Thread: Artoirel is... (4.5 spoilers)

Artoirel being on the front lines seems in character to me. Ishgard has spent a 1000 years at war, the nobility for all it's many faults tends to lead from the front. I always thought that the only reason that Count Edmont never engaged in battle during Heavensward wasn't because he was the Count but that he was no longer in his prime. I mean the man does use a cane. In a martial society like Ishgard I can't imagine that he would be carrying it if he didn't need it.

As Count and head of one of Ishgard's High Houses, Artoirel would want to show his support for the Alliance during a battle that might very well decide if Eorzea and Ishgard are annexed by the Empire or not. Besides House Fortemps has always been against Ishgard's isolationism; to show any reservation in support of the Alliance might result in more traditional Houses calling them hypocrites and undermining the Fortemps' and Aymeric politically.

Artoirel is probably safe if for no other reason that his death would pull the spotlight back to Ishgard and House Fortemps and the storyline is headed away from them.