GUYS - HEY! It has been a few weeks since the last update, and I am terribly, terribly sorry to keep you waiting.
A new update soon, and some things you should know first:
On June 22, 1998, a small electrical fire occurred in the basement of Praesidium's world-famous Apocolypse Pizzaria and Arcade. Due to labor disagreements and disputes between the current Administration of Praesidium and fire, police, and paramedics unions, 69% of those departments were on strike at the time. This led to an incompetent and inadequete response to the fire, which quickly spread through several businesses and office buildings nearby. By the time the city had mobilized an emergency task force to deal with the dire situation, the blaze (later called the Great Fire of '98) caused an estimated $14 billion in damage and claimed most of downtown. Although a few dozen people were injured, miraculously only three lives were lost in the tragedy.
The city officials and mayor resigned three weeks later, cowering in to intense political and civic pressure from the city. A special election was held, and new leaders were elected to replace the resignees. Mayor Jon Wesley was elected by an overwhelming majority (76%) on his platform to completely rebuild downtown into a world-class city, and restore not only the financial and commerical industries that dominated downtown, but the famouse comedic and entertainment businesses as well.
Upon entering office, Wesley proposed a radical plan: rename the city from Praesidium to Vladison. Due to two other towns in the United States that shared the name, confusion often occurred in postal and communication sectors. Praesidium, MT or Praesidium, ME? Praesidium, ME or Praesidium, AZ? Political strategists have theorized that Wesley mostly wanted to change the cumbersome yet traditional name so as to minimize the conciousness of the disaster a month before. Whatever the case, voters responded. By a 53% majority, Vladison was created.
And in the past nine years, downtown has flourished. The art deco sector that survived the fire has managed to become a center for the financial industries. The ravaged sections have been filled to the brim with the glass and steel of highrises, among the tallest in the United States. And through a special damming and re-routing of the Praesidium River, a new waterfront was born.
Now then, here are two teaser pictures for you all to digest:
