Using the Farmers to augment my Hired Mercs was very useful. I added the Hired Merc troop tree to the Perisno line, as previously suggested. I've also got all my industries and most of my land holdings back - some towns don't yet have sufficient population to support previous land holdings. I've finally found most of my companions, and have sent them out on Right-to-Rule missions. I don't pay much attention to the northern politics. In this game, it seems like everyone wants a piece of the Tolranians instead, and the Drahara are set on invading the Kaikoth. My previous two starts had them fighting the Hakkon and the Elintor at the same time, both times. In fact, they seem to just party it up in the town castle and everyone else leaves them alone. This time, the Falcons were not involved in a multi-sided campaign right at the start as was in many other game starts. I gave myself all the gear I had prior to starting anew (minus quality improvements), and gave myself ~2m cash to re-establish industries and land-holdings. so it goes Farmers -> Perisno Recruit -> branch off to Hired Recruit tree or continue to the rest of the Perisno tree. I added the Hired Merc troop line to the Perisno troop tree, branching at the second or third in from Farmers. After a couple weeks away from the game (from being out of town, mostly), I'm giving it yet another semi-restart with a few more tweaks.

Rescue or ransom a prisoner warband