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“Ad astra per aspera”

The Parliamentarian Republic of Lazuril is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by President Gordon Stoval with a fair hand, and remarkable for its museums and concert halls. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 1.198 billion hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, liberal government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Education, although Healthcare and the Environment are secondary priorities. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Lazuri Prime. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 49%. A robust private sector is dominated by the Book Publishing industry.

Lazuril's navy has been named the scourge of the seven thousand seas, televangelists flaunt their expensive cars when they attend charity events, prime real estate is devoted to wind farms and solar energy generators, and the nation has opened its arms to an influx of refugees. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is moderate, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Lazuril's national animal is the tiger, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the kani.

Lazuril is ranked 46th in the region and 3,297th in the world for Most Godforsaken.