We Have Always Been At War With The Monsters...

"Okay, I am sure you are curious about where you have found yourself, but before you ask any questions let me just give you the shpeel," Jim begins. "Nemo's Utopia was founded about a century ago by the arch-mage Nemo Amphiprioninae, and don't worry that his name sounds impossible to pronounce, that's why the City bears his first name, not his last. He landed in the middle of a howling wilderness and began to tame it. After a while other people started to appear, always at the same point, the 'arrival zone'. Nemo was able to convince a lot of them to join him in building this city, and together they survived. Now it hasn't been all peace and joy, our City is eternally at war. Every night the monsters spawn anywhere that it's dark enough, and some of them don't disappear when the sun comes up again. We've walled off and lit up all the tunnels and caves under the City, but the monsters spawn all over the world, and eventually they find their way here," Jim explains.

"Now that's the BAD news, now for the good news. We've built a city-state of over 12,000 people, with farms and fields inside walls made of Obsidian blocks and waterfalls that are effectively impervious to the monsters and raiders. The city is divided into twenty-five wards, each taking up a single map area, of which you are in the center. Each ward is walled off from all the others, so each can be defended independently. You are in the central ward, 'Park Place', we're going to the middle northward, 'Newbs Village'," Jim explains.

"You will be issued the standard 'New Citizens Package': one full suit of Leather Armor, one Stone Axe, one Stone Hoe, one Stone Pick, one Stone Shovel, one Stone Sword, one Bow, sixty-four Flint Arrows, a clock, a compass, a Wooden Bucket, a Journal, and the use of a room with a bed, chest, and craft table in the Newbies Dormitory. With these tools, you are expected to establish your new life in the city, find gainful employment, and integrate into our society," Jim continues.

"Once we get you into your room you will be taken through orientation the next day. After you go through orientation you have one standard month, thirty-two days and nights, to find a job in order to earn your keep. Till then you will have three square meals a day, milk and 'oatmeal' in the morning, (it's really made from wheat seeds, I have no idea why they call it "oatmeal",) a chicken salad sandwich for lunch, and a bowl of the day's stew or fruit plate for dinner, depending on the day of the week," Jim explains some more. You are presently passing through an area primarily planted with oaks, mostly the common kind but also some of the 'Dark' variety.

"The most important laws of Nemo's-Utopia are as follows: No attacking or killing anything except monsters, which you will learn about during orientation tomorrow. If you kill a citizen or subject you will be Exiled. If you kill a domestic animal you don't own or have the owners written permission for the weapon you killed it with, any ammunition for it, any meat, and other products from its **** will be confiscated and you will be fined it's estimated value. Related to the above, don't take things that don't belong to you. You will be fined and the item confiscated to be returned the first few times, but if you become a serial offender Exile will result. Don't enter restricted areas, these will be clearly marked," Jim takes a deep breath before plunging ahead.

"Your current clearance is Red, this allows you to go into only PUBLIC areas of the City and your own dorm, specifically the common areas and your own room. Once you find a job your clearance will increase to Orange, this permits you to enter public shops and certain parts of civic buildings. Once You've been a resident for a year, 384 days, if you have not had any legal infractions, you will rise to Yellow clearance. This gives you more options in terms of employment and full access to most civic buildings. If you live in the city for 7 years without trouble you will increase to Green Clearance, which is the highest you can go unless you are chosen for certain special duties, like me. I am Blue Clearance, which means I am a junior part of the City Watch. Above Blue is Indigo, The Watch Officers, and Violet, The Agents of Utopian Security. There is only one person who has Ultraviolet clearance, and that is Nemo. You can recognize someone's clearance by the color of their armor or a sash they wear. Wearing a sash other than the color of your clearance is a serious crime. There's one last clearance color: Infrared, represented by a Black Sash. Infrared clearance means you are not allowed in the city proper, you have been Exiled. Once you are exiled you can return after 7 years if you still have your sash, but must camp out in the 'outer wards' and serve on a work detail for a year before you are restored to Red clearance."

"So, do you understand all of this Personal, and if so, what questions do you have?" Jim asks, as you finally reach the edge of the park and emerge into a clear sward of grass before an immense gatehouse...