The Confederation of Alteran Republics is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Keith Ryansan with an even hand, and renowned for its public floggings, sprawling nuclear power plants, and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed population of 7.129 billion Alterans 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.

The medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Greyhelm. The average income tax rate is 77.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Alteran economy, worth a remarkable 1,144 trillion Alteran Credit Ͼs a year, is fairly diversified and dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 160,598 Alteran Credit Ͼs, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Military strategists are questioning the wisdom of subsidizing the economies of sworn enemies, a new "thought police" branch is being developed, a child's only Trickster Night scare is the sight of their parents dancing, and banning party poppers has been a real party pooper. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Alteran Republics's national animal is the Alteran Alpine Fox, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Earendelism.

Alteran Republics is ranked 64,587^th in the world and 104^th in The Western Isles for Most Valuable International Artwork, with 1.41 Bank.