say, have I forced you all to tell me what you think of my graphic novel project? (part 1)
With summer bringing its influx of money, and the drama of yesteryear long forgotten, it FINALLY looks like I can resume work on my original manga concept. Some of you may remember my talking about this AGES ago, since I was originally planning to start releasing it last April, but lost my key artist to pregnancy and new mom syndrome.
Things are finally looking optimistic for me to start producing it again, and it had me so excited I just HAD to fish for compliments with it!
These are the production notes and outlines I posted on BA way back when I first though I was about to have it streamed online! If you've already seen it... umm... praise me some more. and if you haven't, then please let me know what you think.
The Character List I provided to all applying artists:
To all interested artists,
This will probably be hard to follow, as it's a character and setting guide that explains pieces of a plot that you know nothing about of yet. I apologize for that, and also for typing this document in wordpad, which may give rise to several small grammar errors. I'll be following this up with a summary of the first storyarc, should you want to see it.
For starters I'll explain what the terms I use when referring to segments of my story mean:
Storyarc: The story is divided into 11 storyarcs, which follow two major plot progressions. These two are-
Part 1: Purgatory- The characters of the script searching for and eventually finding "purgatory", the nickname given to a military facility that houses a devastating secret.
Part 2: Answers- The world, The universe, and mankind's relationship to both is revealed in a supernatural twist. A series of flashbacks tie the remaining plotlines, and the series concludes.
That's it for the glossary, now for the rest:
The original title I was working with was "Heaven's Rhapsody." I'm debating changing it because of its similarity to a shojo manga's title. The title comes from the nickname the citizens of the world gave to the catastrophic war which precludes the series. As this nickname suggests, popular opinion among the survivors was that it occurred by the will of God.
Settings:
period of time- Shortly after the conclusion of a devastating global conflict which left large patches of the earth uninhabitable and decimated the population. Small niche societies exist in tribe or camp like lifestyles, with the only organized nation remaining (at least from the perspective of the characters in this story) being the the "New British Kingdom", which in truth is only a partially reconstructed city built into the ruins of London and a handful of territories surrounding it.
Places of note:
New London- The focal point of much of the first half of the series, London is a city of elaborate order. It is divided by thick walls into four districts, with the renovated Buckingham Palace seperate from the city proper. Travel between districts is impossible for anyone who is not a member of the military, and the reason for the divisions is unknown to most. Even though the government style of the Royal Government is strict and unyeilding, the majority of the citizenry is too happy to finally have a stable life to rise against it.
Paris- A city which maintains its charm and beauty, even as it lies in ruins, Paris will be where the second major story event of the series takes place. There is no great reconstruction here, as in England, with the survivors flocking together in the catacombs beneath Notre Dame cathedral (which miraculously remained intact.) Most of the plot involving this city is with the characters, so more depth will be given when I explain them.
Tuscany- Also completely ruined, with make-shift houses built hastily for shelter. Billy's organization makes its home here, and it first appears when Atlove comes here seeking refuge from the English military.
Cologne- This is where the majority of the important cast gathers at the first half's conclusion, when it is revealed to be the place where the old military installation known by its nickname of "purgatory" is located. The facility had created a human-specific virus which broke down its victim's bodies on a cellular level to their most basic ingredients. Essentially, it caused its victims to melt into a puddle of water. The weapon was never used during the war because of a revolt by many of the personnel who worked with it. Thus the facility and its virus were lost in the chaos of war.
The womb of God- A mystic and supernatural place, this is the area where the conscious will of the universe awakens for the first time. All of the characters who are caught in the explosion of purgatory at the end of part one find themselves here when they awaken, and many questions are answered. (doesn't make sense from the perspective of the first storyarc.)
Characters- Here is all the information that is revealed of the main characters over the course of the first half of the story. Since a lot of the profiles make references to other characters and events that aren't explained until further down the page, it's probably a difficult to understand mess. >.<
THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS, AND THOSE CLOSE TO THEM:
Miles Atlove: The more traditional of my two main characters, and more or less the protagonist of the series. Atlove is a thin, good-natured, bestectacled man in his early twenties. He works as part of a special unit of the English police; the only group that is permitted to freely travel within all regions of London. He openly hates his job, but continues to do it because of the freedom it affords his wife. He's a capable marksman with respectable deductive skills, although he's somewhat out of shape and loaths long physical excursions. Children of all ages seem to instantly dislike him, a fact which has always puzzled him.
He isn't motivated by any altruistic ambitions, so much as by a series of unfortunate events that force him into the thick of the plot's motion. He has an old friendship with Gray, although he admits to being unable to trust him, and grows more suspicious of him as the first half expands. He deeply cares for his wife, but also eventually grows an emotional connection with Amalia, whose allegiance is unknown to him for a long time.
Gray: An enigmatic and charming man who appears to be in his mid-twenties, Gray is the other character through whose eyes we see the world. He has a distant, almost whimsical outlook on life: taking everything that happens in the world with a carefree smile, and almost never showing anger. Gray seems to be privy to all things, and to work on multiple sides simultaneously. While he claims to be an 'impartial observer', someone who watches events unfold as a spectator at a theater would, he contradicts this claim on several occasions.
He has a variety of strange habits, smoking being the primary one. I call it strange because his body is actually almost completely immune to the effects of nicotine, meaning that the only way he can support his habit is by re addicting himself to the cigarettes daily. As a result of this, he often has bouts of coughing- a sound which his closest associates recognize as a sign that he's nearby.
Gray also carries around a journal in which he records notes of the many people he encounters, their goals, and what becomes of them. He claims that it's a real-time play that he's recording for the sake of mankind, and as such has titled it "The end of the world in five acts"
Rhiannon Atlove: more or less the same age as Miles, Rhi is his wife. A woman of average build and a normally melancholy expression. Holds employment with the news station of London, where she is able to report stories more quickly than her competitors because of her liberal use of Miles' district pass (The certification that allows him to travel freely through the four walls).
it is revealed relatively early in the plot that her marriage to Miles was arranged by her out of personal convenience, and that he receives periodic payment from her to keep their union intact. While Miles openly feels strong affection for her (owing to the time they spent together in the past) she is never shown to reciprocate this feeling. Despite her lack of romantic feelings for him, she assists Miles a number of times throughout the first storyarc. Using her information network to help him find "The Soul" for the first time, and telling him to seek refuge in the lawless regions of Italy when he becomes a wanted man.
Wyatt: Another member of Atlove's unit, Wyatt is a young man with an untidy appearance and slightly unshaven face. He is the other field-man, assigned as Atlove's partner in investigations. He's actually very timid by nature, and tends to panic at the sight of blood. This weakness makes him all but useless in the first episode of the storyarc. He tries to make up for this shortcoming with his talent at quickly organizing the local police. He is killed by brother Alexander during his hunt for those who learn the location of purgatory.
Daniel: The acting supervisor of Atlove's unit. In his early fifties with short graying hair and a mustache that runs the length of his lip-line. One of the more straight-forward characters in my repertoire, Dan never gets the time needed to really move past the "typcial boss" archetype. He's the person who explains to the readers what the "AFTERLIFE" organization is in the first storyarc, and supplies information to Atlove over the course of his work.
He has a previously existing relationship with Vernon Listrow, as well, and offers his organization's protection to him when he flees to London. It is this act that eventually leads to his death.
He is killed by brother Alexander in his hunt for those who know of purgatory's location.
Alicia: Munitions and explosives specialist of Atlove's unit, and a very enthusiastic introvert. Alicia is unhealthily thin with sunken, tired eyes and disorganized long hair. Because of her expertise, she is in charge of the upkeep and distribution of weapons in the unit, a job she detests because it forces her into frequent contact with all of her co-workers.
She insists upon departing work as soon as her shift is over, and bears herself in the seclusion of her home the remainder of the day. Wondering how she spends her free time is a favorite passtime among other members of the unit.
She is not present when Listrow goes crazy and reveals purgatory's location. Thus, she's the only member of the special unit (aside from Atlove) to survive Alexander's purge. When she discovers that Listrow had information of interest to the British government, she suggests that surviving members of her team might have heard it; not realizing that doing so makes Atlove a target of the police.
Note: There are 12 members of Atlove's unit altogether (9 men, 3 women.) with the exception of the four mentioned above, they are simply background characters with no significant part in the plot.
THE AFTERLIFE ORGANIZATION- The closest thing to an antagonistic force in the series, AFTERLIFE is a nihilistic cult that claims to be based on the belief that it is the will of God for mankind to fall. Despite this rather macabre premise, they enjoy a surprisingly large following as a result of the difficulty of life in the post-war world. There was an ulterior motive in the group's founding, but this plays no part in the first half of the story. They search for purgatory, hoping to use the virus as a catalyst for extinction.
