Temple burns down on first turn -- options = what?

[Yossar]

There are some mercenary preists too, aren't there?

[Taqwus]

Yes, a number of them. Ship Wreckers, God's Justice come to mind. Others too, probably.

[archaeolept]

worse is if you're lab burns down and you have a non-magic using pretender. then you truly are up the creek until a mercenary mage becomes available.

and, of course, there's always having your pretender find a rod of the leper king during the first battle...