The Shield and Sword of RunDown is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Jarrett with an even hand, and notable for its keen interest in outer space, free-roaming dinosaurs, and daily referendums. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, humorless, devout population of 8.446 billion RunDownians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Cloverfield. The average income tax rate is 69.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient RunDownian economy, worth a remarkable 1,175 trillion PACS a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Book Publishing, and Retail. Average income is an impressive 139,236 PACS, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.7 times as much as the poorest.

Fishermen take out second mortgages to afford the yearly fishing permit, forty-year-old men are asked for their ID before watching the latest pony cartoon movies, the Snapgram channel "Embarrassing Baby Jarrett Pics" has made Jarrett's mom a celebrity, and travelers often bring empty plastic bottles on Air RunDown flights to avoid the pay lavatories. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. RunDown's national animal is the Wolverine, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Don't be a Traitor.

RunDown is ranked 162,307^th in the world and 84^th in Abydos for Highest Unexpected Death Rate, scoring 22.02 on the Bus Surprisal Index.