I read this, I thought - that can only be Thereunto, I checked, bingo :D

I think independent structures show as 'Azrac' in one element of the UI? But this is just a bug

Orcs, Day 2

We take control of a mine and finish the trek toward one of the wraiths. We'll pounce on it next turn, while also pouncing on some other targets of opportunity.

TS

Goblins - Day 3

I stupidly lost a cleric because I accidentally sent 2 clerics + 2 warriors against a wraith, instead of 4 clerics. Good thing the second cleric managed to win.

TS

Dwarves, Day 3

TS

Carwyn of the dark elves, day 3

We progress jumping from ship to ship like sea monkeys. A mirror reveals that the caves of lore are entirely in azrac hands.

(Southern, isn't that the same as the dark elves were in the previous iteration?)

Orcs, Day 3

We turn a wraith into paste and begin rebuilding a second city before moving toward our next target.

A warrior eagerly jumps through the portal, only to be confronted with watch towers on all sides. Sooo...he decides to take a nap.

TS

Carwyn of the dark elves, day 4

A bunch of dwarves gives me an opportunity to lower my maintenance in a productive way! We're finally in the Caves of Lore...

Orcs, Day 4

Our sole unit in the caves are quickly slaughtered, which isn't a surprise.

What is a surprise is just how far in the lead the Dark Elves are. They've managed to claim multiple priests from a race that isn't theirs, and they've got units from a race different from theirs or the extra clerics.

At least I killed a wraith, soooo...go me?

TS

Goblins - Day 4

Ouch, accidentally lost a Beetle because I sent it alone to explore a cave. Thought it had units with it, but they were one cell behind.

Will the second beetle + 3 priests, 2 spearman be enough to kill a leperchaun?

TS

Yeah the starting cities for DEs are 1 goblin and 1 azrac. I'm still wondering whether that's a mistake or intentional.

On the amount of units, that's because I used the fat initial gold to buy the goblin city. That means no buying spells for quite a while. I assume that each one of us can do the same, unless DEs are the only ones with an aligned race in the cave? Or are the cities random?
Anyhow, I'm not quite sure that that's a good move, especially after seeing azrac swordsmen in each sector of the caves of lore - I had already bought by the time I saw - meaning that they get all the spells without any investment in troops and can use magic to settle nicely. First in turn and closest to the teleport - both big factors. Not worth a restart, but I'd change the map, ideally everyone would reach the teleporters at the same turn.

There were orc priests guarding the goblin town?

I have a single azrac town which takes around 3 turns to reach and must be conquered, and several razed towns.

I have to build a boat to reach the teleporter, so the absolute earliest I can reach the teleporter is turn 3. Of course, if someone else gets there first, I still can't do anything until I get an elephant over. When people are already there in force, it seriously discourages making the attempt for along while yet. My assassins are too valuable to send on a suicide mission into the caves against expendable units.

Dammit, I was sure my explorer would be safe - but the Dark Elves burrowed to get there quicker.

Carwyn of the dark elves, day 5

We send several assets to the Caves of Lore. In the meanwhile, on the surface, with much consternation we spot extremely powerful undead guided by an undead reaper roaming around a death altar, very close to our positions! We have to remove this security hazard as quickly as possible! I start to fear that I've committed too many resources to the Caves of Lore...

We've reached it on the same turn, you first as you're first in turn. I did sacrifice one of my 2 shadows. I think that one plus the leader with climb walls are enough on top. Perhaps your aligned cities are farther away than the DEs', which might balance the turn position?
I bought both a goblin and an orc city, probably not ideal play - one of the two might have been enough... But who knows, maybe that would have meant the troops being slaughtered by someone else!