Future leader of Apa Mhigo

[Celvantis]

I think it will depend on if any of the Ala Mihgo royal family is left

I'm no moose but in 1.0 while doing the monk storyline a npc mentioned a member of the royal family, Theodred survived by being hidden in a temple of the Fist of Rhalgr. I'm not going to hold any hope of seeing him, I suspect he fell threw the cracks of retcon by the time we go to Ala Mihgo but if there is a royalist movement he's the figurehead of it.

[Anonymoose]

I suspect he fell threw the cracks of retcon by the time we go to Ala Mihgo

Not entirely through the cracks. He does get one mention in ARR (MNK Job Reviews at Erik). I'd forgotten all about it, to be honest, lol.

[Nalien]

I'm no moose but in 1.0 while doing the monk storyline a npc mentioned a member of the royal family, Theodred survived by being hidden in a temple of the Fist of Rhalgr. I'm not going to hold any hope of seeing him, I suspect he fell threw the cracks of retcon by the time we go to Ala Mihgo but if there is a royalist movement he's the figurehead of it.

Watch this be what Yda and Papalymo are up to, 3.2 they mentioned something about making sure someone was who they claimed to be, or something to that effect? Wonder if that mask might be some significant artifact of the royal family that Ilberd has gotten his hands on to lead a rebellion...

[Nalien]

Assuming 4.0 is going to Ala Mhigo, I'd quite like;

3.3 - Fight with the Demon, introduction of some new Garleans. Have Nero show up under Regula, along with two new Garlean Rangers, just like with Gaius.
3.4 - Fight with the Goddess, Regulas mask begins to slip and the obvious Kefka references become obvious.
3.5 - Varis returns to Azys Lla (assuming he even left), Regula attempts to copy Kefka and kick him off Azys Lla. Fails, Varis escapes back to Garlemald. Regula eats the Warring Triad and needs to be stopped. In the process, we run into Nero and his two new friends who are also trying to stop Regula. We strike an unease alliance, stop Regula. The end.

4.0 - Garlemald invites us to Ala Mhigo in an attempt to settle internal conflicts there and dampen hostilities with the Eorzean Alliance, who lets face it, so far have been fighting pretty rogue elements from Garlemald... Nael got Tempered and Gaius went in on his own... Warring Triad storyline also gets mentioned if done. Nero returns as our guide to the city, 4.0 deals with us trying to subvert Garlean rule, while also trying to stop dangerous resistance elements, like Ilberd. 4.# ends Return of the King style, ready for 5.0 to push into Garlemald proper.

[Belhi]

Its going to have to take a pretty major change in foreign policy for us to be working with Garlemald. Up till know they have had their minds set on conquest or destruction. The other issue is remove Garlemald and you remove one of the most substantial enemies from the board. There aren't many enemies strong enough that would seriously pose a major threat with Garlemald at our back.

That said, I do see factions within Garlemald and political turmoil being a point. We might not exactly ally with Garlemald as much as one of the factions within Garlemald. God knows they need some more moderates. Part of the problem was the Meteor program was endorsed by the Garlemald leadership.

[Mysterysword]

That said, I do see factions within Garlemald and political turmoil being a point. We might not exactly ally with Garlemald as much as one of the factions within Garlemald. God knows they need some more moderates.

At this point, it would take a hell of a lot to convince me that a character from Garlemald presenting themself as a moderate is being genuine about it. Garleans never seem like the type to do anything halfway -- Cid, Lucia, and even Nero all seem to have cut their ties completely, so it's difficult to imagine a character that could still be loyal to Garlemald, while disagreeing with part of its culture. Because on the other side of the coin, any and all Garleans we've seen, as well as most of the characters who've defected to the side of the Garleans (the final boss of the Ninja quest line is the first example that comes to mind) all seem to be fanatically subscribed to the ideals that the empire preaches.

Basically, asking for us to work with any moderates in Garlemald assumes a few things: That these Garleans are still loyal to their country but somehow still willing to work with us, and that in spite of their difference in opinion, they managed to rise to a position of power or influence, enough that their actions in working with us could affect things in Garlemald. And I don't think that's very likely, from what I've seen so far of the empire.

[Belhi]

That, plus the fact that before being crushed by Garlemald, it had expansive plans of its own for Gridania. Hardly a sorry victim of circumstance.

I haven't seen anything to indicate this is true and a lot to indicate Ala Mhigo had too much internal politics to even think about expansionism. The only time we have of Ala Mhigo attempting to take over Gridania was the Autumn war which was 100 years prior to the current time. Its hardly fair to hold people who weren't alive at the time for the actions of their forebears. We have nothing indicating that Ala Mhigo had any intention of attempting to annex Gridania since then.

At this point, it would take a hell of a lot to convince me that a character from Garlemald presenting themself as a moderate is being genuine about it. Garleans never seem like the type to do anything halfway -- Cid, Lucia, and even Nero all seem to have cut their ties completely, so it's difficult to imagine a character that could still be loyal to Garlemald, while disagreeing with part of its culture. Because on the other side of the coin, any and all Garleans we've seen, as well as most of the characters who've defected to the side of the Garleans (the final boss of the Ninja quest line is the first example that comes to mind) all seem to be fanatically subscribed to the ideals that the empire preaches.

Basically, asking for us to work with any moderates in Garlemald assumes a few things: That these Garleans are still loyal to their country but somehow still willing to work with us, and that in spite of their difference in opinion, they managed to rise to a position of power or influence, enough that their actions in working with us could affect things in Garlemald. And I don't think that's very likely, from what I've seen so far of the empire.

If you had met the wrong type of Ishgardian you could easily have the same view of Ishgard. However Ishgard isn't a single mind. It has more moderate elements that are still very loyal to their country. Infact the fact their country has these more hardline elements is often even more a reason for them to fight for their home and try and change things.

Garlemald isn't a hive mind. Its going to have a lot of people with differing ideas and there are many paths to power.

[Morningstar1337]

Garlemald isn't a hive mind. Its going to have a lot of people with differing ideas and there are many paths to power.

Gee if only an Ala Mhigan who dosn't match what we assume all Aha Mhighans are like approached us as an act of showing that. An emissary draped in white perhaps? :P

Before People Bring up Raubahn and Erik, Raubahn... I think I feel similar feelings about him and Ala Mhigo then Theodric does for Cid, Lucia and Garlemald. Not to the extent of claiming he's a traitor, but I'd argue that Raubahn might be more loyal to Nanamo then he is to Ala Mhigo. Erik might be a possibility though, but it seems like he let Ala Mhigo go as well, and thus a little closer to committing "betrayal" then Raubahn.

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

Garlemald isn't a hive mind. Its going to have a lot of people with differing ideas and there are many paths to power.

While likely true, it is worth noting that pre-Heavensward Ishgard and Garlemald-thus-far haven't been presented the same way. Even before the game started building towards the expansion, there were more moderate Ishgardians in the Central Highlands, whereas the Garlean forces have been very much as Mysterysword said.

Granted, the circumstances surrounding our encounters with them aren't comparable either, so maybe once (if) we get onto more neutral territory, that will change. But I find it kind of doubtful that we'll find much moderate ground in the invasion forces.

[Laili]

I haven't seen anything to indicate this is true and a lot to indicate Ala Mhigo had too much internal politics to even think about expansionism. The only time we have of Ala Mhigo attempting to take over Gridania was the Autumn war which was 100 years prior to the current time. Its hardly fair to hold people who weren't alive at the time for the actions of their forebears. We have nothing indicating that Ala Mhigo had any intention of attempting to annex Gridania since then.

Tell that to the Dravanians, I still don't buy that garbage.