The Democratic States of Vernien is a small, socially progressive nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, compulsory military service, and suspicion of poets. The hard-nosed population of 29 million Vernienians 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, Law & Order, and Education. The average income tax rate is 26.9%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Vernienian economy, worth 1.06 trillion ruros a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Automobile Manufacturing, Woodchip Exports, and Information Technology. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 36,536 ruros, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.6 times as much as the poorest.

Political parties are banned from advertising and receiving private donations, traffic jams are a common sight due to construction work from a massive overhaul of the nation's freeways, there's a bright dawn ahead for Vernien, and fireworks and other big bangs are forbidden during the newest public holiday. Crime, especially youth-related, is almost non-existent, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vernien's national animal is the elephant, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Vernien is ranked 257,524^th in the world and 2,843^rd in the South Pacific for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 26,708.42 Standard Monetary Units.