Didn't realize I hadn't been set to accept PMs -- and I hadn't checked this thread in a while due to being a little busy in RL. Oops. I'm clear to accept messages now, though I doubt it'll matter -- my noobishness has basically put me in a position I don't think I can recover from. (I consistently underestimated the amount of troops it would take to fight both independents and Ashdod, and now it looks like I've probably missed some diplomacy attempts.) Looks like I'm not going to be taking my first game ever by storm...
