A Neat Thing

[puffyn]

On a somewhat-related note...

Does anyone know what the full mechanisms of prophet-mercenaries? In a MP-game I made a random merc leader my prophet. When I didn't rehire him, my friend hired that band, and the merc showed up blessed, with the prophet icon, and apparently still my prophet. When he finally died in combat, six months later I was able to appoint a new prophet.

I was unable to tell if the hired prophet was spreading my dominion in the heart of the enemy lands, but I assume so. I would also be interested to know what happens if the merc-prophet is _not_ rehired, and eventually vanishes from the list. Will I, six months later, be able to recruit a new prophet, or would I forever be stuck without one?