Patala

[Aezeal]

hmmm
no reason not to use both those strats though an elephant army and longbows and those S1 monkeys..

I tried a start with a bless strat and only 4 naga warriors took 2 indies w/o losses.. but.. they need a naga leader (magic beings) and a load of crossbows kills them quickly (I had a 9W,6N,4E bless)
I figure a 9E bless, 6N bless might be nice but then their killing ability won't be as good.

I'm thinking that elephants with buffs should work later in the game though. Spells for morale and protection?
Of course end game powerfull spells will be nasty but that goes for all armies.

[Zenzei]

Have you considered E8 cyclops? Gives you a great bless for the mages, nice SC god and good scales because E8 is dirt cheap for the one-eyed god.