[Lord_Bob]

1.Elephants. And Healers that can cast Sermon Of Courage on Elephants. For 110 Gold. Did I mention that they can research to?

2.Search aggressively for fire sites/make fever fetishes(if possible).

3.Search aggressively for death sights!!!!

These will allow you to make Research boosting items. All the powerfull research boosting items in fact. With luck, or trade, get a few hammers.

Communions are VERY VERY dangerous for you. Make sure none of the Communion Masters has a path the Slaves lack.. and an itch to cast fireball 10 times at a slowly limping off the screen militia. You need to be sure before you use a communion the normal way.....

Or you could just have a few masters uber-buff the slaves and then shut them down and have the slaves cast.

When designing scales realize you have some measure of safety the first 10-12 turns. The Elephants will carry you against most things. Even bless rushes will be unhappy with armoured elephants. Almost certainly the bless rusher can be persuaded to attack someone else.

Remember you can heal afflictions! You can have ten 110 Gold Priestest ALL attempt to heal ALL afflictions in a province EVERY turn. A big menance for everyone else has been removed from your nation.