Manly Hammers. It's the only way to go. XD

EDIT: Max, I'm sorry, I forgot to answer your question completely. Phoenia is where it is because it'll actually give us an advantage. You'll learn more about that later. 'Dem Birds are gonna be really sympathetic to our cause, but there's more to the story, and I can easily explain why it is the way it is, when it's come for that time. And the Bird Tribe Islands in FE9 really make little difference, because the first time you see the Kilvas Ravens, they aren't even in their own territory, but actually between Phoenicis (the territory of the Hawks) and Goldoa if I remember correctly, and you never actually visit the islands to recruit the aid of Tibarn. He finds you.