The game is very ambiguous, to put it mildly. I created a diplomat, prepared to annex hordes of horses, and on turn 111, near the castle, I had a sword +4, shield +4, sword +2+2 - I repelled it with a soul mirror, spending 3 days %). Then, on turn 117, I got stuck at the jellyfish pit, and only took the secondary prize on turn 125.
On turn 13, I take the barbarian castle through the central treasure, waiting for a 4-4-4-4 death knight (don't believe the rumors), and Dimer arrives with 12-10-18-14 (280). 4 angels, 12 vipers, 2 wonders, 80 archers, and some other units, but with a lightning amulet. Syra 10-9-8-12 (12 griffins, 5 wonders, 350 gremlins, 30 mages, 11 nagas, 50 gargoyles) in the final, loses a powerful stack to implosion every turn, but in the last breath, 40 surviving units under the explosion of gremlins finish off the remaining enemies. I relaxed too much, didn't take any cons (2 mini), or hydras (2 were nearby). I barely won (miraculously).