Are the actual Ascians all but defeated?

[Anonymoose]

*Casts Summon Moose-senpai*

*POOF* What the f-... where am... Ascian thread? Oh, no. <ahem> I mean...

After the loss of Lahabrea, Nabriales, Igeyorhm and possibly the unnamed Ascian that the Warriors of Darkness killed, it seems that the rest of the Ascians would be thrown into chaos, after suddenly losing so many of their allies so suddenly. It also kinda feels like Elidibus is no longer working to the same goal as the rest of them (if he ever was), he could even possibly be actively working against them.

I don't know about on the ropes, but apparently better than Team Hydaelyn's been doing in the last 10,000-ish years, and that's not nothin'.

The apparent loss of Lahabrea would be the most troubling for them, considering he was not one of the transmigration group, but (like Elidibus) risen from our world through direct communion with Zodiark's power. That seemed to give him some sort of competitive edge in "bringing the Darkness", though it's vague. I'm not 100% convinced he's 100% gone, though. Yoshi-P just doesn't seem like the type to finish off emblematic villains so soon.

I have no doubt they're going to play a more conservative game and actually heed Elidibus' words from now on.

Agreed. The scene in 2.3 seemed to indicate that the fall of Ramuh and his acceptance of the Warrior of Light brought the last of them around to taking his word for it that the "potential of man" was limitless. With Nabriales and Igeyorhm dead, plus Lahabrea killed or captured, it might be a while before anyone steps up.

Weren't there like..hundreds in the 2.0 credits?

There are specifically fourteen Overlords seen in 2.00, possessing a speculative number of underlings. It's possible that one was Elidibus, considering his distinctive robes didn't make their appearance until a Letter from the Producer LIVE preview of Patch 2.1, where he was labeled SHIRO ASHIEN (White Ascian). However, I think I remember all fourteen platforms in the Chrysalis were filled when Elidibus took center stage (13 + Lahabrea shows up once the rest agree that Elidibus has the right of things).

It still really bothers me that all of the overlords are sporting underling costumes in that scene, though I suspect it was because SE doesn't have their red masks ready yet. Still, could have let them keep their shouderpads, at least.

[D]o we know how it works with lesser Ascians (Trevanchet? the ones fron the SMN quests?)? Are they just servants of the 13 or do they have their own plots and machinations?

They do seem to just be loyal servants, thus far. The big question for me is where they come from. After the SMN questlines, I question ... are they corrupted souls of the Light, addicted to little gifts of power until they undergo a necessary change a la Tristan? Or are they just toying with figures like that and are actually from the same place as the transmigration set?

If the latter, why serve them so loyally? Or were the XIIth Chalice, Sword, Pentacle, and Staff just the most loyal? They say that they were "raised unto greatness", but the line specifically refers to power and knowledge, so it's not clear if they were created by him.

Anyway, TL;DR so long as Hydaelyn fears The Moon and The Moon seems to be Zodiark and Zodiark is the one true god of the Ascians, I don't imagine we're close to done with the Ascians.