The Imperial Crown

The Imperial Crown is the empire's core bureaucratic and diplomatic body. Although presided over by the empress, the institution is generally regarded as distinct from House Otrese. Placement in the Crown is an aspiration for many imperial nobles from smaller houses, considering the Adanan preference for always having nobles in positions of authority.

The Crown has several core functions. Perhaps the most prominent function of the Imperial Crown is to prevent internecine conflicts within the empire. Imperial law does not in fact prohibit imperial states from falling into dispute, nor even does it prevent warfare. However, the Imperial Crown has a function in sending diplomats to the site of any brewing conflict to try to de-escalate. The exact powers granted to diplomats to do so vary from mission to mission.

It has a diplomatic function that reaches beyond the empire, too. It represents imperial interests with polities external to the empire. There is no prohibition on imperial states negotiating their own agreements and treaties with external polities, but the Imperial Crown is the only body sanctioned to negotiate on behalf of the whole empire.

It has a function in developing and proposing law for the consideration of the empress.

The Imperial Crown has staff to maintain information regarding the empire, including notable events, maps, details of settlements, military forces, trade information and weather records. It has never had enough staff to properly fulfil even one of these tasks, and its archives are rarely reliable.