Location: Absolution

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Star Empire of The Sword is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by Emperor Jake Thompson with an even hand, and remarkable for its museums and concert halls. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 1.324 billion have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Imperial City. The average income tax rate is 94%, and even higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, followed by Information Technology and Gambling.

Artists are pillars of society, government officials raid public buildings to remove all mention of G*d or r******n, a nation-wide cull of Tigers is in effect, and there's a shortage of swinging hot spots as land development grinds to a halt. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Sword's national animal is the Tiger, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is Atheism, and its currency is the Loaf of Bread.

The Sword is ranked 225th in Absolution and 88,254th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -20 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and