A Chime at the Precipice

A Chime at the Precipice (Plotsys ID: 7)
Summary
Since Mizuki has come to the Multiverse, something hasn't been quite right in her world of dreams. At first, she thought the issues were simply a byproduct of merging, but it is clear by now that the truth is far more dour. The world itself is her soul, and as it is now, it is... plagued. Fractured. The first step to fixing what has been broken is to recover the numbers missing from her clock's face, but the disease itself can be expected to fight back at every turn. In this world where night is eternal, the sun has begun to rise... and with the new light shall come shadow.
Base Info
TP Scale:	Major
TP Runner(s):	183
Attached Theme:	Transience-1
Other Contacts:	None
Target Audience:	Anyone who cares to participate.
Genre & Tone:	Mixed, but will primarily undulate between lighthearted/mildly dark scenes. Will contain surreal elements.

Events So Far

3 July 2014: An 'ancient evil' from Mizuki's world appears to abruptly end a small get-together in The Quiet World. Mizuki explains in no certain terms that this means bad things will happen, and that other stuff will need to happen to fix it. A very nebulous scene that gave very little in the way of information and was meant to serve in equal measures as (1) a teaser and (2) an experiment.

23 August 2014: A group of elites ventures in to the Primary Archive, a massive storehouse of knowledge where the Arch Curate was believed to be staying. Alas, she was nowhere to be found, but the endeavor did lead to the finding of a note that pointed them in the right direction.

5 September 2014: The Curate located and their destination locked, a group of elites again departs for the Historical District to find the Number One. They succeed after the Curate takes her own life. Laurel Elsen and Luther Cartwright were both near-mortally wounded here, but both miraculously recovered and survived.

More to come.

Other Information

Persona 4-esque 'shadow selves' that reflect hidden personality traits of characters are offered to any participating in the RP who seek extended character development opportunities. This can be involved with primary scenes to an extent, and requestable sidequests to a greater extent. THIS IS EXPERIMENTAL - I don't want to promise too much with this until I have had some opportunities to try it with people in scenes.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A 'NEGATIVE SELF' FOR YOUR CHARACTER, @mail me with the following information:

1. Powers of your character that you wish for the 'negative self' to reflect.

2. Personality traits of your character that you wish for the 'negative self' to reflect.

3. What you are looking to get out of having a 'negative self'. What sort of growth opportunities are you looking for? etc. Can be as broad as you like.

This is primarily being offered to those who plan to actively participate throughout the course of the TinyPlot, and is meant to tie in with the main story.

Please @mail me with any more general ideas for sidequests within the TP or any questions regarding the above.

A Caveat on Target Audience

What I want to say is: this TP is completely accessible to everyone and you should absolutely toss your character my way. And in most cases? That's what I will say. But because nothing is ever perfect, here is a general list of what is ideal/iffy:

Ideal

Introspective personalities, ESPECIALLY those that pick apart the theme to crazy degrees,

helpful personalities that will reach out to NPCs,

curious types interested in exploring (with or without being large players in the overall plot),

manipulative personalities that want to make things go from bad to worse just because,

anithero personalities that can aid the antagonist,

et cetera.

Iffy

Characters that don't function well in dreamlike/surreal environments,

characters that do not blend well with more serious settings,

characters that have little interest in other people/settings,

et cetera.

OOC Note

Due to the personal nature of the TP, some of what is contained in scenes may at times come off as melodramatic or prosey. This is a side-effect both of nervousness and the way I write in general. I will try to mitigate this for the sake of player enjoyment, but if you do not think you would be able to handle melodrama or 'monologues' in any quantities, attendance is somewhat cautioned for your sake as well as mine. This is my first TP and I -will- make mistakes, so if you don't have a lot of patience for that, then there you go.

As always, if you have any specific questions, please @mail me.

A Caveat on Combat Shenanigans

There are some experimental gameplay mechanics I'm going to try to incorporate into combat within the TP. For more information about this, see +info Mizuki/The_World within MCM and then @mail/page me with questions. This, like the 'negative selves' bit, is OPTIONAL.

Also: most of these battles will not be massive in scale. Incorporating giant robots, massive lazer beams, and like elements is probably workable, but not exactly ideal.

Hooks

Union

Fight the main antagonist with Mizuki.

Recover clock numbers to restore functionality to The Clock Tower. (Ties in with above.)

Uncover the history of the world.

Various odd jobs requested by NPCs.

Confederate

Fight/collaborate with the main antagonist.

Hinder/assist in attempts to recover numbers.

Uncover the history of the world.

Various odd jobs requested by NPCs.

NPCs of Note

Sentinels

The leaders of specific areas in Mizuki's world that occasionally play the role of 'zone bosses' as well. They are significantly more powerful than other enemies.

