Well to start I regard the Vaimese as an Empire like Rome was an Empire (Expanding and grabbing for territory).
Considering the world was once 'whole' the Empire in my set up past actually had a internal conflict going on for the 'soul' of the Empire. Very much like Rome had once been a Republic before it became an Empire through the machinations and manipulations of Cesar.
Vaim once had been similar governed by different factions before a certain Elite group went for a power grab and effectively squashed the opposition. 

Now in my case this is where Ferezanthe comes in (Ferezanthe is not one writer; though it seems to be that way, there were actually multiple people writing under that name and also why some of his/her works are controversial with the stance of the Empire).
Most of his 'classic works' are well known as the classic works hold a similarity to being part Diary and Part Collections of Myths and Legends such as 'the Weaver'.
Eilis's coven had the classic works in their library, Tyrhallan having enjoyed a proper nobles education would be as familiar with it as Highschoolers would be with the Greek Myths.

Folken is just a scholar who is their world's Confucius, though not connected to Ferezanthe at least not that I intended.
He's the equivalent of a sage, a guide you live your life by.
If he says the moon is made of blue cheese then it is so.

With the Venray's they have always been Knights. It is why the family enjoys such a reputation. They are true Belisian nobles who swore fealty to the King at the time and have enjoyed their roles as Knights of the Realm. Pharlan Tyrhallan's father however had no Ki magic that his older brother and son have, he in turn takes care of the family's finances and governing of the estate.
With Uilles and Tyrhallan they were lucky to have inherited the ki abilities and have honed them to perfection. Though Uilles no longer can fight on the battlefield due to a sustained he now enjoys a different but equally important position acting as bodyguard to the queen. Uilles also was Tyrhallan's first teacher and is like an old honeybadger. Crafty.

As for your own character you'll be free to throw in whatever type of character you like, think about it for now and come back to it when we truly are going to go to Vaim.