CAN CRY: FIRST TEST DRIVE

[cancrymods]

CAN CRY: INITIAL TDM

Welcome one and all to the very first test drive meme for Can Cry! If you're unfamiliar with the game, then you can check out the interest check, FAQ, world & setting info page and the powers and abilities page to get up to speed! Since the game is still very much under construction, this is just an initial test drive for people to dip their toes into the water and see which characters they'd like to consider for the game. In order to not spoil the opening of the game for players, the TDM is not canon to Can Cry and will take place in a slightly wonky little AU just over to the left. Characters have awoken in Purgatory after their deaths and been conscripted as Executors by Rei, the sole other Executor in Purgatory. The population of dangerous spirits has gotten out of control and she needs some allies to help her keep things under control. Characters on the TDM will have access to all of their starter powers as outlined on the powers page as well as two unique abiliites to play around with as you please. Some prompts and location details have been provided below for you to play around with but please feel free to go hog wild and have fun!

LIMBO

Limbo is the Executor's main base of operations as it is the top level of Purgatory and the one most populated by non-violent spirits. Distorted by the cognition of all the human souls here, Limbo has taken on the form of a hazy, dream-like recollection of a town. It's full of winding paths that go up, down and all around and the geometries of the town and its surroundings don't always make much sense. Stairs might lead loop back around on themselves or a door to the outside might end up leading right back indoors. It's a bit of a headache, so it's usually best not to think about it too hard. The town is mostly functional, mostly thanks to all the human souls here. Players are free to invent any additions to the town that they would like for their threads, but here are some to get you started: ⚝ Conbini: A seemingly normal Japanese convenience store, full of the sort of fare you'd expect from a cheap 24-7 convenience store. There's only four aisles and everything's a bit clustered together, but it's not overly claustrophobic. Things start getting a bit weird when you try and go to the back of the store, though – no matter how long you look, there is always just one more aisle for you to browse and the further back you go, the stranger and more abstract the items on the shelf will look. If you walk too far or turn around you will suddenly find yourself back at the first aisle in the blink of an eye as if you were rubberbanded back there. ⚝ Hotel: A so-called luxury hotel that towers over the rest of the buildings in the area. Even if you don't have a reservation, all you have to do is approach the desk and the Spectre there will apparently recognize you and hand over a key to one of the rooms. Except... you can't quite read the number? It seems to fluctuate whenever you try. Not that it matters, because the key will open any of the hundreds of doors in the building, though no one door will ever open onto the same room twice. The layout of each room is subtly off in a number of ways, with the dimensions of the room not seeming quite right no matter how you try to work it out. The decor is luxurious through and the extravagant room service is free, so it's a nice place to relax. Be warned, though – if you misplace your key, you'll find yourself lost in the mazelike halls until you eventually stumble out into the reception with no way of knowing how you got there. ⚝ Bathhouse: An enormous Grecio-Roman styled bathhouse for you to relax in after a hard day's work of dealing with Revenants. There don't seem to be any workers here that you can see, so feel free to let yourself in and make yourself at home. Interestingly, even without anyone around, you'll find the water is always adjusted to a temperature and a fragrance that's most appealing to you and drinks, towels and anything else you need will appear within reach by the side of the baths whenever it occurs to you that you might need it. When in doubt: Just get weird with it!

QUESTS

Since it's up to Executors to maintain order in Purgatory, this also means they need to resolve any issues that crop up for the Spectres occupying it. You can come up with any sort of quest you like, but here are some ideas to get you started: ⚝ A lost child will request your help in reuniting with their mother. It's a bit of a struggle for them to communicate with you as they are a freshly-awakened Spectre and it's also not entirely clear if their mother is, in fact, in Purgatory with them. Eventually, careful questioning of the child Spectre and some of the other Spectres around Limbo will lead you to a bookshop where mother and child will be reunited. Happy end! ⚝ Two Spectres are causing a ruckus in town with a screaming-in-each-other's-face tier argument. Calming them both down is going to be a task all on its own, but if you manage to, it turns out the first Spectre is missing a precious object and has accused the other of stealing it. The second Spectre insists the precious object never existed in the first place. Uh... good luck with this. ⚝ A uncommunicative and kind of creepy Spectre is accused by others in the town of being a Revenant in disguise after some of their neighbors disappear in the night. Investigate and uncover the truth! Feel free to NPC Spectres as you need for this TDM!

