The Fiefdom of Lower Melodia is a massive, socially progressive nation, ruled by Federal Council with a fair hand, and notable for its rum-swilling pirates, state-planned economy, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, democratic population of 1.064 billion Lower Melodians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, liberal, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of New Bergen. The average income tax rate is 81.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Lower Melodian economy, worth 98.6 trillion ducats a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is fairly diversified, is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Cheese Exports. Average income is 92,622 ducats, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

A weakened police force struggles to maintain law and order, the typical murderer weighs 150kg and has hairy arms, sales of disinfectant wipes have skyrocketed, and standard-issue infantry rifles now have carnations instead of bayonets. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Lower Melodia's national animal is the beaver, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Lower Melodia is ranked 9,132^nd in the world and 465^th in The North Pacific for Nicest Citizens, with 34.97 average smiles per day.