Niefelheim's path to 15 capitals is rough. Where are they to come from? Formoria has 2 but has not seen war since turn 25 or so. one can only imagine the resources they have at their disposal.
LA Man? Bandar Log? LA Caelum? LA Arcos? Utgard? Niefelheim is a powerful race but they are surrounded by fairly tough nations. And I think Dr P still needs quite a few capitals to reach 15.
If la agartha was in the East, i think his path to victory would have been more difficult. shrug. But blame the mapmaker for not putting the east/west wraparound in.
I do not know why Reay would not give me a province from which to launch my attack from. Suicidal yes. But it would have been fun. Other guilty parties, Twan, Lanka, Hadrian, and Foodstamp. All were contacted very early on and none would give me a toehold in their lands from which to launch my kamikaze invasion(: Where is the trust?