The Second Empire of Novagraden is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Archon Artiemus with an even hand, and remarkable for its sprawling nuclear power plants, frequent executions, and public floggings. The hard-nosed, humorless population of 9.44 billion Novagradians 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 Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Shico. The average income tax rate is 90.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Mencirian economy, worth a remarkable 3,112 trillion Curries a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is an enormous, deeply entrenched, fairly diversified black market in Information Technology, Tourism, Book Publishing, and Arms Manufacturing. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is an amazing 329,677 Curries, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Even the nation's brussel sprouts are delicious and nutritious, a child's only Trickster Night scare is the sight of their parents dancing, on-duty Air Novagraden flight attendants are usually seen napping in first class, and giggling elementary school newspaper reporters want to know why Archon Artiemus is a silly poophead. Crime is totally unknown. Novagraden's national animal is the Red Ox, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Hyper Modernism.

Novagraden is ranked 2,327^th in the world and 134^th in Balder for Largest Basket Weaving Sector, scoring 10,067.2 on the Hickory Productivity Index.