The group is in opposition to the New British Kingdom (because their order represents a source of hope for the people, and because they also wish to find purgatory) and the Brotherhood (because of their devotion to keeping purgatory hidden.)
Note: nanomachines and nanomachine colonies- Each of the first three members listed below have replaced their bodies with colonies of nanomachines. Nanomachines are microscopic, protein-based robots that perform the function of cells mechanically. Because of the rapid rate at which these devices are born, multiply, and die, the three enjoy a rapid regeneration and near-immortality. The effectiveness of the artificial body varies between the three, because they were created at different times with progressively more advanced technology.
CHARACTERS OF AFTERLIFE:
The Body- One of the three heads of AFTERLIFE, he appears as an elderly man with a bald head and sagged features. He is always shown to have his eyes closed, and there is a black sun tattooed on his forehead. While he adheres to his group's philosophy, he is at the same time very obsessed with wealth. His prized possession is a collection of gems and metals he's used the length of his long life to obtain, and he takes great pleasure in gazing upon and owning them (despite being told on a handful of occasions that they have no actual value in the post-war world.)
As the coordinator of the group's finances, it is he who comes to the Bank of London when Amalia fails to return on time. Stumbling upon Billy's group and their attempt at robbery, he kills all the people who remain in the bank. This results in his conflict with Atlove, and his death.
His nanomachines secrete a liquid into the air that causes hallucinogenic effects to people near him. He is the only one of the three heads to show his age, a direct result of his inferior artificial body.
The mind- Taking the appearance of a young girl with cold eyes and extremely long hair, The Mind is one of the three heads of AFTERLIFE. Like "The Body", she supports the message of the group, but at the same time holds the ulterior motive of longing for status and influence. She is constantly trying to gain a position in the New English government, even against the wishes of her group, and is the only one of the three heads to oppose finding purgatory.
She has an intense dislike of Gray, because he has connections and ability yet never uses them to gain power or impact the world. Thus, during the final chapters of the first part, when she finds out that Gray was the one who revealed the location of purgatory to the New British Kingdom she uses it as an excuse to try to kill him. He pretends to run away, and baits her into the path of Brother Croix. She isn't able to avoid him, and the two eventually kill each other.
Her nanomachines are able to inflict sensory paralysis on anyone in close proximity to her. It is implied that her age is slowly regressing due to the imbalance of the nanomachines in her body.
The Soul- Founder of AFTERLIFE, a man who appears to be in his early thirties, with long golden hair and green eyes. The Soul is a strange paradox: A genius IQ combined with the emotional maturity of a very small child. He is absolutely devoted to the message of his organization, with none of the frivolous obsessions of his two collaborators Like all of the top 3, he seems to have a long history with Gray, and seems to come from an age long before the war of Heaven's Rhapsody. He is only shown speaking a handful of times over the course of the first part, and is the man who explains the importance of purgatory to Atlove.
He believes that he is receiving orders from his "priestess", a veiled woman who visits him in his dreams, and remains fanatically devoted to her thought the series (seeing her as a surrogate mother). He acknowledges the treachery of his subordinates, as well, but doesn't seem bothered by it as long as he has his priestess.
Amalia- The only member of AFTERLIFE allowed to meet directly with the top 3, Amalia is the person who acts upon their orders and mobilizes their followers. She is a woman of average size and build, with short black hair (the bangs of which cover her right eye. Because the appearances of the top 3 are conspicuous, she serves as a de facto leader for the cult. An intelligent and cunning person, she is a sincere misanthropist with a deep-seated hatred for humanity.
She establishes a strange relationship with Atlove after meeting him by coincidence shortly before the hostage event at the London bank.
Discord- The first antagonist to appear in the series, and the shortest lived. He will only be in the first ten or so chapters. Discord is a man with a tight beard and short hair who attacks New London in the beginning of the series. After initial bombings at a grocery store and hospital, he plots an elaborate assassination of the King. His plan fails on multiple levels, as he's ensnared by Atlove's unit, and the man he thought to be the king was a stand-in.
He is subdued by Atlove, but killed by Gray before he can be arrested. It is later revealed that he was ordered to perform the bombings by "The Mind" who wanted to put pressure on the kingdom to accept a certain proposal. "The Soul" realized this, and requested that Gray kill him.
Note: The mind, body, and soul are named for the three states of being. Each character's personality embodies the weakness of their namesake: Hedonism and craving for material wealth (the body), Pride and the desire for status (The mind), and purity, but also detachment and resignation (the soul)
THE NEW BRITISH KINGDOM- The last organized country in Europe, established and saved by the military force arranged by its current king: James Heart. They are aware of purgatory as well, and seek to claim it as insurance that they remain a dominate force in the world.
CHARACTERS:
James Heart- Reigning king, and founder of the country. He is a man of 30, with short, carefully styled hair and brown eyes. He has a tendency to dress in extravagant fare. He was raised in the chaos of the war near the British embassy in Russia, and gained recognition as a genius of strategy early in his life. When Heaven's Rhapsody ended he focused on maintaining his military rather than rebuilding, and because of this muscle succeeded in forging his country.
He truly believes in divine right to rule, and that he possesses royal blood. His rule is totalitarian, as he believes it is his duty as royalty to govern those whose ignorance makes them incapable of helping themselves.
While he is an intelligent, articulate, and cunning man, he is also extremely proud and narcissistic to the point of complete arrogance. This disposition gives him a tendency to underestimate the threat others can pose to him: a flaw that plays a large role in his undoing.
He also loves birds. He converted a part of the Buckingham palace courtyard into a caged aviary, where he goes when he wants to think clearly.
Charles- In his mid-30s. he has long, silver hair tied at shoulder's length with a ribbon, and larger, round framed glasses. Charles is James' mentor, and the only person from whom the younger man will accept critism. On the surface, he is one of the lighter-hearted members of the kingdom's council. He loves word play and jokes, is a celebrated poet, and a popular bachelor. He seems to care about people, and it was he who formed the belief that unless the people are strictly governed they will destroy themselves.
At the same time, he seems to possess a sadistic streak. An expert on the mind and body, he is well versed in torture; a talent which he uses personally on Atlove in an attempt to gain purgatory's location.
He is left in charge of London when James departs for Cologne, and is the one who alerts him when Natalia and Irvine begin their revolt.
Natalia- One of the only characters for whom I haven't been able to picture any physical details, even though she plays a significant role in the story. >,< Another character in her early 30's, Natalia sits on James' governing council as media coordiator. This makes her Rhianna's direct boss. Despite always doing her job of keeping the public satisfied with their country, she actively denounces James' heavy-handed kingship and is the only council member to openly challenge his views.
While she concedes that humans are violent by nature, she believes it is everyone's right to choose for themselves, and seeks to restore England's parliament.
She finds her opportunity when James heads for purgatory, and begins to organize a revolt.
Irvine- Another council member in his early thirties, Irvine has a pleasant face and short hair. He is in charge of the police, as well as the local military. He is Daniel's boss, which gives him authority over Atlove.
He enjoys his position, and tries his best to protect people. He feels that all life is sacred, and tends to go to great lengths to try to save it. When Billy's gang takes hostages at the London bank, he appears personally to attempt negotiation, and he uses his influence to secretly save the French refugees after James orders them to death.
When Gray appears to tell James the location of purgatory, he fulfills a promise to Atlove and privately explains to Irvine what purgatory has the potential to do. This revelation is one of the driving forces that causes him to support Natalia's rebellion.
Note: There are 8 council members, the other play no significant role in the plot, but appear in the background a handful of times.
THE FRENCH REFUGE- A gathering of survivors who live in the catacombs beneath Notre Dame Cathedral. Their role in both storyarcs is relatively small. They find themselves under attack by both the Kingdom and the Brotherhood when it is revealed that one of the only men who knows purgatory's location once lived among them. They attempt to fight them off, but are eventually captured. It initially looks like they were put to death, but it is later revealed that Irvine used his influence to save them.
CHARACTERS
Raphael- One of the oldest characters (barring those with nanomachines, and Gray) to appear in the series, he organized his friends and neighbors into a hidden society to protect them from outside harm. He was originally a catholic priest, but was drafted into the military where he learned enough about strategy to help his group fight off the larger British force.
He quells calls that Gray be executed when he finds their hiding place, and explains their situation to him. After they are beaten by the English, he speaks against those wanting to kill themselves to escape, confident that a miracle would save them.
