Grimoire NieR

Everything here is sourced from this guidebook.

Investigation Reports

11/04/2003 22:53
I'm about to get briefed on the project. Extremely top-secret stuff. They wouldn't take no for an answer, so I'm doing this entirely against my will. I can't begin to imagine why they need a particle physicist in the first place, but here I am.

11/09/2003 23:05
I saw the specimens that are the purported cause of the incident. The whole thing sounds like a bad joke: a dragon and a giant appearing over Shinjuku? Who could take any of this seriously? That said, the energy characteristics of the samples are undeniably strange, so I'm going to begin a detailed analysis tomorrow. I now understand why they involved me in this.

12/04/2003 23:05
The food here is awful; I think the cook's only skill is to dump MSG on everything to try to cover up the taste. Sure, it's free, so I probably shouldn't complain. But if they want to keep their research team motivated, they really should put in a little more effort.

02/08/2004 23:17
Another worker in the facility came down with that strange disease, and now I'm hearing disquieting rumors that the particles we're studying may be the cause. There's still a lot we don't know about them, so I'm not surprised people would believe such a thing. I worry this may slow our research.

02/22/2004 23:43
I heard from Watanabe. Just as we feared, there's a high probability the particles we're researching are the cause of the disease. As a result, we've been forbidden from coming into direct contact with them, which is only going to make our work more difficult.

We've almost confirmed the particles that made up the Giant change their energy levels in response to observation, but we have no idea what they're reacting to. Variations in the observer's brain waves? Body temperature? Differences in atmospheric humidity caused by sweat? Some people believe the particles are reacting to the observer's feelings, but that's no longer science at that point.

02/25/2004 23:07
They brought in cadavers so we can study the connection between the particles and the disease. They look more like statues than bodies, and give an impression similar to the videos we've been shown of the Giant. At first, I attributed their white color to protein denaturation, but we soon discovered they were composed entirely out of sodium chloride—in other words, they turned to salt. Considering how little sodium there is in the human body, it's a mystery as to where they absorbed it all from.

One final note: Reports of auditory hallucinations among the infected suggest the damage begins in the brain and spreads from there, but I'll leave that kind of thing to the neuroscientists.

07/04/2004 02:18
Today wore me out. Is there no way to eliminate all these pointless meetings and conferences? Such a waste of time.

02/24/2005 01:15
I heard from Kobayashi. He says they've succeeded in cultivating D tissue using the Sea of Origin, and that as expected the density of G particles is an important factor. This should lead to rapid progress in D tissue research. Apparently the tissue is quite resistant to extremes of temperature and pressure, and they'll be arranging experiments to study its resilience on a much grander scale.

03/08/2005 00:45
No matter how many times we run the tests, the energy level fluctuations accompanying the cultivation of D tissue defy the law of conservation of energy. If it were observed only at the quantum mechanical level, that'd be one thing, but I can't begin to account for such macro-level energy deviation. The source of the excess energy has to be these mysterious G particles.

11/15/2005 02:11
It appears there was some sort of incident with the D tissue resilience tests, and the lack of information makes me suspect it's been classified. It feels like pressure to show results has been leading to a lot of ill-advised experimentation lately. I wonder what happened to light such a fire under the facility directors?

12/24/2005 01:45
It's Christmas Eve, but I can't leave because we've been on permanent red alert ever since the incident. I had to instruct my husband to buy our daughter's Christmas present—I sure hope he doesn't forget. Also, I worry she may be too old for teddy bears now. Statistically, she should be within the target demographic for such things, but matters of personal preference always have high levels of deviation above the norm. Next time I should just ask her directly.

01/08/2006 01:33
Rumors are flying about some sort of black monster, but I suspect it's just group hysteria brought on by our recent stressful circumstances. The ill-conceived experiments are continuing, as is our red-alert status. Whatever's going on, I assume it has something to do with the total blackout on research results related to D tissue.

04/15/2006 02:22
Can't say I've felt very good lately. So tired now. We devised a theoretical revision to the law of conservation of energy based on the now-accepted multi-origin theory. It's holding up mathematically, but it still feels so far-fetched. Factor in the concept that our Dragon and Giant are supposedly otherworldly beings, and it's like I'm living in the pages of a science-fiction novel. As a scientist, it's just so difficult to accept these findings.

