Knitler was bored with HRE and that started a long time ago, maybe he also thought that his kind of skill is no longer worth playing under HRE banner or whatever. No hard feelings there, because anyone with half a brain saw that one coming. The bullshit excuse he gave us in the forums was the only thing i felt bad about.
And Varadin left for multi, don't care how many times he will tell us that there is something different. And frankly, with all the ego-bullshit he posted lately in the forums i don't even feel sad for his decision to join GO now.
And as for mercs: Some of their members treated coalition like shit some time ago and that wound didn't quite heal yet, hence the inactivity when it comes to Apostates-battles.
Also, nothing really bad is happening with HRE and/or Fallens, just the usual summer-break. Sorry for not having as many hardcore crpg nerds as other clans have =P