The Empire of The Rhien is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Edward Richtofen with an iron fist, and remarkable for its digital currency, infamous sell-swords, and pith helmet sales. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless population of 10.004 billion Rhienians 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, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Defense, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Berlin. The average income tax rate is 70.9%.

The frighteningly efficient Rhienian economy, worth a remarkable 1,613 trillion Rhienmarcks a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Retail, and Basket Weaving. Average income is an impressive 161,254 Rhienmarcks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.3 times as much as the poorest.

Sports fans complain that cricket tests now last an unbearable ten days, a child's only Trickster Night scare is the sight of their parents dancing, swings are banned for being a danger to children, and fake beard sales are on the rise amongst female commuters. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Rhien's national animal is the Eagle, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

The Rhien is ranked 54,892^nd in the world and 2,172^nd in Lazarus for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector, scoring 4,021.31 on the Henry Ford Productivity Index.