Nierite wrote:
All Val lines carry baggage, though in all fairness the val'Emman of modern time carry far LESS in the minds of others. It should be noted, however, that the reputation the val'Virdan got for their recklessness and hot-headedness has been traced to the val'Emman which were masquerading as val'Virdan. As such, while they haven't done much (officially) recently, they still DO have a reputation.
There was the occupation of Nishampur and the rampage of Leonidas, as well as declaring for Calcestus during the civil war. The latter's not so damning as who chose what side why was quite complex -IIRC the Val'Bordas stood on
both sides of the insurrection at one point.
And frankly, when your long-awaited savior figure arrives there's not much saying no. If memory serves the Sisters of Nier were the reason the Cancerese Val'Virdan split at all. The Val'Emman might not have re-emerged at all if they hadn't done so, even with the mentagi's recovery.
That the Sword didn't order Nishampur razed was remarkable, and the occupation wasn't worse then anything Canceri does to itself regularly.