The Peoples National Empire of Chastonia is a mammoth, cultured nation, ruled by King Volomir Borromov X with an iron fist, and remarkable for its museums and concert halls, triple-decker prams, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 6.924 billion Chastonians 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."

The medium-sized, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Chastony. The average income tax rate is 62.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Chastonian economy, worth 966 trillion Crowns a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Uranium Mining. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 139,622 Crowns, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Military officers are given medals for disobeying orders, airport security is provided by private companies, no-one can foil the ambitions of Big Aluminium, and children as young as twelve are conscripted into the armed forces. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Chastonia's national animal is the White Eagle, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution, and its national religion is Reformed Orthodox.

Chastonia is ranked 216,311^th in the world and 126^th in Fifth Empire for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 805.53 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.