Ugh. This buzzing in my ears is driving me dizzy.

104/19/2006 03:11
Physical health deteriorating. Ear buzzing sounds like bells. Can't sleep anymore.

04/22/2006 06:24
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Timeline

Key Concepts of Project Gestalt

With humanity teetering on the brink of extinction due to the spread of the mysterious white chlorination syndrome, Project Gestalt is launched as a last-ditch effort to ensure humanity's survival. Using the same Maso particles that cause the infection, scientists develop a process that extracts the human soul and turns it into a "Gestalt." The physical body is then preserved as data so that artificial "Replicant" copies can be created and managed while a means of eradicating the disease is pursued.

Connections

2003

June 12:
The 6/12 Incident Occurs: A Mysterious Giant and a Red Dragon Appear

Events

•Around 3 p.m. on June 12, a massive white figure (henceforth called the "Giant") suddenly appears in Shinjuku.

•At the same time, a red, dragon-like life-form (henceforth called the "Dragon") appears and battles the Giant. The nature and effects of their various attacks remain unclear.

•The Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) begins researching means of attack. The Bureau of Emergency Countermeasures is established within the government.

•Around 4 p.m., the Giant is destroyed by the Dragon. No mass is detected from the Giant, and damage dealt to the surrounding area by its fall is light.

•After the Giant is destroyed, the Dragon is shot down by Scarface of the Air Self-Defense Force's 6th Air Wing, 303rd Squadron. Its remains are taken to a top-secret government research facility.

•The final toll of the incident that would come to be known as 6/12 is 56 dead, 320 wounded, and over 60 billion yen in damages.

•The media is placed under a gag order concerning the strange events of 6/12, but information and images are widely circulated online. Conspiracy theories and rumors of terrorism swirl.

September:
International Summit Held

Events

•Three months later, Japan, the United States, China, and Russia hold a summit to discuss the events of 6/12.

•The U.S. determines 6/12 to be an act of terrorism, and plans to vigorously defend itself against potential subsequent attacks. The Japanese government hints at the possibility of vastly increasing their own military spending.

December:
First Victims of Unidentified Diseases Appear

Events

•A strange ailment that gradually calcifies victims emerges in Shinjuku. It has a 100 percent fatality rate.

•Research into the disease begins. Scientists are initially optimistic, believing it to be extremely rare and transmissible only under very specific conditions.

2004

February:
Deaths from Disease Soar

Events

•Infections of the new disease begin to surge, with patients heavily clustered in Shinjuku.

April:
First Cases of Infected Going Berserk

Events

•Some of the infected grow pathologically violent. Shinjuku is soon filled with both dead bodies and berserk infected, and the ward is largely abandoned.

•The rest of the world presses Japan to find a solution quickly.

May:
Berserk Infected Rampage Through Shinjuku

•The disease continues to spread throughout Shinjuku. Researchers begin classifying cases as belonging to one of two distinct courses: death or psychosis.

June:
Disease Officially Named "White Chlorination Syndrome" (WCS)

Events

•A group researching white chlorination syndrome establishes that the disease can result in either death or the berserk state, but it remains unclear what causes a victim to have one outcome over the other.

•The government of Tokyo relocates. The National Diet of Japan discusses relocating as well. Relocation of the royal family is proposed, but the Imperial Household Agency rejects it.

•Despite the absence of many legislators, the Diet announces that it will remain in Tokyo.

July:
Shinjuku Reaches Threat Level 4

•Shinjuku reaches the highest possible threat level. Public transportation is shut down and roads are blockaded.

September:
Shinjuku Blockade Announced

Events

•After receiving a report about how the disease is transmitted, the Japanese government announces that Shinjuku will be physically blockaded on a temporary basis.

•Public opinion is mostly negative. Humanitarian groups denounce the move, and large-scale protests begin. (Online, however, the blockade is met with a fair amount of support.)

•A well-known figure is killed by a mob of berserk infected. This widely reported incident leads to increased public support for the Shinjuku blockade.

October:
•Shinjuku Blockade Implemented
•Wall of Jericho Erected

Events

•A massive wall is constructed around Shinjuku, sealing off the district. It quickly becomes known as the Wall of Jericho.