THE UNDERSIDE OF LIMBO

Though it's the most peaceful level of Purgatory, Limbo is not without its dangers. Directly below Limbo is what's known as the Underside, a darkness cast by the city above where Revenants and malicious spirits linger. It appears as a dark, mirror-reversed version of Limbo, though the geography is much more twisted and confusing. If left unchecked, Revenents from the Underside would attack the town and consume any number of Spectres. It's up to the Executors to head down there and see to them! This is a general prompt for combat-oriented testing, to allow characters to experiment with their new powers as Executors! Because of that, and because combat will function slightly differently in-game, this section is pretty loosey goosey. Like previous posts, you are free to invent locations and NPC Revenants to make things more fun and exciting! Because Revenants will function in a unique way in-game, players are encouraged to invent their own Revenants to fight for this TDM. If you would like some ideas for what sort of Revenants to battle, you can check out this video to see what sort of enemies exist in the original game, but beware that it does contain spoilers for Crystar.

Comments

chara dreemurr | undertale | definitely wrath

[inconsequence]

i. conbini? more like free food

[There are worse fates than being stuck wandering a convenience store for eternity. They can't recall what those worse fates might be just now (how strange; usually they're so quick on that point), but they're very certain that they a) exist and that b) Chara is almost certainly bound for one or more of them. In their opinion.]

[The point is that if they're not able to leave, that means they're not able to pay for their goods here. Which means that everything on these shelves is more or less free game. Right?]

[That's definitely what Chara's taking it to mean. They just up and grab a basket and then start filling it with every possible junk food they can imagine. They can't even read what half of this stuff is. It looks like it's sugary, though, so in the basket it goes. This one looks chocolate - even better. To the basket with it!]

[Then, with the air of someone who has straight up run out of fucks to give, Chara unwraps what appears to be a snack cake and simply begins chowing down.]

[Look, if they can't leave, no one can make them pay for it.]

ii. what's with this sassy lost child

[Chara can feel their smile starting to thin. They're probably spooking the child they're ostensibly to be helping, but what are they meant to do about that, exactly? The child should have thought about that before approaching Chara of all people for help.]

I understand that this is all very confusing, [says Chara in a tone that would not be out of place in addressing a gaggle of preschoolers, in spite of the fact that their apparent age is no greater than the child's they're meant to be assisting,] but I will be utterly unable to help you unless you can provide me with information of better merit than what you are currently giving me.

[The best samaritan right here. And also not very likely to reunite the child with their mother at the bookshop unless someone a little better equipped to handle this steps in to help. Not that Chara will likely appreciate the help. Alas.]

iii. underside is my favorite indie rpg

[Dark and eerie and full of dangers?]

[Well, they're already dead. What's the worst that could happen? Purgatory is already a nicer fate than what they were sure was waiting for them anyway. They can't exactly recall why they thought that...but that hardly matters.]

[A noise behind them, and Chara whirls around with their weapon springing to life in their hands. It appears to be a massive scythe, though its blade glitters with an eerie, reddish light rather than your more standard, steel-colored hue.]

[Their eyes are equally red, and just cold.]

Show yourself.

[Regardless of whether the approacher is a Revenant or another Executer, Chara's demeanor remains equally chilly either way.]

I.

[mementomoritz]

[From somewhere up high above and off to their left, Chara may hear a sudden, abrupt thud.]

[If they look around, they shouldn't have much trouble spotting the source:]

[Some goddamn gremlin has scaled the shelves and is standing on top trying to whack the ceiling tiles open with a can of pringles.]

