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Completed it. On hard difficulty. Got zero tears (didn't recruit anyone, didn't use healing spells even once).
When the brown creature appeared, it was also described as a deadly threat. However, it attacked me, but I won the battle with almost no losses (the single-unit madmen are great).
I didn't rush, and finished it around the 3rd or 4th month.
P.S.: The Battle for Azkaal – kudos to the developers! It was fun!