[Baalz]

Also, when being raided by powerful squads like that it's a good idea to spread mages around to supplement your PD. He might waltz through 40 PD, but how about 40 PD and 2 smiths casting magma eruption? MA Ulm has great cheap combat mages, script them appropriately and sprinkle them around where you think he'll attack. You might not be able to kill them on the firs try, but you'll definitely inflict casualties and hopefully wear them down pretty quickly to a managable size. Bonus is your mages will often be able to retreat while the raiders finish off your PD.

PS take one of your smiths with a fire random phoenix power, flaming arrows, retreat. 40 flaming arbalests are going to definitely make him pay for the victory and your mage is now just moving to the next province. Other useful spells to supplement your PD against vans are are bonds of fire, destruction, earth meld, blade wind (knocks out their glamour), gifts from heaven (with an astral random), legions of steel. You can also sprinkle indy commanders with some nice cheap ulmsih forged items like lightning bows, etc.