The Dominion of Barikshaltam is a very large, cultured nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, infamous sell-swords, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, cynical population of 354 million Barikshaltamians are ruled with an iron fist by the dictatorship government, which ensures that no-one outside the party gets too rich. In their personal lives, however, citizens are relatively unoppressed; it remains to be seen whether this is because the government genuinely cares about its people, or if it hasn't gotten around to stamping out civil rights yet.

The enormous government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Qaryashan. The average income tax rate is 79.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Barikshaltamian economy, worth 35.4 trillion Setars a year, is dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Uranium Mining, and Beef-Based Agriculture. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 99,962 Setars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.7 times as much as the poorest.

Prisoners regularly escape detention posing as scarecrows, extreme political groups are outlawed, the army's use of chemical weapons leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and people who have never eaten chicken are told it tastes a bit like crocodile. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Barikshaltam's national animal is the Shaltyamim Giant Octopus, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Barikshaltam is ranked 64,686^th in the world and 53^rd in Eladria for Highest Average Incomes, with 99,962.8 Standard Monetary Units.