The Republic of Zarlan is a huge, safe nation, notable for its museums and concert halls, daily referendums, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate population of 583 million Zarlanians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zarlan City. The average income tax rate is 43.8%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Zarlanian economy, worth 47.7 trillion Zaris a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Tourism, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 81,877 Zaris, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Nuclear warheads are frequently launched into space as a warning to invading meteoroids, burning twigs to keep warm while lost in the wild is now a felony, it is illegal to distribute Girl Guide Cookies without an advanced food hygiene diploma, and people who have had childhood imaginary friends are told they can't ever be trusted with guns. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zarlan's national animal is the leopard, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zarlan is ranked 35,873^rd in the world and 473^rd in the West Pacific for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 2,452.96 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.