Every kingdom in Aon Rud is part of the Sāmrājyaṁ Empire, but each is permitted self-governance without Imperial interference. The Empire provides sturdy roads throughout the lands, the Courts of Antarrajyam for the settling of disputes between kingdoms, and supernaturally gifted investigators known as Hawkshaws. But the average citizen is born, lives, and dies without ever interacting with the Empire.
The taxes the Empire demands are reasonable commensurate to its expenses. A Kingdom Diligent in its taxes can count on the Empire's support against threats, whether internal or external. A Kingdom Delinquent, however, may find itself without allies should a neighbor skip the Courts of Antarrajyam and simply invade.
History
The Empire has existed for over two millennia, and by all accounts is going strong. No one knows the Emperor's true name, only that He rose to power by uniting disparate kingdoms to face a grave external threat. The histories do not say what the threat was, and its recollection is different in every culture. The Dwarves believe the Emperor stopped a terrible evil from Undermørk. Elven tradition holds that a terrible extraplanar god had set its sights on Aon Rud and the Emperor led the charge against an army of aberrations. Most human cultures, with their particular focus on their own mortality, insist the Emperor put down an army of risen dead.
Whatever the threat and whatever His feat, the Emperor demanded only title and tithe in exchange.
The Emperor
Most citizens of the Empire will never set foot in Rajanagar, the capital of the Empire. Even those who do are unlikely ever to see the Emperor. Little is known of Him, beyond stories and pulp history. It is common knowledge that He has ruled since the Empire's founding, which leads many to conclude that He is an elf. Other popular theories include fairy magic, an item that grants immortality, lichdom, and a conspiracy theory that it is not the same Emperor and His longevity is a lie to maintain control.
Hawkshaws
It is rare to see a Hawkshaw, and strangely forgettable. They are said to be able to read minds and, it is suspected, alter memories. They travel at will throughout the Empire, pursuing He-only-knows-what agenda. They are described as tall and gaunt, with bright black eyes in sunken orbits and sallow skin stretched over their angular features. Their flat noses distinguish them from humans, while their pointed ears lead many to mistake them for elves.
When they need to be contacted, they give a bird made of folded paper. The recipient may write a short note (25 words or fewer) upon the paper and speak the word "report" in any language to send the bird flying back to the Hawkshaw.