More information please

[Endemerrin]

I didn't bother to read through all the pages, so my apologies if this has already been mentioned, but you are able to learn plenty if you just do the side-quests that were implemented with the recent patch.

Which are awesome.

But basically..

*SPOILERS AND SPECULATION*

You learn that the companies are being reformed because the Garlean army has entered the Black Shroud. They have begun shooting down passenger ships around Ul'dah, and Garlean spies have been trying to infiltrate Limsa-lominsa. We're going to war, and the companies will lead the way.

Limsa-lominsa has the Maelstrom, and the admiral is trying to convince the pirates to join arms with them. Ul'dah is trying to form the Immortal Flames once again out of adventurers and brave warriors within Ul'dah, and the Padjal will be leading Gridania to war. I've a feeling Gridania will become the Windurst of FFXIV, as it seems they are lacking in supplies and manpower. They will be relying on the other nations heavily, much as Windurst did during the Crystal War in FFXI.

Turns out the Garlond Ironworks is a league of Eorzean Scholars and Engineers who have been trying to uncover and understand Garlean machina, in order to use it against the empire. They are working with the leaders of each of the Grand Companies. Friends and I have speculated that the chief of the Garlond Ironworks will be none other than our beloved Cid. Apparently the Garleans have sent out kill-teams to slay traveling Ironworks members, because they've been carrying valuable information against the empire.

I'm guessing the redesign of the shroud will involve it being partially burnt down by the invading Garleans, thus starting the war between Eorzea and Garlemald. If you do other sidequests, you learn that reincarnations of the twelve known as "Archons" have been rumored to appeared. This ties in with Yoshi-P's poem.

The burning of the forest. The return of the twelve. Eorzea taking up arms against Garlemald. It all makes sense.

Those hamlet battles they were talking about earlier? Probably campaign style battles (as evidence by the potions you receive for completing the new quests) against the empire.

Airships? Given to use by the Garlon Ironworks to meet the Garleans in the skies.
Chocobos? Given out to company members as a means of transportation.

[Ark_mage2]

*SPOILERS AND SPECULATION*

I hope that is exactly the case.