Joining the Holy Emperor's Harem

For thousands of years the Holy Vanorian Empire ruled nearly the entire world.  The first emperor was said to be a demi-god and had great powers.  His heirs over the years still have some of that blood, long mixed with other peoples, but still with great magic power and longer lifespans, seeming to verify their divine ancestry.

The emperors and their empire seemed invincible for countless generations.  But around 500 years ago cracks appeared, which led to a gradual yet drastic decline.  Civil Wars, independence uprisings, and several generations of lazy emperors led the empire to lose more and more territory.  Small bits on the frontiers at first, but then more and more, with increasing speed.  Today, only the ancient capitol, Vanor City remains under the emperor's rule.

It is a vast, wealthy city still.  Protected by layers of magical barriers of divine magic and the last of the ancient Vanorian legions.  A single city, but the one piece of the ancient empire that will never fall.

The empire is nearly extinct, but the world still holds a degree of respect for their former emperors.  He is seen as a higher power, one that even kings kneel to, when they visit his court.  If two realms have a dispute and they seek to avoid war, they ask him to settle the dispute.  The family of rulers and lords also offer their daughters to his harem.

That is where you coming in, playing one or more of these girls, offered to the imperial harem.  To honor your family, your child will not likely be heir, but just to have a member of the imperial line share your blood is a great honor, to live in the ancient capitol, a living relic of ancient glory, still with vast wealth and be an ambassador for your people/realm/family.  All peoples of the former realm are free to make the offer, human or not, emperors have a history of taking non-human concubines.  You have just reached the gates to the city, to offer yourself to him.