Huh. My first thought after listening to the Masked Man's words (and then going back and listening again) was, "And this is what a Paragon is like."

Just screamed to me of Ascian manipulations. Which makes sense from a strategic standpoint. If the Ascians want to back off, lick their wounds, and prep for the Warrior of Light fighting back, then keeping him/her busy in the meantime would be good.

So have the Ala Mhigans do a primal summoning. Have them do it out in the open, in full view of the Garlean forces. Emperor Varis might consider Thordan to be a one-off only-once-in-a-blue-moon thing, but a second go exposes the fact that the humes of Eorzea can summon primals, and that is one thing that the Empire has a firm stance about. Kill everyone who can.

I have suspicions that discoveries from the Warring Triad will also help fuel Garlean aggression, but I think I need to play Sophia's storyline to be certain.