I'd say more of a direction at all, than a "new" direction. Grurk had largely become AWOL even by the end of Draktel's reign. So Empire was being run by Zulg, whose time was eaten up like crazy by coding, and I and other imms would help out here-and-there. But it didn't have a solid Imm presence like it had previously.

Once Khaso came back, he sorta kicked the complacency that had developed in the rear. Got Empire back to being more what it should be. More cutthroat and such.

The challenge here was that Hunsobo's role was pretty much of the opinion that people deserved the Oath with no preamble. Anyone who willingly gave the Oath should be given it. Citizenship should be available to anyone who "doesn't suck." The Council should pretty much be full if any relatively viable candidates are present.