Yes - movers and skakers and loud troublemakers. Fringe groups serving no other purpose than to show how good at making trouble they are. One of these days the Emperor's gonna have to clean house...

"Movers and shakers and loud troublemakers." I like that. I really do.

Hey, remember me? It's been a while, but I hope you don't mind some commentary.

I like the interaction with the fringe groups, and the general smugness that follows on that scene's heels. However, what this chapter is is simply a list. I think you could find another way to reveal both the beliefs and the importance of the individual groups, while focusing on their interactions as a primary means of narration.

It's often hard to shoehorn in all this without my story seeming to slow to a crawl. Honestly, I find myself wanting to describe this world, but also trying to get on with the plot. So, if my story sometimes seems at odds with itself, it kinda is.

Trust me, I know the feeling all too well. You could probably get away with something like having the Emperor smooth over harsh feelings by praising each faction for their contribution (although that would most likely not work with the fringes; their exclusion might be telling in and of itself, though).