The State of Decay is a titanic, cultured nation, ruled by The Penitent Sovereign Francis Ignatius with an even hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, pith helmet sales, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, hard-working, devout population of 16.362 billion Decayians 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, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Mortua Lux. The average income tax rate is 31.2%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Decayian economy, worth a remarkable 1,207 trillion Divinuses a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a slick, highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing, Woodchip Exports, Book Publishing, and Basket Weaving. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is 73,794 Divinuses, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Crayon squiggles were a late addition to the works of the Renaissance Old Masters, left-wing militias train children how to properly burn down banks, foreigners write "made in Decay" on shoddy merchandise in hope of receiving a buy-out, and grinding bureaucracy has the international wheels of justice turning slowly. Crime, especially youth-related, is well under control, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Decay's national animal is the Corgi, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its national religion is Catholicism.

Decay is ranked 245,611^th in the world and 2^nd in Knights Hospitaller for Safest, scoring 32.62 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.