The Griffin

[Morningstar1337]

I thought we were past the days of requiring severed heads to prove kills, but as long as people are admitting it's just wishful thinking...

You know if they Never Found the Body then the deceased cannot be ruled out as having really died, Even Nanamo applies to this considering that some decay would had set in if she was dead when Raubahn found her (and that its impossible to meet her outside quests and cutscenes anyway). So I'm not surprised, we are conditioned to believe that in fiction, a severed head is only of the few ways to tell that someone is dead.

With that said, even if Gaius were alive I doubt he wouldbe in any position to help organize a rebellion. His one still living follower is seemingly on his own path with the other 2 dead, his assets would had likely been seized by the new Viceroy and as an elderly man devoid of both aether and Thancred's skills that allow him to work around that I don't think he'd capable of stealing the robe and hat which he needs because he'd still have to hide his eye and his legatus' armor is a dead giveaway. And it seems likely that Varis and the Viceroy would had taken control of the Castrums in Eorzea (Westwind, Meridiandum, Oriens and especialy the one in Mor Dhona, with the lone exception being the Praetorium which was destroyed)

Elidibus might had painted himself as trustworthy, and who knows maybe he might have gave him the eyes as a way to say "We're not gonna free Lahabrea, you have no reason to fear me." but I'd find it unlikely. After all Gaius had his chance to start a calamity and he blew it. The Ascians are more likely to bet on someone, younger, with more resources, possibly resources siphoned off their foes. As well as a reason to cause chaos. And right now that man is Illberd.

(Couse it would be fun for an Ace Attorney style mock trial to debate the identity of the Griffin)