The Unholy Black Dominion of Arcterus is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by The Prime Executor with a fair hand, and notable for its keen interest in outer space, unlimited-speed roads, and state-planned economy. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 32.121 billion Arcterrans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The enormous, liberal, outspoken government prioritizes Education, although Environment, Healthcare, and Industry are also considered important, while Law & Order and Spirituality receive no funds. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Installation Heliopolis. The average income tax rate is 96.0%.

The frighteningly efficient Arcterian economy, worth a remarkable 5,401 trillion Sticks 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, highly specialized black market in Information Technology, Tourism, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. 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 impressive 168,176 Sticks, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Millions of Sticks have been thrown into a project to find the cure for Mad Lazy Stoned Monk Disease, space research funding has hit a recent high while several military bases are being closed down, autopsies often involve only cursory examination, and human tissue is grown in vats as a delicacy as well as for transplants. Crime, especially youth-related, is so common that it is unusual to encounter someone following the law, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Arcterus's national animal is the Lazy Stoned Monk, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Arcterus is ranked 10,544^th in the world and 20^th in Yggdrasil for Highest Poor Incomes, with 123,273.36 Standard Monetary Units.