I've had the villager problem as well.
In 4.1 sea travel is horrid around Zendar. 6-8 Swadian lords are stuck "In the field, near Zendar", on ships. At least, some of them are. Some of then have simply disappeared, including King Cedrus. I have managed to find him once by manipulating the group list, so I know he is there, but he is not visible, nor is he mobile. He has been stuck there for the last 100 days, along with two other Swadians, one Vaegir, and two Zendar lords. Several times the Swadian marshal has been chosen from one of those two, which makes it so that Swadian campaigns never take any territory because the gathered army just sits outside Zendar Harbour.
In 4.1 sea travel is horrid around Zendar. 6-8 Swadian lords are stuck "In the field, near Zendar", on ships. At least, some of them are. Some of then have simply disappeared, including King Cedrus. I have managed to find him once by manipulating the group list, so I know he is there, but he is not visible, nor is he mobile. He has been stuck there for the last 100 days, along with two other Swadians, one Vaegir, and two Zendar lords. Several times the Swadian marshal has been chosen from one of those two, which makes it so that Swadian campaigns never take any territory because the gathered army just sits outside Zendar Harbour.