The Republic of Celist is a massive, safe nation, notable for its triple-decker prams, ubiquitous missile silos, and irreverence towards religion. The hard-working, democratic population of 2.44 billion Celestians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Selside. The average income tax rate is 56.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Celistian economy, worth 234 trillion Diamonds a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 95,990 Diamonds, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

Directors of low-budget sci-fi films are flocking to use Selside as a backdrop, the nation has nearly as many history museums as Celestians, most academic research has ground to a halt, and children often kick Ender Dragons for amusement. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Celist's national animal is the Ender Dragon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Celist is ranked 221,309^th in the world and 239^th in The Region That Has No Big Banks for Nudest, with 95 cheeks per square mile.