The Azim Steppe

[Miyha]

I don't think we're going to any of the deities of Man as primals. We were all primed up to get Rhalger, but wound up with Shinryu instead.

Which I admittedly think was a bit strange, simply because of all the people who would have summoned Rhalgr as a primal, Ilberd would have been the one to do it. That said, it fits with the fact that said primal was summoned using Nidhogg's, a dragon's, eyes. Additionally, that was, essentially, one of "man's deities"; it was born of the desperation of man and took the form of an eastern legend. Just because we haven't had one of the major deities as a primal by name yet, doesn't mean it couldn't happen. Louisoix DID attempt to summon the Twelve, after all.

Also, as I said in my post... it was sort of a crack theory. Kind of like the terrible Fortemps theory that was floating around during Heavensward (and dear GODS I'm glad THAT didn't happen).

I'm kind of surprised that there hasn't been any (Known) Ascian meddling at the steppe yet, honestly.

The Xaela seem like a people who could easily be manipulated into summoning a primal with many of them having a belief in gods, along with the constant tribal conflict and imbalance of power amongst them providing a reason for it.

I suppose the lower aether levels in Othard might make such a thing difficullt, though.

^ The line of reasoning that gave rise to my "crack theory", lol. Mildly silly question though, was it confirmed that there are actually lower aether levels in Othard? From my understanding aether was everywhere (even in Ilsabard/Garlemald; they just don't possess the ability to manipulate it), and as long as there's aether, if enough can be gathered in a concentrated place (i.e. with crystals), primals can happen. I may well have missed wherever it stated that aether levels were lower in Othard though, or am forgetting when/where this was said. :P

We probably will. If we end up journeying to Garlemald, going from the Steppes is the most logical route.

One will note that there's two caves leading out of the Steppes that are gated off, in exactly the same way that SB areas were sealed until you progressed through the story. The areas beyond look more dangerous than a conventional route though, one route going through what appears to be a massive remote mountain range, the other going through a high snow-capped mountain. Chances are we'll be asking the locals for help.

This is also one thing I've been thinking about, but not so much in the context of us going to Garlemald. We know there are Xaela tribes that reside in the mountains, as well as several that reside in the desert. Those mountain ranges are likely still Xaela territory and I would like to see an entirely new zone to explore in those mountains. As for the desert, there's a whole desert area out past the Dotharl camp. This is essentially what I mean when I say I'd like to see the Steppe expanded, meaning not only maybe let us go across that broken bridge, but also allow us to venture into other Xaela territories, not just the main part of the Steppe. And let us do it freely. Outside of an instance...

Mooooore than likely though I predict that, to my disappointment (and that of others), these potential "points of entry" will become points of entry for dungeons, not new zones to explore. :/ Kinda like how Xelphatol became a dungeon. Hope I'm wrong, though; I'd like to see a mountainous area that's only partially covered in snow, unlike Coerthas.