Grimoire Nier

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News Updates

● 5/27/2011 - Added a summary of the Nier Drama CD. If you haven't heard of this check it out. It contains many extra details about the story of Nier!

The Grimoire Nier Companion

Welcome! News Updates

The Grimoire Nier Companion

Introduction Disclaimer

Background Information on Nier

Grimoire Nier Translation

Investigation Report Characters Brother Nier Father Nier Yonah Kaine Emil No. 7 Devola Popola Grimoire Weiss King of Facade Vier (Fyra) Grimoire Noir Shadowlord Tyrann

The Abyss of [Project Nier] Vol. 1 Story Guide

The Abyss of [Project Nier] Vol. 2 System Capture

Quest

The Abyss of [Project Nier] Vol. 3 Concept Works

Project "Gestalt" Outline

1 Brief overview of "Project Gestalt" seen from summary picture 2 Initiation, process and changes of "Project Gestalt"

3 The failure of "Project Gestalt" and the future of the world Weapon Story Nameless Blade Iron Pipe Kusanagi Transience Beastcurse Beastlord Beastbain Phoenix Spear Phoenix Sword Phoenix Dagger Labyrinth's Whisper Labyrinth's Song Labyrinth's Shout Fool's Embrace Fool's Accord Fool's Lament Nirvana Dagger Earth Wyrm's Claw Axe of Beheading Vile Axe

Dragoon Lance Faith (Nobuyoshi) Spear of the Usurper Rebirth

Sunrise Moonrise Lily-Leaf Sword Captain's Holy Spear Iron Will

Blade of Treachery The Devil Queen Fang of the Twins Ancient Overlord Emil's Survey Report Letters

Creator's Interview Grimoire Nier Credits Short Stories: The Secret

And then there were None

The Stone Flower (no translation as of yet) Red and Black

The Demonic Mountain

Banquet of the Witch (summary from Chinese forums and blogs) The Mermaid Princess

Around the World in 80 Days (translation from Chinese forums) Ending E - The Lost World (summary from Chinese forums and blogs) Ashes of Dreams - English Lyrics

Grimoire Nier Drama CD Extra Materials

Names

In Game Reports

Miscellaneous Information from Chinese Sources Famitsu Developer Interview

Dengeki Playstation #470: What would it be like if Grimoire Weiss has a Tour Guide section?

Dengeki Playstation #471: Q&A with Grimoire Weiss

From the Interview カイネの誕生は「男性のヒロインを入れて☆」と言う要望から　『ニ ーア レプリカント・ゲシュタルト』の横尾ディレクターにインタビュー！（前編）

Trivia regarding brother Nier's birthday Interview with Emi Evans

Credits

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to serve as companion to the book Grimoire Nier. This book contains extensive background info on the world of Nier and many short stories. However, this book is only available in Japanese. Many Japanese speaking fans of the game on the GameFAQs message board have been translating different sections of the book and we are trying to collect all of them here.

Disclaimer

Please be advised that some of these stories contain mature themes relating to violence and sexuality. It should already be obvious but this document contains major spoilers. If you have not completed at least endings A and B yet you should stop reading now. This document also contains some spoilers for the game Drakengard on the Playstation 2.

Background Information on Nier

In 2003 Cavia released Drakengard, an action RPG for Playstation 2. This game received decent reviews and it became something of a cult classic due to its incredibly dark storyline and foreboding atmosphere. In Drakengard you play the role of Caim, a young prince whose kingdom was destroyed by an evil Empire. Wounded and near death, Caim meets Angelus, a red dragon. They decide that the only way for the two of them to survive is to form a pact. As a result Caim loses his voice. They go on to try to destroy the Empire and save Caim's sister Furiae. The game has 5 endings. The first ending, ending A is thought to be the canonical ending and led to a sequel, Drakengard 2. Ending E leads the world of Nier.

In ending E, Caim, Angelus, and the giant queen are teleported to modern day Tokyo. The player then has to complete a notoriously difficult minigame to defeat the giant queen. After defeating the queen, they are shot down and killed by Japanese fighter jets.

Now the story of Nier takes over. The appearance of the dragon causes people to be infected by an unknown disease which spreads and leads to the end of civilization. The game takes place about a thousand years after these events, in a post-apocalyptic world.

There are 2 versions of Nier. They are "Nier Replicant" and "Nier Gestalt". In Gestalt, you are an older man trying to save your daughter Yonah from the Black Scrawl virus. In Replicant, you are a younger man trying to save your sister. Nier was developed by Cavia and released in 2010. In Japan, "Nier Gestalt" was released on the Xbox 360 and "Nier Replicant" was released on Playstation 3. America and Europe only got the Gestalt version which was simply titled "Nier" on both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. Aside from the main character and his relationship to Yonah, both games are identical.

Grimoire Nier Translation

Investigation Report

2003/11/04 22:53

Debriefed on the project. It’s a highly classified case. No room for rejection.

Extremely unwilling. In the first place, what the hell do they want a particle physics specialist like me to do?

2003/11/09 23:06

Saw the object assumed to be the cause for the incident. It must be some kind of bad joke. Who would believe that a ‘dragon’ and ‘giant’ fell on Shinjuku? However, it’s true that the substance’s energy characteristics are abnormal. The plan was to begin detailed investigations tomorrow. Now I get why I’m called to this project.

The food here is really bad. It’s like they were trying to make do by stuffing tons of NSG into it.

Well, it’s free, so I can’t really complain that much. But I really wish they’d improve, if only for the sake of keeping researchers motivated.

2004/02/08 23:17

Another victim of the rare disease appeared in the department. I heard bad rumors about this. Something about the researched particle being the cause. It’s true that the substance is shrouded in mysteries. I’m sure some people would buy that.

I’m worried that the research will be delayed. 2004/02/22/ 23:43

Contacted by Watanabe. There’s a high possibility that the particle is the cause of the rare disease after all. Direct contact was forbidden. Research is only going to get harder from now on. However, it’s pretty much confirmed that the particles which make up the giant change their energy levels according to the state of the observer. What on earth are they reacting to?

Variations in heat and brainwaves? Changes in the water amount in the atmosphere due to sweat? Some of them are saying that it’s reacting to changes in a person’s mental state, but

that’s just occult talk, not science. 2004/02/25 23:07

To investigate the relationship between the mysterious disease and the particle, the corpse was moved into the research room. My first impression was that of a white statue. Similar to recordings of the giant that I’ve been shown. I thought it was turning white due to denatured proteins, but it was composed of purely NaCl – in other words, it’s turning into salt. It’s much higher than the amount in a human body, just where is it absorbing the sodium from? The victims are said to suffer from auditory hallucinations, so maybe the grey matter is getting destroyed first. Well, I’ll leave that part to the neuroscientists.

2004/07/04 02:18

Tired today. Won’t they lessen the amount of useless report sessions and meetings. They’re a waste of time.

2005/02/24 01:15

Contacted by Kobayashi. Succeeded in cultivating tissue D from the sea of origin. The density of particle G seems to be important after all. Now research on tissue D could

proceed smoothly. But the vitality of tissue D is quite surprising. It’s rather resistant to heat and impact. Planning to perform experiments on its resistance on a grander scale.

2005/03/08 00:45

No matter how much I look into it, the energy change accompanying the cultivation of tissue D defies the law of conservation of energy. It’s not even on a micro level like quantum physics – how could you explain the energy failure on such a macro level? I guess the remaining energy came from unknown particle G after all.

2005/11/15 02:11

Seems like there was some sort of accident during the experiment on tissue D’s resistance. Are we being blocked off or what? I don’t get that much information these days. I feel like we’re doing too many rash experiments just to get some results.

