diff --git a/client/scenes/in_world.cpp b/client/scenes/in_world.cpp
index 43db4eb..1293ade 100644
--- a/client/scenes/in_world.cpp
+++ b/client/scenes/in_world.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ InWorld::InWorld(int* const argClientIndex,	int* const argAccountIndex):
 	newPacket.accountIndex = accountIndex;
 	network.SendTo(Channels::SERVER, &newPacket);
 
+	//query the world state
+	memset(&newPacket, 0, MAX_PACKET_SIZE);
+	newPacket.type = SerialPacketType::QUERY_CHARACTER_EXISTS;
+	network.SendTo(Channels::SERVER, &newPacket);
+
 	//debug
 	//
 }
@@ -250,6 +255,9 @@ void InWorld::HandlePacket(SerialPacket* const argPacket) {
 		case SerialPacketType::CHARACTER_DELETE:
 			HandleCharacterDelete(static_cast<CharacterPacket*>(argPacket));
 		break;
+		case SerialPacketType::QUERY_CHARACTER_EXISTS:
+			HandleCharacterQueryExists(static_cast<CharacterPacket*>(argPacket));
+		break;
 
 		//rejection messages
 		case SerialPacketType::REGION_REJECTION:
@@ -394,4 +402,12 @@ void InWorld::HandleCharacterCreate(CharacterPacket* const argPacket) {
 void InWorld::HandleCharacterDelete(CharacterPacket* const argPacket) {
 	//TODO: HandleCharacterDelete()
 	std::cout << "HandleCharacterDelete" << std::endl;
+}
+
+void InWorld::HandleCharacterQueryExists(CharacterPacket* const argPacket) {
+	//TODO: HandleCharacterQueryExists()
+	std::cout << "HandleCharacterQueryExists" << std::endl;
+	//NOTE: preexisting characters will result in query responses
+	//NOTE: new characters will result in create messages
+	//NOTE: this client's character will exist in both
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/client/scenes/in_world.hpp b/client/scenes/in_world.hpp
index 5e2ae31..ccf1c42 100644
--- a/client/scenes/in_world.hpp
+++ b/client/scenes/in_world.hpp
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ protected:
 	//character management
 	void HandleCharacterCreate(CharacterPacket* const);
 	void HandleCharacterDelete(CharacterPacket* const);
+	void HandleCharacterQueryExists(CharacterPacket* const);
 
 	//indexes
 	int& clientIndex;
diff --git a/server/server_application.hpp b/server/server_application.hpp
index ee93dfb..b794b3f 100644
--- a/server/server_application.hpp
+++ b/server/server_application.hpp
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ private:
 
 	//data management
 	void HandleRegionRequest(RegionPacket* const);
+	void HandleCharacterExists(CharacterPacket* const);
+
 	void SaveServerState();
 
 	//character management
diff --git a/server/server_data.cpp b/server/server_data.cpp
index 135dfa2..76b1573 100644
--- a/server/server_data.cpp
+++ b/server/server_data.cpp
@@ -71,6 +71,16 @@ void ServerApplication::HandleRegionRequest(RegionPacket* const argPacket) {
 	network.SendTo(argPacket->srcAddress, static_cast<SerialPacket*>(&newPacket));
 }
 
+void ServerApplication::HandleCharacterExists(CharacterPacket* const argPacket) {
+	//respond with all character data
+	CharacterPacket newPacket;
+	for (auto& it : *characterMgr.GetContainer()) {
+		CopyCharacterToPacket(&newPacket, it.first);
+		newPacket.type = SerialPacketType::QUERY_CHARACTER_EXISTS;
+		network.SendTo(argPacket->srcAddress, static_cast<SerialPacket*>(&newPacket));
+	}
+}
+
 //-------------------------
 //Character Management
 //-------------------------
diff --git a/server/server_logic.cpp b/server/server_logic.cpp
index 9db5034..1e1dbf1 100644
--- a/server/server_logic.cpp
+++ b/server/server_logic.cpp
@@ -279,6 +279,9 @@ void ServerApplication::HandlePacket(SerialPacket* const argPacket) {
 		case SerialPacketType::REGION_REQUEST:
 			HandleRegionRequest(static_cast<RegionPacket*>(argPacket));
 		break;
+		case SerialPacketType::QUERY_CHARACTER_EXISTS:
+			HandleCharacterExists(static_cast<CharacterPacket*>(argPacket));
+		break;
 
 		//character management
 		case SerialPacketType::CHARACTER_CREATE:
diff --git a/server/server_methods.cpp b/server/server_methods.cpp
index 610e525..d163f18 100644
--- a/server/server_methods.cpp
+++ b/server/server_methods.cpp
@@ -101,73 +101,4 @@ void ServerApplication::HandleCharacterUpdate(CharacterPacket* const argPacket)
 
 	PumpPacket(argPacket);
 }
-
-//-------------------------
-//mismanagement
-//-------------------------
-
-//SET: delete
-void ServerApplication::HandleSynchronize(ClientPacket* const argPacket) {
-	//TODO: compensate for large distances
-	//NOTE: I quite dislike this function
-
-	//send all of the server's data to this client
-	ClientData* client = clientMgr.Get(argPacket->clientIndex);
-
-	//send all characters
-	CharacterPacket newPacket;
-	newPacket.type = SerialPacketType::CHARACTER_SET_ORIGIN;
-
-	for (auto& it : *characterMgr.GetContainer()) {
-		CopyCharacterToPacket(&newPacket, it.first);
-		network.SendTo(client->GetAddress(), static_cast<SerialPacket*>(&newPacket));
-	}
-
-	//TODO: more in HandleSynchronize()
-}
-
-//SET: utility/manager
-void ServerApplication::CleanupLostConnection(int clientIndex) {
-	//NOTE: This assumes each player has only one account and character at a time
-	//TODO: handle multiple characters (bots, etc.)
-
-	//send a disconnection message just in case
-	ClientPacket newPacket;
-	newPacket.type = SerialPacketType::DISCONNECT_FORCED;
-	network.SendTo(clientMgr.Get(clientIndex)->GetAddress(), &newPacket);
-
-	//find the account
-	int accountIndex = -1;
-	for (auto& it : *accountMgr.GetContainer()) {
-		if (it.second.GetClientIndex() == clientIndex) {
-			accountIndex = it.first;
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-
-	//find the character
-	int characterIndex = -1;
-	for (auto& it : *characterMgr.GetContainer()) {
-		if (it.second.GetOwner() == accountIndex) {
-			characterIndex = it.first;
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-
-	//clean up this mess
-	characterMgr.Unload(characterIndex);
-	accountMgr.Unload(accountIndex);
-	clientMgr.Unload(clientIndex);
-
-	PumpCharacterUnload(characterIndex);
-
-	//output a message
-	std::cerr << "Connection lost: " << std::endl;
-	std::cerr << "\tClient: " << clientIndex << std::endl;
-	std::cerr << "\tAccount: " << accountIndex << std::endl;
-	std::cerr << "\tCharacter: " << characterIndex << std::endl;
-	std::cout << clientMgr.GetLoadedCount() << " clients and " << accountMgr.GetLoadedCount() << " accounts total" << std::endl;
-}
-
-//TODO: remove this terminate comment
-//*/
\ No newline at end of file
+*/
\ No newline at end of file