To set out my arguements in a concise manner, I will first of all list the things that Sandoria possesses; and then explain how they all blend together to create a formidable kingdom that is not to be toyed with in the advent of a full-blown War. Most of the information I gleaned are directly from information I came across while doing several Sandy quests/missions, and also from talking to NPCs all over Vana'diel. Believe me, having done about 95% of the Sandy quests and all the sandy missions, I uncovered an overwhelming understanding of the Elvaan.Let us begin by examining the geographical advantages that Sandy has... it is landlocked, has quite a few secret underground tunnels that lead to advantageous locations, and is blessed with an adundance of very fertile lands. The surrounding regions that directly lead into Sandy also have "bottle neck" entrances, which (as any military strategist will tell you) can be a huge plus during battles. Also carefully note the thick forests of Jugnar Forest, Ronfaurre, and La Thienne Plateau... that means an abundant supply of lumbar; an important point that I will return to later.
Now, let's examine the government (the Monarchy) of Sandy... for those players who are non-citizens or those Sand'Orians who have yet to complete the sandy missions; I will tell you this much without spoiling the story: Sandy is now under superb leadership under a King that truely understands the international politics post-war/preasent-day Vana'diel. In simple words, the throne is as secure as it will ever be plus we are fully reunited with Tavnazia. In addition, the bravery of the two princes (especially Trion) has seriously weakened the Orcish threat... when you succeed with Sandy mission 9-2, you will see exactly how. Therefore, we are pretty much safe from Orc-beastmen insurgents from either Davoi or Fort Ghelspa.
Thirdly, let's look at the chivalry nature of the Elvaan... mind you, not only does the word describe the bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry of the two Orders of Elvaan knights; but it also goes further to explain the riding prowess of these warriors. Just for quick reference, a chivalric order is a body of armored mounted warriors serving a king/lord... and the existing illustrations of the War-King Acheufagais R D'Oraguille clearly underlines this. Therefore, be correct in assuming that the Elvaan knights are arguably the best land-ridden forces in Vana'diel (and unless you wanna decieve yourself, we look and ride the best while in a chocobo saddle).
Fourth point, let us examine the magicracy Order of the Elvaan... it seems several people have convinently forgotten that the Priests of the Church of Altana are not to be messed with. It's not coincidence that every single teleport quest/scroll are initiated by Elvaan priests scattered across the globe... and might I add that these priests are already in excellent position to act as spies on behalf of the Sandorian government. The Priests are all White-Mages (as well as Prince Pieuje who likely be almost as powerful, if not AS powerful as the Papsque). Note further that Sandoria definitely has Red-Mages (Lady Curilla's deceased father was a powerful one as well).
Fifth point, Sandy has a recovering economy... and the only reason why it was a decline in the past was because the people where to busy fighting Orcish raids to really focus on sustaining agriculture. As such, the two Princes (mainly Pieuje) shrewdly commissioned an extra Auction House in Port Sandy so as to greatly boost economic trade. The royal family were also smart enough to let the Tenshodo branch of sandy to continue conducting their business at the port.
Sixth point... The city is a fortress (twice over), and it's walls are unbreachable. Yes, I say again "unbreachable". It is not an unknown fact that the main capital city of Sandy actually has an "invisible triangular protective arcana shell" that has it's bases in Cape Terrighan, Beaudecine, and Batallia Downs. If you are a sandorian and have done mission 7-8, you will know more about this. It is a shell of ancient arcana that was put in place by the Dragon King to protect all future generations of Elvaan (I will need to go and double-verify this because it's a while since I re-read my past missions... but I do believe it was Ranperre that put the "wards" in place)
Seventh point... the Elvaan have a very decent number of exceptional generals and commanders; something that is very important in any war. Need me to name them? Trion, Rahal, Excenmille, Curilla, Exoroche, Louvarance, and Cyranuce M Cutauleon (now deceased). While the younger Prince (Pieuje) is not considered a warrior type of leader (in the past, I even thought of him as a total wuss); he nonetheless possesses a very keen sense of cunning and makes up for his lack of prowess on the battlefield by being a shrewd thinker.
So... how do all these points blend into one another?
If there was a war, expect the royal family to cleverly ally with Windy mainly because, believe it or not, the Elvaan have a grudging respect for the tarus after the massacre of Sauromaugne Campaign. And even though they deeply resented the tarus for sending the three mages to do a "middle of the night ambush" while the Elvaan knights were asleep, they eventually accepted that they brought it upon themselves... and their unflinching support to Windy during the Great War clearly showed that all was forgiven (500 knights willingly gave their lives in garlaige citadel while trying to help many Taru's escape thru the tunnels).
