List of things that one can be occupied with the strongholds (bhahaha!) Firstly, need to build the strongholds.
Your alliance need to research the blueprints of the strongholds before constructing one.
So these are the blueprints, consisting of crystal mine, tower and church. As seen here, the alliance I am in has researched them all.
Once they are placed on the map, we can use the Stronghold Tech menu to upgrade the stronghold that will result in you obtaining Alliance Crystal ans Alliance Medal.
Just click these speed ups to help in the upgrading buffs in the stronghold. We can get up to 5 free speed ups. If you have a lot if painites, you can use this speed up more than 5 times. If you have gems, you can spend on speed ups at 1 gem per speed up.