Newt will find that many of the artists are happy to chat with a new friend — but their interest is less on the Families (we don't deal with them), and more on Cheri.

"She's a real godsend for us, you know," says a trumpet-player, "gets us all the opportunities at different clubs, makes sure that if we sign with her, we get chances to work for all the families without conflict."

"Yeah," adds a soul singer, "I heard that when the families formed, everyone was forced to side with one of them back then, which led to the gang war — but when Cheri came and set up her club, all of that stopped."

"See why we don't care about the families?" a dancer asks Newt with one perfectly raised eyebrow. "Don't got nothin' but trouble for us. Cheri's the patron of the arts here in Braccia, an' we only do business through her. You should do the same."