Never said anything about focusing north, btw, nor doing any of this right now. Simply put, because we all know how swiftly a minority gets thrown under the bus.
Thinking in the long-term... Come the next invasion or two, if Obia'Syela "wins", we'll become a super-blob of theocratic stability (and thus boring). Providing opportunities for disgrunted Obia'Syelani to have their own brand of fun, rather than move to other realms or continents, may help us along the way. Cause we all know not everyone has as much fun as they first think, or once did. Retention is a big problem as soon as we're not a fancy new concept being fleshed out, and there will always be players who like kicking the hornet's nest, so to speak. Hell, whenever we get some "undesireables" (its bound to happen) just start a prison colony buffer zone for all it matters. We all know how that went for the British in Australia
Small realms grow into large realms when opportunity allows.
All I'm saying is, I want to see this realm's concept and culture still boom in 2020 and beyond.
With all our eggs in one basket we may have more bodies to throw around, but somewhere down the road it'd be wise to consider "giving birth" to a few break-off concept realms to seed the world beyond our borders, and keep the spirit alive in refreshingly new ways.