Maybe.)

Basically we're Estinien, Sharlayan is the Holy See, and what's left of the Ascians act like Nidhogg's Horde minus personal animosity against Sharlayan. Leaves us with the question of who's going to try and settle things peacefully, but that doesn't seem to be an option on the table if Fandaniel's company is anything to go by.
My feelings exactly, I hope it is as deep as this if 6.0 is going to top Shadowbringers. Although there is a part of me that says its just dragons are coming back into the story. Guess we'll know sooner or later.