[Micah]

Piling a lot of junk commanders into the province also works to reduce deaths of commanders you care about, although feebleminding the caster is certainly more fun. Recruiting a commander will happen before any mind hunts for the turn as well, so you can recruit as you go.

If you do have astral mages that can come in for defense if you cast teleport (or air trapeze) it will have a chance to go before the mind hunt does...they're cast in a random order. If you move normally you won't get there until after the current turns' mind hunts have happened, though, due to the turn order. Rituals happen before army movement.