Sophia- A young, mute girl with short braided hair and large eyes. Gray encounters her when exploring the ruins of Paris, and convinces her to lead him to the refuge. She has a habit of jumping up and knocking Gray's cigarettes out of his mouth before he can light them, much to his chagrin.
Maximilian- Sophia's older brother. He has a traditional anime-styled "spikey" hair style and sharp features. he organizes the guards that watch the entrance to the refuge, and leads the branch of their group that fights the British forces directly.
He instantly distrusts Gray, which the latter points out as a sign of good judgment on his part.
Vernon Listrow- The man the world wants to find, he is one of the only people still alive who knows the location of purgatory. Years of being chased and paranoid have warped his features, and he appears as a very timid, frail, and frightened man of later-middle age.
He was the son of one of the scientists who developed the virus hidden at purgatory, and hates his father for burdening him with knowledge that destroyed his life. He balks at the idea of giving up his life to protect the world, stating that such a trade wasn't fair to him. When AFTERLIFE and the Brotherhood start closing in on him, he flees into London for Daniel's protection. he goes crazy shortly afterward, and begins rambling and shouting... eventually revealing the secret to all the people in the room.
He is killed by brother Alexander, in his hunt for those who know the location of purgatory.
BILLY'S GANG- An anarchistic group of troublemakers who hold territory across Italy. They identify themselves as free spirits embracing the lawlessness of the post-war world. As such, they resent the English kingdom, as it is a symbol of everything they stand against. Billy attempts to organize a large-scale bank robbery in London during the third and fourth episodes of the story as a way of showing that crime can flourish anywhere. This plan fails due in part to AFTERLIFE, and half their force is lost. They reappear when Atlove flees to Tuscany.
CHARACTERS:
Billy- A sixteen-year-old boy with slicked back green hair and red eyes. he tends to us an excess of profanity when he speaks, and is prone to violent outbursts. He was originally from America, fleeing to Italy with his father to escape the fallout that rendered most of the country unlivable. he has bittersweet memories of his family life, and his father's belief in 'survival of the fittest through chaos' was one of the biggest factors in his current lifestyle.
He matures as the series progresses, and redeems his character in the second half of the story.
Carlo- Billy's first subordinate. A military man whose formal and organized disposition is of stark contrast to the chaotic world his boss created. He has a military haircut and dark skin. Carlo is Billy's uncle, and the only surviving family member he has. While he doesn't seem to share his brother's (Billy's father's) chaotic world-view, he quietly supports his nephew in his ambitions and saves his life when necessary.
After meeting Atlove and Brother Issac in Tuscany, he begins to question whether or not he should correct Billy's violent nature, and begins trying to change the way he lives.
Michael- The man Billy assigns to take the lead during the bank heist and the hostage situation that followed. He's only a few years older than billy, with long hair in a spikey style. He is ruthless, and doesn't hesitate to kill when the situation calls for it. He is separated from Billy and Carlo along with half of their group when the military attacks them. He takes up a defensive position with his remaining soldiers in the bank's vault, and succeeds in forcing them into a stalemate.
When "The Body" comes to find out why Amalia is late returning to him, he comes across Michael's group. Using his nanomachine's ability, he causes them to hallucinate violently, and they wind up killing each other in the confusion.
THE BROTHERHOOD- This organization's actual name is never revealed. Atlove starts calling them "The brotherhood" based on the revelation that each of the members has a codename that starts with "brother." They are an army of assassins who have been organized for the sole purpose of keeping purgatory's secret forever. They accomplish this by hunting down those who may know of it and killing them. Though the group is designed to keep purgatory a secret, they do not know its location in the first part of the story. This is one of the only groups in existence in the world of Heaven's Rhapsody that Gray wasn't aware of in the beginning, though he delights in discovering them.
CHARACTERS
Brother Alexander- The first member of the brotherhood to be revealed, he makes his appearance in episode two. Brother Alexander has shoulder-length, jet black hair, dark eyes, and always wears a scowl. When prepared for combat, he wears a full-body, bulletproof suit with two foot blade attached to the wrists.
Having heard that the British kingdom was looking for a man who knew of purgatory's location, he disguised himself as an English military officer and succeeded in being assigned the leader of the group that headed to Paris. Not knowing which of the French Refuge members was the man he wanted, he intended to kill all of them, but is cornered by Gray. Gray is ecstatic to learn of the brotherhood's existence, saying it promises to make the end of the play much more exciting and telling Alexander that the man he was hunting had fled to England. Infuriated, Alexander attacks him. he loses the resulting battle, incurring a bullet wound in his shoulder. He never regains the full use of his left arm as a result.
Alexander is the man who kills Vernon Listrow and all the members of Atlove's unit. After his failure to stop Atlove from escaping, he disappears from the story until the characters begin to gather at purgatory. There, he is seen leading the army of the brotherhood against James Heart's honor guard.
Brother Issac- A laid-back, carefree young man. he has a traditional "pretty boy" character design, with spiked bangs and a pierced ear. He carries a "Gibson les paul" guitar in a bulletproof case with him everywhere he goes, and plays it whenever he has free time. he is a concealed weapons specialist, with long blades spring loaded under the cuffs of his shirt, two-shot derringers taped to his body, and explosives in his shoes.
Issac is the assassin the brotherhood sends along with Brother Croix to hunt Atlove when he flees to Tuscany. Despite his orders, he carries on a pleasant conversation with Atlove and gives him warning before trying to kill him. Friendly and gentle by nature, Issac seems to question the morality of his group. He despises brother Alexander, stating that his willingness to kill the innocent with the guilty has always pissed him off. He seems to take a liking to Atlove shortly after meeting him, and constantly refers to him as "friend" rather than by his name.
Issac and Croix chase Atlove in a long and drawn out fight, but eventually lose him when he's surrounded by the British military. Issac contemplates shooting Atlove from afar, but decides against it and walks off, whistling and saying everything works out in the end.
When the characters arrive at purgatory, he confronts Gray, Atlove, "The Soul" and Amalia in the core of the building. He shakes his head disapprovingly and chastizes them for being so reckless, but the building explodes as he prepares for battle.
Brother Croix- Older than the other important brotherhood members by quite a bit, Croix has graying hair with a single forlock falling before his eyes and a great scar down his left cheek. He fights with a knife and a pistol,and seems to have abnormal strength and agility. One of the more professional brotherhood members, he was chosen as a partner for Issac because of the younger man's tendency to be too merciful. While he and Issac bicker frequently, they like and respect one another.
During the fight with Atlove in Tuscany, Croix is separated from Atlove and Issac by a fire the former set in a nearby field. He curses their misfortune when it's revealed that Atlove was apprehended by England.
He reappears when the characters gather at purgatory, running into "The Mind" when she is baited toward him by Gray. He struggles against her abilities, but ultimately succeeds in killing her before dying.
StoryArc Summary:
ARC 1: Discord's Assault (Atlove's POV)- An unknown assailant is bombing random locations within a district of New London. Atlove's investigation leads to his reunion with Gray, and introduces him to a conspiracy older than the war itself. Serves mainly as an introduction to the world of Heaven's Rhapsody, and to give the reader an idea of the groups and personalities therein.
ARC 2: Dreams of the Meager (Gray's POV)- Gray's search for Listrow (the reasons for which are still only hinted at) leads him to Paris, where he encounters a ragged group of French refugees, struggling to survive as they hide from the English military. Introduces the three heads of Afterlife, the existance and purpose of the Brotherhood, and the world's search for Purgatory. (although all three of these are barely brushed upon)
ARC 3: The Anarchist's Folly (Atlove's POV)- A coincidence introduces Atlove to Amalia, who has come to New London on behalf of "The body." When the London Bank is assaulted by Billy's gang as a challenge to the perfect order of the English Kingdom, it starts a chaotic chain reaction that brings the British police, Atlove, Billy's Gang, and AFTERLIFE into collision. Introduces Billy's gang and elaborates upon Amalia, explains "The Body's" role in the top three of AFTERLIFE, starts to develop into the King and Charle's relationship, and their views of society, and hints at a treacherous element within the knights of the English Kingdom.
ARC 4: The World's Target (Atlove's POV)- Vernon Listrow has come to England, entrusting his life to his dear friend. While the special unit agrees to secretly guard him, he is weary and at wit's end from the never-ending pursuit. When it becomes clear that someone has sneaked into the unit's headquarters, he goes mad, shouting his secret for all ears to hear. It ends in a bloodbath, with everything Atlove has known destroyed, and he himself now in possession of a secret that may cost him his life. Effectively ends Atlove's time as a citizen of the English Kingdom, fully explains what 'purgatory' is, and changes the pace of the series.
