The Peoples Stratocratic Empire of Chastonia is a mammoth, cultured nation, ruled by King Volomir Borromov X with an iron fist, and notable for its triple-decker prams, national health service, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 6.873 billion Chastonians 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, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Chastony. The average income tax rate is 61.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Chastonian economy, worth 953 trillion Crowns a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Uranium Mining. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 138,726 Crowns, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The government spends twice as much reclaiming lost settlements from the sea as it could've on coastal defences, official maps have to be revised on a weekly basis, the endangered saltwater humpback White Eagle is only seen in captivity programs, and it's harder to qualify for IVF than for a good university. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Chastonia's national animal is the White Eagle, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution, and its national religion is Reformed Orthodox.

Chastonia is ranked 31,430^th in the world and 82^nd in Fifth Empire for Highest Average Incomes, with 138,726.22 Standard Monetary Units.