The Principality of Askeling is a massive, genial nation, notable for its state-planned economy, infamous sell-swords, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic population of 4.127 billion Askelingians are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The large, liberal, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Education, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 58.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The large but sluggish Askelingian economy, worth 105 trillion Energy Drinks a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a slick, highly efficient black market in Basket Weaving, Information Technology, Furniture Restoration, and Book Publishing. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is 25,478 Energy Drinks, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Small children are learning a lot of new words from a teacher with Tourette Syndrome, dog breeding has been banned in accordance with recent animal experimentation laws, the nation's government buildings are remarkable for being ugly concrete boxes, and left-wing militias train children how to properly burn down banks. Crime is totally unknown. Askeling's national animal is the Hydra, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Askeling is ranked 97,498^th in the world and 1^st in Fort KiriCati for Most Armed, with 0.45 weapons per person.