ARC 5: The Chaos to Follow (Gray's POV)- Gray returns to New London, surprised to find the madness surrounding the destruction of the Special Unit. He talks to his contacts within the King's circle, and even with Charles himself, and ultimately decides he doesn't have the right to intervene, although he seems torn by the peril of his friend. At the end of the arc, "The Body" appears before him, badly wounded and delirious. Gray realizes that he attempted to regenerate too much damage (during the third storyarc) and his nanomachines were no longer working properly. "The Body" mistakes him Dr. Helix, cursing him for being the start of all his misfortune. He tries to attack Gray (who only dodges, clearly sympathetic for the broken man) but winds up collapsing to the ground, dead. This arc introduces the forces England sends in Atlove's pursuit, develops the relationship Gray has both with AFTERLIFE and the Kingdom, and serves as a buffer and explanation of all the chaos that happened before.
ARC 6: Flight and Capture (Atlove's POV)- Atlove is living a subsistence life in Tuscany, a chaotic and lawless place controlled by Billy's gang. An envoy of British soldiers (headed by Charles) appears, using their superior force to bend Billy's will and gain his help in hunting for Atlove. Atlove becomes aware of their presence, and starts to run again, but is approached by a mysterious young man who calls himself "Brother Issac." The two have complimentary personalities, and get along well, although it's ultimately revealed that Issac appeared before him to take his life. A multi-stage battle begins, with Brother Croix and Brother Issac attacking Atlove at once. He is able to separate them by setting fire to a field, and winds up conversing with Issac as the two struggle one on one. Ultimately, Atlove is cornered by the English military, and taken into custody. Issac watches this from nearby, but finds he doesn't want to kill him. He walks off to find his partner, whispering toward Atlove that he hopes the future he helps to create is the one he wants. This arc firmly establishes who "The Brotherhood" group is, and their purpose. It is where Billy starts to question his way of life, and reinforces Charles' devotion to his king.
ARC 7: Torture, Escape, and Confession (Atlove and Gray's POV)- Atlove's return to the capitol is kept a well-guarded secret. He is kept in a solitary cell until Charles removes him to personally handle his interrogation. He questions why Atlove would betray his country by keeping the location of purgatory a secret from them, stating that the kingdom had no intent of ever using it, but rather wanted it as a deterrent. Atlove is roughed up, but Charles assures him this is the gentlest he will be treated, and begins to describe the tortures he'll undergo as the days progress. Atlove returns to his cell, now patently terrified, and wonders if he should simply give up and tell the government. His escape is shortly arranged by Gray, who meets him in a nearby church and confesses that he couldn't bring himself to watch that particular scene unfold. The two talk about old times and Gray's true allegiances. Atlove requests that if the location of purgatory is ever found out by the English Kingdom or AFTERLIFE, Gray would inform the brotherhood of it's location as well. Gray agrees, saying it would make for a more dramatic climax, anyway. Atlove returns to his home to try and find his wife, but instead finds Amalia and "The Mind" have been waiting for him. After a short conversation, he is taken to "The Soul," whose nanomachine ability forces Atlove to tell him Purgatory's location. This arc expands on Atlove's relationship to Gray, explains the reasons Britain wants Purgatory, and delves further into the AFTERLIFE leaders.
ARC 8: Three Armies Meet in Purgatory (Atlove and Gray's POV)- King James prepares to move the majority of his army toward Purgatory, leaving Charles in control of New London. When the military leaves, however, Natalia and Irvine (whom she is finally able to convince) begin their plan to turn the citizens against the King. At Purgatory, the scene outside becomes chaotic when Brother Alexander leads the brotherhood's masked knights against England's military and a mob of AFTERLIFE's zealots. Gray is shown to have sneaked inside, where he is confronted by "The Mind." She attacks him furiously, with him reacting humorously and making fun of her for hating him because of the face he wore. He succeeds in angering her to such an extent as to make her abandon her better judgement, and ultimately leads her to a battle with Brother Croix that ends in the Brother's and her mutual death. Atlove finds Amalia and "The Soul" outside of the main control room, where he learns that the King has sealed himself inside. The three of them talk, with Atlove preparing to attack them when Brother Issac approaches him, and the scene grows increasingly tense, with Gray watching on. Inside the control room, King James is talking with Charles, who apologizes to him sincerely for failing to prevent the uprising. James is unable to accept his people's betrayal of his royal destiny, and launches a missile tipped with the Purgatory virus at New London. The arc ends with the entire building in which the characters have gathered being consumed in an explosion of white light. This arc brings the story of the English Kingdom's main characters to its close, and formally ends the hunt for Purgatory.
ARC 9: The Birth of God, The End of Man (Atlove and Gray's POV)- Everyone who had gathered near the central control room (with the exception of the King, who killed himself prior to the explosion) Awake in an ethereal and unnatural realm. There, they encounter a ghostly but majestic woman whom "The Soul" recognizes as his beloved Priestess. He attempts to approach her, but she extends her hand to touch his chest, leaving a burning imprint. He falls backward, screaming in pain at being rejected by her. The explanation is made that reveals the truth of the Human race. That we were born to bring "God," the conscious will of the organism known as the universe, into existence. Through desperation, desire, and hope, the human race was able to create this sentient will, and it was for this purpose that the human race existed. However, like all creative cells inside of a body, once we had fulfilled our purpose, we were meant to die off. The priestess (now revealed to be the human avatar of "God.") Explains that Desperation, hope, and desire were the emotions man was given so he could create God, and that Hatred, Distrust, and Greed were the emotions he was given to assure his self destruction once this purpose had been met. The characters react to this explanation variously. Gray steps forward as the world begins to fade, shown for the first time to ever lose his composure. He yells at the avatar, screaming that he wouldn't accept that "That man" had been right all along, and attempts to jump forward and attack her. She touches him in the same way she touched "The Soul." The world (tentatively called "The Womb of God") melts away, and the characters return to reality. This arc explains the reasons that the great war truly was called "Heaven's Rhapsody," explains the reasons that "The Soul" was motivated in such a way, and confronts the cast and the reader with the most significant point in my story.
ARC 10: Let's Open the Notebook (Gray's POV)- *suddenly realizes that he's gone more in depth with these summaries than he originally planned, and tones back a little to save precious time* This is the flashback arc that explains Gray's birth. We're introduced to Grigori Helix, the man upon whose genes Gray was based, and who was ultimately behind everything that occurred within the story. This arc focuses primarily on Gray's sister, Eve, who tries desperately to learn the truth of her origins after realizing the happy childhood she'd had was adoptive. It also explains the complicated relationships between Gray, Helix, and Anya (the mind,) and reveals that Helix knew the truth, of God and of man, thanks to the same visions that "The Soul" recieved.
Final ARC: The Curtain Closes (Atlove's POV)- Everyone who went into the womb of God awakens in the ruins of the Purgatory lab. the scene starts with "The Soul," who realizes that the nanomachines around the area where the avatar touched him wouldn't regenerate, and that he was rapidly dying. Amalia realizes how truly child-like and innocent he was, and stays by his side as he drifts away. Atlove asks her what she intends to do now, and they speak a bit more about her misanthropy. Brother Issac seems distraught that he failed in the oath he had taken, and wonders if he's the only member of the group still alive. Atlove is shocked to find that Gray is laying in a pool of blood, dying in a manner similar to the Soul. The two of them talk, and Gray laughs at how he failed to be as distant and passive as an audience member should be, confessing that he may have "gotten too into the story." Atlove thanks him for everything he's done, and Gray does the same, pressing his notebook into Atlove's hands. He says that he regrets not being able to see how the scene played out, but that he now had high hopes the play might prove longer than he originally expected. Atlove cries as his friend's life drifts away, promising to enter the final passage on his behalf.
All allegiances now irrelevant, the group returns to New London, finding everything in chaos. They discover that death is rampant because of the purgatory virus, which appears to have a 98% fatality rate. Atlove tries in vain to find his wife, and is saddened when he finds Irvine is infected. The two of them talk, and Irvine reveals that he guided as many non-infected and immune people as he could on a pilgrimage away from the area, also revealing that Billy was the one leading them. Atlove decides that it's pointless to dwell on death, as it was always inevitable, and they head toward the settlement. The final pages show a community slowly starting to build on a plain in the Welsh island. It shows all the surviving characters working to help everyone, and Billy reluctantly leading in the way Carlo instructed him. Over all of these scenes, we see sections of the final entry Atlove placed into Gray's notebook. He essentially states that he feels people have the right to name their own purpose for existing, and that even if the human race could never live peacefully, there would always be happiness, and because of that, life was worth struggling for. On the final page, we see the small burial shrine Atlove gave to gray, with his notebook closed and laying atop it. at the bottom we see the final words of Atlove's entry:
"Where there is life, there is hope."
