Location: Stargate

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The 4th Dynasty Goa'uld Empire of System-Lord Baal is a massive, devout nation, ruled by Supreme System Lord Ba'al with an iron fist, and notable for its parental licensing program. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 1.643 billion are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, moralistic government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Religion & Spirituality. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Palace Athene. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 59%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Political activists are routinely executed, emergency room admissions for 'stampede injuries' have skyrocketed since the introduction of weekly Sabbath Eve sales, the government is a law unto itself, and prosecutors routinely call transplant doctors as 'expert witnesses' in burglary cases. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. System-Lord Baal's national animal is the avgrak, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is Goa'uld worship, and its currency is the naquadah bead.

System-Lord Baal is ranked 8th in Stargate and 4,895th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring 15 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

Preview

NationStates by Max Barry, author of and