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An annum had passed since the last Waiting season, in which the Bogan host retreated from the Crownlands after ravaging nearly everything. In this time, things have scarcely improved.

Therral had become a staging ground for numerous forces after the defeat of La Famiglia de Meaux's army at Goldenfields. Whatever grand scheme they might have had at greatness, it has clearly failed, for their soldiers and their pendants left Lundland, and headed back home.

Taking advantage of this retreat, Lord Solterra Behringer continued his advance, capturing Country Castle. He continued to advance his troops, until he came to Bolgaz. It is not certain what he found there, but apparent rumour has it that Bolgaz was abandoned. The mightiest fortress in all of Lundland, taken without force.

Meanwhile, the forces of Aaldoreanfeald and their allies finally convened in the Crownlands. A force had already landed in Falkwreath Township some time ago, but in sequence to them came a mighty force of cavalry, well over a thousand strong. Upon hearing the news of Bolgaz's most strange capture, it can be imagined how perturbed they might be.

In north, the tides of war both waxed and waned. A great fleet was spotted off the coast of Attolia, proudly bearing the banners of House Fisher. 

There has been little word on the ensuing events there.

However, in the Ironstone Islands, where all were preparing for a grim war, peace prevailed. The island had become officially divided between the vassals of House Vasa and House Bloodsun, with House Bloodhorn being dubbed Jarl of Jarnstienjar, the Suehan name for the Ironstone Islands. The swords have been sheathed, and the mercenaries have been sent home, without so much as a single drop of blood being shed. Peace was even brought to those provinces in anarchy, after having order restored to them by Jarl Svipold Bloodhorn.

And to complement these stages, a new one had its curtains pulled back. In a lightning affair, the forces of House Orring, escorted by a small force from House Summer, swept through the Kingdom of Kaldur, and in several small skirmishes and battles, destroyed the relatively small forces of the lords. More died to the cold than to steel, but the conquest was nonetheless swift and brutal. Houses Hunter and Claw had all their land taken from them, and their families were executed without last words, mercy, or a proper burial. After the affair, the forces of House Orring left. It is unclear exactly what they gained from the affair, as House Summer occupied all the conquered territory. The benefits for House Summer, of course, are obvious, for in terms of land, their power is now undeniably equal to that of their liege.

But conflict was not the only concern of the Waiting season. For many, it was a time of great mirth. Toward the end of the season, two great marriages occurred.

The first was the marriage of Damon Cole, the eldest son and heir of Antony Cole, to Elena Vearin, the sister and current heir of Lady Fiona Vearin. It was a splendid wedding, held in the castle chapel overlooking the beautiful city of Palma. Though it was planned to be had outside, the snow and cold made such an attempt forbidding, but an equally joyous affair was held in the keep. The festivities lasted for several days, and the Waiting cold seemed all the more forboding when it ended.

In terms of political affairs, the marriage is likely to cement the interests of the two wealthy houses. It would not be surprising if House Cole were to be convinced to join the fight for Princess Helen's claim to the throne.

The second marriage was of that between Lila Westfield, the youngest daughter of Lord Devon Westfield, and Valgard Vasa, the gallant and honourable tourney hero. Though politically less important, the affair was no less grand, as it occurred right in time with the feast of Saint Nyklas.

The ceremony itself was lovely, but on the next day, the day of the feast itself, a great panic arose when an assassin was discovered to be tampering with the wine! It is known that the assassin killed himself by drinking the poison meant for whomever was to imbibe the wine, but the rest of the details have been ill-talked of.

Meanwhile, in the Churchlands, a great commotion was held during the day of the Election. Most people in Bernwick rolled their eyes: it had taken the Archbishop the whole annum of 105 to be elected, and it was expected that the election of the new Bishop of Diasyfield would take a comparable time. 

To everyone's shock, the meeting did not last longer than half an hour. A unanimous vote was made in favour of Father Heinrich Wolff, Father of the Attolian Parish, and uncle to Lord Lothar Wolff, to name him Bishop Heinrich I of Daisyfield. 

Of course, circumstances were different this time around, and Daisyfield is certainly not the crown jewel of the Lundish Church, but it was nonetheless an impressive gesture of trust toward the man, and by extension House Wolff. It cannot be certain how this might align the Church's interests slightly toward those of House Wolff, or vice versa, but the effects of the election have certainly already reverberated among the clergy of Bernwick. An energy can be felt all 'round, as rumours fly about of secret support given by the great lords toward the condemnation of King Solterra.

Not surprisingly, the question of faith has only become a bigger question in Therral. King Solterra's impromptu speech in Bellmoral, alongside an order to rebuild the churches that had been destroyed, the legalization of the faith, and the re-legalization of alcohol, has left many confused. The peasants rejoice that their leader is once again returning to the light, but the more learned men, particularly the land-holders and clergy, from whom Solterra had taken the most, the rumour that Solterra has lost his mind and soul to the Devil still persists. The mobs and rioters have dispersed, but the anger has not.

And now, the cold is slowly moving on from Lundland, lifting a blanket of snow to reveal grass painted red.

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[b][i]It is now the Working season, AU 108[/i][/b]