Ul'dah Civil War?

[Lucke]

For those of you don't know the Ul'dah story, there are 2 factions: Royalists and the Monetarists. The Royalists support the Sultana and the Monetarists support the Syndicate.

The Syndicate has so much power, that the Sultana is just a figurehead. We know that the Syndicate want her out. The only reason they haven't acted...yet, is because she still has Raubahn's support. Raubahn won enough matches in the Coliseum to buy it and earn his spot on the Syndicate. Also, the Sultana has the support of the people as well, though I don't know how much that will help. If they perform a coup, Raubahn will unleash the Flames on the syndicate. So...

Seems to me the story is heading towards an inevitable civil war. How would this pan out? Since players can choose to join the Flames or another Company, will we fight on the Royalist side? Or, will we have a choice to fight on the Syndicate side?

If either side didn't get the support of the adventurers, I wonder who would win. Syndicate has the Brass Blades and Stone Torches, Royalists have the Paladins and the Flames. I don't know who the guilds support, Like I think the PUG guild is owned by the Syndicate, not sure though.

[myahele]

I don't know too much about uldah, but I always thought raubahns story will make for a future villain/antagonist in future installments. Kinda like shantoto.

I don't doubt his loyalty, but it will be quite neat if he lead a coup against the royal household.

As a ssyndicate member, true leader behind the flames and the support of people in and out of uldah (hes from ala mhigo) I can see it. He also one of the more blood thirsty of the cg leaders too

[Lucke]

It's made abundantly clear though that he supports the Sultana. He would never betray her. At least, that's the vibe I get from him. I think he has dialog where even though he's a Syndicate member, he says his loyalty is with the Sultana. I think he says this in the UD story at the banquet.

[HumsterMKX]

The "Syndicate" is hardly what I call a grp. More like a term ppl gave to peeps with enough money and political power. As long you got enough gils, like the mining family, or influence like Raubahn, you are considered a member of the "Syndicate". If the Syndicate is actually a Grp, Ul'dah probably been taken over by them hundreds or years ago.

Remember the story of a Sultan been poisoned? <-- Gla Storyline.

Why the Sultana family still holds the title is because there are ppl with Power and Influence still supporting her family. The "Syndicate" have ppl supporting the Royal household for their own reasons and the Monetarists whom seek to undermine for their own reasons.

Remember this Ul'dah is a no hold barred city state. As long you have money, you are king. And active "Syndicate members" do try and undermine more members from to joining the club.

[FJerome]

There's actually a third faction here - an interesting throw-away line in the Ul'Dah starting-city quest-line that mentions that it's actually the Thaumaturges, in their function as the priests of Nald'Thal, who formally write the laws for Ul'Dah and that members of the Syndicate are swaying them by providing huge "donations" to the Ossuary.

So maybe what may actually touch everything off is an uprising within the Thaumaturge Guild against their cowardly, aether-addled, exceedingly nepotistic leadership.

[Reyno]

Mm, I think if Raubahn and the Flames were to take action against the Syndicate, the other Grand Companies would support them. Of course they might not take immediate action, but if the Flames seem to be struggling I'd imagine we would see the Maelstrom and Adders coming to their aide.

But it's entirely possible that the Syndicate would have garnered enough assets/allies to put up a fight. Some Garleans, possibly beastmen, perhaps the Ascians getting involved in some way. So... I could see it happening. Ul'dah is just begging for conflict with the state it's in now. If this kind of plot were to be introduced it'd be neat if they did so alongside the introduction of the thief class and thieves guild... which would undoubtedly be located in Ul'dah barring a new city-state to place it in.

[Myranda]

The "Syndicate" is hardly what I call a grp. More like a term ppl gave to peeps with enough money and political power. As long you got enough gils, like the mining family, or influence like Raubahn, you are considered a member of the "Syndicate". If the Syndicate is actually a Grp, Ul'dah probably been taken over by them hundreds or years ago.

The Syndicate is most definitely a defined group, specifically of the 6 wealthiest Ul'dahns. So it is at least tied to money. That doesn't mean people not in those 6 don't have influence though, they certainly could try to sway the opinions of Syndicate members, like lobbyists touting their causes to Congress. It also means a Syndicate member isn't necessarily a Monetarist (see Raubahn).

And going back to OP, for sure the GSM guild goes to the Monetarists, I believe Lord Lolorito is the owner. I'm also not sure about the Mirage, but I'd believe it to be Monetarist too.

[ErikMynhier]

My belief is that he will be the source of Dark Knights in the future, as his gear seems slightly based off the class and his private elite unit, the Bloodsworn.

I would love to see a civil war, but I doubt we would get one. More likely he will be the focus of the eventual liberation of Ala Mhigo.

[Enkidoh]

Raubahn is a GLA though through and through - that's how he got on the Syndicate in the first place, he's the owner of the Colosseum and wagered it for a Syndicate position in a high-stakes gladiatorial match. Naturally he won.

As for their actual purpose in Ul'dah's government, as they represent the merchants and traders that provide the economic backbone (hell, Ul'dah's very existence), then it's obvious they would wield considerable power in government. However, because officially Ul'dah is a sultanate, therefore it's the monarch who technically still has the actual executive power, much to the Syndicate's disgust. They might want things done one way, but they still need the Sultana's approval first before it can be made law. Hence why Raubahn's position on the Syndicate is so tenuous - he's a firm ally of the Sultana and unlike the rest, is extremely loyal to her (to the point I'm sure they're romantically involved ).

So even though the rest might bicker and fume, the buck basically stops with Raubahn and Nanamo. And although the Syndicate might try to scheme and plot a possible overthrow, considering their forces (the Brass Blades), are nothing more than hired thugs with a badge, they're bound to be far less loyal and more likely to abandon their posts if the going got tough. At least the Immortal Flames and the Sultansworn are actual career soldiers loyal to their nation. But I think I've blabbered on enough...

[cearka]

hey sounds like most of the countries in the real world. A bunch of asshat rich folk actually control most everything and our elected officials are just figureheads.
and every law passes that seems beneficial is actually against the general good interest of the public.

amazing.