Spotlight on:

“Freedom is a risky business.”

The Royal Commonwealth of Kingdoms of Cal is a colossal, economically powerful nation, ruled by Leader with a fair hand, and remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 9.16 billion live in a state of perpetual fear, as a complete breakdown of social order has led to the rise of order through biker gangs.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded, corrupt, liberal, pro-business individuals juggles the competing demands of Defence, Education, and Healthcare. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Information Technology industry, followed by Book Publishing and Arms Manufacturing.

'Anarchy in Kingdoms of Cal!' is a popular TV program in foreign countries, major cities are suffering under water rationing, the studies of art and philosophy are banned, and the tenet of free speech is held dear. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Kingdoms of Cal's national animal is the magpie, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the meep.

Kingdoms of Cal is ranked 17th in the region and 54,983rd in the world for Best Weather.