Things are finally looking optimistic for me to start producing it again, and it had me so excited I just HAD to fish for compliments with it!
These are the production notes and outlines I posted on BA way back when I first though I was about to have it streamed online! If you've already seen it... umm... praise me some more. and if you haven't, then please let me know what you think.
The Character List I provided to all applying artists:
To all interested artists,
This will probably be hard to follow, as it's a character and setting guide that explains pieces of a plot that you know nothing about of yet. I apologize for that, and also for typing this document in wordpad, which may give rise to several small grammar errors. I'll be following this up with a summary of the first storyarc, should you want to see it.
For starters I'll explain what the terms I use when referring to segments of my story mean:
Storyarc: The story is divided into 11 storyarcs, which follow two major plot progressions. These two are-
Part 1: Purgatory- The characters of the script searching for and eventually finding "purgatory", the nickname given to a military facility that houses a devastating secret.
Part 2: Answers- The world, The universe, and mankind's relationship to both is revealed in a supernatural twist. A series of flashbacks tie the remaining plotlines, and the series concludes.
That's it for the glossary, now for the rest:
The original title I was working with was "Heaven's Rhapsody." I'm debating changing it because of its similarity to a shojo manga's title. The title comes from the nickname the citizens of the world gave to the catastrophic war which precludes the series. As this nickname suggests, popular opinion among the survivors was that it occurred by the will of God.
Settings:
period of time- Shortly after the conclusion of a devastating global conflict which left large patches of the earth uninhabitable and decimated the population. Small niche societies exist in tribe or camp like lifestyles, with the only organized nation remaining (at least from the perspective of the characters in this story) being the the "New British Kingdom", which in truth is only a partially reconstructed city built into the ruins of London and a handful of territories surrounding it.
Places of note:
New London- The focal point of much of the first half of the series, London is a city of elaborate order. It is divided by thick walls into four districts, with the renovated Buckingham Palace seperate from the city proper. Travel between districts is impossible for anyone who is not a member of the military, and the reason for the divisions is unknown to most. Even though the government style of the Royal Government is strict and unyeilding, the majority of the citizenry is too happy to finally have a stable life to rise against it.
Paris- A city which maintains its charm and beauty, even as it lies in ruins, Paris will be where the second major story event of the series takes place. There is no great reconstruction here, as in England, with the survivors flocking together in the catacombs beneath Notre Dame cathedral (which miraculously remained intact.) Most of the plot involving this city is with the characters, so more depth will be given when I explain them.
Tuscany- Also completely ruined, with make-shift houses built hastily for shelter. Billy's organization makes its home here, and it first appears when Atlove comes here seeking refuge from the English military.
Cologne- This is where the majority of the important cast gathers at the first half's conclusion, when it is revealed to be the place where the old military installation known by its nickname of "purgatory" is located. The facility had created a human-specific virus which broke down its victim's bodies on a cellular level to their most basic ingredients. Essentially, it caused its victims to melt into a puddle of water. The weapon was never used during the war because of a revolt by many of the personnel who worked with it. Thus the facility and its virus were lost in the chaos of war.
The womb of God- A mystic and supernatural place, this is the area where the conscious will of the universe awakens for the first time. All of the characters who are caught in the explosion of purgatory at the end of part one find themselves here when they awaken, and many questions are answered. (doesn't make sense from the perspective of the first storyarc.)
Characters- Here is all the information that is revealed of the main characters over the course of the first half of the story. Since a lot of the profiles make references to other characters and events that aren't explained until further down the page, it's probably a difficult to understand mess. >.<
THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS, AND THOSE CLOSE TO THEM:
Miles Atlove: The more traditional of my two main characters, and more or less the protagonist of the series. Atlove is a thin, good-natured, bestectacled man in his early twenties. He works as part of a special unit of the English police; the only group that is permitted to freely travel within all regions of London. He openly hates his job, but continues to do it because of the freedom it affords his wife. He's a capable marksman with respectable deductive skills, although he's somewhat out of shape and loaths long physical excursions. Children of all ages seem to instantly dislike him, a fact which has always puzzled him.
He isn't motivated by any altruistic ambitions, so much as by a series of unfortunate events that force him into the thick of the plot's motion. He has an old friendship with Gray, although he admits to being unable to trust him, and grows more suspicious of him as the first half expands. He deeply cares for his wife, but also eventually grows an emotional connection with Amalia, whose allegiance is unknown to him for a long time.
Gray: An enigmatic and charming man who appears to be in his mid-twenties, Gray is the other character through whose eyes we see the world. He has a distant, almost whimsical outlook on life: taking everything that happens in the world with a carefree smile, and almost never showing anger. Gray seems to be privy to all things, and to work on multiple sides simultaneously. While he claims to be an 'impartial observer', someone who watches events unfold as a spectator at a theater would, he contradicts this claim on several occasions.
He has a variety of strange habits, smoking being the primary one. I call it strange because his body is actually almost completely immune to the effects of nicotine, meaning that the only way he can support his habit is by re addicting himself to the cigarettes daily. As a result of this, he often has bouts of coughing- a sound which his closest associates recognize as a sign that he's nearby.
Gray also carries around a journal in which he records notes of the many people he encounters, their goals, and what becomes of them. He claims that it's a real-time play that he's recording for the sake of mankind, and as such has titled it "The end of the world in five acts"
Rhiannon Atlove: more or less the same age as Miles, Rhi is his wife. A woman of average build and a normally melancholy expression. Holds employment with the news station of London, where she is able to report stories more quickly than her competitors because of her liberal use of Miles' district pass (The certification that allows him to travel freely through the four walls).
it is revealed relatively early in the plot that her marriage to Miles was arranged by her out of personal convenience, and that he receives periodic payment from her to keep their union intact. While Miles openly feels strong affection for her (owing to the time they spent together in the past) she is never shown to reciprocate this feeling. Despite her lack of romantic feelings for him, she assists Miles a number of times throughout the first storyarc. Using her information network to help him find "The Soul" for the first time, and telling him to seek refuge in the lawless regions of Italy when he becomes a wanted man.
Wyatt: Another member of Atlove's unit, Wyatt is a young man with an untidy appearance and slightly unshaven face. He is the other field-man, assigned as Atlove's partner in investigations. He's actually very timid by nature, and tends to panic at the sight of blood. This weakness makes him all but useless in the first episode of the storyarc. He tries to make up for this shortcoming with his talent at quickly organizing the local police. He is killed by brother Alexander during his hunt for those who learn the location of purgatory.
Daniel: The acting supervisor of Atlove's unit. In his early fifties with short graying hair and a mustache that runs the length of his lip-line. One of the more straight-forward characters in my repertoire, Dan never gets the time needed to really move past the "typcial boss" archetype. He's the person who explains to the readers what the "AFTERLIFE" organization is in the first storyarc, and supplies information to Atlove over the course of his work.
He has a previously existing relationship with Vernon Listrow, as well, and offers his organization's protection to him when he flees to London. It is this act that eventually leads to his death.
He is killed by brother Alexander in his hunt for those who know of purgatory's location.
Alicia: Munitions and explosives specialist of Atlove's unit, and a very enthusiastic introvert. Alicia is unhealthily thin with sunken, tired eyes and disorganized long hair. Because of her expertise, she is in charge of the upkeep and distribution of weapons in the unit, a job she detests because it forces her into frequent contact with all of her co-workers.
She insists upon departing work as soon as her shift is over, and bears herself in the seclusion of her home the remainder of the day. Wondering how she spends her free time is a favorite passtime among other members of the unit.
She is not present when Listrow goes crazy and reveals purgatory's location. Thus, she's the only member of the special unit (aside from Atlove) to survive Alexander's purge. When she discovers that Listrow had information of interest to the British government, she suggests that surviving members of her team might have heard it; not realizing that doing so makes Atlove a target of the police.
Note: There are 12 members of Atlove's unit altogether (9 men, 3 women.) with the exception of the four mentioned above, they are simply background characters with no significant part in the plot.
THE AFTERLIFE ORGANIZATION- The closest thing to an antagonistic force in the series, AFTERLIFE is a nihilistic cult that claims to be based on the belief that it is the will of God for mankind to fall. Despite this rather macabre premise, they enjoy a surprisingly large following as a result of the difficulty of life in the post-war world. There was an ulterior motive in the group's founding, but this plays no part in the first half of the story. They search for purgatory, hoping to use the virus as a catalyst for extinction.
