ELEGY
This is all very bare bones for the moment. I just started work on it very recently.This is our temporary logo, which is still being slightly modified (and this picture has a tiny piece of something from another picture at the bottom; I'll put in the fixed version as soon as the artist sends it to me).
SYNOPSIS
At Baroque Academy, students spend their time focusing on musical studies outside of their regular classes. This school, opened in 1727, looks more like a castle than a school with the exception of the outside dorms, and the secrets held within those castle walls are more numerous than the students who study there. When his father passes away, Kaoru Nojima is sent to live and study at Baroque Academy, where he can be under the guardianship of his aunt Rei. He knows nothing of the school's mysteries, nor does he understand how few students are privileged enough to live in the old wings of the castle itself. His room's last occupant left in a hurry, opening it up just in time for his use...or so he's told. Soon enough the teen is confronted by the ghost of a boy who claims to have been murdered on school grounds in 1802. Before he knows it he's been dragged into the school's dark, hidden history—a history involving nearly 300 years of ritualistic murder.
On top of that, he has his studies to worry about, along with the possible affections of several of his classmates. If he's not careful, he may not survive the school year...figuratively and literally.
SETTING
Baroque Academy: A unique school built by the wealthy Nomiya family in 1727. Gothic architecture; main building looks more like a castle than a school. Originally hosted only 200 students. Has since grown to about 600, and about 70 faculty members. There were additional buildings built in the back to host all the extra students, though they don't really match. The school features a heavy emphasis on music, with programs for most instruments and several different official school orchestras and bands and many other student groups. At the end of every school year there is a large performance/competition, with every student taking part. Students must perform in groups of at least 2.*The main building used to have two people to a room, but later on they became exclusive. Other buildings maintain being two people to a room.
MAIN CHARACTER
Kaoru NojimaAge: 17 at start, 18 at end of game
Vocal student
Kaoru is a young man who comes to Baroque Academy after his father dies. His mother spends all of her time traveling for work, and his aunt (Rei Muroi) is the only relative who can be his guardian. Because he is gifted vocally anyway, Baroque is a good place for him. He is friendly and has a habit of trying to helping out anyone he sees in trouble.
*His room gained a free space just recently, when the previous attendant moved out in a hurry. They were actually the most recent death, and his proximity to this is the reason he can see Kouichi.
LOVE INTERESTS
Hiroshi Miyata Age 19
Guitar student
Hiroshi has been at Baroque since his second year of high school, making this year his third attending the school. He excelled at first, then started slacking and whatnot. He failed what was supposed to be his senior year because he just didn't care at all. He's good at cutting class to smoke and play his guitar.
*First meets Kaoru after he's bloodied up for a fight. Kaoru insists on helping him back to his room.
* * *
Tohma Ishida
Age 15
Piano student
Tohma is now in his first year at Baroque. He grew up the only child of a wealthy family and never really had friends, so he's incredibly shy. When he's not in class he usually closes himself into the piano practice rooms and plays for hours on end.
*First meets Kaoru when he helps him pick up his books after Yui accidentally knocks him over.
* * *
Akashi Wataya
Age 15
Flute student
Akashi is in his third year at Baroque, though he is still so young. He plans to continue studying at the school until he feels prepared to move on to a university. When he first came to Baroque he was shy, but now he is enthusiastic and strives to be friends with everyone around him.
*First meets Kaoru in their history class on the first day of the year. Designates himself Kaoru's first friend at Baroque.
Convinced the person who came up with him that he should be at least 15. I feel much less creepy now.
* * *
Keisuke Takahashi
Age 24
Voice teacher
Keisuke is Kaoru's voice teacher. He's the youngest teacher at Baroque, with this being only his second year teaching, though he also performed student teaching there for a year prior to this. He is calm, collected, and mostly interested in helping out his students.
*First meets Kaoru...obviously.
* * *
Itsuki Sato
Age 17
Violin student
Itsuki is in his second year at Baroque. He's the top student in his year, usually spending his time studying the books when he isn't working with his violin. He can seem very cold and aloof, but tends to relax around people he's known for enough time. He tends to worry about letting people see the various sides of him.
* * *
Yoichi Nomiya
Age 18
Student of nothing at all
Yoichi is the young, only son of the Nomiya family that owns Baroque. Despite his position, he absolutely hates music and talks constantly about how he's going to shut down the school when it's finally his and demolish the building to make space for something people will really appreciate, though he always refuses to say what that will be. Due to his position he refuses to wear the school uniform, instead showing up to class in his own wardrobe, when he chooses to show up at all.
*First meets Kaoru on a dorm roof. Claims to be there because he was getting a better vantage point of the grounds for the future. His route will be inaccessible in the first playthrough (much like Shion in Enzai).
OTHER CHARACTERS
Kouichi Arima: The ghost who introduces Kaoru to the deadly nature of Baroque Academy. Rei Muroi: Kaoru's aunt.
Yui Tamura: A classmate of Kaoru's. Peppy and enthusiastic. Plays the trumpet.
Kagami Ichiro: Another classmate. He plays the trombone and can usually be seen with Yui.
Meiko Kaida: Kaoru's class representative. Plays the clarinet.
Hitomi Fujiwara: The school nurse.
OTHER STUFF
In order to be truly successful at this game, the player will have to balance their activities. It will be important to study music enough to perform well in the final performance and pass the school year. Of course, another part of being successful in the performance is having a partner with whom to perform at all. So if you don't have a boyfriend by the end, you won't succeed. And obviously you have to solve the mystery of the school murders! It all wraps into itself (kind of like how the Social Links were important in the Persona games).I'm planning to do all of the scripting myself, as writing is my thing. Like I'm an English major with a focus in creative writing and plan to be a creative writing professor when I graduate. I also have two people to work on my music.
EDIT: Routes are written...scripting is next while my artists work on their end.
The mystery isn't really the biggest part of the game, I just needed an actual plot, and it fits well into everything. 