As suggested before, I have used a character to scout ahead the next range of quests. While the initial bit is kind of dull and empty (A little stay at Highbridge investigating on the Ascians), the party is then sent by a clue onto Little Ala Mhigo, which happens to be Clive's former home since he left his homeland (just after the Calamity).

The welcome to Ala Mhigo is brash and cold, and someone suggests that the best way to get the refugee's trust is to have someone of their kin to vouche for you, someone who, like them, knows the strife of Ala Mihgo, their Resistance and their constant battle against the Empire.

With Kara's exception, I imagine at this point the party would immediately figure out that Clive should be that voucher, and in his reluctance to help out the case, I also guess they'd eventually corner him demanding an explanation to his antics on the matter. I think this would be an excellent chance for his background to be revealed to the group as a whole.

I know we've argued to try and not mesh MSQ with personal scenarios, but this seems really a good blend so… I'll wait for you guys' feedback on that.

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A secondary option, more like an exploit of the general direction of the MSQ (Investigating on the a black-cloaked/masked man), would be to derail the group with an information of a black-cloaked man sighting in La Noscea, which would be a plausible, though not-so-good hook at Jet'a's plot, but I personally prefer to see what Drae has in mind with the Rogue quests and her IC reasons to go look for the guild.

As a catalyst, I think this is fine – it's a logical point for Clive's background to come to light. Go for it.

It's fine. As long as we're not shackled to the MSQ.

I think it's good to use the MSQ events to drive character development, especially in instances like this, where it is natural for these things to come out/be revealed. I think it makes the MSQ more interesting. It is kind of how we have done things with FFXI and what has made that successful, and makes the MSQ more important to the RP's characters.

That said, I echo what Kiri said regarding not being shackled to the MSQ. Basically, it becomes a problem if a character's development is solely tied to the MSQ. There should be plans to develop the character outside of the context of the MSQ.

So, basically the rule of thumb I'd say is–don't rely on the MSQ to build out your character, but if the opportunity presents itself, capitalize on it.

As a warning though, I may ask to DM some of the NPCs in Ala Mhigo, as well as Minfilia should someone in the group decide to inform her (since to have a philo-Garlean in the Scions could be a huge danger). I promise nothing that will happen will derail the direction of the MSQ, and no, I'm not going to rely on it too much. In fact, I can already tell there will be a couple huge chunks of quests we'll want to skip because blah, boring.

For reference, this is the step outline of in-game quests (Main Scenario only), from where we left off to the end of the Ala Mhigan arc:

• SKIP: Into the Beast's Maw (Turn In Only)
• RP: Believe in Your Sylph (Thunder Crystal Cutscene)
• *SKIP: Back From the Wood (Return to the Waking Sand, end of Sylphs Arc and beginning of Ala Mhigan Resistance Arc)
• SKIP: A Simple Gift (Fluff Talk)
• SKIP: Shadow of Darkess (The adventurer is sent to the Immortal Flames, and from there to Highbridge)
  
  Beginning of: Stay at Highbridge
• SKIP: Highbridge Times (Fluff Talk)
• SKIP: Ratting It Out (Fluff Farm, it's revealed Qiqirns are selling people to the Amalj'aa, no cutscenes involved)
• SKIP: Where There Is Smoke (Spawn Fight, your assailant has a Ward of Rhalgr, Ala Mhigan deity, on himself)
• RP: On To Little Ala Mhigo (Fluff talk can be skipped, but this is where discussions would start to be had in the group while heading there.)
  
  Beginning of: Stay at Little Ala Mhigo (Part 1)
• SKIP: Tea for Three (Fluff Talk)
• RP: Foot in the Door (This is pretty much the central part of the plot for me. You are requested to try and find an Ala Mhigan to vouche for you. The game directly tells you to go ask Minfilia for advice, but I think the group should turn on Clive here, and go to Minfilia after everything is revealed and settled.)
• SKIP: Meeting With the Resistance (Fluff Talk)
  
  Beginning of: Stay at Quarrymill
• SKIP: Killing Him Softly (Fluff Talk, the Gridanians are mean!)
• SKIP: Helping Horn (Fluff Talk, Trash Farm)
• SKIP: He Ain't Heavy (Pop Fight, Small cutscene of Ala Mhigan Bromance)
  
  Beginning of: Stay at Little Ala Migho (Part 2)
• SKIP: Come Highly Recommended (Fluff Talk, we love you now.)
• SKIP: The Bear and the Young'uns' Cares (Fluff talk, young ones are scheming)
• **SKIP: Wilred Wants You (Pop Fight, young ones try to kill you.)
• RP: Big Trouble in Little Ala Mhigo (Fetch, Talk, and Instanced Battle)
• RP: Back to Square One (Fluff Talk, but it's the return to the Waking Sands point and Minfilia recommends rest.)

* I consider his skippable because I personally do not consider Noraxia joining the party as a Big Event; although, this character will later on have a central spot during the Post-Titan aftermath, so if people think her introduction should be roleplayed, I won't argue that.
** The quest is very small and involves no cutscenes, but this is also the introduction of Wilred, and he is sort of the focus of the Ala Mhigan part of MSQ. Up to you guys if we should RP him or not.
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While this is my recommended outline, if someone needs to RP one of the quests I deemed as skippable, or a side-quest in the matching areas, I am fine to add it to the list of quests to RP.

As of now, the outline indicates five quests to RP in total, which should be managed in one RP session. During the in-between skips that Avi and I will have to go through, social RP can be taken. Just pull a "pretend I'm here while I go burn the skippable quests".