The Imperium is the dominant human state in the world. Expansionist, power-hungry and warfaring, they have conquered and subjugated many other realms and peoples, adding them to their numbers and often exploiting them. To manage such a large realm, a massive structure of bureaucracy has developed under the Imperial Crown, to manage the Imperium's many affairs. Many of the non-human peoples have tried to carve out their own roles within this wider structure, struggling against the Imperium's discriminatory practices.
Blackrock, as a free city within the Imperium, has often served to absorb many of the refugees caused by its expansionist wars. As such, it has become a melting pot of different cultures, with many having their own districts and sub-districts within the city. The city's unique position has often been a thorn in the Imperium's side, with it undertaking many attempts to reincorporate it into the wider imperial structures.
However, Blackrock has consistently resisted these attempts, maintaining its position through shrewd political maneuvering, and bribery.