Just like
Foley said, and I could add that it is the 12th November in the game (now finishing the day, actually). You can compare it with the game-time you remember,
LMP 
There's been some dispute with these nearby lords and that's why Athanar was appointed, also to sort of bring order and make sure they are really serving their king and not just stuffing their own treasuries and such... I guess that's the main few points from the "global picture"...
P.S. My post for Hilderinc is almost ready