Back Story Plot analysis

[Rydin]

Is it a good story? that's a matter of opinion... I think.... like XII, a good story exists within it, but right now it is being poorly told... Understanding the plot and back story actually helped with my enjoyment of the game... With that being said, since this is mostly back story... It SHOULD be *SPOILER FREE*
Someone in another thread was seeking clarification on the plot, but a thread derailment and a few pages of replies meant any real answer would get lost in a sea of conversation... Which brings us to this thread... even if it gets 500 pages of replies.. the meat of the thread will always be in post #1... enjoy

In the world Hydaelyn... in the land of Eorzea... There WERE 6 city states

Ul'dah in the Thanalan Desert to the south... Run by a seedy group of 6 wealthy people known as "The Syndicate"

Gridania in the Black Shroud, centrally located on the big continent Aldenard, where people fear and respect the wood

Limsa Lominsa, a port town on the smaller continent of Vylbrand... Run by an admiral but infested with pirates

Ala Mhigo in the far north east in the Gyr Abania region, the mightiest of the 6 city states

Ishgard the castle amongst the mountains in Coerthas, where the Cardinal has locked the gates to all but the followers of Halone, The Fury

Sharlayan to the northwest in the region of Dravania (Dont know much about this place though)

15 years ago, the Garlean Empire attacked from the continent to the far north east... Being closest to Ala Mhigo, they decimate the city with some real magitek/Shinra/Galbadia type technology...

Because Ala Mhigo was the strongest city-state and fell so fast, the other 5 came together to form a loose alliance to try to defend against the threat...

For reasons we are unsure about, the invasion never came. That's known as the age of the calm... But after a while, with the invasion seeming much less "eminent," all the soldiers and out of work mercenaries became corrupt... Robbing... pillaging... being downright douchebags...
So guilds were created to help maintain order in the cities (And Ishgard shut its doors for unknown reasons)... and thus began the age of the adventurer

In the opening movie... we witness, among other things, a battle fought over Mor dhona... a region uninhabited at the moment...
the battle comes right when our hero's are battling a fierce Morbol/creeping Ivy in what looks like the southwest section of The Black Shroud or possibly a new more jungle based zone
In the battle, flying bongs (Seemingly from the Garlean empire) defend the ship "The Alexander" from dragon enemies
In epic fail fashion, the ships LOSE, the biggest baddest dragon crashes the Alexander into the middle of the zone
Is the battle the past? how far in the past? who are the dragons?
My guess is that dragons are some type of protectors of the land... And the battle somehow involves the primals (Guardians of the beast tribes) as the empire has an extreme dislike and downright fear of the beast tribes across the land.
Could this be why the Garlean invasion never came? were they thwarted by Dragons and primals?
Wow... all that in 1 guild leve.... Totonawa, you've been holding out on us... All I get is puks and frogs....

It seems the Empire is back, 15 years after Ala Mhigo... there are Garlean soldier sightings EVERYWHERE.... tension is rising, the city-states scramble to make alliances and build defenses. Every new adventurer is a possible Garlean Spy...
Cut to the start of your adventure