The Timurids come from where?

[Budwise]

In my current campaign as the migrated English, I am pretty much in the Middle East only. The Timurids show up in Russia and I was prepared for them where I am at. Is this right, because I feel that I wasted all these resources for nothing.

[Tambarskjelve]

Think of all the resources you don't have to spend..

The Tims and Mongols appear northeast or southeast, and have a random goal.

I had a similar experience in my second campaign, only that I thought i was well out of harms way.
Guess who got surprised. (And subsequently owned.)
So, disband your defensive armies, build up an offensive one, and be a carrion-empire-builder in the timurid's wake.
Deus Vult!

[Flavius Merobaudes]

It depends. They appear either in Sarkel, Yerevan or Baghdad. If they are in Russia right now and have just appeared, they might still move towards you.

[Didz]

I my recent Turkish game the Mongols appeared in Russia but then moved south later capturing Yerevan from the North just before the Timurid's arrived at Baghdad.

So, I wouldn't start demolishing those defences quite yet.

[Monsieur Alphonse]

They are heading either to Kiev or to Antioch. If the spawn near Sarkel they usually do to Kiev. If they spawn near Baghdad or Yerevan they go to Antioch.

[Didz]

I think in my case they did both. I was informed that the Mongol state had been formed near Kiev and then soon afterwards they came smashing through my northern border presumably heading for Antioch, though the Timurid's actually got there first.

[Milovan]

Completely random. In my case I met the Khan and his heir at Sarkel and kept them at bay for a couple of turns, only to get my forgetful butt kicked when four full stacks appeared at Baghdad and I had nothing down there...