Interesting So I Share - Tumblr Posts
I don't read a lot of meta so there is every chance that this has been discussed before but my new ffxiv conspiracy theory is that the Garleans are an Allagan creation.
Reasoning:
Not being able to manipulate aether is an incredibly unusual trait for any creature on Hydaelyn considering that like fish can do it.
There is no mention of a Garlean equivalent on the First. (This can be explained away by the Flood but we are noting this as part of the larger picture here, ok?)
The origin of the people who would become the Garleans is said to be Goug, a Clockwork City. The Allagans were well known for their clockwork soldiers. (Note: The Gougians "abandoned" their clockwork city.)
The Gougians/Garleans eventually settled as peaceful farmers in Corvos and were forced off the land by the magic wielding races of the area. This information is obviously suspect given that only the Garleans seem to corroborate it and this is their basis for their imperialism, for now, note that the only other race known to be active in the area for certain is the G tribe of Miqo'te.
The Garleans have no problem using Allagan technology. This can also be explained by Emet-Selch but given how into bloodlines and bioengineering the Allagans are I think it's worth keeping in mind.
In the Bozja storyline, Gabranth is both said to have been researching Garlean ancestory and to have found "lost knowledge" about the Allagan Empire. Adding in the fact that he wants to establish a new nation in Goug....
Thus I propose:
The Goug were a product of Allagan bioengineering that were to serve as a labor/slave race (like with the Ixal.) Their inability to manipulate aether would have made them reliant on technology and thus ideal to have doing maintenance on machina.
The Gougians got run of the Clockwork City after the Allagan Empire collapsed. Being an island in the post-apocalypse, they lacked the resources (and possibly the magical prowess) to maintain it and are forced to abandon it for the greener pastures of Corvos.
The G Tribe, having been entrusted with the Allagan Royal Blood and a load of Allagan artifacts seem like the ideal people to get the Clockwork City up and running again. The G Tribe, who do not want Allag 2.0, refuse to help them.
Therefore the conflict that emerges is based around the Gougians wanting the Allagan artifacts and the G Tribe not wanting to give them over to the wrong hands.
The Gougians obviously lose this conflict and are forced north to the region that would later become Garlemald.
They are then easily found and manipulated by Emet-Selch, who probably knew of their origins from the get-go meaning that he is able to twist the truth into the story the Garleans are spouting now.
I do not know if I am right, odds are I've missed some things but tis a fun theory nonetheless :3