We chose all restarts and got the following setup: Talanar and Dirael at start. External dwellings 2 and 3 and a well-compacted respawn. On the first level-up, Talanar was given a Tent, and it took off. Machines and Defense in huts on the respawn. On day 5, I broke into the neighbor zone, there it was also full gallop. In the Hut, I took Light magic, got Education, and on 1-2-7 I broke into the zone with a secondary town. And on 1-3-2, I met Vitya there and attacked.
Talanar 6-13-8-10 Defense with Dodge, Expert Light Magic, Machines, and Education. Vitya 10-11-1-2 Attack, Defense, Logistics, Machines, and starting Dark Magic without spells (I, by the way, also had no Light Magic spells). The armies were roughly equal. I traded 16 archers for 69 arbalesters and 70 peasants. The opponent fled but decided not to continue further.
Thanks for the game!