FARIS NIGHTINGALE:

"I will NOT just give you what you want! Even if my death is a certainty, I will do everything in my power to stop you!"

Otherwise known as 'The Arch-Curate' or 'The Sentinel of the Historical District', Faris Nightingale was severe, uncompromising, and stubborn to a fault, but also pretty good at her job. Ultimately, though, her need for purpose and acceptance drove her to the brink, and she gave herself to Apathy. Afterwards, she died in the defense of the Number One, eliciting the collapse of the Historical District.

THE DEMON QUEEN (NADIA):

"You must trust that they will understand why you are doing what you are doing, even if you cannot tell them everything yet."

Far less demonic than her name would suggest, Nadia was a loving, gentle soul who served as a sort of mother/mentor figure for Apathy. She is also a more literal mother to Melody, another girl who presumably lived in the area. She ultimately agreed to sacrifice herself for reasons unknown, and tried with her final moments to impart a lasting message on Apathy: that she should try to believe that things can change with the arrival of Mizuki's friends, the newest 'aberrations' to their world.

Seekers

People, usually children between the ages of 10-17, that chose to live in Mizuki's world rather than their own. They offer departed souls a chance to live in Mizuki's World before passing completely and provide the world with energy. A sort of neutral party that leans gently in favor of Mizuki.

CALLIA:

"Now Palora, please be polite -- these are our mistress's guests!"

A gentle, demure, and helpful young lady who is as eager to please as she is to find new and innovative ways to keep her sister in check. She sporadically gives the party aid, and is unwaveringly loyal to Mizuki. Oh, and she represents 'one half of Mizuki's personality', at least in theory.

PALORA:

"Uuuuugghhh. Why can't everybody in this freakin' nightmare paradise ~SHUT THE HELL UP~ and let me watch TV already?! Geezus!"

Palora's sister, and a general troublemaker. As brash as she is mischievous, she is a shameless neer-do-well who, by luck of the draw, does not seem too keen on giving Mizuki trouble. But she is her 'mother', after all, and the world she lives in would kinda fall apart if she did anything to her, so. It's really not hard to see why.

LAUREL ELSEN:

"I just don't understand why it's so hard for everyone to get along. This is supposed to be 'heaven', right?"

A taciturn and unemotional (at first) girl who was interested in the affairs of The Historical District. Though she once fought on the behalf of the Arch Curate, she has since joined up with Mizuki's group out of necessity. Thankfully, it doesn't seem that her convictions were overtly strong anyway, and the possibility of her being an issue in the foreseeable future is unlikely.

Other

If they don't fit in any other categories, they go here.

LUTHER CARTWRIGHT:

"If it were within my power, I would have you all thrown out of this world as unceremoniously as possible, and subsequently expunged from existence general. Preferably silently; my work has already been disturbed enough by you louts as it is."

A curator that used to work below Faris Nightingale and had particular sway over the inhabitants of the District of Logic and Reason. He was disloyal on account of his arrogance, and helped the group oust Faris Nightingale from power expecting that he would become the new Arch Curate. Unfortunately for him, things did -not- go as planned, and he's pretty ornery about everything. But inside, he's really just a big softie!

... haha, no, this guy is an irredeemable jerk.

MELODY:

"Flowers are sweet, candy is sweeter, and mommy is the sweetest~!"

A seemingly normal girl with some fairly peculiar ties. She has an outgoing, innocent, bubbly, and alltogether warm personality that has made her a fast friend of many of the visitors to Mizuki's world, particularly Ayako. Exactly who she is and what, if anything, she is capable of is still extremely nebulous, but she seems sweet enough at least.

BORIS:

"Heard this song playin' the other day. It went like, 'Always look on the bright side a' life!' and all. I figured I'd look on the bright side a' death since I'm a skeleton and all, but still! Things is really lookin' up for me now!"

Initially little more than a combat NPC, Boris is a slightly more gentle, portly, and ditzy skeleton in a 'dapper' suit. Ever since being introduced by Faruja to the concept of God and Faram in particular, he has recently begun to associate himself with the scriptures of the Church of Ajora Glabados. Having renounced his old life of crime, he now has a real chance to find a new angle on life. Just, that angle will probably end up being a street corner where he's handing out religious leaflets for the aforementioned nezumi preacher.

SHEEP:

"Later, squares."

A nonchalant young woman of dubious intent who dresses in monochrome and never opens her eyes. Closely linked to Apathy, somehow.

