In Radiant Dictum
It's your turn to bear the crystal.
— Crystore Inc. slogan
Crystore Inc.
is an Alternate Reality Game that follows the exploits of the titular company across several dimensions (called "bridges") as they conflict with the villainous Cryztorch Inc. and their mysterious leader, Father Coalman.
Players are invited to join the Varelse Bridge Society to help investigate the disappearance of Dr. Skye Varelse, daughter of Crystore Inc. CEO Wylie Buzzcock, after she attempted to travel between "bridges" (alternate universes identified by the colour of their Golden Gate Bridge) in search of her missing grandfather, Walter, after his supposed death several months earlier.
Throughout their search, the VBS members interact with a wide variety of characters from across the Bridges, some more helpful than others.
Has an active Discord community that can be found here.
Tropes associated with Crystore Inc. include:
- Acronym Confusion: All of Crystore Inc.'s product have the acronym "C.I.B.T.". * The impracticality of this is often remarked on.
- Alternate Universe: Referred to as "Bridges", there are three main ones that are named after the colour of their Golden Gate Bridge, Red, Green, and Blue.
- Another Dimension: Meanwhile, Zorch/Yellow Bridge and the mysterious Cyan Bridge seem to be their own worlds, separate from the above.
- Big Friendly Dog: Vlad/Glad and Zoey. Averted by "Blad", however.
- Canis Major: They're all quite large. Justified, in that it's been claimed that they are in fact part wolf.
- Butt-Monkey: Agent ZZY-ZX. If something goes wrong, it's probably his fault.
- Canine Companion: Vladimir, a white husky who is often found with the various Skyes and sends the VBS on "digs" when a new puzzle arises. After his death, the role is taken over by his Green Bridge counterpart, "Glad," and another husky named Zoey.
- Catchphrase: Each Bridge's Vlad has a specific sound that is being translated into text. Vlad has "woof," Glad has "ruff," and Blad has "bark." Zoey's is "arf."
- Child Prodigy: Dr. Skye Varelse of the Blue Bridge, who had a PhD at age 9 and was serving as head of development for Crystore Inc. before her disappearance.
- Colour-Coded for Your Convenience: The alternate universes are referred to by the colour of their Golden Gate Bridge, Red, Green, and Blue.
- While Zorch is said to exist on a 4th Bridge (Yellow), it is generally not counted among the main three as it is on another planet entirely.
- Dastardly Whiplash: The main way to tell the difference between Vlad/Glad and Blad? Blad has a mustache.
- Dating Catwoman: Crystore Agent Butters-F and Cryztorch Agent Bee-G are in a relationship despite working for rival companies. They're also a butterfly and a bee, respectively.
- Entry Point:
- Players are assessed by the Varelse Bridge Society through a survey on their website to determine whether they are apt to join it.
- Another way to access the game is encountering a flyer from the eponymous company asking whether you've seen one of their products. Contact information —a telephone number and a QR— is provided at the bottom.
- Evil, Inc.: Cryztorch Inc. lives and breaths this trope.
- Gratuitous Latin: The motto of the Varelse Bridge Society, "In Radiant Dictum".
- Averted by Crystore Green, who instead use "In Precise Clarity."
- In Spite of a Nail: The Red and Green Bridges are nearly identical outside of the occasional variance. Best exemplified through Red and Green Wylie's home video of Skye at the Fairyland amusement park. Fearful of going down a slide, her Red self decides not to, while her Green self does.
- Interspecies Romance: Between Butters-F, a butterfly, and Bee-G, a bee. Ironically, the fact that they're different species isn't much of an obstacle, rather, it's that they're on opposite sides.
- Punny Name: Apparently a requirement for Cryztorch employees.
- Out-of-Character Alert: It becomes clear that something is wrong when the normally even-tempered Vlad starts speaking in all caps and insulting the VBS. Not to mention that...
- Something Only They Would Say: Part of what tips the VBS off that Vlad has been replaced by Blad? He starts saying "bark" instead of "woof."
