We bully the idea of Emet, Lahabrea and Elidibus in hindsight but if you step back and look at what the fuck we stopped. You realize how cunning and fucking horrible they actually were.
Lets take 1.0 and go from there, Project: Meteor was initially made when Garlean scientists were investigating and studying Dalamud. Upon finding out it wasn't a satellite but rather an ancient Allagan relic. They got it in their head they only needed to take control of it and then use it as a threat to the Eorzean factions. Surrender or we drop this moon on you. So, naturally, Nael van Darnus is selected to head up the task of taking control of Dalamud and brings on the finest magitek engineer in the Empire. Midas nan Garland and his son, Cid. But, what Solus didn't mention knowing that Dalamud wasn't just a relic, it was a cage for Bahamut. So the entire legion ends up getting tempered. And instead of using it to threaten the city-states, the enthralled legion drops it on their forces in Carteneau unleashing Bahamut from its cage and causing it unleash Gigaflare to obliterate everything in a 500 malm radius. Becoming the catalyst for the Seventh Umbral Calamity.
In the wake of this, Garlemald would lose its greatest scientist, one of its legatuses, and uncountable forces in this pursuit. Had it all gone to plan, Emet could of used this moment to "pass away" leaving Garlemald with legions in disarray, magitek minds frayed and leaderless. Causing it to tumble into a Civil War. Upon emerging from it, the victor of the Civil War whether it was Varis or his uncle, would have proved himself to be emperor by strength of arms. But then would have to prove to the Garlean people and the surviving world, that he was right to KEEP the throne, he just won.
This would of been a perfect catalyst, a new Emperor to the Throne hungry to prove his worth and mettle on the world stage. And what better place to begin...than Ishgard. Who would miraciously win the Dragonsong War by using the eye of Nidhogg in their possession to bring about the revival of Thordan and his Knights of Legend. A new city state born from the ashes of the Seventh Umbral Calamity. Fueled on hundred of years of prayer. A city state ruled and lead by a Primal. One of the greatest insults to the Garlean people. Not just for them being taught to loathe and try and stop the summoning of Primals. But for one to crown itself as a God King before the Emperor of Garlemald whom they are taught is a mortal god who walks among them?
The stage would be set for the two clash. Fervor driven zealots of Ishgard against the equally dedicated Garlean forces. A clash that would cause such strife and turmoil to set the stage elegantly for the eventually release of the Eighth Umbral Calamity. In the wake of which, Garlemald and Ishgard would fall and ideally, the city-states destroyed by the Seventh Umbral Calamity, Doma, Bozja, Dalmasca, and Ala Mhigo also held by Garlemald. With the capital wiped off the map with Ishgard. The captured cities would open in rebellion. Pillaging and banditry would take hold. From East to the West, even Thavnair, Tuliyollal and isolated Sharlayan would eventually fall to the chaos.
Allowing the Ascians to step back and wait for the dust to settle and civilization to begin falling under a cycle of rebuilding, governance, and the rise of a new empire and those who would fight against it just like ancient Allag and Garlemald. For them to continue to enact their calamities unto the resurrection of their dark god.
Had everything gone to task, however Louisoix intervened and through his own primal summoning allowed the Eorzeans to be reborn and find a foot hold in a world tarnished by Calamity. Destroying Bahamut and opening the path for a brighter future. One where the Warrior of Light would find purchase. But, the Ascians, never to be outdone. Go for the same plan but hoodwink a new legatus, Gaius van Baelsar into following to their tune. Instead of Dalamud, they select an equally terrible Ultima Weapon. One that could match Dalamud into making the Eorzean Alliance copitulate to Garlemald and sew chaos once more when Lahabrea tempered its heart and unleashed Ultima as the catalyst for wide spread destruction.
Had they succeeded, then "Solus" could announce that Gaius had gone rogue and sought to become an Emperor himself. Pitting Garlemald to a meat grinding civil war. No matter who won. The eventual rise of God King Thordan would once again set the stage. Solus could then pass away leaving the legatuses to fight over the Throne once more but eventually, either through desperation or maladjustment give rise to even more terrible war machina. Eventually, releasing the Black Rose becoming the catalyst for the Eighth Umbral Calamity.
But, again this goes awry. The Warrior of Light rises from the ashes and become not just an adventurer of reknown but a champion to its people. A beacon to gather around. They destroy the Ultima Weapon and through the blessing of Light, banish Lahabrea for a time. Setting things off balance. Intrigued, Elidibus tries to make them a pawn for their plans going forward. But through the treachery of man, they are sent into Coerthas in exile. Where they manage not just the thwart the Dragonsong War but defeat Thordan and his would-be god empire. Setting the Ascians back on their foot. Lahabrea being defeated in the process. Leads Elidibus to send forth his own Warriors of Darkness to continue to cause aetheric unbalance. Through the summoning and slaying of primals. Until his Warriors of Darkness too are banished with Nidhogg.
Forcing Elidibus to try a great war like they had planned by setting Eorzea against Garlemald in open conflict. Doma and Ala Mhigo emerge victorious and the heir to the throne is left in question. Forcing Elidibus to actually get further involved. And with the aid of Emet-Selch push Varis to the extremes to create the Black Rose and become a catalyst for the Eighth Umbral Calamity. This time, they would succeed...had it not been for the Ironworks and G'raha Tia of a previous timeline. Coming back from the brink and summoning the Warrior of Light and companions to the First. Where Emet-Selch and Elidibus and the Eighth Umbral Calamity is ultimately undone completely.
We managed to throw such an extreme wrench in their throughly thought out plans. That they were actually on their back foot, forcing Elidibus without Lahabrea and briefly without Emet-Selch to act erratically and in doing so keep making mistakes that we would meet and foil. And when he was driven to a corner and about to lung for a kill, G'raha comes back from an Eighth Umbral Calamity with a vengeance. Leading to the end of the Paragons and all their dreams.
For the first time since mortality's inception. The world is free of the Paragons and their doom mongering schemes. All that remains is to hunt down the remaining Ascians. Or so it would seem...
But man to have a plan C - E ready for on the off chance Dalamud didn't work. We make fun of them now, but they really were just villains through and through.
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