Logs

Title	Date	Scene Summary
Unwound	July 3rd, 2014	Mizuki and a myriad of multiversals attempt a tea party, but are beset by icky shadow fiends! A ghost of Mizuki's past appears, threatening all! It would appear that this is the start of another tale of ludicrous battles and dramatic speeches! Watch as reality becomes Unw~~oun~~d!
The Graveyard of Memories	August 23rd, 2014	A hunt through the library to find the elusive Arch Curate.
Morality in Absentia	September 5th, 2014	A bunch of Elites gang up on a poor, helpless librarian. Now, the part you didn't see: the helpless librarian was defended by a bunch of possessed books with swords. And an elite level knight.
The Inverse Express	September 13th, 2014	Onboard a train headed for the Township of the Black Lace, people chat and social.
Capriccio	October 1st, 2014	A trek across the city to meet the 'Demon Queen'. Things go so much better, and so much worse, than anyone could possibly have hoped.
CatP - The Skyward Mirror	October 9th, 2014	Adventures at the bottom of the ocean, and a not so chance meeting with a Sheep. When we come back: a confrontation with an artist. Er, well, -THE- Artist. You get the idea.
CatP - Azure Reverie	October 18th, 2014	The group moves to recover the number eleven. Things get pretty complicated.
CatP - Reverberance	November 22nd, 2014	You may through forbidding province tread, but by dreamer's hands be softly lead.
CatP - Polarization	December 23rd, 2014	A mission to steal a number from a city in the sky. Mortal Frisbee ensues.
The Candy Sea	January 3rd, 2015	Some conversations are held regarding how to prepare for the inevitable... ... featuring some cute on the side with Kimiko and Melody.
Guardian Angels	January 6th, 2015	Psyber speaks with the villain of the piece.
CatP - Heaven	January 18th, 2015	To die, to sleep, To sleep, perchance to Dream; Aye, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause.
Rivalations Atop the Tower	January 30th, 2015
Wrathborn's LOSAF Adventure	February 2nd, 2015	Dear Warden, I write to you from outside this Book of Heaven to beg for your mercy. We have never met, but fate has caused us to meet with one another in this way because of our natures and the natures of those within. I speak of my friends, but primarily of Arthur Lowell, for my friends have come to you in order to seek him out. I admit, I do not know you. I do not know of your nature. Do you seek to give people their heaven out of love or hate? A wish for hope, or perhaps a perverse twist, I cannot tell, for I cannot view your pages. I wish to believe the better of you, that you wish to truly provide happiness. But as people touch the lives of others, we create connections that cannot be easily forsaken. You are undoubtedly experiencing that now, and have experienced this before. The multiverse needs Arthur. Not just Afterus, but many other lands, including the world you reside in, depend on his knowledge, courage, and bravado in order to preserve themselves and find some semblance of peace. This is why he had come to your world in the first place. I do not know if you are cognizant of this, or if you care, but for someone to create a heaven, they have to be capable of some level of empathy, can they not? We have come to find a release for Arthur. This is a fact that cannot be denied. The terms and nature of this release are up to you. I am fully capable of doing such if needed, however, if you push me and my friends to the limits. But there is no need for a confrontation, nor doe we have to come to dire ends. Anything is possible in this multiverse. If you care to name your price, perhaps we can find a way to come to agreeable terms. There has to be something we can do to solve your own problems, should they exist. You may wonder why I seek to establish contact. Why I am working so hard when others are already working. I admit to a more... personal interest. I find Arthur to be a fascinating person. He is fun and exciting, and we share many interests. He shows surprising intelligence and maturity under the bravado, he is intelligent and handsome in his own coolkid way. I know there's a lot more under the shell he projects. But I can tell hs is also in a lot of pain. He needs assistance, something that I do not believe he can receive in this world of heaven that you create. We cannot live in a Heaven forever. We will never grow, and become the kind of person we need to be in order to contribute to the world around us and make it a better place. I want to help him. I want to find a way to heal those scars and give him a way to face the infinite worlds, if not without regret, at least without pain. I pray that you consider my words and that you will find it in your heart to relent. I am prepared to give a great deal to win his release from your land. This... Heaven. I await your answer. - Riva
CatP - The Future	February 8th, 2015	Yes there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on.
CatP - The Past	February 27th, 2015	A group of people take a trip into Mizuki's past. THIS SCENE IS SO LONG AHHHH
CatP - Discolor	March 28th, 2015	The 'easiest' number is recovered from the Candy Sea.
Eve	March 31st, 2015	Arthur and Apathy speak on the eve of the story's end.
CatP - Finale I	April 2nd, 2015	The denizens of the catacombs make their last stand.
CatP - Finale II	April 3rd, 2015	Hickory dickory dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, The mouse ran down, Hickory dickory dock.
CatP - The Garden	April 4th, 2015	Consequences are rendered visible. The story draws to a close.

Cutscenes

Title	Date	Scene Summary
Decisions (Mizuki)	February 8th, 2015	Mizuki debates the choices given to her by Psyber.