Gyr Abania - The Poorest Designed Country in XIV

[Theodric]

It was an effective tactic, though ultimately it is similar to the likes of the Black Rose. Death by poison and and drowning are both very painful and traumatic. Realistically, there would have been non-combatants stationed within Doma Castle as well. Engineers, cooks, messengers and servants. If they perished, nothing was ever mentioned - so it does feel like the darker actions of the Warrior of Light's allies are often glossed over. I say that without bias, as Hien is one of my favourite characters. I just wish other characters would call out things like his strong arming of the Xaela and exploitation of the Warrior of Light's power to bring them to his side.

Stormblood was a story about war, yet it leaned far too heavily on convenient plot devices to secure victory. Gyr Abania deserved more time in the spotlight and the actual war's nuances needed to be highlighted more clearly. With any luck, such will be done in the future.

[Lauront]

I mean, the Xaela tribes have some pretty shady aspects to them as well, in many cases. The stuff we're shown in the Steppes is comparatively nice fluff.

[Remedi]

I hope that the Provincies and Garlemand won't welcome us as a savior or a liberator.
While the military branch might consider us a great foe and a worthy enemy (maybe not all of them), we've left behind us a mountain of corpses of soldiers. Those families might resent the empire for forcing them to do military service to get citizenship, however not all of them might be of this idea and especially Garleans.
If we are to enter into the heart of the empire I hope it's not in a huge fanfare but in incognito.
Also our vision must be much different on this side of the conflict

[ObsidianFire]

I'd argue we really don't get that much "nice fluff" about the Xaela. Sadu fighting the WoL to let them mess with the House of the Crooked Coin has almost the same logic behind it as when the WoL fought Giaus before fighting Ultima Weapon. Both of them believe that the strong rule the weak and that the WoL has no business messing with what they see as theirs until the WoL proves that they are stronger then them. Heck, the entire story-line of our time in the Azim Steppe in 4.0 is basically about the WoL proving that their stronger then everyone else in the Steppe. The Xaela are portrayed pretty consistently about being all about "might makes right". And it's like... who else have we run into in the MSQ who also mainly operates on that premise?

The biggest difference I can really see between the Xaela and the Empire's philosophy of "might makes right" is that the Xaela have been doing it for way longer against people who believe the same thing they do. All the Xaela more or less agree that whoever is strongest is the one who gets to rule and they all strive to be the strongest if though different means. If they aren't strong, then they aren't the leaders and they know it. It's to the point that they've codified who gets to run the area they control based on who is the strongest tribe. I'd have as many problems with the Xaela as I have with the Garleans if the Xaela started conquering other countries, but since they've only really been fighting among themselves for as long as they can remember there's really nothing to do about it. The Xaela have been content to remain in their corner of Othard and it's not like anyone can complain about that.

And that's not going into all the educated guesses you can make about Xaela culture and the way they make war by looking up the culture they are based on. They're based on the Mongols. Reading about their war tactics and how they conquered cities is not for the faint of heart. There's reasons the Mongol Empire had the reach and reputation they did. I'm almost surprised the Xaela are still all separate tribes and not unified under one Khan.

[Remedi]

They don't have a Gengis Khan yet, who knows maybe Hien will unite them

[ObsidianFire]

At this rate, it's more likely the WoL will. In fact, "Khan" is what they call whoever won the Naadam which is us. We'll continue to be Khan until we don't win the Naadam...

[KageTokage]

I feel like the "golden age" for the Xaela ended long ago, since it's stated that they were united at a time (I assume the Dawn Throne, Dusk Throne, and the structures in Bardham's Mettle were constructed then), but something caused them to schism into the mess of warring tribes of the present day. Hopefully, that's something will be mentioned in the lorebook, considering that they went a fair bit into how Hingashi became what it is today.

At this rate, it's more likely the WoL will. In fact, "Khan" is what they call whoever won the Naadam which is us. We'll continue to be Khan until we don't win the Naadam...

I'm hoping that the story goes on for another year of time so there can be a silly sidequest where we win the Naadam again just because.

[Remedi]

While we are the actual Khan, it's unlikely we'll unite them or have them follow us that much, that's why I said Hien. It's unlikely that in the story we'll be more than an adventurer

[Ramesses]

While we are the actual Khan, it's unlikely we'll unite them or have them follow us that much, that's why I said Hien. It's unlikely that in the story we'll be more than an adventurer

The tale of the Au'Ra I'd like to see unfold is a more detailed exploration of the Raen .

And yes, I'm biased on this matter.

[Keever]

A khan is just a male chieftain of a tribe, the female equivalent being a khatun.

The Warrior of Light is the khagan—champion of the Naadam.