Puzzle Quest cont.

I put in some more time with Puzzle Quest this weekend and I need help from someone who knows this game.

I have been sieging cities. They have been falling under the onslaught of my mighty puzzle skills, one after another.  I didn't have much problems until I went up against some city called 'Silvermire' or 'Silvermyr', something like that.

This freaking city. I cannot figure out what the hell is happening. The spells I cast do not do damage.  I can cast a spell for 8 damage and the city loses one or two, and I lose three or four. What the hell?  Also, when I connect three skulls I get the normal 4 damage on him. When he connects the skulls he does anywhere from 12 to 80 points damage (yes, I actually saw the 80 points damage at one time).

I understand about spells and items. I have checked his items and not one says anything about him GAINING hit points from my attacks, or mitigating damage down to near zero for any magical attack whatsoever. he does have a spell that takes damage and puts it to his green mana, but this is usually not active when I see the suspicious activity.

Help! Is this some kind of magical damn city or what? It's really annoying and frustrating when I have to whittle him down 4 points at a time, and he can apparently at random connect 2 skulls (i've seen it) or take off 80 points with one attack. If the city has special magic powers or whatever that's fine, but please game tell me about it so I can see what the hell is going on! I don't know how to attack because the game doesn't tell me a damn thing!!!!