The Republic of Tantalus is a massive, socially progressive nation, ruled by Legate Charles Kowal with an even hand, and remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape and compulsory military service. The compassionate, hard-working, devout population of 2.851 billion Tantalusians 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 relatively small government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Spirituality, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Plouto. The average income tax rate is 10.3%.

The Tantalusian economy, worth 161 trillion denaris a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Book Publishing, and Basket Weaving. Average income is 56,668 denaris, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.0 times as much as the poorest.

Trade policy consists of ganging up on the new guy, new pilots are regularly reminded that they are more expendable than their planes, burial ceremonies have become as routinised as tax forms, and the government has instituted 'traveller reservations' across the country. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Tantalus's national animal is the cobra, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its national religion is Tellurism.

Tantalus is ranked 48,693^rd in the world and 5^th in The Equator for Most Primitive, scoring 57.45 on the Scary Big Number Scale.