Grian's note went through the rift and then the same note dropped at the end of the empires clip, and at the end of Grian's episode, him and most of the hermits jumped into the rift. Simply : The hermits are going to end up in the Empires 2 SMP
Also, Gem is in the Empires SMP so that's going to be weird and Pearl is considered a goddess in Empires so I think it will be funny seeing some members freaking out when they see Pearl.
That's fine, you would have found out when grian posted the next episode so you won't have found out. This should explain anything Ive missed :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rQ_Jd2AaJY
I watch a Youtuber who shares Reddit Empires 2 theories and I think there was one about Hermitcraft and Empires being connected because I was completely numb went watching, but when the hermits entered the rift, I was going crazy.