Wonder what got the higher up’s knickers in a twist. 2005/12/24 01:45

Christmas Eve. Ever since the accident, security level has been bumped up to red, so I can’t even leave. I told my husband to get a present for my daughter, so let’s hope he didn’t forget. However, a teddy bear might’ve been a bit too childish for her. Statistics dictate that girls in her age group like stuffed toys, but standard deviation for preferences is simply too big, so I can’t really put too much trust in that. I’ll ask her what she wants next time. 2006/01/08 01:33

Rumors about black monsters are spreading. Mass hysteria due to stress from the recent state of affairs? Not only are absurd experiments being continued, security is abnormally tight. What exactly is going on? Is it related to how investigation reports on tissue D aren’t coming this way anymore?

2006/04/15 02:22

I’m really not feeling so good recently. I guess I am pretty tired.

The recent mainstream law of conservation of energy expansion theory that sprung from the parallel dimension explanation works perfectly fine with calculations, but I can’t help but think it’s forcibly tacked on. Moreover, saying that the giant and dragon are from parallel worlds is sci-fi territory. As a scientist, I can’t accept this.

My ears are ringing. 2006/04/19 03:11

I’m in really bad shape. There’s some buzzing in my ears that sounds like bells. It’s a hindrance to sleep. 2006/04/22 06:24 I ca n he ar

so n ds

Characters

Brother Nier

Age First part: 16

Second part: 21

Height First part: 157cm

Second part: 183cm

Weapons Single-handed swords, two-handed swords, spears, magic

Hair color A shade of silver close to white Eye color Blue with a hint of gray

Father Nier

PERSONAL DATA Nier

Gender Male

Age First part: 39

Second part: 44

Height 185cm

Weapons Single-handed swords, two-handed swords, spears, magic

Hair color A shade of silver close to white Eye color Blue with a hint of gray

Yonah

PERSONAL DATA Yonah

Gender Female

Age First part: 7

Second part: 12

Height First part: 132cm

Second part: 160cm

Weapons None

Hair color Gilded silver

Eye color Gray with a hint of blue

Kaine

Weapons Two swords, magic

Hair color Silvery white with blue

Eye color Dark purple

Emil

Weapons Rod, magic(eyes of petrifaction)

Hair color Gold

Eye color Pale purple

No. 7

PERSONAL DATA

Experimental weapon no.7

Gender Male

Age Unknown

Height 132cm

Weapons Rod, magic

Devola

PERSONAL DATA Devola

Gender Female

Age 24(appearance wise)

Height 160cm

Weapons None

Hair color Maroon tinted with red

Eye color Gray tinted with aqua

Popola

PERSONAL DATA Popola

Gender Female

Age 24(appearance wise)

Height 160cm

Weapons None

Hair color Maroon tinted with red

Eye color Gray tinted with aqua

Grimoire Weiss

PERSONAL DATA Grimoire Weiss

Gender Male(?)

Age ?

Height 30cm long x 23 cm wide x 7cm thick

Weapons Magic, spiteful tongue

King of Facade

PERSONAL DATA King of Facade

Gender Male

Age First part: 10

Second part: 15

Height First part: 130cm

Second part: 175cm

Weapons Spear

Hair color Silver tinted with red

Eye color Gray tinted with aqua

Vier (Fyra)

PERSONAL DATA Vier

Age First part: 5 Second part: 10

Height First part: 135cm

Second part: 164cm

Weapons None

Hair color ?(can’t be seen due to mask) Eye color ?(can’t be seen due to mask)

Grimoire Noir

PERSONAL DATA Grimoire Noir

Gender Male(?)

Age ?

Height 30cm long x 23 cm wide x 7cm thick

Weapons Magic

Shadowlord

Weapons Single-handed sword, magic

Hair color ? Eye color ?

Tyrann

The Abyss of [Project Nier] Vol. 1

Nier A.D. 2049 & A.D. 2053 CV: Okamoto Nobuhiko

A world where the mysterious epidemic “White Chlorination Syndrome” started to spread when the red dragon fell. Humans who are infected with this disease either die from chlorination, or become ferocious and attack other humans. The Japanese government feared the further spread of the strange disease, and brought a complete lockdown upon its source, Tokyo – Shinjuku. As a result of this, Shinjuku has been transformed into a district of death, in which Nier wanders with his only relative, Yonah.

When he ran out of food to give to Yonah and was left with no choice, purely by

coincidence, he caught wind of the country’s “Salvation Support Plan” that provides food and medical care (a ruse to gather people. It was actually a human experimentation site designed to find the “original Gestalt”, who can keep his own consciousness even after going through the “Gestalt process”. Of course, Nier and Yonah didn’t know that). Along with Yonah, Nier headed towards the facility that provided support as a last resort. However, neither food nor medicine was given out at the facility, but mysterious books (clones of “Grimoire Noir” that forces humans who come in contact with it to become Gestalts), so he became suspicious of the support plan. When the surrounding crowd touched the books, becoming Gestalts and gradually transforming into “relapsed Gestalts”, Nier was sure that they were deceived, and ran away from the facility with Yonah. But they were discovered by a crowd of relapsed Gestalts while trying to hide in an abandoned super market, and the situation turned grim. In order to protect Yonah from the attacking relapsed Gestalts, he was forced into making a great choice…

Nier A.D. 3361 & A.D. 3465

CV: Okamoto Nobuhiko(part 1), Yusa Koji (part 2)

The protagonist who dotes upon Yonah, his only relative. To save Yonah, who was infected with the incurable “Black Scrawl Disease”, he embarks upon a journey in search of the “Sealed Verses” with Grimoire Weiss. He has a gentle and bright personality, but because he’s always thinking of Yonah, he often neglects other things in favor of her. He is very indifferent to his own feelings, and though he was gradually drawn to Kaine, whom he met during his travels, he remained oblivious of those feelings. In “NieR Replicant”, he is sixteen (the story takes place in A.D. 3465), and Yonah is his sister. In “NieR Gestalt”, he is thirty-eight (the story takes place in A.D. 3361), and Yonah is his daughter. In the planning stages, “the story of siblings” was the only idea, but taking into account the different

markets for the platforms, “the story of a sturdy father fighting to protect her daughter” was born. Moreover, the character you control in the game is “Replicant Nier”, who was given the job of managing the body created from the data of “Gestalt Nier” (“Gestalt Nier”, who solely exists as a soul appears as the “Shadowlord” that takes away Yonah from him). The name “Nier” has no specific origin. Soul and body, the two existences that should be the closest to each other were torn apart and brought into conflict for their respective goals. It is nothing but irony that the protagonist was named a word that brings to mind “near”. Also, his name could be changed freely by the player. When you reach ending D and lose all of your “Memories(save data)”, you won’t be able to use the name you used in said memory(if your system data remains the same).

Shadowlord CV:

-Gestalt Nier, who deeply loves Yonah, his only relative. Long time ago, he chose to go through the Gestalt process to protect Yonah, and became the first one to succeed at “keeping his own consciousness as a Gestalt” amongst countless experiments. That fact

came to the attention of the “World Purification Organization”, the instigator of “Gestalt Project”, and they recognized him as a “stabilized case”, calling him the original Gestalt. They claimed that by “freezing Yonah’s body for 1000 years, they could stop her from relapsing”, and requested his provision of the “demonic element” (with the demonic element, people other than Nier could turn into Gestalts while keeping their consciousness and preventing themselves from relapsing) in exchange for putting Yonah into cold sleep. However, he realized that even after the promised 1000 years, there was no way of saving Yonah, and that the replicants somehow gained their own consciousness in between. This in turn induced his wrath, and he tried to forcibly return “Gestalt Yonah”’s soul to “Replicant Yonah”’s body and halt her relapsing.