The group is in opposition to the New British Kingdom (because their order represents a source of hope for the people, and because they also wish to find purgatory) and the Brotherhood (because of their devotion to keeping purgatory hidden.)
Note: nanomachines and nanomachine colonies- Each of the first three members listed below have replaced their bodies with colonies of nanomachines. Nanomachines are microscopic, protein-based robots that perform the function of cells mechanically. Because of the rapid rate at which these devices are born, multiply, and die, the three enjoy a rapid regeneration and near-immortality. The effectiveness of the artificial body varies between the three, because they were created at different times with progressively more advanced technology.
CHARACTERS OF AFTERLIFE:
The Body- One of the three heads of AFTERLIFE, he appears as an elderly man with a bald head and sagged features. He is always shown to have his eyes closed, and there is a black sun tattooed on his forehead. While he adheres to his group's philosophy, he is at the same time very obsessed with wealth. His prized possession is a collection of gems and metals he's used the length of his long life to obtain, and he takes great pleasure in gazing upon and owning them (despite being told on a handful of occasions that they have no actual value in the post-war world.)
As the coordinator of the group's finances, it is he who comes to the Bank of London when Amalia fails to return on time. Stumbling upon Billy's group and their attempt at robbery, he kills all the people who remain in the bank. This results in his conflict with Atlove, and his death.
His nanomachines secrete a liquid into the air that causes hallucinogenic effects to people near him. He is the only one of the three heads to show his age, a direct result of his inferior artificial body.
The mind- Taking the appearance of a young girl with cold eyes and extremely long hair, The Mind is one of the three heads of AFTERLIFE. Like "The Body", she supports the message of the group, but at the same time holds the ulterior motive of longing for status and influence. She is constantly trying to gain a position in the New English government, even against the wishes of her group, and is the only one of the three heads to oppose finding purgatory.
She has an intense dislike of Gray, because he has connections and ability yet never uses them to gain power or impact the world. Thus, during the final chapters of the first part, when she finds out that Gray was the one who revealed the location of purgatory to the New British Kingdom she uses it as an excuse to try to kill him. He pretends to run away, and baits her into the path of Brother Croix. She isn't able to avoid him, and the two eventually kill each other.
Her nanomachines are able to inflict sensory paralysis on anyone in close proximity to her. It is implied that her age is slowly regressing due to the imbalance of the nanomachines in her body.
The Soul- Founder of AFTERLIFE, a man who appears to be in his early thirties, with long golden hair and green eyes. The Soul is a strange paradox: A genius IQ combined with the emotional maturity of a very small child. He is absolutely devoted to the message of his organization, with none of the frivolous obsessions of his two collaborators Like all of the top 3, he seems to have a long history with Gray, and seems to come from an age long before the war of Heaven's Rhapsody. He is only shown speaking a handful of times over the course of the first part, and is the man who explains the importance of purgatory to Atlove.
He believes that he is receiving orders from his "priestess", a veiled woman who visits him in his dreams, and remains fanatically devoted to her thought the series (seeing her as a surrogate mother). He acknowledges the treachery of his subordinates, as well, but doesn't seem bothered by it as long as he has his priestess.
Amalia- The only member of AFTERLIFE allowed to meet directly with the top 3, Amalia is the person who acts upon their orders and mobilizes their followers. She is a woman of average size and build, with short black hair (the bangs of which cover her right eye. Because the appearances of the top 3 are conspicuous, she serves as a de facto leader for the cult. An intelligent and cunning person, she is a sincere misanthropist with a deep-seated hatred for humanity.
She establishes a strange relationship with Atlove after meeting him by coincidence shortly before the hostage event at the London bank.
Discord- The first antagonist to appear in the series, and the shortest lived. He will only be in the first ten or so chapters. Discord is a man with a tight beard and short hair who attacks New London in the beginning of the series. After initial bombings at a grocery store and hospital, he plots an elaborate assassination of the King. His plan fails on multiple levels, as he's ensnared by Atlove's unit, and the man he thought to be the king was a stand-in.
He is subdued by Atlove, but killed by Gray before he can be arrested. It is later revealed that he was ordered to perform the bombings by "The Mind" who wanted to put pressure on the kingdom to accept a certain proposal. "The Soul" realized this, and requested that Gray kill him.
Note: The mind, body, and soul are named for the three states of being. Each character's personality embodies the weakness of their namesake: Hedonism and craving for material wealth (the body), Pride and the desire for status (The mind), and purity, but also detachment and resignation (the soul)
THE NEW BRITISH KINGDOM- The last organized country in Europe, established and saved by the military force arranged by its current king: James Heart. They are aware of purgatory as well, and seek to claim it as insurance that they remain a dominate force in the world.
CHARACTERS:
James Heart- Reigning king, and founder of the country. He is a man of 30, with short, carefully styled hair and brown eyes. He has a tendency to dress in extravagant fare. He was raised in the chaos of the war near the British embassy in Russia, and gained recognition as a genius of strategy early in his life. When Heaven's Rhapsody ended he focused on maintaining his military rather than rebuilding, and because of this muscle succeeded in forging his country.
He truly believes in divine right to rule, and that he possesses royal blood. His rule is totalitarian, as he believes it is his duty as royalty to govern those whose ignorance makes them incapable of helping themselves.
While he is an intelligent, articulate, and cunning man, he is also extremely proud and narcissistic to the point of complete arrogance. This disposition gives him a tendency to underestimate the threat others can pose to him: a flaw that plays a large role in his undoing.
He also loves birds. He converted a part of the Buckingham palace courtyard into a caged aviary, where he goes when he wants to think clearly.
Charles- In his mid-30s. he has long, silver hair tied at shoulder's length with a ribbon, and larger, round framed glasses. Charles is James' mentor, and the only person from whom the younger man will accept critism. On the surface, he is one of the lighter-hearted members of the kingdom's council. He loves word play and jokes, is a celebrated poet, and a popular bachelor. He seems to care about people, and it was he who formed the belief that unless the people are strictly governed they will destroy themselves.
At the same time, he seems to possess a sadistic streak. An expert on the mind and body, he is well versed in torture; a talent which he uses personally on Atlove in an attempt to gain purgatory's location.
He is left in charge of London when James departs for Cologne, and is the one who alerts him when Natalia and Irvine begin their revolt.
Natalia- One of the only characters for whom I haven't been able to picture any physical details, even though she plays a significant role in the story. >,< Another character in her early 30's, Natalia sits on James' governing council as media coordiator. This makes her Rhianna's direct boss. Despite always doing her job of keeping the public satisfied with their country, she actively denounces James' heavy-handed kingship and is the only council member to openly challenge his views.
While she concedes that humans are violent by nature, she believes it is everyone's right to choose for themselves, and seeks to restore England's parliament.
She finds her opportunity when James heads for purgatory, and begins to organize a revolt.
Irvine- Another council member in his early thirties, Irvine has a pleasant face and short hair. He is in charge of the police, as well as the local military. He is Daniel's boss, which gives him authority over Atlove.
He enjoys his position, and tries his best to protect people. He feels that all life is sacred, and tends to go to great lengths to try to save it. When Billy's gang takes hostages at the London bank, he appears personally to attempt negotiation, and he uses his influence to secretly save the French refugees after James orders them to death.
When Gray appears to tell James the location of purgatory, he fulfills a promise to Atlove and privately explains to Irvine what purgatory has the potential to do. This revelation is one of the driving forces that causes him to support Natalia's rebellion.
Note: There are 8 council members, the other play no significant role in the plot, but appear in the background a handful of times.
THE FRENCH REFUGE- A gathering of survivors who live in the catacombs beneath Notre Dame Cathedral. Their role in both storyarcs is relatively small. They find themselves under attack by both the Kingdom and the Brotherhood when it is revealed that one of the only men who knows purgatory's location once lived among them. They attempt to fight them off, but are eventually captured. It initially looks like they were put to death, but it is later revealed that Irvine used his influence to save them.
CHARACTERS
Raphael- One of the oldest characters (barring those with nanomachines, and Gray) to appear in the series, he organized his friends and neighbors into a hidden society to protect them from outside harm. He was originally a catholic priest, but was drafted into the military where he learned enough about strategy to help his group fight off the larger British force.
He quells calls that Gray be executed when he finds their hiding place, and explains their situation to him. After they are beaten by the English, he speaks against those wanting to kill themselves to escape, confident that a miracle would save them.
Sophia- A young, mute girl with short braided hair and large eyes. Gray encounters her when exploring the ruins of Paris, and convinces her to lead him to the refuge. She has a habit of jumping up and knocking Gray's cigarettes out of his mouth before he can light them, much to his chagrin.
