Press Secretary Carson

Press Secretary Carson
Aliases	Press Secretary (Legislatures)
Character Information
Pronouns	He/Him
Connections	High Adjudicator (co-worker) Adjudicator Shrue (co-worker) Adjudicator Cross (co-worker) Val (weapon)
Status	Deceased
Content Information
Voice Actor	Rhys Lawton
First Appearance	Chapter 31: Its Gaze Shall Fall O'er Trembling Plains

Hello, good morning, salutations and happy birthdays to those of you whose birthday it is. We’ll kick off in five - OK, everyone?

Chapter 31: Its Gaze Shall Fall O'er Trembling Plains

Press Secretary Carson leads the Security Conference meetings. He works closely with the High Adjudicator.

ATTENTION: SPOILERS AHEAD! Beyond this point, major plot spoilers are expected. Continue at your own risk.

Personality

Primarily, Press Secretary Carson is a liar. The majority of the time, he acts positive and upbeat but it appears to be a front for the stress of the war effort. He is cruel and does not appear to value human life, especially where it conflicts with his power and success.

Background

Little is known about Carson other than that he has a close relationship with the High Adjudicator and seems to have been in office for a while. He does not appear to have a family.

Carson grew up in a small village in the moorlands.

As a child, he admired the village's milkman for being so well loved. He always wanted to be as liked as him, and feared that he never would be.

Episode Appearances

Chapters	Synopsis
Chapter 31: Its Gaze Shall Fall O'er Trembling Plains	Press Secretary Carson speaks to Adjudicator Shrue to welcome her to CenSec. He begins the meeting and introduces Val, the Peninsula's newest weapon, to the Legislatures. He promises Shrue that he will push for the Parish of Tide and Flesh to be legalised quickly.
Chapter 33: And Where Once Its Howling Forebears Walked	Carson tells Val that she is being too cruel. He promises to give her a phone call with the people who made her into a saint, and her mother.
Chapter 37: And Even The Kings In Their Bowers Of Steel	Carson speaks to Shrue about the Parish of Tide and Flesh. He tells Shrue that they need bodies. He tries to contact Val but it seems as though she is not responding to them. Later in the episode, he yells at a subordinate to fix the blackout in Glottage.
Chapter 39: This Rotten World Shall Wheeze Its Last	Carson lures Melissa Dalton, Julius Brand, Adjudicator Cross and Adjudicator Shrue to Glottage University for a 'Summit' in order for him to test out Tranquili-Tea Seven. He has made a deal with the Grindinglord to be a celebrity ambassador of the drink, in return for civilian protection when the Peninsula loses the war. Shrue assaults him for attempting to lead them to their death.
Chapter 40: This Hateful Hymn Shall Cease	At a CenSec meeting, Carson and the other Legislatures listen as Val defeats three battalions at Mal-Retour. They rejoice and celebrate the victory. Carson states that they will have to kill Val, and tells his subordinates to find her mother.
Chapter 42: I’ll Wheeze Through Splintered Teeth	Carson can be heard on the radio discussing how the Peninsula has won the war. His story is that there was a task force of faiths across the Peninsula acting in the Linger Straits. He ends his interview with Sam Kincannon by saying 'The river rises'. Once Val has taken Nesh, Carson speaks to her praising her for being a patriot. He tells her that he has found her mother and offers her a chance to speak to her now, which Val declines.
Chapter 43: One Last Song Of Revelations	Carson meets Katabasian Greve before they give their speeches at the parade. He is initially mistaken for Adjudicator Shrue. He gives Greve some advice and forewarning about the speech, including the role that the Parish has been given in the war. He is alerted to the miracle occurring downtown and flees before the Wither Tide reaches them. He does not evacuate or warn civilians before doing so.
Chapter 44: Of Prophets' Dark Deceptions	Carson thinks about how he can spin the story in his favour. He tells the Grindinglord's people that the High Katabasian's agreed to their proposal. He speaks to Hawthorne and a parade go-er in the medical tent. He sends the Peninsula's soldiers to Bellwethers to kill the Children of the Woundtree. He wants to get in touch with Val to make his lies reality. Then he speaks to Sam Kincannon about the events in Glottage, blaming the Children of the Woundtree for the events. He announces the death of the High Adjudicator. He ends his radio broadcast by saying 'the river rises'. He tells his people to shoot the High Adjudicator's plane down.
Chapter 45: Of Love, And Gods' Defeat (Part One)	Carson speaks to the Grindinglord's people. He says he will hand in his letter os resignation from being a civil servant. When he arrives home, he is greeted by Val. She confronts him with Shrue's speech, and he initially tries to speak his way out of it. She asks him what he wanted to be as a child, and he tells her he wanted to be a milkman. Val speaks into reality a kind, fulfilling life. His final act is to offer her some kindness in words. She sits with him while he dies.

Connections

• Adjudicator Shrue meets Press Secretary Carson at their first CenSec meeting. Carson threatens Shrue in an attempt to control them. He pushes for policies that Shrue does not agree with.

• Adjudicator Cross and Press Secretary Carson at first appear to have an amicable working relationship. However, Carson does not hesitate to attempt to get rid of him when he doesn't behave.

• The High Adjudicator and Carson's relationship is broadly unknown. Carson appears to cover for them often to prevent the exposure of the state of the government.

• Carson believes he can control Val, a fact he is incredibly misguided on. He views her as a weapon, as a patriot, and as a problem.

Trivia

• Carson grows frustrated that his lies do not match reality.

• He wanted to be a milkman as a child.

• Carson's last words are "You danced. And then you didn't."