Speaking more toward the Xaela under Garlean rule, my personal speculation is that the Othard steppes and mountains are likely "controlled" by the Garlean Empire in the same way the American West was "controlled" by the federal government: they said they controlled it, they had fancy papers saying they controlled it, and most foreign nations respected their control of it... but they really had no actual control over most of it.
V'aleera's Wiki - https://wiki.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/pages...eera_Lhuil
V'aleera's Tumblr - valeeralhuil.tumblr.com
V'aleera's Tumblr - valeeralhuil.tumblr.com
