(10-10-2015, 08:09 PM)Chris Ganale Wrote: If they were so readily capable of steamrolling Eorzea, they wouldn't have failed three times already.
(10-10-2015, 08:16 PM)Oli! Wrote: You can either chalk it up to the Garleans knowing what they're doing, or the Alliance being hilariously incompetent and partying it up while the Garleans snuck themselves back in, but the point is that they're back and resupplied either way.
It's also important to remember that shortly following the events of 2.0, First Emperor of Garlemald, Solus zos Galvus fell ill and died, beginning Garlemald's War of Succession between the Founding Houses of Garlemald. It took until the events of 2.4~ish before Galvus's grandson, Varis yae Galvus, officially took the reigns of the Empire. During this time, Garlemald was more focused on maintaining order in their rebelling territories (see: Doma) after the news of Solus's death.
Another important thing to remember, is that the original campaign against Othard and later Ala Mhigo, as well as successive attempts at invading Eorzea have strained the ceruleum supplies which power Garlemald's warmachines. Garlemald has risked numerous ventures into Eorzea's northern mountains seeking to replenish their ceruleum supplies. This was one of their primary goals in their capture of the Dzemael Darkhold and their campaigns to take northern Thanalan. They've recently gotten as desperate as to attempt scavenging the Agrius's ceruleum tanks.
The Rising Chorus Wrote:The Doman watch reports that forces from Castrum Centri have been scavenging materials from the wreckage, but that otherwise the distant monument has shown no signs of activity. Given the imperial presence, a stealthy approach will be necessary.
EDIT: And, as far as why Garlemald has failed to take Eorzea three times, well... Gaius van Baelsar who was famous for already toppling four city-states, took Ala Mhigo, the greatest military force in all Eorzea in a single night. And their first full on invasion was only crushed by Midgardsormr and the might of Dravania - but remember that was just one of Garlemald's fourteen legions.
Garlemald's second attempt, headed by the VIIth Legion's Nael van Darnus, did not have the support of Gaius's XIVth legion. In fact, in 1.0, Gaius van Baelsar actually actively worked against Nael van Darnus's attempts at annihilating Eorzea. Dalamud later tempered Nael and drove him mad, and Darnus's devoted following within the VIIth legion was crushed by Bahamut on Carteneau. Note that the VIIth legion never made full scale assaults against the city-states, only skirmishes meant to distract and harry the Eorzean cities while Garlemald built their castrums and mined ceruleum for their machines.
Their third and to date last assault against Eorzea was again conducted only by the XIVth legion following the wake of the Calamity. Again, the XIVth legion was a shade of its former self after its crushing defeat at Silvertear Skies and its fall from the Emperor's favor. But it was this successful assault which pushed the Alliance forces back far enough to establish the castrums deep within Eorzean territories.
So Eorzea has never faced the full strength of Garlemald. Othard was taken by (if I remember correctly) three of Garlemald's legions. It's likely that several of Garlemald's legions are currently tied up maintaining the peace in their now-many territories. If Varis zos Galvus devotes a similar number of legions to invade Eorzea, I doubt the city-states will put up much resistance. Though, with Ishgard joining the Eorzean Alliance, the WoL bringing some modicum of peace to the Dravanians, and the Empire's ever dwindling supply of resources to maintain their foreign territories - we may have a chance depending on how long Garlemald stalls their advance.