•Japan's continuing efforts to eliminate berserk victims of WCS are denounced by the international community. Protests are held worldwide.

December:
Final Broadcast from Shinjuku

Events

•A journalist who chose to stay behind the blockade makes a final transmission. In the footage, a large white creature appears, causing the journalist to scream before being abruptly cut off. Though the footage is never broadcast, it quickly leaks online.

2005

December:
WCS Infections Decline

Events

•Eradication efforts by the JSDF and militias reduce the numbers of berserk infected.

•As research continues, Japan announces a decline in white chlorination syndrome cases.

2006

May:
More Learned About WCS

Events

•Researchers learn that the course of death or psychosis from a WCS infection is determined at a genetic level, and that patients with minor chromosomal abnormalities are more likely to go berserk. These findings are presented to the government.

•The findings are not released, and further research is conducted in a state of intense secrecy. (It would later be discovered that the findings were incorrect and based on falsified data.)

Date Unknown:
Facility Holding Dragon Remains Attacked

Events

•An attack aimed at reclaiming the Dragon's remains is repelled by guards, police, and the JSDF.

•Rumors claim the attack was backed by either a group of religious zealots or elements within North America. After the incident, the JSDF begins to take more radical measures.

2007

October:
Anomalies Detected by Satellite Imaging

Events

•Unexplained black spots appear in satellite photos of Shinjuku. While this is disclosed, it is not widely reported or deemed particularly significant.

2008

February:
•Wall of Jericho Falls
•The Legion is Formed
•First Sighting of a Red Eye
•Self-Defense Forces Begin Campaign Against the Legion

Events

•The Wall of Jericho surrounding Shinjuku is destroyed from within. At the time of its fall, a sound identical to one made by the Giant on 6/12 is heard.

•A large group of violent, white-colored monsters (henceforth called the "Legion") pour out of Shinjuku and begin slaughtering people indiscriminately.

•Red-eyed monsters (henceforth called "Red Eyes") are seen leading the Legion. The JSDF begins a campaign focused on eradicating the Legion and Red Eyes.

•Red Eyes effectively organize the Legion and thwart the eradication campaign.

May:
WCS Resumes Rapid Spread

Events

•WCS infections surge throughout Japan's Kanto region, centered around Tokyo (Shinjuku).

August:
Dragon Researchers Decamp

Events

•The organization studying the Dragon's remains secretly leaves Japan and reestablishes their facilities in a foreign country. (Though never confirmed, the location is widely believed to be the United States.)

September:
Central Government Relocates

Events

•Japan's central government and Imperial Family move to Kyushu, which is mostly free of WCS.

October:
Honshu Descends Into Chaos

Events

•Cases of death and psychosis from WCS continue to surge. The war between the JSDF and the Legion consumes Japan's central island of Honshu with chaos and infighting.

•Many Japanese citizens evacuate to the islands of Kyushu and Hokkaido. Some attempt to escape overseas, but other nations move to block the entry of anyone from Japan.

•Crime rises amidst the chaos. Increased foreign interference constrains the Japanese government.

•The U.S. offers military assistance, but on terms that are extremely unfavorable to Japan. Other nations urge Japan to refuse.

2009

January:
Japan and United States Form Military Alliance

Events

•Running low on weaponry and resources, the Japanese government decides to ally with the United States-which joins the fight in hopes of securing Legion captives and corpses for military purposes.

•The U.S. military arrives in Japan. Working with the JSDF, they tilt the war in humanity's favor.

March:
Allies Resolve to Destroy Shinjuku

Events

•With endless swarms of Legion emerging from Shinjuku, the decision is made to destroy it.

•Heavy bombardment of Shinjuku begins, but the impact on the Legion population is minimal.

•Anti-Legion research continues in the U.S., but no optimal means of fighting them can be found.

April:
Decision Made to Use Nuclear Weapons

Events

•After studying the proposal, the U.S. and Japanese governments agree to a nuclear strike on Shinjuku.

•The announcement is controversial within Japan but received more positively overseas.

August:
Nuclear Assault Begins with Shinjku

Events

•A nuclear strike is conducted against Shinjuku on August 6. It is the same day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, which inspires tragic memories of the past.