Yonah

CV: Nonaka Ai

Nier’s sister (daughter in “NieR Gestalt”). She touched Grimoire Noir by accident and turned into a Gestalt, and began to relapse. Because the soul, Gestalt Yonah, was kept in her near-relapsed state, Replicant Yonah who was made from her data will always get the black scrawl disease. The Shadowlord (Gestalt Nier) realized that Gestalt Yonah's relapse couldn’t be stopped, and planned to give his all to put her soul into Replicant Yonah. On the other hand, the androids who managed the replicants, Devola and Popola, observed that the amount of relapsed gestalts is increasing from the Shadowlord’s rampage. They used Replicant Nier, making him gather “Grimoire Weiss” and the “Sealed Verses”. This was to activate the system of Grimoire Noir and Grimoire Weiss before all gestalts relapsed. Through the energy released through the two books’ fusion, all gestalts should’ve been able to return to their replicant’s bodies safely. Her name comes from one of the old testament’s books, the “Book of Jonah”.

Devola & Popola CV: Shiraishi Ryouko

A pair of twins who are the central figures in Nier’s village. Their true identities are androids made to provide support when the day has come for gestalts to return to the replicant’s vessels. They are tasked with extracting data from gestalts’ souls, making new replicants’ bodies, and returning a dead replicant’s data to its gestalt. They managed the replicants for over 1000 years, but due to the Shadowlord’s (Gestalt Nier) rampage, they decided to execute a plan to forcibly return gestalt souls to replicant bodies. This is a direction programmed in them by the World Purification Organization 1300 years ago. Because they’re androids, they don’t have feelings, just like replicants. However, through a long period of time, replicants somehow gained the same feelings as those of a human, and began to adopt a lifestyle similar to them. While watching over those replicants, they gained feelings of “envy”, and they began to become similar to humans. However, they did not realize their newfound feelings until one second away from being slain by replicant Nier. Their names come from the weapon “Devolapopola” in “Drag-on-Dragoon”.

Grimoire Weiss CV: Peter

The “Sealed Book” that contrasts with Grimoire Noir, it was made as the one with the key to the Gestalt Project. It can understand human language because a human’s gestalt was

put into the vessel that is Grimoire Weiss. It was programmed to give off great power when it fused with Grimoire Noir after gaining the “Sealed Verses”. In the Gestalt Project, that power was supposed to be used to forcibly drag all gestalts’ souls into their replicant bodies. However, when it awakened in the Lost Shrine, its memories were a mess due to replicant Nier’s violent method of waking it up. As a result of that, it ignored the Shadowlord, Devola & Popola who wished for the fusion between replicants and gestalts, along with Grimoire Noir, who wanted to fuse. It became the comrade of replicants. Also, because Grimoire Weiss is surrounded by high-level magic, it’ll be fine even when splashed with water. If its surrounding decorations were taken off, it’s possible to wash it whole. Its name comes from the German word Weiss (white).

Grimoire Noir

CV: Tachiki Fumihiko

The sealed book opposite Grimoire Weiss, it made a contract with the leader of gestalts, the Shadowlord (Gestalt Nier), and tried to fuse with Grimoire Weiss in order to return the gestalts’ souls to replicants. Like Grimoire Weiss, it’s also a book infused with a human’s gestalt. Its name came from the French word Noir (black).

Kaine

CV: Tanaka Atsuko

The heroine. As a response to the harassment she received in her childhood for being a hermaphrodite, she had taken a liking to clothes that emphasize feminine characteristics. She holds both love and respect for her grandmother Curly, who accepted her and treated her as a woman. Her crude speech and action were both due to the influence of Curly. Her grandmother was killed mercilessly by a Shade, and Kaine herself bore a life-threatening injury back then. When half of her body was taken over by the Shade “Tyrann”, she became a “Shade-possessed” and gained humanly impossible battle power and the ability to hear the voices of Shades(humans who went through the Gestalt proccess). By becoming possessed, Kaine suffered even more persecution and lived only to exact her revenge even if it means using the powers of a Shade. However, influenced by her meeting with Nier (replicant Nier), who lived an upright life even under excruciating circumstances, her heart began to change. After exacting her revenge, she took up her sword for the sake of her comrade, Nier. When they first met, she only treated Nier as her traveling companion, but after reviving from petrifaction, she gradually began to recognize him as a male. By the way, she’s a hermaphrodite because a female development staff from Cavia commented “How about we make the heroine into a male…” to director Yokoo. The kanji of her name was meant to be “壊音”(broken sound). It doesn’t really have a specific origin, and is probably a development staff’s made-up language. For Kaine, who can hear “the voice of the Shades’ souls”, does their dying breath sound “broken”? Maybe she can even hear the “sound of herself breaking". Tyrann

CV: Morikubo Shoutarou

The gestalt of someone other than Kaine, who shares her body. He feels at home in Kaine’s trauma-filled heart, and planned to take over her body in her moment of weakness. When Kaine suffered a life-threatening wound, he managed to take over her

body successfully for once, but was forced to give it up through the combined efforts of Nier (replicant Nier) and Emil. Touched by Kaine’s heart wavering between hatred for Shades and love for Nier, he began to take interest in replicants even as a gestalt. If Tyrann managed to take over Kaine’s body – not his own replicant – the “Gestalt Project” might possibly move towards a new direction. Also, his name “Tyrann” means “tyrant” in German.

Curly

CV: Yokoo Mari

Kaine’s grandmother. She has a crude and violent personality, but loves and cares for Kaine from the bottom of her heart, trying her best to protect Kaine. She made Kaine wear feminine clothes, gave her the hard to obtain flower, the legendary “Lunar Tear” as a hair decoration and showered her with love. She died from being trampled by a Shade right in front of Kaine’s eyes. Her name comes from the orphan that lives with "Peter Pan".

Story Guide

The Abyss of [Project Nier] Vol. 2

Emil, Experimental Weapon No. 7 CV: Kadowaki Mai

“Project Snow White” – to create weapons in opposition to “Legions” that have become ferocious due to the White Chlorination Syndrome. He is the 7th _{body born from human}

experimentation. The greatest amount of power has been given to “Experimental Weapon No. 6” already, and for restraint, Emil was given “eyes of stone” that could petrify even No. 6. However, he could not control the sheer amount of power, and would petrify all that he sees. To stop that from happening, he began to seal his eyes with a blindfold and live with his eyes closed. He used to be reproachful of himself for having special powers, but gives unconditional trust to Nier (replicant Nier) and Kaine, who accepted him without hesitation. Especially towards Nier, for whom he harbors feelings close to ‘love’, however, Nier himself did not realize that. His feelings did not go unnoticed by Kaine though, who also harbored similar feelings towards Nier, and this became one of the many factors troubling her (Emil wasn’t aware of that). After assimilating with No. 6, he gained even greater magical prowess and the ability to control petrifaction, but his appearance is now that of an ugly skeleton. He also attained incredible vitality, as he could survive even as a head. Emil’s name comes from “Ludwig Emil Grimm” (the younger brother of the Grimm Brothers). He was named in connection to “Snow White”. (In early development stages, he was named even more directly as “Snow”)

Halua, Experimental Weapon No.6 CV:

-Emil’s older sister. A beautiful young girl that shares many similarities with Emil, she loves to dote on her little brother. At a certain facility, her body was converted and transformed into the strongest weapon “Experimental Weapon No. 6”. However, because her human heart was still left intact even after the remodeling, she went berserk. Her powerful magic could not be controlled by the researchers. As a result, her brother Emil was remodeled to keep a watch on her. In the end, she understood Emil’s desire, and disappeared after entrusting her power to him. Her name comes from a confectionary much liked throughout the Middle Eastern countries. Also, in the early development stages, there were plans of her being a party member instead of Emil.

