Ah yes, the Warden of Unspeakable Annoyance
As for your Heroes, you get your starting Hero in the Tavern.
But, you can also buy an additional one from the Tavern.
Each Tavern Hero is unique (only ever once on the map).
But, every race also has a "Barracks" structure where you can buy additional units.
Those units are also Heroes.
Much weaker, of course, then your regular Tavern Hero, but Heroes they are, nonetheless.
Oh, and, the only ever other comment on items I got was more like "What's that?"
Finally someone ...
Now, "harder" AI... hm.
I'll see what I can come up with there.