Nation/Arstenia

The Most Serene Republic of Arstenia is a huge, efficient nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, digital currency, and suspicion of poets. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 228 million Arstenians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The large, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Law & Order. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 71.0%.

The all-consuming Arstenian economy, worth 20.5 trillion Imperial Pounds a year, is broadly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Basket Weaving, and Information Technology. Average income is 90,032 Imperial Pounds, with the richest citizens earning 6.5 times as much as the poorest.

Orphans would rather live their life of luxury than be adopted by prospective parents, graffiti artists spend lengthy periods of time in jail, the government has instituted 'traveller reservations' across the country, and citizens are barcoded to keep track of their movements. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Arstenia's national animal is the Lion, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.