[She's a small blonde teenager in what looks like the uniform for a fancy private school, audibly talking to herself with no apparent concern for the fact that there are other people around.]

It's a convenience store, so why doesn't it sell power tools? Those would be really convenient right now.

[inconsequence]

[That prompts a dry upward lift of their eyebrows as they study the source of the interruption without any apparent interest. Any apparent interest. That doesn't mean there isn't any.]

Anything can be a power tool if you're determined enough.

[mementomoritz]

[The thud sounds continue almost rhythmically as she proceeds to talk while still trying to whack the ceiling with the can.]

Hmm, I guess you're right- I just have to make up for the lack of electrical power with muscle power, instead!

[She pauses for a moment, squinting thoughtfully at the seam between the two tiles where she's been aiming her blows.]

Just not enough heft to it, I think... Would you toss me that can of beans, please? I need something with harder edges.

iii

[crypddyd]

[If they were expecting to startle the person who made the noise it doesn't seem to be working. The man pauses, eyeing them... then scoffs, moving to walk right on past as if the scythe was a child's toy.

He's much more interested in the Underside. Chara might as well not even be here.]

[inconsequence]

[Being ignored, being cast aside, brushed away like some stupid, inconsequential thing - ]

[It ignites something in them. The urge to lash out, scream, yell - PAY ATTENTION TO ME - curls up like a dead thing in their chest. Dead thing. Ha. That's funny.]

[But they're not that childish.]

[They keep their weapon out, and speak with a smile in their voice. It's not a very happy smile.]

It's rude not to say hello.

[crypddyd]

[That tone gets his attention more then the weapon did, and he gives them a dead smile of their own, the one eye rolling to meet them]

Dead men can't be rude. Don't waste your breath.

ii

[mabushii]

[Nana sees that Chara appears to be struggling a bit, but she isn't going to tell them that they should try to be nicer. Instead she kneels down so that she's not towering over both them and the lost child, trying to offer a placating smile.]

I think they're just confused and scared. Have you tried asking them what they do remember about their mom? Like what kind of things she might like, or things she might be doing right now?

[inconsequence]

[Nana receives, in exchange, a cold look. In spite of Chara very obviously not being equipped to handle this situation in any way or shape or form, they still see fit to pin her with an accusatory glower.]

Why not attempt to do so yourself, given that you're so knowledgeable about what one should do next?

[mabushii]

[She doesn't even wilt at that one as she continues attempting to give off "mom friend" energy here.]

Alright. [She turns to the child, and repeats the question.] Do you know what your mom likes? Maybe the three of us can find her if we go to one of the stores that has something she likes there.

[... Yes, "three of us", because she's still including you in this, Chara.]

iii

[dreamsick]

[The girl that Chara sees is a young teenager with red eyes as well. She has a knife--for some reason, despite how plain it seems in comparison to the scythe or some of the other fantastic weapons she's seen some Executers have, something about the small weapon feels familiar to her. But she simply has it at her side, clearly not having been looking for a fight but also not one to walk around completely unprepared.

Seeing another kid around her age is a bit of a surprise. There's a moment as she tries to figure out how to respond to having a weapon pointed at her, before an idea comes to her.

She puts away her knife, raises both of her hands up, miming cat paws, and--]

Meow. Meow meow.

[... This appears to be an attempt to try to show that she's not a threat. Why this was the idea that occurred to her is a mystery.]

[inconsequence]

[...]

[That's a new one.]

[The weapon lowers very slightly, though more out of shock than any genuine belief that the threat has in any way diminished. Chara stares at the girl with a flat expression - the only shield they have against the complete bafflement that threatens to completely consume their demeanor.]

...can I help you.

[dreamsick]

[Well, they still look mad, but the weapon did lower slightly, so her idea did work. Kind of.

She lowers her hands back down and shakes her head. She's okay, but you are kind of doing her a Concern with your hostility here. But then again, she doesn't think it's her place to criticize them for it.

