The Arab Republic of Riysa is a gargantuan, orderly nation, renowned for its compulsory military service, keen interest in outer space, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 14.352 billion Riysians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The enormous, corrupt, moralistic, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tel al-Riyah. The average income tax rate is 81.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The large but underdeveloped Riysan economy, worth 704 trillion Lire a year, is quite specialized and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Information Technology, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 49,076 Lire, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Birds and children's kites are regularly brought down by anti-aircraft fire, the nation is ravaged by daily union strikes, the nation is reliant on the principle of mutually assured destruction to maintain its security, and Sunni Islam has been named as Riysa's national religion. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Riysa's national animal is the Riysian Eagle, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Sunni Islam.

Riysa is ranked 49,334^th in the world and 17^th in Astyria for Longest Average Lifespans, with 63.42 Years.