Spotlight on:

“Glory to God, Lord and Fatherland”

The Commonwealth of Laysley is a massive, devout nation, ruled by Lord-Protector Carlyle with an iron fist, and renowned for its national health service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 1.419 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 juggles the competing demands of Religion & Spirituality, Law & Order, and Defence. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Readbridge. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 20%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Naturists are jailed regularly for indecent exposure, corporate lobbying has been outlawed, citizens live in superstitious fear of the mysterious glowing clouds that float over Laysley, and the religious lobby has the power of veto over health initiatives. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Laysley's national animal is the Grey Wolf, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is Layslian Christianity, and its currency is the Shile.

Laysley is ranked 12th in the region and 7,797th in the world for Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector.