The Republic of Celist is a massive, efficient nation, notable for its smutty television, ubiquitous missile silos, and irreverence towards religion. The hard-working, democratic population of 1.173 billion Celestians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Defense, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Selside. The average income tax rate is 42.7%.

The all-consuming Celistian economy, worth 123 trillion Diamonds a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Trout Farming. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 105,309 Diamonds, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.5 times as much as the poorest.

The government has declined to declare any particular religion as its 'official' one, diplomatic cables about Leader have suddenly been very flattering, people who have had childhood imaginary friends are told they can't ever be trusted with guns, and trust-fund babies line up for places in community college. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Celist's national animal is the Ender Dragon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Celist is ranked 87,074^th in the world and 65^th in The Region That Has No Big Banks for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 2,417.25 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.