Wait, so why did the Archbishop... (SPOILERS)

[MidnightS]

...go to Azys Lla? Doesn't seem like he needed anything there to summon King Thordan unless that was where Haldrath's body was, but how would that be possible?

[Anonymoose]

The Secrets of Allag™

That phrase is used nearly every time Azys Lla is brought up. Like the Ultima Weapon, Azys Lla is a tangible link to the knowledge of Allag; something you can learn from and use and make their abilities your abilities. Azys Lla was dedicated to the binding and control of primals, eikons, and dragons. This knowledge would well serve a primal-infused aspiring-God-King waging a millennium-long war against dragons, so the Ascians offered it, the same way they offered the Ultima Weapon - the power to rid Eorzea of primals - to Gaius van Baelsr. If the Ascians were trying to corrupt Fat Chocobo, it they would use a fishing rod baited with a slice of cake of a recipe devised by Xande himself.

[Cilia]

Super-awesome Allagan tech aside, Urianger states they likely went to Azys Lla to seek out the Warring Triad's power when you go trigger the EX Primal quest.

[Anonymoose]

Super-awesome Allagan tech aside, Urianger states they likely went to Azys Lla to seek out the Warring Triad's power when you go trigger the EX Primal quest.

Correct;

'Twas first and foremost to acquire the infinite power of the Warring Triad that the archbishop did seek Azys Lla.

Considering his intent to betray the Ascians, this is the Secret of Allag™ that probably tempted him the most.

I'm still unsure whether we're to believe that the Ascians knew that the Triad were his specific focus when the story was in motion, though. It feels a bit like a post-affairs revelation. The Ascians sought to sow conflict and were surprised to see the Warrior of Light was powerful enough to deny them their abilities. If they knew ahead of time that the Archbishop specifically planned to reach Azys Lla to drive Ascalon into the Warring Triad and consume their "infinite power," wouldn't they have shown some caution? He could end all conflict with that much power, and surely rival the Warrior of Light's ability to occasionally check the Ascians. I don't feel like I've wrapped my mind entirely around that part of the story, yet.

[EinherjarLucian]

He could end all conflict with that much power.

The Garleans say the same thing; ask them how that's going?

[Cilia]

If they knew ahead of time that the Archbishop specifically planned to reach Azys Lla to drive Ascalon into the Warring Triad and consume their "infinite power," wouldn't they have shown some caution? He could end all conflict with that much power, and surely rival the Warrior of Light's ability to occasionally check the Ascians.

They might have known. We do encounter them down in the Triad Control Room, and I doubt Thordan knew about the Triad on his own.

In regards to them supporting Thordan's Quest for Peace, his idea of "peace" was probably "slaughter anyone who opposes me," exactly as he tried to do to us. Definitely plays into the Ascians' plans.

[Anonymoose]

In regards to them supporting Thordan's Quest for Peace, his idea of "peace" was probably "slaughter anyone who opposes me," exactly as he tried to do to us. Definitely plays into the Ascians' plans.

Perhaps the Ascians were willing to roll the dice on him [A] not turning on them and [B] causing enough chaos to bring about Zodiark's return before resistance ended. Or maybe I'm just wrong in assuming that resistance would end. If someone displays an infinite wellspring of power, don't you just lay down your arms for the time being? Imagine the shock and awe of a defeat at the hands of a Triad-empowered Thordan and the Knights of the Round (assuming he also killed the Warrior of Light). I would expect things to just collapse into the Ishgardian Empire sooner rather than later, lol.

Then again, perhaps the eventual Isghardian Empire - Garlean Empire war would guarantee enough chaos to raise Zodiark.

[Cilia]

Perhaps the Ascians were willing to roll the dice on him [A] not turning on them and [B] causing enough chaos to bring about Zodiark's return before resistance ended. Or maybe I'm just wrong in assuming that resistance would end.

To [A], Lahabrea makes it pretty clear he never expected Thordan to betray him. He seems shocked and incredulous that he's doing so.

To [B], there's no way to know exactly. Going into the realm of theory, if the Warrior of Light died fighting the Knights of the Round and Thordan went on a "conquest of peace," doubtless the beast tribes would all summon their primals in response. If anyone fought back, there would be deaths. If it escalates to a war with Garlemald, that's an even higher death toll. All of that works in the Ascians' favor.

[Adrasteia]

In all likelihood, Thordan never actually told them of his true intentions beyond, "I want to stop the Dravanians," because that's the only thing that was clearly at the surface. Their likely plan was to get him to kick the door open to siphon the power of the Warring Triad, which he would fail at doing, and thus release the Triad back into the world. They didn't anticipate either his greater ambition, nor the fact that he had the immense power of the second Eye of Nidhogg with him.

[Anonymoose]

In all likelihood, Thordan never actually told them of his true intentions beyond, "I want to stop the Dravanians,"

This was my first impression as well, that Thordan outwardly expressed only that he wanted to end a millennium mired in war against the dragons by becoming the mythological version of Thordan with his Knights Twelve from the scriptures in order to finally end the stalemate with Dravania. That's what I'm going to stick with for now; I think the Ascians would have accepted that without a second thought about what he'd do if he actually accomplished his goal. And who's to say they'd let him? I bet they'd simply offer the dragons just enough power to resist him in a brutal, chaotic struggle that leads to Calamity. The sunset of the Allagan Empire was built on Darkness, and yet they just turned the tide by coaxing Tiamat to summon Bahamut.