The Empire of Night Phoenix is a gargantuan, efficient nation, ruled by Emperor Raza with an iron fist, and remarkable for its pith helmet sales, otherworldly petting zoo, and compulsory military service. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 16.635 billion Night Phoenixians are ruled with an iron fist by the dictatorship government, which ensures that no-one outside the party gets too rich. In their personal lives, however, citizens are relatively unoppressed; it remains to be seen whether this is because the government genuinely cares about its people, or if it hasn't gotten around to stamping out civil rights yet.

The medium-sized, corrupt, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of New Aurora. The average income tax rate is 85.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Night Phoenixian economy, worth a remarkable 4,262 trillion Flames a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Arms Manufacturing, and Tourism. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 256,264 Flames, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The running costs of homeless shelters are so high that it would be cheaper to buy houses for the homeless, doctors are encouraged to 'pull the plug' any time the government has a budget crisis, hay has been added to school cafeteria menus, and legitimate job descriptions now include "smiling and waving". Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Night Phoenix's national animal is the Raven, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Church of the Eternal Flame.

Night Phoenix is ranked 12,613^th in the world and 1^st in Greater Arcadia for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 54.3 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.