1.4.2 beta bug - Factions eternally at war, but no one actually wages war.

[COOMER]

Southern Empire has been at war with the Aserai for 2 years now. No one makes peace, no one fights and creates an army, infinite stalemate.
Leaders keep patrolling the cities as if they're not at war.
Pretty odd bug.

Also, for the first hour of gameplay, every tournament in the empire was offering some kind of head helm as prize. After 11 tournaments, it changed.

 

[The Auditor]

I had WE wiped out in 100 days as each faction piled in - then no war for 2 years between any faction (except usual permawars with the minor clans) - even Garios as a fief-less WE remnant was just running around happily with about 200 men visiting other imperial towns after trashing bandits. Then reloaded save after random CTD and boom Battania attacks NE, Kuzaits, Vlandians and Sturgians then pile in over a few days - basically still only "one war" (well 5 on 1, poor NE) with Aserai just sitting there watching.

 

[Ananda_The_Destroyer]

Southern Empire has been at war with the Aserai for 2 years now. No one makes peace, no one fights and creates an army, infinite stalemate.
Leaders keep patrolling the cities as if they're not at war.
Pretty odd bug.

Also, for the first hour of gameplay, every tournament in the empire was offering some kind of head helm as prize. After 11 tournaments, it changed.

Sounds like a problem you wanna have....
Maybe they feel equal and don't want to make the first move? Have you tried just beating some lords yourself to get things going?
If it's just these factions that's weird, but if it's an overall change that's actually something people want. We want the AI factions to chill out more and not paint the map without us.