diff --git a/client/cmd/main.go b/client/cmd/main.go
index ac96e47..c7860d1 100644
--- a/client/cmd/main.go
+++ b/client/cmd/main.go
@@ -136,11 +136,10 @@ func _main() error {
 
 	client := proto.NewGameWorldClient(conn)
 
-	// TODO registration and login stuff
-
 	app := tview.NewApplication()
 
 	// TODO make a NewClientState
+	// TODO rename this, like, UI
 	cs := &ClientState{
 		App:         app,
 		SessionInfo: &proto.SessionInfo{},
@@ -256,6 +255,9 @@ func _main() error {
 		cs.SessionInfo = si
 
 		pages.SwitchToPage("game")
+		app.SetFocus(commandInput)
+		// TODO error handle
+		go cs.Messages()
 	}
 
 	registerPage.AddButton("gimme that shit", registerSubmitFn)
diff --git a/server/cmd/main.go b/server/cmd/main.go
index b52a547..7668190 100644
--- a/server/cmd/main.go
+++ b/server/cmd/main.go
@@ -144,18 +144,31 @@ func (s *gameWorldServer) Messages(si *proto.SessionInfo, stream proto.GameWorld
 }
 
 func (s *gameWorldServer) Register(ctx context.Context, auth *proto.AuthInfo) (si *proto.SessionInfo, err error) {
-	var a *db.Account
-	a, err = s.db.CreateAccount(auth.Username, auth.Password)
+	var account *db.Account
+	account, err = s.db.CreateAccount(auth.Username, auth.Password)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return
 	}
 
+	var avatar *db.Object
+	avatar, err = s.db.CreateAvatar(account)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.Printf("created %#v for %s", avatar, account.Name)
+
+	// TODO create avatar object
+	// TODO create bedroom object
+	// TODO put avatar in bedroom
+	// TODO send room info, avatar info to client (need to figure this out and update proto)
+
 	var sessionID string
-	sessionID, err = s.db.StartSession(*a)
+	sessionID, err = s.db.StartSession(*account)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	log.Printf("started session for %s", a.Name)
+	log.Printf("started session for %s", account.Name)
 
 	si = &proto.SessionInfo{SessionID: sessionID}
 
diff --git a/server/db/db.go b/server/db/db.go
index f44de6f..5405b8c 100644
--- a/server/db/db.go
+++ b/server/db/db.go
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@ package db
 import (
 	"context"
 	_ "embed"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"log"
+	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v4/pgxpool"
@@ -22,6 +25,7 @@ type Account struct {
 type DB interface {
 	// EnsureSchema() TODO look into tern
 	CreateAccount(string, string) (*Account, error)
+	CreateAvatar(*Account) (*Object, error)
 	ValidateCredentials(string, string) (*Account, error)
 	GetAccount(string) (*Account, error)
 	StartSession(Account) (string, error)
@@ -129,3 +133,52 @@ func (db *pgDB) EndSession(sid string) error {
 
 	return err
 }
+
+type Object struct {
+	ID      int
+	Avatar  bool
+	Bedroom bool
+	data    string
+}
+
+func (db *pgDB) CreateAvatar(account *Account) (avatar *Object, err error) {
+	// TODO start a transaction
+	data := map[string]string{}
+	data["name"] = account.Name
+	data["description"] = fmt.Sprintf("a gaseous form. it smells faintly of %s.", randSmell())
+	d, _ := json.Marshal(data)
+	avatar = &Object{
+		Avatar: true,
+		data:   string(d),
+	}
+
+	// TODO I need to understand how to make use of INSERT...RETURNING
+
+	// TODO how do I determine what perm id to use? I might want to revisit the
+	// schema for that so perm knows about an object and not the other way
+	// around. I could also just store this data on the objects table. I will
+	// ponder if there is any reasonable argument for a separate permissions
+	// table.
+
+	_, err = db.pool.Exec(context.Background(), "INSERT ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// TODO fetch and return avatar
+
+	return
+}
+
+func randSmell() string {
+	// TODO seeding
+	smells := []string{
+		"lavender",
+		"wet soil",
+		"juniper",
+		"pine sap",
+		"wood smoke",
+	}
+	ix := rand.Intn(len(smells))
+	return smells[ix]
+}
diff --git a/server/db/schema.sql b/server/db/schema.sql
index 2d01b62..0d748ee 100644
--- a/server/db/schema.sql
+++ b/server/db/schema.sql
@@ -18,12 +18,11 @@ CREATE TABLE permissions (
   read  perm    NOT NULL DEFAULT 'world',
   write perm    NOT NULL DEFAULT 'owner',
   carry perm    NOT NULL DEFAULT 'world',
-  exec  perm    NOT NULL DEFAULT 'owner'
+  exec  perm    NOT NULL DEFAULT 'world'
 );
 
 CREATE TABLE objects (
   id        serial  PRIMARY KEY,
-  shortname varchar(200) NOT NULL UNIQUE,
   avatar    boolean NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE,
   bedroom   boolean NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE,
   data      jsonb   NOT NULL,