Vertin, The Timekeeper
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Authority and Duties of the Timekeeper
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Timekeeper is a position under the jurisdiction of the St. Pavlov Foundation. Vertin became the Timekeeper after the third "Storm" occurred—the one who records the birth and disappearance of Eras. The Timekeeper is the sole authoritative recorder and reporter of the Foundation's time. Foundation personnel must rely on the Timekeeper's observations to confirm the moment of the "Storm"'s Reversion. Owing to her ability to move freely within the "Storm", the Timekeeper shoulders the duty of issuing evacuation notices 24 hours before the "Storm".
According to the Field Mission Evacuation Instructions, anyone facing difficulties within 24 hours before the "Storm" may seek help from the Timekeeper.
After the seventh "Storm", the Timekeeper's duties expanded to leading investigations related to the "Storm" and Manus Vindictae.
After the passing of the Storm Reformation: Manpower and Discipline motion, the Timekeeper gained the following authority and duties:
"Outside personnel recruited by the Timekeeper are placed under the Timekeeper's roster. The Timekeeper provides unified discipline and control, and is responsible for their subsequent conduct."
"All Arcanists placed under the Timekeeper's roster must undergo a unified risk assessment by the Foundation, and be ranked according to the results. Ordinary Arcanists need only take part in basic Artificial Somnambulism training. More anomalous Arcanists must be sent to the School of Discipline for instruction."
"Personnel under the Timekeeper's roster, provided they abide by the Foundation's Staff Code, answer to the Timekeeper's orders, and need not take direct orders from the Foundation."
Team Timekeeper has an independent budget and roster, and may second personnel from the St. Pavlov Foundation, the Laplace Scientific Computing Center, and the Zeno Arms Academy. Disciplinary authority over unregistered Arcanists belongs to the Foundation.
Madam Z is the liaison between Team Timekeeper and the Foundation.
The Timekeeper may independently set investigation targets and plans regarding the "Storm" and Manus Vindictae, and reports to the Foundation on a regular basis.
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The Suitcase
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◆ An arcane item Vertin carries with her at all times, capable of shielding living things such as Arcanists and Arcane Creatures, as well as non-living things such as photographs, arcane materials, and technological artifacts, from the effects of the "Storm"'s Reversion—but it cannot spare Humans from the Reversion.
◆ Inside the case lies a space far more spacious than its exterior suggests. Ordinarily, we chant the following incantation to open the case: Vertin: "Ne iru milde en tiun bonan nokton."
◆ Within a mysterious lake inside the case sits an even more mysterious half-spinning-wheel. Wound around the spinning wheel at the center of the lake is an imperceptible thread-like substance; this peculiar object appears to possess a transportive function and, under certain as-yet-unclear conditions, can summon living beings from a given Era to this place.
◆ Mist pervades the area around the lake; anyone (other than Vertin) who inhales too much of it may even fall unconscious. The composition of the mist is unknown; similar mist has been found both at the Apeiron Sacred Ground and at the Olitiau Breeding Base.
◆ According to the Timekeeper's report, she once sensed, from a stone amid the ruins of the Apeiron Temple, an aura similar to that of the spinning wheel. (This report currently lacks further corroborating evidence.)
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"I promise, I will never sneak a peek at the scenery outside again!
The sleeping forest, silent and dark as pitch, the pale water and reefs, and the hawks and white doves that occasionally fight over food between the cliffs and marble—none of it holds any appeal! Besides, there's no iron fence or pepper spray to protect us out beyond the wall. Who knows what might be out there, something ten thousand times more terrifying than the Snoring Monster in the fifth storage room's ventilation duct...!
But before that, I ought to become a brave investigator.
Like those free, varied ladies and gentlemen who dash about among the gray-white houses between the thick fog and the forest, spine held straight and unyielding, like a pristine white wall. Though I can barely recall their faces anymore—were they French, Swedish, English, Australian, Portuguese...? Never mind, that's what our future selves ought to look like anyway. Ah, how elegant, how enviable—"
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Trail Guide
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Dear Instructor, having read this far, I imagine you must be quite moved by a good child who has thoroughly repented—perhaps you're even eager to give me a hug—but please don't. This is the handiwork of classmate Charles; his punishment in the confinement room trained him well, and I only had to trade three European hazelnuts for this confession. But out of respect for intellectual property, I'd like to pass along to him all the rewards you originally planned for me...^_^
—Vertin
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Top Hat
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An elegant top hat that suits nearly every Era, possessing the same gentleness and resilience as its owner.
Nixie Tube Watch
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A nixie tube watch co-developed with assistance from the Laplace Scientific Computing Center. According to Laplace personnel involved in the project, they claim not to have played any significant role in its development.
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Collection
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Hidden beneath layered books and silent, heavy dust, a caramel gleam seeps faintly from the folds of time—this was once a fine jar of toffee. It came from the rough hands of a nameless vendor, chanced upon during one escapade sneaking past the gray-white walls. The warmth and fragrance sealed within the jar are often remembered, but it will never be opened again.
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Notes from the Drafts
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What, exactly, should the protagonist in a game be like? Should he/she/they possess a kind of conventional positivity and liveliness, so common as to be almost axiomatic? Be brimming with enthusiasm for everything they experience? Or be a universally beloved hero, admired and yearned for by countless others? These are, of course, all admirable qualities—reasonable, justified, and perfectly sound. Without a doubt, one could stride confidently in the direction proven time and again by innumerable stories. Onward! Full speed ahead, comrades!
The outcome, however, is plain to see—we had no intention of doing that.
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A spoonful of "taciturnity", a spoonful of "courage", a spoonful of "hands-on resolve", a teaspoon of "gentleness", and just a tiny pinch of "highly volatile passion" and, of course, one indispensable drop of "mischievous humor".
Through a long and difficult process of balancing and refinement, we finally arrived at such an ideal protagonist. Naturally, we cannot deny the cold sweat on our backs and the unease in our hearts before and after the curtain rose, nor the moments when we instinctively doubted this bold decision.
Fortunately, we held on and carried through. And now, at last, we can proudly say, this is the one and only protagonist of "Reverse: 1999". We sincerely hope you will enjoy this design, and that everything you encounter along this journey will bring you the ebb and flow of immersion and heartfelt emotion.
PS: As for more details about the creative process, since the journey is still ongoing, we truly cannot reveal them in full just yet. For any questions or speculation this may give rise to, we offer our deepest apologies. (Bow) (Sneaks away clutching a chicken leg—)