Next, where could the battles hold? The average Elvaan is a keen battle-strategist... and every military startegist knows that one method of enacting a resounding victory is to pick a venue for the battle that will be advantageous to his/her troops. Well in that case, we can expect the Elvaan to lure the Humes into La Thienne for swift decimation. The Ordelle caves were mapped by the Elvaan Lord Ordelle and rumour has it that the true original version of the map is in safe keeping at the palace... I think it was this version used by the "lost-in-time" knight in the "A Timely visit" quest. The number of Elvaan quests that take place in Ordelles caves is enough to convince anyone that La Thienne is a military base-point for sandy... heck, they do their training drills there. And with Selbina still a major trading point for exporting food (and most likely weaponry, supplies etc); it's a sure thing that the "Assassination Crew" of the royal family will do gueriella assult on the Bastokian ground troops as they make their way from Konstat Highlands to Selbina to La Thienne.
Bastok has airships you say? Heh... one of the crucial items that Cid needs for building the ships is a certain Teak wood found in Carpenter's landing. No, this is no joke... go do the quest and find out for yourselves... the kind of Lumbar that cid needs to construct his precious airships can only be found while riding the barge in Carpenter's Landing. Naturally, Sandy will close this spot off to cripple supplies that Bastok needs for airship-building (Count Teulleume (sp) will be happy to make sure of that... if he doesn't, the Knights Mistalle will).
And while that happens, the government will be using their Dragoons (headed by none other than Excenmille) to further cripple and possibly destroy the few airships that Bastok will dare to send to Sandy. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but the airships are bulky crafts that are difficult to manuver... easy pickings for the more agile and swifter Dragoons.
Another spot that the Elvaan will drag the Humes to battle will be the Northern regions. We practically wrote the book on mapping the northern lands... and if you don't know, know this now: it was Lord Excenmille's forces that mapped out AND located the strategic areas in the Xacarbard area... a crucial move that helped the allied forces push their way to the Shadow Lord's castle; and which ultimately aided Volkar and the others to secure victory. And please don't forget the Raugemont Pass maps that lead thru beaudacine into batallia downs... there are RK guards stationed there in front of the huge red gate... that's another matter I will get to later on. So; Louvarance of the Knights Mistalle, and Lord Excenmille know that area perfectly... and all the other maps of the surrounding area is possessed by none other than the late Queen's gardener. Now go figure...
... and remember that the Elvaan, having being more adaptive to the slightly colder tempratures of the northern Quon continent are more resilient to the climate. Do I foresee another massacre for the Humes in the icy wastelands? Looks very probable.
Then add in the fact that it's extremely hard to attack the city itself either physically or thru arcana (because of the protective shell around it)... and of course, we still have the Lightbringer, the spirit of Ranperre, and... if my calculations are right... his fully grown dragon who might just happen to be Vthra. Whoa now... and I'm still not done.
Knowing the scheming mind of the Princes, do I foresee them moving a few elite troops through Selbina -> Gustav Tunnel -> Cape terrigan -> Kuftal Tunnel -> Rabao (where they will rest up and restock supplies) before then going through Quicksand caves -> Korroloka tunnel -> Bastok Mines? Launching an attack on the humes through this route is very possible and it will be nice to cripple the excavating process of the mines in that area wile they are at it. If the Elvaan don't wish to enact a full scale attack through this route, they can at least send spies through here to spread disinformation amoung the Galka... the very same Galka who just happen to have their main residential area in the bastok mines area. Heck, perhaps that's what the sandorian emissary priest (convinently hidden in his quiet room) is really doing in Bastok... I won't put the Papsque and Pieuje beyond this kinda tactics.
Couple this with the full alligence we now have with Tavnazia... let's not forget that they have Prishe, Umama, Despialogue (sp?), and Crown Prince Rouchefogne(sp) who is very much alive and will possibly have some powers of some sort. Oh wait... did I mention the baddest of them all, the illustrious Aldo? His friendship to Prishe, his allegience to his homeland Tavnazia, and the fact that he's a powerbroker in Jeuno will ensure that he uses his Tenshodo to gather info on how to secure armed airships for sandy. Sandoria's alliance with Windy will also bring in the formidable Mithran chieftainess and even possibly the Mithran tribes of the Khazam continent (a move that should please Gilgamesh since he is on great terms with the Mithras of Khazam). And a close relationship with the Norg tenshodo means that the warriors of sandy will have easy access to the secrets of the Ninja ways.
