The Republic of Aresten is a massive, cultured nation, notable for its irreverence towards religion, absence of drug laws, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 2.921 billion Arestenians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 93.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Arestenian economy, worth 393 trillion Lire a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 134,750 Lire, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The government is washing its hands of alleged corruption, increasing inclusiveness is a sign of the times, internet ads promising "hot singles in your area" are even less accurate than they used to be, and the needs of the living outweigh the needs of the dead. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Aresten's national animal is the snow leopard, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Aresten is ranked 8,174^th in the world and 467^th in Osiris for Lowest Crime Rates, with 105.17 law-abiding acts per hour.