I didn't see any moment I could heal that team of useless royans out of fights, but maybe my version of the game was too old. I don't know if is possible to strength them in a way or another, but it is an issue. Aura is so much stronger than them that they seem like beginning mobs when time pass.
Richard should be less zoom ouf if he is this tall, and something should really be done about his looks. ^^ A great bad guy is the key of success in any good story. Imagine Darth Vader with Tokyo Hotel hair under his armor. Richard looks like it to me.