Whoa... and I still haven't listed what Trion (Paladin bad-boy), Curilla (Paladin bad-girl?), Rahal, the Red Mages, and the Altana priests can do on the battlefield while Excenmille's troops burn every blue Bastokian flag from the skies. The bottle-neck entrances to the zones near their capital city will be a great advantage to the Elvaan. Picture this...Humes forced to bunch together due to the mountainous terrain flanking them (which will seriously hamper Bastok's ability to set up "scores" of their cowardly cannons in a wide line). Simply have the Dragoons pick them from above with their wyverns, lances, and throwing weapons... I'm too sure that their swift and agile maneuverings in the skies will prevent the Humes from being able to accurately target their cannons onto the Dragoons. Not to mention that it will be a comical sight to watch the Bastokians fumble to fire off shots at their enemies only to blast themselves with "friendly fire". Indeed, it's a huge possibility.
And let's not forget how viciously Excenmille will fight... he was already a legend right from the days of the Great war. I might have to go and double-check from the story-bards in sandy if he still has his wyvern (I can't fully remember but I'm quite positive he does)... nonetheless, even if he doesn't he definitely still has his dragoon abilities. His presence alone on the battlefield will be a huge morale for the other few dragoons that the Elvaan have (namely YOU the player). Then you have valiant Prince Trion and his regiment of Paladins (yes indeed, paladins... all of whom have their gear custom-made and initialled with their personal names). Perhaps you don't know how much Trion enjoys battle...he's so war-oriented that he's actually the reason why Ballista was re-introduced, espeacially after he and Excenmille had a discussion about how to maintain great morale amoungst their troops both at home an abroad.
At Trion's side is also his trusted Captain Exoroche... ever seen the PLD AF quests? It took one single slice of his sword for him to defeat his opponent (ironically, it was a Hume). Let's not forget the aggressive General Rahal and the RKs, all of whom are very adept at gathering information (this is proven in the DRG AF quests and a few other sandy-related quests). It's interesting to note that these are also hardened knights who regularly play Ballista as if it's their early morning pre-breakfast warm-ups. And Curilla... her savage Blade WS is so perfected that she actually once shattered another great warrior's sword.
And of course there is a steady supply of food sustaining the forces... any tactician will tell you that a good army runs on a ful stomach. Ever wondered how Julius Caesar conquered parts of Europe so fast? It was not only because he had great strategists in his camp... but because his army was excellently fed. The Elvaan forces having a steady supply of food (as opposed to bastok who have to buy their food from... where else... Sandy) is another huge advantage. Then you also have them as swift riders on chocobos, ground shock-troops pumped up with Haste and subbing Nin, priests casting Holy and Banish, Trion and Curilla tossing Savage Blade, RDMs providing Refresh and thunder III on troublesome spots...
The possibilities...
Like I said, it's all just hypotherical... and I'll have to think it further if Sandy and Windy don't ally up. Okay, let's say they don't ally up: first and foremost it will be difficult for the Taru's to initiate a war with the Elvaan, mainly because they are a peaceloving people. And even if they did want to display a course of agreesion, they would do so with their Summoners and their Black Mages, right? Well, I'm certain that the Elvaan have remedies for that as well... because, one; the avatars of the summoners can't be used to attack other children of altana. So that drowns the theory of using Fenrir on Sandy's capital... and even if the avatsrs did attack other children of Altana, I'm quite certain that the protective wards of the city will hold up against fenrir's 2-hour.
Next, the Taru Blackmages... that threoy that Lady Shantotto can (at will) toss a curse onto the Elvaan populance all the way from her rocking chair at Windy is just wastage of mana energy. Have you all forgotten about the priest in the sandy cathedral who knows how to remove "god-level" curses from cursed items? Last time I checked, he's the only one in Vana'diel who can uncurse god-fighting items with their corresponding abjurations. Therefore I think it's safe to assume that removing lvl 75 blackmage curse will be child's play for him.
'Sides, there is a whole cohort of white-mage-oriented priests that will effortlessly remove curses cast upon the Elvaan. And as for those other Taru blackmages who wish to engage the Elvaan on the battlefield, I believe that there are several kinds of weapons that have silence as their latent power. Arrows, lances, swords... name it... I'm quite certain that the priests will devise a way to imbue the Elvaan troops' weapons with silence latency.
Don't get me wrong, I deeply respect Ajido for his great skill with ancient magic... but it can only go so far when faced with a good number of the sandy priests.... afterall, his mp has to run out soon enough, no?
Again, like I said earlier... the possibilities...
But whatever the case, and any which way you look at it; it's a very grave error to dismiss Sandy as a walk over. You'll be truely amazed.
Long Live King Destin and may Altana continue to bless the ever-sustaining might of the Elvaan... San d'Oria indeed grows from strength to strength.
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