Prince of Façade King of Façade

CV: Ayasato Maru/Shigematsu Yousuke

The leader of the “Façade” who follow a set of “rules”. To regain the country’s lost trust as a result of his predecessor dying from Black Scrawl Disease, he entered the Barren Temple to obtain the proof of kingship, a “mask”. There he met with Nier (replicant Nier), who came to save him, and they cultured a solid friendship. Though rules offer important order, he instinctively understood that he cannot proceed if he was bound by them. During his wedding with his childhood friend, Fyra, she was killed by the wolves, and he attacked the wolf pack with Nier and others. He accomplished his revenge. He feels deeply grateful towards Nier, who often put his life on the line for him, and brought his subjects to battle with the Shades to save Nier when he was cornered in the Shadowlord’s Castle. Also, his real name is “Sechs”, the number 6 in German.

Vier(Fyra)

CV: Ayasato Maru

She was abandoned as a child due to the burn marks on her face, and set to work in the Façade. She follows the rule that doesn’t allow people without a family registrar to talk, and communicates in body language with the people in town. When she was young, she was once saved from the wolves by Kaine, and greatly respects Kaine as her savior. Also, she harbors straightforward feelings towards the prince of Façade, who called her his “first friend” and her wishes were granted when she was 15. She was to become the queen after marrying him. However, to protect the king from the wolves attacking in the middle of the wedding, she gave up her young life. Her name comes from “Vier”, the number 4 in German.

Adviser

CV: Hayashi Masayori

An old soldier that accompanied the king of Façade and his predecessor, he is the king’s adviser. He’s almost a walking encyclopedia of the town’s “rules”, and the wild king of Façade often gave him many headaches. However, he acknowledges the king’s qualities, and often finds many choice words for him. The king of Façade also understands that, and gives his complete trust to the adviser. His real name is “Neun”, the number 9 in German.

The older brother in Junk Heap “NieR RepliCant”: Jiminy

“NieR Gestalt”: Jakob CV: Naruse Makoto

A steady young man that raises his younger brother at the foot of Junk Heap. Ever since his mother disappeared with her lover, he entered the Junk Heap to collect metals and robot parts, making a living by reinforcing weapons with them. Although he knew why his mother left and that she’s dead, he’s strong enough to keep up a brave front before his brother. Through his dealings with Nier(replicant Nier), he realized that he admired his mother even though she was terrible. In the end, he was caught beneath falling machines due to his brother’s mistake and died. Also, his name is different between the two gaming platforms. The name Jiminy comes from the character Jiminy Cricket in “Pinocchio”.

The younger brother in Junk Heap: Gideon CV: Tamura Mutsumi

A young boy who lives with his brother in Junk Heap. For a long time, he behaved like a spoiled child in front of his brother, and would flaunt his status as a younger brother as an excuse for his selfish words and actions. However, after his mother disappeared, he became overtly dependent on his brother, so when he lost his brother through his own mistakes, his personality began to break down. He managed to keep his ego by making himself believe that the robot caused his brother’s death, and continued making strong weapons to exact his revenge on the robot. Also, he remembers ripping off his brother’s arm while trying to pull his corpse out of the debris, a memory that caused him much trauma. After that, he began injuring his own arm, eventually going overboard and requiring an artificial arm for his left arm. His name comes from the cat in the fairytale “Pinocchio”.

The mother of the brothers in Junk Heap: Blue

She ran away from her abusive ex-husband and began living with her children. However, she despised her harsh life, and would constantly abuse her own children. She didn’t have a job, didn’t take care of her own children and barely cooked for them, so the older brother became the main support of the family even back then. She met a man who made advances towards her, and abandoned her children in hopes of crossing the mountain and escaping. However, she was killed mercilessly by the defense system in the bowels of the mountain. Her name comes from “Pinocchio”, the Blue Fairy that gave life to Pinocchio.

The man who ran away with the mother: Carlo

The man who ran away with Blue, a woman who lived at the foot of Junk Heap. He tells Blue to abandon her children and head towards a new haven, maybe out of his young, reckless and ambitious personality. He has no love for Blue’s children. His name comes from Carlo Collodi, the author of “Pinocchio”.

The old woman in the lighthouse: Ursula CV: Wada Michiru

An old woman who lives in the lighthouse in Seafront. She’s loud and stubborn, and behaves less than pleasantly most of the times, so the residents have learnt to avoid her. She made Nier (replicant Nier) run many errands for her and overworked him. However, even she would show expressions like that of an innocent young girl when talking of her husband who could not come back because he was injured in foreign countries. Actually, her husband is already dead, but she did not realize it. Due to her worry and anxiousness at her progressing Black Scrawl disease, she hoped to cross the sea and go to her husband, but she died without ever having that wish granted.

The postman: Hans CV: Yasumoto Hiroki

A postman who takes his job seriously. He was worried about Ursula, who lived in the lighthouse alone without trying to gain understanding from anyone. He knew that his husband had already left this world, but could not bring himself to tell her that, and continued to deliver letters to her that he wrote under the pretense of her husband, never knowing whether he was doing the right thing or not. This fake and hypocritical action was a tradition passed on from his father’s generation, and Hans simply could not give up on it out of his own will. He possesses conflicting feelings of relief and regret at the old woman having passed away without knowing the truth. His name comes from the author of “The Little Mermaid”, Hans Christian Andersen.

System Capture

The moonflower color change induced by one neighbor Planted Color Neighboring color and

changes

Red Gold Indigo White

Red: 80%/ Orange:20%

Red:95%/Indigo:20% Red:70%/White:30%

Gold Red Blue White

Gold:80%/ Orange:20%

Gold80%/Indigo:20% Gold:70%/White:30%

Blue Gold Peach White

Blue:80%/Indigo:20% Blue:80%/Indigo:20% Blue:70%/White:30%

Orange Peach Indigo White

Orange:99%/ White:1% Orange:90%/ Peach:10% Orange:70%/ White:30%

Peach Blue Orange White

Peach:80%/ Indigo:20%

Peach:99%/White:1% Peach:70%/ White:30%

Indigo Red Orange White

Indigo:95%/Peach:5% Indigo:90%/ Peach:10%

Indigo:70%/ White:30%

The moonflower color changes induced by two neighbors of same color Planted Color Neighboring colors and

changes

Red:70%/Orange:30% Red:90%/Peach:10%

Gold Red Blue

Gold:70%/Orange:30% Gold:70%/Indigo:30%

Blue Gold Peach

Blue:70%/Indigo:30% Blue:70%/Indigo:30%

Orange Peach

-Orange:90%/White:10%

-Peach Blue Orange

Peach:70%/Indigo:30% Peach:90%/White:10%

Indigo Red Peach

Indigo:90%/Peach:10% Indigo:80%/Peach:20%

Playback Nier

Quest

The Abyss of [Project Nier] Vol. 3

Hensel & Gretel

They’re the pair of Shades that guard “Grimoire Weiss” in the Lost Shrine. They hold great trust in each other, have very high self-esteem and take pride in their time spent guarding “Grimoire Weiss”. After Hensel was destroyed by Nier (replicant Nier), Gretel sunk into a period of madness, for a long time appearing to have lost its heart. However, it was touched by the gentleness of the small Shades, whom it once looked down due to its arrogance, and began to feel shame at how prideful they used to be. In the end, it acknowledged the small Shades as its comrades, and wished to become stronger to protect them. However, it was defeated along with the small Shades it was supposed to protect by Nier, who was looking for clues to the Shadowlord’s castle. Their names come from the Grimm fairytale “Hensel and Gretel”.

