In my view, with such a cutthroat empire, it wouldn't be all that hard to take advantage of the halfhearted leader. I mean, aren't there greedy advisers with their eyes on the throne that could easily have made bargains with whatever 'random' rebel groups have formed? It would likely have to be an inside job.

But, to be honest, isudae, I don't see much wrong with developing a plot. Characters don't exist in a vacuum, and plot is a way of developing them. Also, I wasn't exactly thinking of starting a war - just some intrigue.