Primals and Egis

[Enkidoh]

Ah, but that story about Garuda isn't necessarily true - it's one told by the Ixal and is full of symbolism about their own hatred towards Gridania ('Garuda went insane after battling an evil serpent' - the Twin Adders are the symbol of Gridania) - remember, the Ixal tried settling in the Black Shroud but were expelled by the elementals (presumably before Gridania was founded, back when the elezen still dwelt underground in Gelmorra), and regard both the elementals and the Gridanians as interlopers on 'their' land. It's the cause of their hostility towards the forest nation, and Garuda just inflames the situation.

Like all myths, there is usually a shred of truth to it at first, but over time stories become twisted by constant being retold, and each new telling having new ideas and elements added to better fit 'current' ideas or sensibilities, or even just for dramatic effect. It's clear the Garuda story is very much this to a tee.

[Niniyo]

[T]he Ixal tried settling in the Black Shroud but were expelled by the elementals (presumably before Gridania was founded, back when the elezen still dwelt underground in Gelmorra), and regard both the elementals and the Gridanians as interlopers on 'their' land. It's the cause of their hostility towards the forest nation, and Garuda just inflames the situation.

This is actually one of the reasons I wondered if there's could be an influence from summoner to summoned. That is, the Ixal feel as though their home has been taken from them, and, over time, have become more and more violent and desperate to get it back. (In the Gridania story they talk about the Ixal targetting the tree, which seemed like a new, rather brazen, thing they were trying to do both against the elementals and Gridania.)