Hook

The Shade you fight at the Aerie. It killed Kaine’s grandmother mercilessly, and is the object of Kaine’s revenge, which she dearly wishes death upon. It’s an entity created from the aggregation of numerous gestalts. Due to its inflated ego, it takes joy in cruel acts like massacring replicants and tarnishing the memories of others. It has long lost its consciousness as one entity and went berserk. Its name comes from Captain Hook, a character from the fairytale “Peter Pan”.

The gigantic Shade you fight in your first visit to Aerie in years after Kaine’s revival. Like Hook, it’s also an aggregation of ‘gestalts’, but it has also absorbed the consciousness of the replicants, who were supposed to be no more than pseudo-personalities. Because of that, it no longer has reason or identity, and its words were a jumbled mess. It has transformed into a lump of hatred, spitting out curse-like words as it moves along. Its name comes from the heroine in “Peter Pan.”

Defense System/Geppetto CV: Kadowaki Mai

The huge defense system you battle in the depths of Junk Heap. It was once a system used in experiments testing the endurance of weapons and robots that were made in Junk Heap’s military factory. It has gone out of order after long years, and whenever it detects an intruder, it’ll activate its systems and begin the endurance experiment, regardless of whether the intruder is a gestalt or replicant…its name comes from Pinocchio’s father, the watchmaker Geppetto in the fairytale “the Adventures of Pinocchio”.

Cleo

A child Shade chased into the Junk Heaps by a group of replicants on a Shade hunt. It’s still young, and has a straightforward and cute demeanor. Its mother loved him deeply, and became a decoy to let its escape, being killed by replicants in the process. After that, Cleo met P-33 in the depths of Junk Heap, and stayed with it. Its name comes from a goldfish named Cleo in “the Adventures of Pinocchio”.

P-33

CV: Yasumoto Hiroki

A security robot at Junk Heap that works faithfully according to its mission. After Geppetto’s destruction, it met Cleo in a coincidence after losing sight of its mission. It was taught many things and admired by Cleo, and sometime in between, “protecting Cleo” became its priority. Of course, it’s not used to dealing with kids, but despite its lack of skill, it tries its best to avoid hurting Cleo; the importance it places in Cleo could almost be called blind devotion. The P that goes before its type number 33 was taken from “the Adventures of Pinocchio” – the first letter of the main character, Pinocchio’s, name.

Sleeping Beauty

A strange tree that shows dreams of death to the inhabitants of a foggy and mysterious forest. Its true identity is a huge network computer that runs on demonic element, and it drops hints suggestively telling of truth. It’s working to keep the web of memories that has been torn apart following the destruction of the world. Its name comes from the fairytale “Sleeping Beauty”.

Shahriyar

An entity that resides the deepest part of the Barren Temple in the desert. It’s in charge of testing whether a royal has the qualities of a king, and oversees the ritual of bestowing the king’s mask upon the fit. If a king dies, his mask is returned to it. Its method of attacking hints at the presence of an ego, perhaps a gestalt has possessed the statue? Its name comes from the king of Persia, Shahriyar, that appears in “the Arabian Nights”. It’s

interesting how the name of a foolish king that takes on and executes numerous wives is used as the name of “one who chooses a king” in the game.

Leader of the wolves: Roc

The leader of the pack of wolves that take up residence in the desert. As one that gathers the wolves, it is a mixture of nobility and severity. 1300 years ago, the leader of wolves used to be a dog. It was raised by an old man, and underwent the gestalt process, gaining eternal life in the place of his owner. Due to its fond memories of the old man’s care, it wishes to live in peace without coming into conflict with the humanoid replicants. However, it understands that those replicants have deprived them of their habitat and killed many of their comrades. In the end, it realizes that they cannot coexist and leads its pack on a battle to end all battles with the replicants. Its name comes from the huge bird Roc that Sinbad meets in the “Arabian Nights”.

Grimoire Rubrum

One of the sealed books, it sleeps within the depths of Emil’s mansion. A gestalt was sealed inside, granting it powerful magic. However, unlike Grimoire Weiss and Grimoire Noir, it was not programmed to be able to understand and converse in human language, and was limited to support those two books. Its name comes from the word for red in Latin, Rubrum. The Knave of Hearts

An aggregation of many gestalts. It has lost anything that could be called a personality or ego, and has strong destructive urges. However, it remembers its given duty of “taking replicant Yonah to the Shadowlord (gestalt Nier)”. For that reason, it kept moving on towards the library in which Yonah is hiding, after reviving numerous times thanks to its overwhelming vitality. Its name comes from the card soldier that serves the Queen of Hearts in the fairytale “Alice in Wonderland”, the Knave of Hearts.

Goose

An aggregation borne from the fusion of gestalt babies and their parent. Because it’s not a fusion between relapsed gestalts, its reasoning capabilities and will are still intact. It burns with rage at Nier (replicant) and his companions that have mercilessly slaughtered its many friends. It revives after being killed uncountable times because of the huge number of gestalts being used in its fusion, and is definitely not immortal. Its name comes from “Mother Goose”.

Concept Works

[41] Facial sketch of his younger days. The idea of a hair band was present in the beginning.

[42] Short hair, and very little skin exposure. [43] The princely figure of a young nobleman.

[44] What nobleman Nier looks like after growing up. [45] A sketch with an in game screenshot in mind.

[46] Default sketch of Yonah. A pretty girl that gives off the image of light. [47] Yonah with a stuffed toy.

[49] An eyecatch to reflect development progress ver.2. [50] So cute it’s a sin.

[51] Compared with the finished product, her dress is made of better fabric.

[52] The idea of a sleeping beauty is present from the beginning. It might be possible for her to grow to Kaine proportions?

[53] Kaine’s image color used to be red or black. I never thought that she’d end up being called a ‘hussy’.

[54] Kaine with a dagger. Her hair design was kept pretty much the same. [55] A huge contrast with [54]. She hid her violent tendencies.

[56] Child Kaine. This was before she got possessed by Tyran.

[57] Default setting of no.7, who was called “Halua” at this stage. The information I got was “a nice character who supports Nier”.

[58] Sketch of no.7’s head, which looks more like a hard-boiled egg than a skull. [59] Apparently, Halua was supposed to join your party(and become no.7). [60] Emil was probably a character that was derived from this Halua.

[61] Close-fitting shirt and scarf…? Default sketch of Nier(Nier Gestalt) in very fashionable clothes.

[62] Sketch of Nier(Nier Gestalt)’s face. Long hair falling behind; a dark expression. [63] Portrait of an older Nier.

[64] Portrait of young Nier. That’s when his hairstyle and clothing became very close to the finished product.

[65] A sketch of the Shadowlord completed at pretty much the same time as [60]’s Halua. [66~70] Project plans made at the initial stages of “Nier Project”. The keywords from back then, “Love” “A world on its path to destruction” “Word system” were passed onto “Nier Gestalt” and “Nier Replicant”.

[71] Amongst the 13 volumes of grimoires, “Grimoire Weiss” already existed.*

[72] World map where you can see “the Aerie”, “the Forest of Myth” etc. The basic settings were kept consistent.

[73] “Nier” who began his battle after attaining the power of “Grimoire Endia”. Saving his sister from an incurable disease was a concept present back then.

