The Republic of Hydramaut is a titanic, orderly nation, ruled by Tieus with an iron fist, and notable for its frequent executions, suspicion of poets, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 24.967 billion Hydramautians are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

The tiny, corrupt, pro-business, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Defense, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Minaea. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 5.0%.

The frighteningly efficient Hydramautian economy, worth a remarkable 2,254 trillion koines a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Retail, Automobile Manufacturing, and Information Technology. Average income is 90,310 koines, but there is a vast disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 683,461 per year while the poor average 3,354, a ratio of 203 to 1.

Humongo-Mart's Beef 'n Ape Lasagne is a hit, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal, children are often punished for the sins of the fathers, and tourists flock to see the giant stone carvings of historical leaders at Mount Rushless. Crime is a serious problem, with the police force struggling against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Hydramaut's national animal is the ape, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is the cult of Astarte.

Hydramaut is ranked 75,586^th in the world and 5^th in The TWR and NE Puppet Depot for Highest Average Incomes, with 90,310.94 Standard Monetary Units.