We definitely need someone to want to hate in Eorzea.
We can't really hate the Beastmen because we are kind of on the same side.
We can't really hate the Empire because up until now we haven't seen much of them.
Are Ascian the evil ones that Eorzeans, Beastmen and Garlean Empire fear?

This dude may become a Shadow Lord figure?
(That last dude (r46) seemed to go up in a ball of flames and there are hints that it was friendly fire?)