[74] Half of her body was possessed by a Shade, so “Kaine” sealed herself in order to protect Nier. She was supposed to have “Grimoire Schwert”.

[75] Young “Nier”.

[76] The sorceress “Halua” who controls “Grimoire Magie”, she looks like a mix between human and pig. She was a young girl, took her present form in exchange for magic. [77] “Humpty Dumpty”. The eighth book “Grimoire Axe”.

[78] “Henzel”. The third book “Grimoire Phantasm”. It’s good at doing combination attacks with another giant “Gretel”, and this setting stayed in the finished product.

[79] “Dorothy”. Closes in upon children with a smile and devours their souls. The twelfth book “Grimoire Virga”.

[80] The users of “Grimoire Endia” suffer the utmost torment physically, and pitch black darkness descends upon their minds. However, if they wish for power for their most

beloved, they shall attain the power to change the world. Even if the same power guides the world to its destruction.

*The 13 books are sword, spear, phantasm, magic, bow, skill, axe, might, flight, wand, form, healing and white.

1 Brief overview of "Project Gestalt" seen from summary picture

2 Initiation, process and changes of "Project Gestalt"

translated by DaBubba

*Chronology of "Project Gestalt" related events

● June 12, 2003

○ A mysterious giant and red dragon appear

○ At approximately 3:00 PM on June 12, 2003, an immense white statue (the "Giant") appears in Shinjuku [in Tokyo].

○ At the same time, a red dragon-like entity (the "Dragon") appears and does battle with the Giant. The principles behind, and effects of, these attacks are unknown.

○ The Japan Self-Defense Forces study how to attack this Giant and Dragon. An emergency Cabinet-level committee is formed.

○ At 4:00 PM, the Giant falls. What the Giant is made of unable to be determined, and at this time damage on the ground is comparatively light. (suggested correction from Yuugure: "Mass wasn't observed from the giant")

○ After the fall of the Dragon, the Scarface, of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's 6th Air Wing, 303rd Squadron, attacks the dragon. Its body is secretly taken to a government research facility.

○ This incident becomes known as the "6-12 Incident". It results in 56 dead, 320 injured, and total economic losses of over 60 billion yen.

○ A gag order is issued regarding the events of 6-12, but by this time information is already leaking onto chanels such as the internet. Fears of terrorism and foreign plots swirl. Chaos.

● September

○ Summit held

○ Three months after the incident, an international summit (Japan, the USA, China, and Russia participating) is held regarding 6-12.

○ The USA suspects terrorism and prepares for a hardened stance against a hypothetical enemy. The Japanese government considers a large increase in the military budget.

● December

○ A mysterious infection

○ In Shinjuku, Tokyo, a disease appears in which victims' bodies gradually chlorinate. Its origins are unknown, and its fatality rate is 100%.

○ Research begins on this disease. At this time, the disease is believed to be very rare, only occurring under certain conditions. The outlook is optimistic.

● February, 2004

○ An explosive increase in the number of infected and dead

○ Many more people become infected, mainly in Shinjuku.

● April

○ Among the infected, some begin to go berserk. These infected gather in Shinjuku, causing a "hollowing-out" or deindustrialization of this region.

○ Various countries pressure Japan to make progress on the disease.

● May - Berserk people continue to appear in Shinjuku

○ More and more infected appear in Shinjuku. Research reveals that the disease creates people who go berserk, and people who die.

● June

○ The disease is named "White Chlorination Syndrome"

○ A medical group which has been researching the disease since December 2003 makes a presentation. They do not know what causes "berserking" and "death", but know that they stem from the same disease.

○ [Tokyo] Prefectural Hall [which had been in western Shinjuku] is moved.

Porposals are floated to move [the national government in] Nagata-cho and the Emperor's Residence, but the Imperial Household Agency refuses.

○ Nagata-cho refuses to move, citing concerns about the ability to fill a quorum in the Diet

● July

○ Shinjuku's Danger Level is raised to 4

○ The danger level in Shinjuku reaches its highest level yet; transportation stoppages and roadblocks are seen

● September

○ Plan to seal Shinjuku announced

○ The Japanese government receives further reports of infection trajectories, and annouces a plan to physically seal off Shinjuku.

○ Opposition movements and protests on moral grounds begin. A newspaper survey indicates that the majority of respondents are opposed (but on the internet, most respondents are in favor).

○ In Shinjuku, a certain important person is attacked and killed by a person who has been infected by White Chlorination and has gone berserk. The mass media jumps on the story, and public opinion begins to trend toward sealing Shinjuku.

● October

○ Shinjuku Sealing Plan implemented; Wall of Jericho erected

○ An immense wall, later called the Wall of Jericho, is erected to physically seal Shinjuku away.

○ Announcement that forcible suppression of people made berserk by White Chlorination will continue. Opposing demonstrations occur in various countries, along with world-wide criticism of the Japanese government.

● December

○ Final pictures of inside the wall are leaked

○ Transmissions sent my members of the media who voluntarily remained behind the wall in Shinjuku are abruptly cut off. The final film is cut-off with a scream as a giant white being appears. This image is not released (but leaks through the internet).

● December 2005

○ Transmission of WCS, then silence

○ The JSDF and vigilante groups continue to rout the berserkers. The number of berserkers begins to decrease.

○ The Japanese government announces that transmission of WCS infection has temporarily quieted; research on it continues.

● May 2006

○ Research results are presented to the government: whether the person infected with WCS will die or go berserk is determined at the genetic level. (The opinion is that people with slight irregularities in some chromosomes have a high probability of going berserk.)

○ This result is not announced publicly; rather, research continues in secret. (It is later revealed that this is a mistaken interpretation due to falsified data.)

● 2006, month unknown

○ Attack on the research facility holding the dragon's body

○ An incident where the research facility is attacked for the body of the dragon is prevented by security, the police, and the JSDF.

○ Rumors swirl linking the incident to religious organizations or to North America. JSDF actions become extreme.

● October 2007

○ Irregularity in aerial photography of Shinjuku

○ A strange black dot appears in aerial photographs of Shinjuku. (It is reported, but not considered important.)

● February 2008

○ Fall of the Wall of Jericho; "Legion" and "Red Eye" confirmed; JSDF begins operation to defeat Legion

○ The Wall of Jericho in Shinjuku is destroyed from the inside. A sound like the one heard from the Giant on 6-12 is also confirmed here.

○ A large number of berserking white monsters (later called "the Legion") comes out from behind the Wall. They attack and kill humans in a disorderly fashion.

○ One monster with red eyes (called "Red Eye") is seen leading the Legion and keeping them in order.

○ The JSDF begin an operation to defeat Red Eye and the Legion.

○ The operation encounters difficulty as Red Eye successfully organizes the Legion

● May 2008

○ WCS reappears

○ Infection spreads out from Tokyo (Shinjuku) to the rest of the Kanto area

● August

○ The facility studying the dragon is secretly moved

○ The research facility studying the body of the Dragon is secretly moved outside Japan. The new location is not revealed (a popular theory says that it is in America).

● September

○ Government and imperial residence moved to Kyushu

○ A decision is made to move the government and Emperor's residence out of Tokyo. They move to relatively-unscathed Kyushu.

● October

○ All of Honshu in Japan becomes a battlefield

○ Many more people die from sickness or become Legion. Battles between the Legion and the JSDF erupt all across Honshu; the situation resembles a civil war

○ More people flee to Kyushu and Hokkaido. As people try to flee the country, policies are enacted refusing entrants from Japan.

○ Crimes skyrocket amidst the chaos. The Japanese government is hampered by increasing interference from overseas.

○ A military alliance with America is suggested, but its terms are unfavorable to Japan; other countries advise against it.

