A land in decline, this empire is on the brink of ruin. The emperor died leaving his 10-year-old son as the new emperor. People have been being gathered in mass into larger cities. Food is running low, people are suffering.
Resent orders of the new emperor has made large changes. New high tax, able bodied people being conscripted. An order for people to move to larger cities. Smaller towns left with very few to keep them running.
To top all that off few to no information has been coming in from other towns, cities and nations. The people have only the imposing milatery to listen to.