The Jarldoms of The Burke Islands is a gargantuan, genial nation, ruled by Ylva the Valkyrie with a fair hand, and remarkable for its free-roaming dinosaurs, pith helmet sales, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 19.532 billion Norvalthans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Dómstóll Brúsi. The average income tax rate is 3.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Nørvalthic economy, worth a remarkable 5,145 trillion Thálas a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an amazing 263,417 Thálas, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Coat closets are being re-branded as bedrooms, only lightning has a chance of striking Ylva the Valkyrie twice, claims of miracles are met with calls to eradicate religion as superstitious nonsense, and parents dread their examinations more than their children. Crime is totally unknown. The Burke Islands's national animal is the Dire Bear, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Nørvalthic Paganism.

The Burke Islands is ranked 28,387^th in the world and 4^th in Argo Navis for Lowest Crime Rates, with 83.69 law-abiding acts per hour.