The Empire of Zerathephaian is a colossal, genial nation, ruled by Queen Gardenia with a fair hand, and notable for its avant-garde cinema, ubiquitous missile silos, and pith helmet sales. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 3.37 billion Zerathephaianians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Aureus Fountain City. The average income tax rate is 62.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Zerathephaianian economy, worth 753 trillion Euros a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is an amazing 223,619 Euros, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Corporations claim the third ounce of any metal traded in a wicker-cone on the Sunday of a full moon as a charitable expense, Queen Gardenia's told that love often manifests itself through homicidal four-lettered litanies, young criminals are told they'll go to bed without supper if they do it again, and TV coverage of music festivals consists mostly of backstage interviews. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Zerathephaian's national animal is the Zerathephalian Golden Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Zepatha.

Zerathephaian is ranked 32,913^th in the world and 37^th in The Khamen Union for Safest, scoring 107.97 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.