Idea for a New Expansion: Gaius van Baelsar lives... and he needs your help

[Cilia]

...[Gaius van Baelsar] could have survived. Because just about anything is possible (Hildibrand Storyline!). But why stay out of sight and play dead? Imperial politics. There was a war of succession shortly after when the first Garlean Emperor died. It is likely that his grandson, Varis zos Galvus, is no friend of van Baelsar. In fact, it is likely that van Baelsar wished to take over Eorzea with the use of the Ultima Weapon in an attempt to amass enough power to secure the throne for himself.

The big thing about all this is Nero. One moment he is a topnotch Garlean techlord and the next thing he is a “free agent.” A man with his knowledge and skill should have had his pick of posts in the Empire. Why stick around people he considers primitive? Because the man he is still loyal to is still alive. And ordering him to get close to those around the Warrior of Light.

In typical fashion... I have to point out there are a few problems with this. (Yes, even if it's just a dream.)

-What happens during the Hildibrand story is... widely acknowledged to not adhere to the rules of reality. Cyr explicitly questions whether or not he's left the realm of logic during one of his 3.x quests.
-Varis zos Galvus' opinion on van Baelsar is unknown. Given any stragglers of the XIVth were marked for death and as far as we know Varis has not rescinded this order, I do not think he has a favorable opinion of them.
-van Baelsar explicitly states he desires to take over Eorzea because he considers its leadership impotent, and that it is right of him to do so since we cannot stop him.
-As with the rest of the XIVth, Nero is a renegade from a rogue Legion marked for death in Garlemald. That's why he doesn't return to the Empire despite expressing disdain for Eorzeans. This bit is just my personal opinion, but I do not think he was particularly loyal to Gaius either - he complained about being a distant second choice as van Baelsar's chief engineer behind Cid, despite the latter being an expatriate who deserted his homeland. (I wouldn't be particularly loyal to a boss whose attitude toward me was "You're not the best, but... ehh, I guess you'll make do. I wish I had the other guy though.")

I wouldn't mind a Garlemald expansion, but our reason for going there would have to be very well thought-out and explained. (Since it's the only bit of charted land left besides Thavnair, we're pretty much bound for it next.) Garlemald itself could easily be classified as Lawful Evil, so there'd need to be a dramatic shift or change in their social and political systems for us to head there under any terms but hostile. I refrain from dealing in "What if?"s and possibilities as well, since there are simply too many to account for them all.

I question how we're going to Garlemald and whether or not it's under hostile terms. We'll find out in, what...? A year and a half? Two years? We think, maybe? Until then, I'll continue to weeb out with my katana that glows when I draw it (and/or they make DRK fun to play again).

If any extant character were to serve as our bridge to Garlemald, I would have preferred van Hydrus over van Baelsar. He seemed to be catching on to the idea that, for all their power and grandeur, the Allagans fell for a reason - so why emulate them? Unfortunately he died, and I accept that.

[Kyran-Varlsen]

In typical fashion... I have to point out there are a few problems with this. (Yes, even if it's just a dream.)

-What happens during the Hildibrand story is... widely acknowledged to not adhere to the rules of reality. Cyr explicitly questions whether or not he's left the realm of logic during one of his 3.x quests.
-Varis zos Galvus' opinion on van Baelsar is unknown. Given any stragglers of the XIVth were marked for death and as far as we know Varis has not rescinded this order, I do not think he has a favorable opinion of them.

I am glad for clarification on the Hildebrand stuff, or at least as close as we are going to get. I will however seek to remain on favorable terms with the man's father and mother if for no other reason than they scare the bejeesus out of me.

I was also unaware that the XIVth was deemed renegade by the Empire and marked for death. This actually explains Nero's current unemployment. But then how is it that the XIVth stragglers in bases across Eorzea have still managed to hold out for so long? I know there are reasons they can't be removed in-game but the fact that the Alliance has not gotten wiping out these Castrums in their own lands strikes me as ridiculous considering they then launch a full-blown invasion of Imperial Territory.

If any extant character were to serve as our bridge to Garlemald, I would have preferred van Hydrus over van Baelsar. He seemed to be catching on to the idea that, for all their power and grandeur, the Allagans fell for a reason - so why emulate them? Unfortunately he died, and I accept that.

I agree that van Hydrus was a stand-up guy for a Garlean and that his death was unfortunate. It was also quite permanent, his soldiers said he would even get a burial.

[Cilia]

I was... unaware that the XIVth was deemed renegade by the Empire and marked for death. This actually explains Nero's current unemployment. But then how is it that the XIVth stragglers in bases across Eorzea have still managed to hold out for so long? I know there are reasons they can't be removed in-game but the fact that the Alliance has not gotten wiping out these Castrums in their own lands strikes me as ridiculous considering they then launch a full-blown invasion of Imperial Territory.

Everything Gaius did in 2.0 was off the record. He wasn't acting on orders - he took his Legion, went rogue, and tried to conquer Eorzea a second time. (First was before 1.0, when Midgardsormr's unforeseen intervention destroying the Agrius ruined his plans.) As a result everyone in the XIVth was given a kill on sight order by the Empire - and Nero just happens to be the sole surviving important member of the XIVth (because he was smart enough to cut tail and run when overpowered).

As for why the Eorzeans haven't expunged all the stragglers of the XIVth squatting on their lands? Dunno. It's never brought up. My personal opinion on the matter is that the Eorzeans pity them, so they leave them be so long as they don't stir up trouble.

[Kyran-Varlsen]

As for why the Eorzeans haven't expunged all the stragglers of the XIVth squatting on their lands? Dunno. It's never brought up. My personal opinion on the matter is that the Eorzeans pity them, so they leave them be so long as they don't stir up trouble.

Is it ever definitely stated if these legionnaires are still XIV? What if the Empire moved more troops in and these are sanctioned legionnaires?

Again, the in-game reason for this is that these locations are involve in quests or the mobs drop unique crafting loot. But on a geopolitical level, the continued existence and mention of these strongholds in cut scenes really undercuts the commitment of the alliance to safeguard their own lands.

[Cilia]

Is it ever definitely stated if these legionnaires are still XIV? What if the Empire moved more troops in and these are sanctioned legionnaires?

It is not. However, without a statement either way it is wisest to go with what is known - that they are of the XIVth, rogue and defunct as it may be.

For the other bit... I avoid "What if?"s and possibilities. You're on your own for that one.