Maximilian- Sophia's older brother. He has a traditional anime-styled "spikey" hair style and sharp features. he organizes the guards that watch the entrance to the refuge, and leads the branch of their group that fights the British forces directly.
He instantly distrusts Gray, which the latter points out as a sign of good judgment on his part.
Vernon Listrow- The man the world wants to find, he is one of the only people still alive who knows the location of purgatory. Years of being chased and paranoid have warped his features, and he appears as a very timid, frail, and frightened man of later-middle age.
He was the son of one of the scientists who developed the virus hidden at purgatory, and hates his father for burdening him with knowledge that destroyed his life. He balks at the idea of giving up his life to protect the world, stating that such a trade wasn't fair to him. When AFTERLIFE and the Brotherhood start closing in on him, he flees into London for Daniel's protection. he goes crazy shortly afterward, and begins rambling and shouting... eventually revealing the secret to all the people in the room.
He is killed by brother Alexander, in his hunt for those who know the location of purgatory.
BILLY'S GANG- An anarchistic group of troublemakers who hold territory across Italy. They identify themselves as free spirits embracing the lawlessness of the post-war world. As such, they resent the English kingdom, as it is a symbol of everything they stand against. Billy attempts to organize a large-scale bank robbery in London during the third and fourth episodes of the story as a way of showing that crime can flourish anywhere. This plan fails due in part to AFTERLIFE, and half their force is lost. They reappear when Atlove flees to Tuscany.
CHARACTERS:
Billy- A sixteen-year-old boy with slicked back green hair and red eyes. he tends to us an excess of profanity when he speaks, and is prone to violent outbursts. He was originally from America, fleeing to Italy with his father to escape the fallout that rendered most of the country unlivable. he has bittersweet memories of his family life, and his father's belief in 'survival of the fittest through chaos' was one of the biggest factors in his current lifestyle.
He matures as the series progresses, and redeems his character in the second half of the story.
Carlo- Billy's first subordinate. A military man whose formal and organized disposition is of stark contrast to the chaotic world his boss created. He has a military haircut and dark skin. Carlo is Billy's uncle, and the only surviving family member he has. While he doesn't seem to share his brother's (Billy's father's) chaotic world-view, he quietly supports his nephew in his ambitions and saves his life when necessary.
After meeting Atlove and Brother Issac in Tuscany, he begins to question whether or not he should correct Billy's violent nature, and begins trying to change the way he lives.
Michael- The man Billy assigns to take the lead during the bank heist and the hostage situation that followed. He's only a few years older than billy, with long hair in a spikey style. He is ruthless, and doesn't hesitate to kill when the situation calls for it. He is separated from Billy and Carlo along with half of their group when the military attacks them. He takes up a defensive position with his remaining soldiers in the bank's vault, and succeeds in forcing them into a stalemate.
When "The Body" comes to find out why Amalia is late returning to him, he comes across Michael's group. Using his nanomachine's ability, he causes them to hallucinate violently, and they wind up killing each other in the confusion.
THE BROTHERHOOD- This organization's actual name is never revealed. Atlove starts calling them "The brotherhood" based on the revelation that each of the members has a codename that starts with "brother." They are an army of assassins who have been organized for the sole purpose of keeping purgatory's secret forever. They accomplish this by hunting down those who may know of it and killing them. Though the group is designed to keep purgatory a secret, they do not know its location in the first part of the story. This is one of the only groups in existence in the world of Heaven's Rhapsody that Gray wasn't aware of in the beginning, though he delights in discovering them.
CHARACTERS
Brother Alexander- The first member of the brotherhood to be revealed, he makes his appearance in episode two. Brother Alexander has shoulder-length, jet black hair, dark eyes, and always wears a scowl. When prepared for combat, he wears a full-body, bulletproof suit with two foot blade attached to the wrists.
Having heard that the British kingdom was looking for a man who knew of purgatory's location, he disguised himself as an English military officer and succeeded in being assigned the leader of the group that headed to Paris. Not knowing which of the French Refuge members was the man he wanted, he intended to kill all of them, but is cornered by Gray. Gray is ecstatic to learn of the brotherhood's existence, saying it promises to make the end of the play much more exciting and telling Alexander that the man he was hunting had fled to England. Infuriated, Alexander attacks him. he loses the resulting battle, incurring a bullet wound in his shoulder. He never regains the full use of his left arm as a result.
Alexander is the man who kills Vernon Listrow and all the members of Atlove's unit. After his failure to stop Atlove from escaping, he disappears from the story until the characters begin to gather at purgatory. There, he is seen leading the army of the brotherhood against James Heart's honor guard.
Brother Issac- A laid-back, carefree young man. he has a traditional "pretty boy" character design, with spiked bangs and a pierced ear. He carries a "Gibson les paul" guitar in a bulletproof case with him everywhere he goes, and plays it whenever he has free time. he is a concealed weapons specialist, with long blades spring loaded under the cuffs of his shirt, two-shot derringers taped to his body, and explosives in his shoes.
Issac is the assassin the brotherhood sends along with Brother Croix to hunt Atlove when he flees to Tuscany. Despite his orders, he carries on a pleasant conversation with Atlove and gives him warning before trying to kill him. Friendly and gentle by nature, Issac seems to question the morality of his group. He despises brother Alexander, stating that his willingness to kill the innocent with the guilty has always pissed him off. He seems to take a liking to Atlove shortly after meeting him, and constantly refers to him as "friend" rather than by his name.
Issac and Croix chase Atlove in a long and drawn out fight, but eventually lose him when he's surrounded by the British military. Issac contemplates shooting Atlove from afar, but decides against it and walks off, whistling and saying everything works out in the end.
When the characters arrive at purgatory, he confronts Gray, Atlove, "The Soul" and Amalia in the core of the building. He shakes his head disapprovingly and chastizes them for being so reckless, but the building explodes as he prepares for battle.
Brother Croix- Older than the other important brotherhood members by quite a bit, Croix has graying hair with a single forlock falling before his eyes and a great scar down his left cheek. He fights with a knife and a pistol,and seems to have abnormal strength and agility. One of the more professional brotherhood members, he was chosen as a partner for Issac because of the younger man's tendency to be too merciful. While he and Issac bicker frequently, they like and respect one another.
During the fight with Atlove in Tuscany, Croix is separated from Atlove and Issac by a fire the former set in a nearby field. He curses their misfortune when it's revealed that Atlove was apprehended by England.
He reappears when the characters gather at purgatory, running into "The Mind" when she is baited toward him by Gray. He struggles against her abilities, but ultimately succeeds in killing her before dying.
StoryArc Summary:
ARC 1: Discord's Assault (Atlove's POV)- An unknown assailant is bombing random locations within a district of New London. Atlove's investigation leads to his reunion with Gray, and introduces him to a conspiracy older than the war itself. Serves mainly as an introduction to the world of Heaven's Rhapsody, and to give the reader an idea of the groups and personalities therein.
ARC 2: Dreams of the Meager (Gray's POV)- Gray's search for Listrow (the reasons for which are still only hinted at) leads him to Paris, where he encounters a ragged group of French refugees, struggling to survive as they hide from the English military. Introduces the three heads of Afterlife, the existance and purpose of the Brotherhood, and the world's search for Purgatory. (although all three of these are barely brushed upon)
ARC 3: The Anarchist's Folly (Atlove's POV)- A coincidence introduces Atlove to Amalia, who has come to New London on behalf of "The body." When the London Bank is assaulted by Billy's gang as a challenge to the perfect order of the English Kingdom, it starts a chaotic chain reaction that brings the British police, Atlove, Billy's Gang, and AFTERLIFE into collision. Introduces Billy's gang and elaborates upon Amalia, explains "The Body's" role in the top three of AFTERLIFE, starts to develop into the King and Charle's relationship, and their views of society, and hints at a treacherous element within the knights of the English Kingdom.
ARC 4: The World's Target (Atlove's POV)- Vernon Listrow has come to England, entrusting his life to his dear friend. While the special unit agrees to secretly guard him, he is weary and at wit's end from the never-ending pursuit. When it becomes clear that someone has sneaked into the unit's headquarters, he goes mad, shouting his secret for all ears to hear. It ends in a bloodbath, with everything Atlove has known destroyed, and he himself now in possession of a secret that may cost him his life. Effectively ends Atlove's time as a citizen of the English Kingdom, fully explains what 'purgatory' is, and changes the pace of the series.
