[Taqwus]

Luck, yes; free gems and money are very, very good when you have very few taxpayers and a dependence on magic.

Magic... I've been inclined towards drain, for +1 MR to protect the masses, with an eye towards Skull Mentors at cons 4 for helping with the research penalty.

Mega-bless Wailing Ladies might be entertaining, if not exactly all that common in the early game. KotUS are more common but fragile.