There is a pause, however, as she tilts her head.]

... Do you need help?

ii

[nothotsheadempty]

Well, it's gonna be hard if they can't really talk yet, right?

[Lukas strolls up calmly behind the two kids, stopping and crouching down without bothering to take his hands out of his pockets. He glances to Chara with a sort of 'you don't mind, right?' air before casting the Spectre child a reassuring grin.]

Maybe I can help ya figure it out?

[inconsequence]

[Chara proceeds to step back and open their hands with an overdramatic flourish of shoulders and fingers, as if to say - oh, no, be my guest, all in the most overwrought way possible.]

[Which is to say: they do mind, sir. Quite a lot, actually.]

[Such subtleties are lost on the child, who chews their lip and stares at Lukas anxiously.]

"Do...do you know my mom?"

[Chara scoffs quietly.]

Helpful, are they not?

[nothotsheadempty]

[That whistling sound you hear is all the (not so) subtlety behind Chara's response sailing right over this man's head. He beams and withdraws a hand to flash a quick thumbs up and mouth 'No problem!', missing the nuance of 'that was sarcasm, my dude' entirely.]

[The child's question earns an equally earnest answer, as Lukas scratches at his neck with a small grimace. Jeez, he knows plenty of women, but...]

Aww, I don't think I do. Or I might? What's she look like?

iii.

[petsthedog]

[The source of the noise doesn't even flinch at the scythe as it's drawn in his face. He just stops there, hands in his pockets, giving Chara a mildly unimpressed look. What's the point of threatening? It's not like they can die again, right? Well, probably.]

Sheesh, would you put that away already?

[inconsequence]

Give me a reason why I should.

[The answer is blithe and immediate, almost airy, and paired with a bright curve of an utterly mirthless smile.]

[A stranger, obviously taller and bigger and probably older than they are? Yeah, they don't see a lot of incentive to put that weapon away just yet. I'm sure you understand, no?]

[petsthedog]

[Well. Time to say what he's thinking, then.]

We're dead, ain't we? What's the point.

[And despite Shinjiro's impressive resting bitchface he is in fact not trying for intimidation. Just standing there, hands still in his pockets, waiting for this kid to chill out so he can keep walking without having to deal with getting stabbed. Which he assumes would hurt, despite being dead.]

underside

[phantasmagorial]

Ah– I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. It's only me.

[ And indeed, it's just Rei, in her Executioner form – i don't have those talksprites iconned yet but please pretend. She gives them a smile, but the wobble of it betrays her unease. She's not exactly a fan of the Underside. ]

I just wanted to come and see how you were doing down here. Are you doing alright?

[inconsequence]

I'm fine.

[Crisp, curt words, and a stiffening of their spine so that they stand erect and patient, and not - ill at ease, as they actually are and obviously just were. They ought not to appear to be so twitchy. That could send the wrong idea.]

Have you nothing better to do?

[phantasmagorial]

Not really.

[ At least she's... honest... ]

Or, what I mean is... I'm the reason everyone's down here fighting Revenants. So it's my responsibility to make sure everyone's handling it.

iii

[guffawsungraciously]

[ah.

nice aesthetic, kid. Jasper's lips curl slightly upward as he steps out of the shadows, cool evil wizard staff at the ready, but not poised as a threat yet.

Yet.]

I can't say I fault you for that reaction, but you're not my target. Save your efforts for things you aren't ostensibly supposed to be working with.

[inconsequence]

"Ostensibly" would be the key word there.

[Their tone is dry, but they don't look as though they're relaxing just yet. Still, they're not...attacking. Just poised to take matters into their own hands, if they must.]

I don't believe I take orders from you, in any case.

[guffawsungraciously]

[...yeah, okay, Jasper Will Remember That, but it's not really an insult and there's no real command structure here, ssso]

If you wish to approach this on your own, then be my guest. It's no concern of mine what happens to you, though it may be best to at least consider an alliance so you don't find yourself jumping at every shadow.