•The bombing of Shinjuku becomes the start of a full-scale nuclear attack across Japan, devastating the land.

•Shinjuku is obliterated. It comes to be known as Ground Zero.

November:
Legion Eradicated in Japan

Events

•All available methods, scientific and otherwise, find no signs of surviving Legion in Japan.

2010

February:
Berserk Humans Found in China

Events

•China reports incidents of Legion attacks, marking the first WCS infections outside Japan.

March:
Worldwide Outbreak of WCS

Events

•WCS infections occur across the globe. Research begins advancing worldwide.

April:
Survival of Red Eyes Confirmed

Events

•Deaths and psychosis spread throughout the world, hastening the collapse of the world order.

•Red Eyes, thought to be extinct, are found to exist still.

June:
Dragon Research Proves Multi-Origin Theory

Events

•Continued top-secret research on the Dragon's remains substantiates the multi-origin theory, establishing the existence of worlds outside our dimension.

•This research leads to the discovery of particles that do not naturally exist in our world.

•These particles, called Maso, are traced to the disintegration of the Giant's body on 6/12.

•It is announced that Maso particles are the original source of white chlorination syndrome, and that they cannot be destroyed by physical means- including atomic blasts. Tragically, the Shinjuku nuclear strike only served to disperse the particles across the world.

•It is further revealed that Maso particles are spread through bodily fluids such as saliva and phlegm, making WCS effectively an airborne disease.

•The discovery of Maso particles leads to breakthroughs in a number of technological fields.

•Continued research into multi-origin theory substantiates the idea that energy is contained within alternate worlds.

2011

October:
Research Facility Attacked

Events

•The research facility where the Dragon's body had been moved is attacked by unknown assailants and destroyed. The Dragon's remains are lost.

•Speculation again points to religious groups and elements within North America. Media reports about the incident are initially vague, then cease completely.

2014

March:
Project Gestalt Launched

Events

•Project Gestalt is launched as a means to fight white chlorination syndrome. Research into the Gestalt process-the removal of human souls-progresses.

•Successful human trials of the Gestalt process are conducted. Experiments on restoring Gestalts to their human bodies also prove successful.

May:
Magic Research Advances

Events

•By using Maso to harvest energy from other worlds, it becomes possible to create "something from nothing." This ability comes to be referred to as "magic."

•Unfortunately, magic can only be used by Gestalts who have gained the power to cross between worlds, a method that requires the use of tissue cultures from the Dragon.

November:
Magic Used Against Legion

Events

•The most magically proficient of the Gestalts are trained for war, but trial battles against the Legion mostly end in failure when the Gestalts experience mental breakdowns. This is likely due to identifying with the enemy: former humans whose souls had been meddled with just like their own.

2015

Date Unknown:
Gestalt Plan Fails to Gain Traction

Events

•The Gestalt process fails to gain ground with the public at large, who widely abhor the concept.

•Research is now largely focused on the problem of Gestalts who have lost their bodies.

2016

February:
Luciferase Developed

Events

•The new drug "Luciferase" is developed, which slows the progress of white chlorination syndrome.

May:
Luciferase Unit Formed

Events

•A carefully selected group of humans are given Luciferase and organized into a military force.

•The force is sent into battle against the Legion and achieves victory, causing the strategy to be used throughout the world.

•In what would be come to be known as the "First Crusade," military forces are dispatched to Brazil to exterminate the Legion. At the end of a fierce battle, they are ultimately routed.

December:
Hamelin Organization Founded

Events

•It is discovered that Luciferase is most effective on young subjects. Physically capable children are given priority access to the drug and urged into military service.

•A Fifth Crusade is organized, one to be fought primarily by teenage soldiers.

•The Hamelin Organization is founded to recruit capable children from across the world and raise them to fight.

2018

National Weapons Laboratory Established

Events

•Japan's government strives to strengthen its own military in response to the Hamelin Organization.

•The National Weapons Laboratory is founded to focus Maso research on military applications, with a primary goal of developing superior humans through experimentation on people.

•The existence of the laboratory is classified. Its government codename is "Murasaki" (Purple).

2019

Crusade Battles Legion to a Stalemate

Events

•The battle between Crusaders and the Legion ends at an impasse with little hope of a breakthrough. (Nevertheless, the world's militaries maintain their strategy of continuous crusades.)

