The Republic of Niast is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Azning Orzikov with an iron fist, and remarkable for its prohibition of alcohol, irreverence towards religion, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 1.459 billion Niastians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The enormous, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Defense, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Hrvedon. The average income tax rate is 66.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The Niastian economy, worth 69.5 trillion Marks a year, is led by the Uranium Mining industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Book Publishing, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 47,624 Marks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Extreme political groups are outlawed, 50% of adverts on children's television are for clothes made of cotton wool, children complain that school food is too flavorful, and scientific journals publish third-graders' school essays. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Niast's national animal is the Kite, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Niast is ranked 299,447^th in the world and 4,159^th in The North Pacific for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -8.77 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.