● January 2009

○ Feeling unsafe materially and militarily, the Japanese government agrees to join military forces with America

○ The US takes Legion corpses and captives back to America for military use

○ The US Army arrives in Japan. Joining forces with the JSDF, the scope of the battle increases. The human side is winning.

● March

○ Plan to destroy Shinjuku implemented

○ In response to the limitless number of Legion coming out of Shinjuku, a plan to destroy it is considered.

○ Shinjuku is carpet-bombed, but only a slight reduction is seen in the number of Legion.

○ In America, progress continues in the research of Legion, but an effective method of stopping them remains unclear.

● April

○ Decision made to atom-bomb Shinjuku

○ The American and Japanese governments discuss a potential atom bombing of Shinjuku. The decision is made to drop the bomb.

○ The atomic bomb is announced. In Japan, opinions vary on both sides, but the rest of the world leans toward dropping it.

● August

○ Atomic bomb dropped on central Shinjuku

○ The atomic bomb is dropped on Shinjuku on August 6. The date is a

coincidence, but the incident comes to be called "a second Hiroshima tragedy".

○ Shinjuku becomes the tipping point for more atomic attacks. All of Japan becomes a scorched earth.

○ Shinjuku, completely destroyed, comes to be called "Ground Zero".

● November

○ Total destruction of the Legion in Japan confirmed.

○ Scientific and other proof of the total extermination of all Legion in Japan.

● February 2010

○ People turned to Legion spotted in China

○ Legion appear in China; berserk people attack others. This is the first appearance of Legion outside Japan.

● March - WCS appears all over the world

○ Cases of WCS are confirmed all over the world. Various countries continue research.

● April - Survival of "Red Eye" confirmed

○ Deaths and "Legionization" appear worldwide; chaos accelerates on a global scale.

○ The survival of "Red Eye", believed to have been killed, is confirmed.

● June - Dragon research proves "multiple-world theory" (tagen sekai setsu)

○ Research on the body of the dead Dragon, which had been progressing in secret, proves the truth of the "multiple world theory", which states that another world exists in a separate universe from this one.

○ Research on the intrusion from the other world erveals the existence of particles that should not exist in this one.

○ These particles are shown to be from the body of the Giant as it was destroyed on 6-12. These particles are later called "maso".

○ The origin of WCS is announced by researchers to be "maso".

○ It is shown that physical attacks (such as heat and nuclear) cannot

destroy "maso"-generated WCS. Ironically, the shocks from nuclear attacks sent "maso" all over the world, expanding WCS to a global scale.

○ Transmission of the disease is shown to be through bodily fluids and waste. Coughing and spitting can transmit the contagious "maso", meaing that it is equivalent to an airborne disease.

○ Breakthroughs in various technological fields come about with the discovery of "maso".

○ Research on the "multiple-world theory" also continues, and it is shown that energy is stored all through the multiple worlds.

● October 2011 - Attack on the research facility

○ An attack on the facility where the dragon's body is benig delivered occurs. The assailants are unknown, and the facility is destroyed.

○ The dragon's body is gone, and rumors (still at the speculative level) have a religious organization or North America behind the incident.

○ Reporting on the incident becomes unclear, and then stops completely.

● March 2014 - The Gestalt Project begins

○ The Gestalt Project begins in an effort contain the spread of WCS. Research into "Gestaltisierung", in which souls are removed from human bodies, begins.

○ Gestalt experimentation on humans succeeds, as does another experiment that returns a "Gestaltized" person to his original body.

● May - Research into "magic" begins.

○ Using "maso" to absorb energy from other worlds, and "create something from nothing" succeeds. This process is later called "magic".

● 2015, month unknown - Gestaltisierung fails to spread

○ The "Gestaltisierung" process is reviled by humans and fails to gain popularity

○ Research continues, however, and reaches a point where a solution is being sought for the problem of a Gestaltized soul having lost its body.

● February 2016 - "Luciferase" complete

○ The medicine "Luciferase", which retards the progress of WCS, is completed.

● May - "Luciferase Squad" formed

○ Luciferase is administered to selected people, who organize and form a military squad.

○ This organization succeeds in battles with Legion, and similar movements spread worldwide.

○ The "1st Crusade" squad forms with the mission to annihilate the Legion. They battle bravely, but are defeated.

● December - "Hamelin Organization" formed

○ It is discovered that Luciferase is more effective with younger patients. Children with high physical ability are given preference in its administration, and urged into the squads.

○ The "5th Crusade" squad is formed, mainly of followers in their teenage years.

○ Children of high physical ability are scouted around the world, and the

international "Hamelin Organization" is formed to raise them as a war machine.

● 2018 - National Weapons Laboratory founded

○ People inside the Japanese government call for a stronger military in opposition to the international Hamelin Organization.

○ The National Weapons Laboratory is founded with the purpose of using research on "maso" to vreate weapons. Its primary objective is to experiment on human beings to create more powerful humans.

○ The existence of this laboratory is made secret, and given the code name "Murasaki" [Purple] within the government.

○ The Legion and the Crusaders continue to do battle, without one side able to remain on top. No better methods of fighting are able to be found, and Crusades are continuously sent into battle.

○ The Hamelin Organization begins to gain a greater voice in countries where there are more children.

○ The Japanese economy weakens as more survivors begin to gather in Kyushu.

● 2023 - Gap between rich and poor brings about worldwide crisis.

○ Heavy battles with the Legion causes the gap between rich and poor to widen. Slums expand all over the world as it enters a crisis.

● January 2025 - "Replicantization" research confirmed

○ Preparation of "vessels" for Gestaltized humans, with the Gestalt then inserted into the vessel, succeeds.

○ Vessels, created based on the information obtained from the Gestaltized humans' bodies, are called "Replicants".

○ Techniques of "Replicantization" are developed as part of Project Gestalt.

● June 2026 - Critical accident at the National Weapons Laboratory

○ Experiment No. 6, in the process of being created at the National Weapons Laboratory, runs amok. An emergency plan to seal off Experiment No. 7 is implemented.

○ Using "maso" in experimenting on humans is shown to be dangerous, and progress stalls. The scope of the research facility is scaled back significantly.

● 2030 - "Red Eye", leader of the Legion, is defeated.

○ The last "Red Eye", leader of the Legion, is killed in Jerusalem by the leader of the 13th Crusade.

○ With the defeat of the sentient Red Eye, Legion are unable to conduct unified movements.

○ The leader of the Crusaders, injured in the battle, dies.

● 2031 - WCS spreads

○ With the death of Red Eye, the physical threat from the Legion is avoided, but WCS continues to spread.

● February 2032 - "Replicantization" research is revealed to the public

○ The twin processes of Gestaltization and Replicantization are revealed to the public. Certain upper-class people are already being Gestaltized.

● March - Project Gestalt reaches final stages

○ More people come to accept Gestaltization

○ Human beings all over the world undergo Gestaltization, with their

[corresponding] Replicants also being created. The "Replicant System", which can continue this process indefinitely, is created.

○ Objective to defeat Legion and perpetuate the Replicant System successfully implanted in non-sentient Replicants.

○ Project Gestalt moves to final stages. Battling Legion is left to the Replicants, and the Gestalts are put to sleep until such time as the world can come out of the pandemic.

○ "Androids", which can operate indefinitely, are placed at various points around the world as overseers of the Replicant System.

○ Replicants are ordered by Androids to gather the sickness-causing "maso". The gathered "maso" is then sent to the other world in a ceremony conducted by the Celebrant Android.

○ Because of the high costs involved, at this point only some people from the rich segments of society can undergo Gestaltization.

