The Shining Empire

The Shining Empire is the human state that claims the known world. It is a union of States, one for each region, governed by a Senate and an Emperor. Its people call it the Union. The Church of the First Breath is its church. The Empire's authority is failing: its laws still pass and are rarely enforced, and in most States the power that governs is local.

Government

Each region of the world is a State of the Empire. Each State seats two senators in the Senate, and the Emperor stands above the Senate.

The Senate sits and passes law. Enforcement is left to each State. Where a local power governs a State, that power fills the State's two seats with its own people.

The Church

The Church of the First Breath was present at the Empire's founding and is its church. Where the Empire's administration has stopped functioning, the Church governs in its place. Fablehaven is governed by the Church.

Decline

The Empire was built on the largest elemental sites of the eastern States, and on the roads, couriers and garrisons that connected them. Those sites are spent. The rich sites lie west, in land the Empire never held and beyond the reach of its garrisons.

The Empire once delivered protection, safe roads and the upkeep of its sites. Those benefits are failing, and the loyalty of its people is failing with them. Most people are indifferent to the Empire. Some are for it and some against, and each State has its own attitude.

Presence

In every State the Empire is present as an imperial road, a courier post, an assessor who collects the Empire's tax, and the State's two seats in the Senate. The garrisons have left.