The Rat Merchants of Ferneus is a titanic, cultured nation, ruled by The Kwelahn Merchant Congress with an even hand, and renowned for its frequent executions, keen interest in outer space, and ritual sacrifices. The compassionate, devout population of 13.84 billion Kwelahns 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 large government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Kwelahni Prime. The average income tax rate is 68.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Ferneusian economy, worth 981 trillion pounds a year, is led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Furniture Restoration, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 70,928 pounds, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Super Barry Brothers is the most popular video game in the nation, the thin blue line is composed of picketing police officers demanding better pensions, doctors prescribe videos of political debates to patients with insomnia, and the native owl population is in permanent hibernation. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ferneus's national animal is the alien bear-worm, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ferneus is ranked 26,178^th in the world and 78^th in Starlight for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 6,867.24 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.