Technology

Technology is, simply put, medieval. It has largely not caught up to scientific study, and there are several reasons for this:

• Magic - In a world where magic is plentiful, there is little economic motivation to either keep slaves or advance technology; when something so powerful that an individual can creates over a dozen feasts in a single day with little effort exists, the motivation to advance for economic purposes is slim
• Foreign Politics - 90% of the global population is an Imperial citizen and resident. Given that a singular entity has dominated global politics for so long, there is little motivation to create new weapons such that soldiers can readily use them
• Internal Imperial Peace - conflicts within the Empire get resolved through its courts and its legislatures. The Emperor as the final arbiter of law also has to play diplomat from time to time when factions of nobles can't solve things peacefully on their own
• Individualism - what technological innovation does exist is largely not shared with the wider public. As such, a single invention may be invented scores of times for personal use before making its way into the wider populace

There are two giant exceptions to this: gnomish mech suits and tablets. Gnomish mech suits are evolutions of golem magic, and infuse magic into a mechanical suit, and gnomes who are seated within go from their usual 3-foot height to about 7-foot tall. This gives the gnomes enhanced strength and mobility (and also the ability to kick with a metal foot anyone who makes a short joke). Tablets are an iron retractable frame, that when unfurled causes a magical holographic display to inscribe. This is connected to a central Imperial communications system and is given to mayors such as to report problems which require adventurer attention and sold to adventurers so that they might peruse the empire-wide notice board. The Emperor and most high-ranking military officers also have one.