[Spoilers] A big time theory!

[Pigboy]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0008.html


Stacks without a leader are forced to autoattack when in contact with units from non-allied capitals.
In the first panel of the comic I posted above Ansom says that he broke of the alliance with the tardy elves. If they come anyway that could mean really big trouble for anyone without a warlord leader. If Ansom's forces attack them they could come into an alliance with Stanley and then really help in their time of need. Sorry if this has been theorized before...

[TiamatRoar]

By then it'll be too late.


...they're tardy elves, after all.

[Xenon]

*ahem*

i believe the true implication is that, if you croak Ansom... that breaks his alliance, and WOW that will be messy! perhaps not just Ansom, but enough warlords... and the enemy self-destructs.

those are load-bearing warlords!

[BRC]

Except that it is specifically the capital cities that are Allied. Killing Ansom wouldn't mean that all of Spacerock's (ansom's capital) alliances are broken.

[Psychosomatic]

I somehow doubt the Tardy Elves would bother coming to the battle if they're not allied with either faction involved...