•Nations with the most children gain power and influence within the Hamelin Organization.

•Japan is left economically weakened, with most of its surviving population now living in Kyushu.

2023

World Descends into Panic Over Widening Poverty Gap

Events

•Factors such as repeated battles with the Legion exacerbate the poverty gap worldwide, causing widening panic as slums expand throughout the world.

2025

January:
Replicants Developed

Events

•Researchers succeed in developing vessels into which Gestalts can be reimplanted.

•Dubbed "Replicants," these vessels are designed using data taken from the body of a source human.

•The new Replicant technologies are developed as an offshoot of Project Gestalt.

2026

June:
National Weapons Laboratory Loses Control of a New Weapon

Events

•The National Weapons Laboratory's Experimental Weapon Number 6 runs amok before being hastily sealed away.

•Due to the risks of human experiments involving Maso, research is halted, and the laboratory staff and funding are reduced.

2030

Red Eyes Exterminated

Events

•The commander of the 13th Crusade kills the last of the Legion's Red Eye leaders in Jerusalem before perishing from his wounds.

•Now bereft of intelligent commanders, the Legion's movements become chaotic and disorganized.

2031

White Chlorination Syndrome Infections Surge

Events

•Though the eradication of the Red Eyes diminishes the Legion as a physical threat, white chlorination syndrome continues to spread rapidly.

2032

February:
Replicants Unveiled

Events

•The Gestalt system and Replicant technologies are unveiled to the public. (A portion of the world's elite have already undergone the process.)

March:
Project Gestalt Enters Final Stage

Events

•A majority of people now have positive feelings about the Gestalt process, and individuals throughout the world have begun creating Replicants and undergoing the procedure.

•A process called the "Replicant System" is developed to continue the creation of Replicants indefinitely.

•Researchers manage to subconsciously implant Replicants with the goals of defeating the Legion and maintaining the Replicant System

•Project Gestalt proceeds to its final phase. Replicants are entrusted with the task of subjugating the Legion and freeing the world from WCS while Gestalts sleep.

•To manage the Replicant System, androids capable of functioning indefinitely are deployed throughout the world.

•Replicants are directed by androids to gather the Maso that causes WCS. This collected Maso is then sent to another dimension by android priests during a ritual called the Festival.

•Because of the high costs involved, only a portion of the wealthy elite can afford to undergo the Gestalt process at this point in time. White chlorination syndrome continues to spread rapidly.

2033

Grimoire Noir Program Begins

Events

•Using otherworldly technology, researchers succeed in implanting a Gestalt into a book-like vessel known as a Grimoire. Thirteen such vessels are created, beginning with Grimoires Noir and Weiss.

•A plan is drafted to use the vast amounts of energy created by simultaneously activating Grimoires Noir and Weiss to forcibly return each Gestalt to its respective Replicant. This system is intended to be utilized once the Legion and WCS are eliminated.

2049:

Father Nier and Yonah Go Gestalt (NieR Gestalt)

2053:

Brother Nier and Yonah Go Gestalt (NieR Replicant ver. 1.22...)

Events for both:

•Gestalt souls are discovered to have a high chance of losing their sentience and relapsing over time, which causes them to become violently deranged and eventually die.

•Research reveals that maintaining a Gestalt's sentience requires Maso from a subject who has undertaken the Gestalt process without becoming destabilized.

•At the behest of the World Purification Commission, the Hamelin Organization distributes clones of Grimoire Noir to the poor. Their goal is to sharply increase the Gestalt population in the hopes some might avoid relapse-an indication they possess stable Maso.

•A poverty-stricken Nier is tricked into thinking the Hamelin Organization can cure his sister (or daughter) Yonah's illness. But when he sees others relapsing around him, he realizes the danger and flees.

•On the run, Nier and Yonah are attacked by relapsed Gestalts in the ruins of a Shinjuku market. Nier chooses to go Gestalt in order to protect her, managing to keep his sentience intact in the process. But Yonah also goes Gestalt during the incident and immediately begins to relapse.

•The Hamelin Organization contacts Nier and offers to put Yonah into cold sleep for a thousand years until the world is free of disease. In exchange, Nier will provide them with his stable Maso.

