welcome, welcome!

[iterumadmin]

[ A day or so after the Chosen start arriving, three loud chimes begin going off on all devices across the City to alert to an incoming Magistrate message. These will be different from the regular ringtones that alert a Chosen from any close friends of incoming calls or messages.

A woman with platinum blonde hair sits behind a large desk, offering a smile that's all business. ]

So. Here you all are. Okay, I guess it’s up to me to formally welcome you to – or back to – the City. You'll see that not much has changed geographically for those in the latter group. Those that are new? Listen to what the returning people tell you. I’m sure they’ll have a lot of important information relevant to your interests, comfort and safety.

Your district Magistrates have all changed with the exception of Nina, who’s still in charge in the Coliseum district and Star who does her best with what she has over in Shantytown. Aiden Knight is your guy over in Leisurebrook. Fern Wilder heads up Finance Street while Skiffell Lubbee is stationed in the Gardens of Pleasure. Then we have the handsome Baren Everett over in the Red Lantern District and that leaves me, the Duchess, presiding over the Tower District.

[ Gets prompted from someone off camera. The Duchess looks at her watch. ]

Alright. I’ve got roughly ten minutes before I’m due in another meeting, so the floor is open for questions. Well, most anyway. Let’s steer away from the more complicated ones, yeah?

Oh, yes! There will also be a welcome banquet at the Tower next weekend in your honour. Information about that will be on the invitation in the basket you received upon arriving in the City.

Okay, who's got questions?

Comments

[iterumadmin]

I would wager it's something equally dark and disturbing but that's just my experience speaking.

Did you have any other questions?

[needsabreak]

[He'll give her that much. It's not quite on par with a living city but the things he knew that had been covered up were pretty horrific.]

Yeah. When you talk to the City, what's it say about us - the people it's pulling here. Just that vague 'they have some role to play'? Nothing more than that?

[iterumadmin]

The City isn't capable of gossip if that's what you mean. As you might recall, I explained that you and everyone else who has been brought here have been chosen for something. As for what exactly that is, I can't be sure. Nor do any of the other Magistrates. We're all here to do a job.

[needsabreak]

I didn't mean gossip. I was hoping it might have something more than a vague reason as to why we're here. Guess not. Or if it does, it's not telling you. [It's a bit of a jab at her. He isn't sorry.]

[iterumadmin]

I'm afraid the communication works differently and that's one of those complicated questions that I don't have time to answer.