The Holy Empire of Ashandalia is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Hai-chu with an iron fist, and remarkable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, infamous sell-swords, and frequent executions. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 1.477 billion Ashandalians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The enormous, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Education, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Ashandalia City. The average income tax rate is 77.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The thriving Ashandalian economy, worth 137 trillion Pikas a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Tourism, and Trout Farming. Average income is 93,124 Pikas, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.0 times as much as the poorest.

Hai-chu is the self-declared God of all Ashandalia, the government has forked out millions on an unmade bed that is apparently East Lebatuckese "art", the government has stated an intention to min-max its stats for 'teh pwnage', and former bars are desperately trying to re-brand themselves as cafés. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ashandalia's national animal is the Pikachu, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ashandalia is ranked 299,309^th in the world and 15,935^th in Lazarus for Highest Unexpected Death Rate, scoring 23.36 on the Bus Surprisal Index.