The Immortal Griscorean Empire of Zarkenis Ultima is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Enlightened Rozel Asheron with an even hand, and notable for its complete lack of prisons, keen interest in outer space, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate population of 17.723 billion Zarkenians 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 government — a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked morass — juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Xevaris. The average income tax rate is 92.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Zarkenian economy, worth a remarkable 1,711 trillion Crystal Credits a year, is highly specialized and led by the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology and Tourism. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 96,556 Crystal Credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Sex changes are routinely performed at Zarkenis Ultima's hospitals, criminal rehabilitation takes place in re-education centers, citizens are allowed to rise or fall based on their own merits, and neon signs promoting safe driving often distract drivers. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zarkenis Ultima's national animal is the Feral One, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Griscorean Polytheism.

Zarkenis Ultima is ranked 170,098^th in the world and 6^th in Unitys Alliance for Largest Mining Sector, scoring -19.44 on the Blue Sky Asbestos Index.