The Empire of Great Northern Isle is a massive, safe nation, ruled by King Nikolai VII with an iron fist, and notable for its pith helmet sales, public floggings, and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless population of 1.022 billion Nordicans are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Law & Order, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Draconia Reach. The average income tax rate is 42.3%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Great Northern Islean economy, worth 84.9 trillion Norpens a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Door-to-door Insurance Sales, and Uranium Mining. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 83,048 Norpens, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The government puts forth the claim that harming young girls is wrong, military equipment is being auctioned off to extend comatose centenarians' lives, therapists can always squeeze in another house-call, and a large-scale revitalization of the education system is underway. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Great Northern Isle's national animal is the Great Sea Dragon, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Great Northern Isle is ranked 255,319^th in the world and 123^rd in Right to Life for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 44.35 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.