The Empire of Bathera is a titanic, efficient nation, ruled by Grand Baron Elam Ol'ced IX with an even hand, and notable for its frequent executions, prohibition of alcohol, and parental licensing program. The hard-nosed, humorless, devout population of 20.262 billion Batherans are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, corrupt, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Law & Order, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Bathera City. The average income tax rate is 30.8%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Batheran economy, worth a remarkable 4,631 trillion Baht a year, is quite specialized and mostly made up of the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 228,595 Baht, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.6 times as much as the poorest.

Penny whistles have been rebranded 'tin hornpipes', nobody wants to know how the sausage is made, Scoutmasters debate whether luxury log cabins defeat the purpose of camping, and there's nothing quite like Batheran nightlife. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Bathera's national animal is the Bat, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Techno-Puritanism.

Bathera is ranked 329,245^th in the world and 893^rd in Europe for Nicest Citizens, with 0.17 average smiles per day.