1) yes. In provinces with laboratories you can cast domes of warding as protection with the fire version retaliating. Other than that strike first before they strike you.
2) They don't stack.
3) Not sure.
4) You can do that. Be aware that having too low a dominion and being reliant on temples will have its own issues, probably not a huge issue in SP.
5) No, you need to own the province to find girls in it and you want a province away from the front lines where your blood industry wont be disrupted by silly things like wars.
No time for more detailed answers
