Location: The Wheel of Time

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Rand al'Thor Kingdom of Durenor is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by Rand al'Thor with an iron fist, and notable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, cynical population of 19.847 billion are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Defence, although Law & Order and Education are on the agenda. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Hammerdal. The average income tax rate is 98%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Crime suspects are forced to submit to blood testing, bicyclists are banned from major roads, millions of devastated 7-year-olds are denied astronaut and ballerina training, and school uniforms are compulsory. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Durenor's national animal is the Dragon, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is Kai, and its currency is the Gold Crown.

Durenor is ranked 2nd in The Wheel of Time and 3,733rd in the world for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 122 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.

NationStates by Max Barry, author of and