Late age R'lyeh vs Ermor

[Nightblade]

So the best i can do in such setup should be :

-maximising the scales that provide bonus to me.
-getting a very strong dominion.
-and more than all : attacking as soon as possible the land to get quickly the horde of priests that are usually a good Ermor counter.
-marching on Ermor main fortress in the fewer turn possible to besiege it.
-not buying expensive (upkeep) troops to prevent the income bankrupt but getting anyways some non armored illithids for the "commander mindblast" in case the enemy has mindless troops.

About magic research,
As i need to be very aggressive quickly, it will not really be possible to get research going high before a lot of turns, as there will be a need of everyone on the front lines.
But should i try to get at least a minimum of research going, even if it means less magic user on the beacheads ?