○ Using multiple-world technology, it becomes possible to embed a Gestalt in a book-like vessel. Thirteen "sealing books", beginning with Grimoire Noir and Grimoire Weiss, are created.

○ Using the large amount of energy that comes about when Grimoire Noir and Grimoire Weiss are opened simultaneously, the "Grimoire Noir Project", which forcibly reinserts Gestalts into their corresponding Replicants, is devised.

○ A plan is devised to use this system to return Gestalts to their Replicants after Legion and WCS have been eradicated from the world.

● 2049 - Father Nier is Gestaltized [Nier: Gestalt]

● (2053 - Brother Nier is Gestaltized) [Nier: Replicant]

○ There is a high probability that Gestaltized souls will lose their

self-awareness go berserk after a certain amount of time has passed (these are called "relapsed" Gestalts). It is also discovered that after time has passed, they will die with certainty.

○ Analysis reveals that to stabilize a Gestalt's self-awareness, stable solid "maso" must be extracted from a Gestaltized person.

○ The World Purification Organization, in order to this stable solid, begins providing special clones of Grimoire Noir to poor people. This increases the number of Gestalts, and the search continues for a solid that does not relapse. (The Hamelin Organization is in charge of implementing this.)

○ Nier, who had been living in poverty, is tricked into thinking that his sister (daughter) Yonah's sickness can be cured, joins an experiment. However, seeing many relapses around him, he senses the danger in the experiment and escapes from the Hamelin Organization facility.

○ Nier and Yonah, seeking refuge in a Shinjuku supermarket, are attacked by relapses. Nier, seeing no way out of the situation, offers himself up for Gestaltization.

○ Nier successfully becomes a self-awareness-maintaining Gestalt

○ Yonah is accidentally Gestaltized, and begins to relapse immediately.

○ The Hamelin Organization contacts Nier, convincing him that in a thousand years, the sickness will be gone, and to place Yonah in cryogenic sleep. In exchange for putting Yonah into "cold sleep" for 1000 years, they demand "maso" (the kind that can keep Gestalts self-aware) from Nier.

○ Nier accepts the offer from the World Purification Organization, and begins providing "maso" as an "Original Gestalt".

● 2764 - Sentience begins to develop in Replicants

○ Replicants, who have been maintaining the system and extracting "maso", begin to develop sentience.

● ca. 3000 - Replicants form civilization

○ Most Replicants have acquired sentience. Their development is influenced by their environments and is unrelated to their original Gestalts.

○ Civilizations and cultures develop rapidly, different depending on location; they are at approximately a medieval level, gathering and living around ancient artifacts.

● 3276 - Revival of "Red Eye"

○ The Replicants' purification of the world continues. As the number of Legion decreases dramatically, one young Replicant enters the forbidden land of "Jerusalem".

○ The young Replicant's goal is to "bring back his dead (Replicant) lover". He makes this wish, and from the white mist that was the body of the Red Eye, his lover suddenly takes form.

○ The revived lover has red eyes and little self-awareness; she kills the young Replicant on the spot with overwhelming force. She then, as the new Red Eye, becomes the leader of the Legion.

● 3287 - Destruction of the Legion

○ With the revival of Red Eye, the terror of the Legion returns. The world, which the Replicants had been protecting, is again on the brink of disaster.

○ An Android and four Replicants challenge the Red Eye, attacking it. They destroy the Legion and send the "maso" back to the other world. The purification of the world is confirmed.

● 3288 - Gestaltized humans begin awakening

○ With the world purified, Gestalts begin to awaken. Replicants who have acquired self-awareness, however, see them as "monsters" who would take their bodies.

○ A battle begins between Replicants and Gestalts. In some areas where Androids are solidly in control, it is revealed [to Replicants] that they should accept Gestalts, and Gestalts safely return to their human bodies.

● ca. 3300 - Battle between Replicants and Gestalts intensifies

○ Gestalts aim to return to their Replicant bodies using the "Reviving Ceremony" in the Grimoire Noir Project.

○ Despite having accepted Nier's "maso", some Gestalts go berserk and relapse.

○ Around this time, Gestalt Nier, who has been providing "maso" continuously for over 1000 years, begins to realize that Yonah will not come back to life if this continues.

● 3361 - Replicant Nier (Father) obtains Grimoire Weiss

● (3465 - Replicant Nier (Brother) obtains Grimoire Weiss)

○ Gestalt Nier obtains the original Grimoire Noir in order to return Yonah to her Replicant body.

○ Devola and Popola, as Androids, set Gestalt Nier up as the savior of the Gestalts as part of the program initiated by the World Purification Organization. They assist his movements.

○ With the guidance of Devola and Popola, Replicant Nier obtains Grimoire Weiss. Devola and Popola have him acquire the Sealed Verses, and try to have him realize the goal of the Grimore Noir Project by having him fuse [Weiss] with Grimoire Noir.

○ Gestalt Nier already doubts the Grimore Noir Project. He abducts Replicant Yonah. He plans to return Gestalt Yonah to her Replicant, and himself to Replicant Nier.

○ Replicant Nier and Gestalt Nier face off in the "Shadowlord's Castle". Replicant Nier defeats Gestalt Nier, and because Gestalt Yonah has lost her own

consciousness, Replicant Yonah reacquires hers.

○ With the death of Gestalt Nier, the Original Gestalt, Project Gestalt is unable to proceed. Humanity begins its inevitable decline.

3 The failure of "Project Gestalt" and the future of the world

Translated by Defade

"Project Gestalt" proceeded smoothly for the most part despite many unstable factors. However, its fatal flaw of "Gestalts relapsing", combined with a product of coincidence "Replicants attaining self-awareness" ultimately decided its failure. Since the original

Gestalt, Gestalt Nier died, all "Gestalts" will eventually relapse and die out. As a result, since the "Replicants" possess no reproductive abilities and need to copy the Gestalt's data to regenerate their bodies, they will die out within this generation. It is not known whether

Replicant Nier, who slew Gestalt Nier, put the destruction of the world at his own hands and Yonah on a balance and intentionally chose the latter or not. However, as long as a new original Gestalt remains to be found, humanity will certainly become extinct in the near future.

Weapon Story

Nameless Blade

Lv. 1

GAK GAK GAK GAK

A man is sweating as he chips away at the iron ore. Men's joyful singing fills the dark cave.

We are workers. We are miners.

Workers covered in dirt. Today we will mine for metal in high spirit too. GAK GAK GAK GAK

Lv. 2

VROOM VROOM VROOM VROOM

The sound of women working the furnace can be heard in refinery. The sound of red hot iron sand taken from the furance.

We are worker. We are iron makers.

Workers who utilizes the wind. Today we will make iron in high spirit too. VROOM VROOM VROOM VROOM

Lv. 3

GAN GAN GAN GAN

The sound of hammering for the creation of a strong and powerful sword. I am a swordsmith. A natural born swordsmith.

A swordsmith who controls steel. GAN GAN GAN GAN

Lv. 4

SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH

The sound of flesh being slashed apart on the battlefield.

The sound of killing, killing whoever. The sound of killing people. Can anyone help me. It hurts. It hurts.

Help me mother.

SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH

Iron Pipe

Lv. 1 May 21st

All the money is gone because of the food inflation caused the war. A lot of injured people helped me out at the church.

Yonah is slimming down. I want to get her something good to eat.

Lv. 2 July 15th

Some nice ladies were able to get some food.

They are homeless people like us, we can join any countries' salvation groups. They decided to let me go with them as well. Yonah is looking very lively today.

Lv. 3 August 1st

The nice ladies were turned into black monsters from that book. I ran in fear.