Oh, and a post script to #1: The convent thing is more awesome than it sounds. The convent is home to an order of warrior-nuns, founded by an Abbess who, according to my notes, "defended a chapel where the Tsar had taken refuge with an axe from the woodpile, an iron frying pan and a great deal of shouting. The enemy scouts reported back to the general, who decided that they were attacking either powerful sorcerers or lunatics, figured they should err on the side of caution and decided to leave Nicodonia alone."

I have weird views on religion.