Process, process, process. That’s all writing really is. It’s all about process. Yes, you need good ideas. Yes, you need to execute on them. But the process underlying your execution is what determines whether you finish your story or not. Whether you shop it around or not. Whether you publish it or not. Without a solid process, you might as well continue dreaming about your success.
This is one reason why we here at the Calamity are constantly working to improve our processes. From iterating over our task and content management tools to developing custom bits of software, we hope to one day bring you the most interesting attractions in development here, Backstage, in as expedient a manner as possible; and the highest quality attractions in general. It is our desire to invite you to be entertained in such a way as to bring the most sourest of expressions to your face. Consensually, of course.
And by “we,” I mean “I,” Mad Alex. This is, after all, a one-man show. Hence the emphasis on process, process, process!
Anyway, we invite you Backstage this edition to enjoy another series of installment in A Vampire’s Vengeance, House, and Bus Driver. Our vampires are certainly making headway in their discovery of events while they were slumbering; the bus driver is about to realize his nightmares are not nearly as awful as they could be; and one gets the feeling our resident dreamwalker may soon be dreaming his final dream.
Let’s get into it →
What is currently under construction? Oh, I don’t know, something in the range of 11 to 15 stories now, three plugins, a theming utility, and a host of other nefarious tools and ideas all conspiring to elevate the notoriety of the Calamity. However, let us address what our focus was on this week!
We continue to raise foundational content for The Conglomerate, the CANOPY Consortium. Or just CANOPY for short. It’s primary method of communication is a complex system wrangling a number of protocols known as the HERMES-THOTH Secure Relay. Our current endeavor is to complete the technical documents of the Relay alongside a wealth of accompanying material. Why are we so pressed to have this completed and opened to the public when there are innumerable other attractions to be finished? Why because it will be pivotal in providing the background for Last Resort, the book that will follow Bus Driver in this duology. Also, this lays the groundwork to spawn an entire collection of additional stories and books. We hope you’ll stay tuned for what comes, because it’s going to be exciting!
More infrastructure work. Many of the attractions in development require an unhealthy amount of research, and this challenge has been partly solved by the creation of what we call context libraries. In assisting with the management of these localized libraries, we have continued the development of a cartographer plugin for Obsidian; it maps a metric fuck ton of data (very technical, as you can see) regarding the content available in each library, making its contents easier to organize and consume. Remember that whole bit about process at the very beginning of this edition? This is exactly what we’re talking about.
And now, without further ado, we leave you to enjoy our regularly scheduled programming.
Have you read the latest installment of A Vampire’s Vengeance? It appears Edgar may finally be getting some of the answers he’s been pining for!
Our dearest dreamwalker finally makes another dream dive, hoping to uncover more information that will help him divest the house of its dark presence. And this time, he starts out in quite the interesting greenhouse. How so, you ask? Well, you must ride the attraction to find out, now don’t you:
What do we have in store for you in this edition’s classic horror attraction? Some curses are generational. A young scion’s curiosity proves to be his undoing.
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A patron falls prey to the whimsical magic of a touring artist. Currently exclusive to Apple Books.
When we last spent time in the company of the bus driver, they were getting good and drunk with the citizens of the small wayfare Trading Outpost of Calico. One of the popular residents had begun a narrative that was at once off-putting and intriguing. You can catch up with Part XXIV here. Read on to hear her continue her story, and perhaps provide some insight into what’s going on with these evolved infected roaming the deserts →
"The lake makes monsters. It makes them. The infected go in, and a monster comes out. I watched it with my own eyes. And then I watched the monsters eat the rest of my friends."
The residents and passengers all leaned forward in their seats to listen. Many of the residents had heard whispers of the lake to the west, but few had dared wandered near it, and those who did never returned. This was Griselda's first time speaking of it, and those most familiar with Griselda marveled at her daring; they knew she had braved the crossing east from the interstate 5, but none were privy to the details.
The bus driver wasn't sure he wanted to hear this story. He had seen the mass of infected from afar, but had not known around what they gathered. Furthermore, his experience with the crawling giant through the funnel left him thinking the less he knew, the better. But it appeared Griselda had other ideas. As if reading his thoughts, she turned to him.
"What you do is no small matter. You should know what lurks in the desert. In the heat. In the cold. You should know where it comes from, so you are not surprised."
A bottle was passed from a neighboring table and Griselda's glass was refilled by one of the residents. The bus driver watched the liquid splash into the glance, then turned his gaze down to the table. With a deep breath, he raised his head to watch and listen. Griselda looked around the room at all the faces staring in her direction, anxiously awaiting her story.
"Me and my friends, we walked into Bakersfield. When they learned we wanted to go to Los Angeles, they warned us. Told us to avoid approaching Los Angeles from the north. If we wanted a chance to get to the city, they said, we would have to travel around and approach from the east. But this, they told us only after we were firm in our conviction to go south. We did not know why, and no one would tell us. Now I know why. But not back then.
They finally gave us the route. We were told to take the 58 through Barstow, and then down the 15 through the Cajon Pass. Lots of people remembered the way. They said, stick to the road, it's too easy to get lost. Many were scared. They said others had made the trip, but no one came back. They thought those travelers got lost. Or eaten. Maybe both.
My friend Allen, he said we had 'as good a chance as any!'" Griselda made an imitation of her friend saying this, as she relayed it. "We got a map, noted the different places we where we could trade for supplies, and we left.
The way was long, but not hard. We passed through mountains without trouble. There were many of us. Most of us were armed and knew how to use our weapons."
"Tsk. Shit, no one shoots better than Griselda," said one of the residents sitting next to the bus driver.
A round of cheers went up from the comment. Griselda smiled and waited with patience until everyone had taken their drink and settled down. Some of the residents and passengers refilled their glasses, and assisted with the refilling of others'.
"Sorry, Grizzy," said the one who interrupted her story. "Please continue."
Well that was anticlimactic! What happens next, Griselda! Tell us, tell us now!
Ah well, you know how it goes. There’s only one way to find out what happens. Come back next week!
You know, we’re still wondering about the sanity of our esteemed dreamwalker, Solomon Garcia. It’s almost as if he is willfully ignorant of what he’s gotten himself into. And our vampires are kind of blindly blundering along, aren’t they? At least they’re somewhat prepared, though we don’t know how much better they’ll fare now that they’ve been introduced to the beings. Well, sort of introduced, anyway. And what of this lake Griselda speaks of? Will the bus driver indeed be worse for wear after she tells her tale?
This is all, of course, intentionally vague; though you’d understand the references with complete clarity if you have kept up with every attraction. Still, these questions may lead to even more questions before their accompanying rides come to a complete stop. But that’s why you show up week after week, is it not? The rides will come to a stop, you’ll have all your answers, and then new rides will begin.
We sincerely appreciate you visits and hope you enjoy them as much as we do in providing this entertainment. As always, we look forward to your next visit!
Cordially,
Mad Alex
Proprietor and Ringmaster of the Carnival of Calamity
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