The Rivers of Eldwyn is a colossal, efficient nation, ruled by Lord Chancellor Frida with an even hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, national health service, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate population of 2.931 billion Eldwynians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The large, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Caer Wynne. The average income tax rate is 73.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Eldwynian economy, worth 308 trillion Eldmarks a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Retail, Book Publishing, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is an impressive 105,121 Eldmarks, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Former Unitarian holy sites are reconsecrated as teppanyaki restaurants, there has been a rapid increase of noise complaints over the sound of buzzing bees, producers insist that movie stars wear crash helmets in every scene, and military equipment is being auctioned off to extend comatose centenarians' lives. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Eldwyn's national animal is the Barn Owl, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Unitarian.

Eldwyn is ranked 28,908^th in the world and 614^th in the South Pacific for Smartest Citizens, with 57.48 quips per hour.