The Republic of Charles 17 is a huge, efficient nation, notable for its avant-garde cinema, suspicion of poets, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate population of 537 million Charles 17ians 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, Industry, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 31.7%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The thriving Charles 17ian economy, worth 42.3 trillion Coins a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Uranium Mining industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Furniture Restoration, and Information Technology. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 78,852 Coins, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

Homeless people are periodically found dead upon altars to assorted deities, teachers regularly paddle unruly students, urban entrepreneurs are busy introducing cockroaches into restaurant kitchens, and libraries are now installed with jacuzzis and mini-bars. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Charles 17's national animal is the Animal, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Charles 17 is ranked 263,873^rd in the world and 234^th in Voidwolf for Safest, scoring 22.96 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.