So, what do you think would most likely happen, if Gaudiguch returns?

I know we can't be sure at this point, but predictions? I think a good amount of the dracnari population will join Gaudiguch. I shudder to think of what would happen if Celest became Gaudiguch's enemy, somehow. (Fire hurts).

What I'm more interested in knowing is whether Pyromancers and Aeromancers (I still think it should be Auramancers ) will have the same sort of demesnes as Aquamancers and Geomancers. I mean, you'd think so, but wouldn't an area set on fire be a bit...eh, less sustainable than just taint or water?

The artifact hidden in the Skarch desert will be found, and a few mortals will harness its powers, thus bringing an end to the freezing of the two cities of olde. And as they are Unfrozen, war will commence, such that Lusternia has not seen in eons.

Both cities will continue from where they left off, in a clash. Both will draw back, confused by the strange feeling they feel. Many adventurers will travel to the risen cities, and shall explain the Taint Wars are over, and they about almost one hundred years in the future.

I'd say Pyromancers probably would have desert demesnes. I can't see any other way for that to work, unless they made the rooms become volcanic or something... and maybe Aeromancers have demesnes in the sky or can push clouds into a room to form one there? I dunno, just random speculation.

Well, in terms of demesnes, I think a lava pool, or maybe some shimmering heat or something would work for Pyromancers. Aeromancers? Fog, clouds, a strong breeze? Maybe a storm cloud.

Pyromancers could maybe have desert, but have it be spiffied up by an illusion.. i mean, heatwaves = mirage... could be sort of spiffy... and for Aeromancers it would make sense for it to be in the sky.. maybe clouds so if you summoned someone there they wouldn't plummet, but, at the same time, they couldn't run.

There would be a wholly separate conflict between the two cities, since with Kethuru being expelled from the Taint, it poses no immediate threat to the Empire they were once part of. It would be pretty disheartening to see the new cities ally with Celest or Magnagora, there's no reason to.

It would actually be pretty cool to see the cities making temporary alliances with each other to screw the others over. Two completely different sets of conflicts where the cities vie to bring one of the cities from another conflict to their side... of course it would suck if it got streamlined into two cities always being allied against two other cities.

Just imagine the possibilities of Celest trying to get Hallifax and Gaudiguch to help them crush Magnagora. Meanwhile Magnagora is doing likewise against Celest.... and Hallifax/Gaugiguch are doing the same trying to get Celest and Magnagora to help in their fight.

If anything, it'd end up being Celest and Hallifax vs Magnagora and Gaudiguch...though neither city historically likes the Taint, Gaudiguch would be forced into alliance because Celest is helping their enemy. Just seems like it would be a weird, unfavorable situation.

Then again, at the moment, Magnagora and Serenwilde are allies... so.. anything can happen. Maybe Hallifax and Gaudiguch would feel so threatened by being "behind" the times that they are join together in a fragile alliance just for a bit of familiarity.

Not allies, just not enemies.

And Hallifax is not one to be drawn into a needless conflict. They are quite rational, and will make sure the ally they gain is worth more than the enemy they gain.

Only as rational as the players joining it

Well, they didn't seem very rational in the history when they attacked without being sure if Gaudiguch was Tainted or not. Hopefully when they come back, the event that brings it about will explain the loose ends involving the Crucible and Paradox.

Rational, in that they played by the following rule (forget what it's called):

If they ARE tainted, and we drain their nexus, we did the right thing.
If they ARE tainted, and we DON'T drain their nexus, we can be destroyed.
If they ARE NOT tainted, and we DON'T drain their nexus, we are where we were, fine.
If they ARE NOT tainted, and we drain their nexus, we will be at war (which is much better than being destroyed).

Wouldn't you love to know what all those butterflies Gaudiguch unleashed were?

Hallifax actually didn't attack but wsa performing reconaissance. Gaudiguch initiated the attack.

Anyone ever read the Duncton Wood chronicles? In it, delver moles can create tunnels with such precision that the wind makes noises to frighten their enemies - it can magnify the sound of a heartbeat to make it sound like the march of a thousand armies.

I imagine that's what Aeromancer demenses might be like...
"Mysterious windsound echoes in your ear."

While its possible Hallifax and Gaudiguch could become allies, i dont think its gunna happen. If one day, everyone in Magnagora and Celest woke up and discovered they were 2000 years in the future, would they stop hating each other? Probably not.

I don't think the Halifaxionians or the Gaudigoobies would notice any difference. In a split second, they'd go from 100 years ago to present day. That's why adventurers will have to flock there when the two cities reappear, and they'll all be like:

"It's one hundred years later. Stop fighting for frick's sake."
"Guh, wudjyzba? Huzza?!"

Hallifax was draining their nexus, if that's not an open declaration of war in this game, I don't know what is.