•Nier agrees, becoming the "original Gestalt" who provides stabilizing Maso to all the others.

2764

Replicants Begin to Develop Free Will

Events

•As the Replicants maintain the system and collect Maso, some gradually begin to develop free will.

•At first, this manifests as childlike stubbornness, but it rapidly develops into mature human thinking.

3000 (approx.)

Replicants Begin to Create Culture

Events

•Most Replicants now possess free will. They grow and develop in response to environmental stimuli, developing personalities that are unconnected to their former Gestalt selves.

•Different civilizations develop in each region, most comparable to those of the late Middle Ages. Science and culture progress rapidly, largely revolving around ruins and relics of the past.

Key Concepts

RELAPSE:

Souls that have gone Gestalt eventually experience mental breakdowns, go berserk, and begin attacking Replicants. To prevent these so-called relapses, they must continuously receive Maso from Nier, who has been designated as the original Gestalt. Nier provides this Maso to the Gestalts in order to protect a relapsed Yonah, but after a thousand years of doing so without any progress, he walks away from his role in the plan. At the same time, Gestalts who had been receiving his Maso begin to relapse anyway-a problem Project Gestalt failed to foresee. Devola and Popola hypothesize that Nier's change of attitude is hastening the relapses, and decide to activate the Grimoire Noir Program as soon as possible in order to complete the fusion of Gestalts and Replicants. (Another theory, however, posits that relapses are actually the result of intentional coding by a Project Gestalt programmer who preferred to see Replicants rule the world.)

3276

A Red Eye Reborn

Events

•Replicants continue purifying the world. After the Legion has been largely wiped out, a young Replicant enters the forbidden land of Jerusalem in search of a way to resurrect his dead lover, who is also a Replicant.

•When he wishes for her return, she suddenly emerges from the white, cocoon-like mass of the last Red Eye's corpse.

•The resurrected lover has red eyes and little sentience. She brutally murders the young man, then goes on to lead the Legion as a new Red Eye.

3287

Legion Destroyed

Events

•With a Red Eye's rebirth, the Legion is once again a powerful force, and the world the Replicants have been protecting finds itself in peril once more.

•An android and four Replicants challenge the Red Eye to battle and destroy her. The entire Legion is annihilated, and all remaining Maso returned to its world of origin. The world is finally purified.

3288

Gestalts Begin to Awaken

Events

•With the world purified, Gestalts begin to awaken. But the Replicants, who now possess wills of their own, see them as monsters-who they dub "Shades"-trying to steal their bodies.

•Replicants begin fighting Gestalts in multiple regions. In areas where androids are in firm control, however, Replicants are ordered to accept their Gestalts, and the pairs are safely combined into humans.

3300

Gestalt-Replicant War Begins

Events

•In order to return to their Replicant bodies, Gestalts attempt to perform the ritual of revival by executing the Grimoire Noir Program.

•Some Gestalts begin relapsing and going berserk despite being stabilized with Gestalt Nier's Maso.

•Gestalt Nier, who has been providing his Maso for over a thousand years, begins to realize that unless something changes, Yonah will never be revived.

3361:

Father Nier's Replicant Acquires Grimoire Weiss

3454:

Brother Nier's Replicant Acquires Grimoire Weiss

Events for both:

•Gestalt Nier obtains the original Grimoire Noir in order to return Yonah's soul to her Replicant body.

•In accordance with their World Purification Commission programming, androids Devola and Popola recognize Gestalt Nier as the lord of the Gestalts and begin advising him.

•Also under Devola and Popola's guidance, Replicant Nier obtains Grimoire Weiss. The androids then have him gather the Sealed Verses so Weiss can fuse with Noir and initiate the Grimoire Noir Program.

•Having no faith in the Grimoire Noir Program, Gestalt Nier kidnaps Replicant Yonah and inserts Gestalt Yonah into her. He also makes plans to claim Replicant Nier's body for his own.

•At the Shadowlord's Castle, Replicant Nier defeats Gestalt Nier, while Replicant Yonah returns after Gestalt Yonah chooses to destroy herself.

•Due to the death of Gestalt Nier-the original Gestalt-the Gestalt Project can no longer proceed. Humanity's destruction is now inevitable.

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