ARC 5: The Chaos to Follow (Gray's POV)- Gray returns to New London, surprised to find the madness surrounding the destruction of the Special Unit. He talks to his contacts within the King's circle, and even with Charles himself, and ultimately decides he doesn't have the right to intervene, although he seems torn by the peril of his friend. At the end of the arc, "The Body" appears before him, badly wounded and delirious. Gray realizes that he attempted to regenerate too much damage (during the third storyarc) and his nanomachines were no longer working properly. "The Body" mistakes him Dr. Helix, cursing him for being the start of all his misfortune. He tries to attack Gray (who only dodges, clearly sympathetic for the broken man) but winds up collapsing to the ground, dead. This arc introduces the forces England sends in Atlove's pursuit, develops the relationship Gray has both with AFTERLIFE and the Kingdom, and serves as a buffer and explanation of all the chaos that happened before.
ARC 6: Flight and Capture (Atlove's POV)- Atlove is living a subsistence life in Tuscany, a chaotic and lawless place controlled by Billy's gang. An envoy of British soldiers (headed by Charles) appears, using their superior force to bend Billy's will and gain his help in hunting for Atlove. Atlove becomes aware of their presence, and starts to run again, but is approached by a mysterious young man who calls himself "Brother Issac." The two have complimentary personalities, and get along well, although it's ultimately revealed that Issac appeared before him to take his life. A multi-stage battle begins, with Brother Croix and Brother Issac attacking Atlove at once. He is able to separate them by setting fire to a field, and winds up conversing with Issac as the two struggle one on one. Ultimately, Atlove is cornered by the English military, and taken into custody. Issac watches this from nearby, but finds he doesn't want to kill him. He walks off to find his partner, whispering toward Atlove that he hopes the future he helps to create is the one he wants. This arc firmly establishes who "The Brotherhood" group is, and their purpose. It is where Billy starts to question his way of life, and reinforces Charles' devotion to his king.
ARC 7: Torture, Escape, and Confession (Atlove and Gray's POV)- Atlove's return to the capitol is kept a well-guarded secret. He is kept in a solitary cell until Charles removes him to personally handle his interrogation. He questions why Atlove would betray his country by keeping the location of purgatory a secret from them, stating that the kingdom had no intent of ever using it, but rather wanted it as a deterrent. Atlove is roughed up, but Charles assures him this is the gentlest he will be treated, and begins to describe the tortures he'll undergo as the days progress. Atlove returns to his cell, now patently terrified, and wonders if he should simply give up and tell the government. His escape is shortly arranged by Gray, who meets him in a nearby church and confesses that he couldn't bring himself to watch that particular scene unfold. The two talk about old times and Gray's true allegiances. Atlove requests that if the location of purgatory is ever found out by the English Kingdom or AFTERLIFE, Gray would inform the brotherhood of it's location as well. Gray agrees, saying it would make for a more dramatic climax, anyway. Atlove returns to his home to try and find his wife, but instead finds Amalia and "The Mind" have been waiting for him. After a short conversation, he is taken to "The Soul," whose nanomachine ability forces Atlove to tell him Purgatory's location. This arc expands on Atlove's relationship to Gray, explains the reasons Britain wants Purgatory, and delves further into the AFTERLIFE leaders.
ARC 8: Three Armies Meet in Purgatory (Atlove and Gray's POV)- King James prepares to move the majority of his army toward Purgatory, leaving Charles in control of New London. When the military leaves, however, Natalia and Irvine (whom she is finally able to convince) begin their plan to turn the citizens against the King. At Purgatory, the scene outside becomes chaotic when Brother Alexander leads the brotherhood's masked knights against England's military and a mob of AFTERLIFE's zealots. Gray is shown to have sneaked inside, where he is confronted by "The Mind." She attacks him furiously, with him reacting humorously and making fun of her for hating him because of the face he wore. He succeeds in angering her to such an extent as to make her abandon her better judgement, and ultimately leads her to a battle with Brother Croix that ends in the Brother's and her mutual death. Atlove finds Amalia and "The Soul" outside of the main control room, where he learns that the King has sealed himself inside. The three of them talk, with Atlove preparing to attack them when Brother Issac approaches him, and the scene grows increasingly tense, with Gray watching on. Inside the control room, King James is talking with Charles, who apologizes to him sincerely for failing to prevent the uprising. James is unable to accept his people's betrayal of his royal destiny, and launches a missile tipped with the Purgatory virus at New London. The arc ends with the entire building in which the characters have gathered being consumed in an explosion of white light. This arc brings the story of the English Kingdom's main characters to its close, and formally ends the hunt for Purgatory.
ARC 9: The Birth of God, The End of Man (Atlove and Gray's POV)- Everyone who had gathered near the central control room (with the exception of the King, who killed himself prior to the explosion) Awake in an ethereal and unnatural realm. There, they encounter a ghostly but majestic woman whom "The Soul" recognizes as his beloved Priestess. He attempts to approach her, but she extends her hand to touch his chest, leaving a burning imprint. He falls backward, screaming in pain at being rejected by her. The explanation is made that reveals the truth of the Human race. That we were born to bring "God," the conscious will of the organism known as the universe, into existence. Through desperation, desire, and hope, the human race was able to create this sentient will, and it was for this purpose that the human race existed. However, like all creative cells inside of a body, once we had fulfilled our purpose, we were meant to die off. The priestess (now revealed to be the human avatar of "God.") Explains that Desperation, hope, and desire were the emotions man was given so he could create God, and that Hatred, Distrust, and Greed were the emotions he was given to assure his self destruction once this purpose had been met. The characters react to this explanation variously. Gray steps forward as the world begins to fade, shown for the first time to ever lose his composure. He yells at the avatar, screaming that he wouldn't accept that "That man" had been right all along, and attempts to jump forward and attack her. She touches him in the same way she touched "The Soul." The world (tentatively called "The Womb of God") melts away, and the characters return to reality. This arc explains the reasons that the great war truly was called "Heaven's Rhapsody," explains the reasons that "The Soul" was motivated in such a way, and confronts the cast and the reader with the most significant point in my story.
ARC 10: Let's Open the Notebook (Gray's POV)- *suddenly realizes that he's gone more in depth with these summaries than he originally planned, and tones back a little to save precious time* This is the flashback arc that explains Gray's birth. We're introduced to Grigori Helix, the man upon whose genes Gray was based, and who was ultimately behind everything that occurred within the story. This arc focuses primarily on Gray's sister, Eve, who tries desperately to learn the truth of her origins after realizing the happy childhood she'd had was adoptive. It also explains the complicated relationships between Gray, Helix, and Anya (the mind,) and reveals that Helix knew the truth, of God and of man, thanks to the same visions that "The Soul" recieved.
Final ARC: The Curtain Closes (Atlove's POV)- Everyone who went into the womb of God awakens in the ruins of the Purgatory lab. the scene starts with "The Soul," who realizes that the nanomachines around the area where the avatar touched him wouldn't regenerate, and that he was rapidly dying. Amalia realizes how truly child-like and innocent he was, and stays by his side as he drifts away. Atlove asks her what she intends to do now, and they speak a bit more about her misanthropy. Brother Issac seems distraught that he failed in the oath he had taken, and wonders if he's the only member of the group still alive. Atlove is shocked to find that Gray is laying in a pool of blood, dying in a manner similar to the Soul. The two of them talk, and Gray laughs at how he failed to be as distant and passive as an audience member should be, confessing that he may have "gotten too into the story." Atlove thanks him for everything he's done, and Gray does the same, pressing his notebook into Atlove's hands. He says that he regrets not being able to see how the scene played out, but that he now had high hopes the play might prove longer than he originally expected. Atlove cries as his friend's life drifts away, promising to enter the final passage on his behalf.
All allegiances now irrelevant, the group returns to New London, finding everything in chaos. They discover that death is rampant because of the purgatory virus, which appears to have a 98% fatality rate. Atlove tries in vain to find his wife, and is saddened when he finds Irvine is infected. The two of them talk, and Irvine reveals that he guided as many non-infected and immune people as he could on a pilgrimage away from the area, also revealing that Billy was the one leading them. Atlove decides that it's pointless to dwell on death, as it was always inevitable, and they head toward the settlement. The final pages show a community slowly starting to build on a plain in the Welsh island. It shows all the surviving characters working to help everyone, and Billy reluctantly leading in the way Carlo instructed him. Over all of these scenes, we see sections of the final entry Atlove placed into Gray's notebook. He essentially states that he feels people have the right to name their own purpose for existing, and that even if the human race could never live peacefully, there would always be happiness, and because of that, life was worth struggling for. On the final page, we see the small burial shrine Atlove gave to gray, with his notebook closed and laying atop it. at the bottom we see the final words of Atlove's entry:
"Where there is life, there is hope."