Alagadda - Blog Posts

I just could your Dreamer stuff and I absolutely love it as a fan of the Carcosa mythos and SCP. My question is, what are some of the differences between Carcosa as and Allagada in this world, as one is very inspired by the other?

I am so happy you like it! I'll try to do my best to answer your question.

When I started the project I knew that I wanted to include both Alagadda and Carcosa, despite their strong similarities (I just had to paint them both, their aesthetic is just so perfect), so I ended up making some... bold choices in the matter of worldbuilding.

Carcosa exists as the lost city from the "King in Yellow". Once a thriving metropolis ruled by the sister-queens known as Cassilda and Camilla, now it's the place where Hastur lies dead-dreaming like the other Great Old Ones.

Alagadda has no direct ties to the Great Old Ones, nor with the Outer Gods, though it still is part of the Dream of Azathoth (or rather its equivalent in this story). It is an inversion of Carcosa in many ways, its mirror image. Alagadda was created (I think I borrowed the idea from Theology of a Snake, by Sunnyclockwork) when a man tried to reach apotheosis under the guidance of a mysterious entity, but was tricked and failed, becoming a negation of godhood, a "god-shaped hole". Everyone else paid the price, of course. Through this failure and from the binding of this Anti-god, Alagadda became what it is now, the city of Alchemists. Alagadda is to Carcosa something like what antimatter is to matter. The Great Old Ones and the Outer Gods cannot enter its dimension because it would mean mutual destruction.

One of the main themes of this project is the struggle between the overwhelming forces of the universe and the desire of mortals to become their own gods in order to free themselves. Carcosa and Alagadda in a way represent a worst case scenario for both sides.

Carcosa is now mainly uninhabited. Only the servants of the King in Yellow, and what remains of the fallen dreamers the King snatched from the Dreamlands remain (there is a reason why the Great Old Ones are kidnapping dreamers, I swear). It is visited still, by madmen and artists, that chase it in their dreams. Most of those who reach it never leave. Those who manage to return are broken. Mortals were never made for godhood.

Alagadda is as we see it in the SCP article by Metaphysician, but there are some changes that I had to make for the sake of the story, for example when the Dreamer first arrives at Alagadda, the Black Lord hasn't been banished yet. I and @amyma-ymamy also made up quite a lot of random lore to try and pull off some Alagaddan politics (because politics is fun).

I hope this makes some kind of sense, because the whole thing is still a work in progress.

(Also apologies for any spelling mistakes or weird syntax, English is not my first language.)

The Dreamer in Alagadda.

This sketch is still far from finished but i love it and I can't wait to paint it.

I hate having to sketch with so much detail but 3 point perspective is a b***h.

There is a girl that travels between worlds.

She is not a girl but, for now, it doesn't matter.

There is a girl that travels through the multiverse, with a golden compass at her neck.

It is not truly a compass, rather an armillary sphere. Anyways, it is a gift.

There is a girl that is also a dream and an idea. And if what I just said puzzles you, you can imagine how it puzzles her.

What she truly is, is a Dreamer.

There is a woman that is also a snake, and a Vessel, but first and foremost an Alchemist.

The Alchemist has become a captive to win her freedom, but she doesn't mind the exchange.

There is a lost mentor and a flight without end but, really, the story is not about that.

Always remember: in the beginning there was the Dream.

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C'è una ragazza che viaggia tra i mondi.

Non è veramente una ragazza. Forse un tempo lo era, ma questo per ora non conta.

C'è una ragazza che viaggia tra i mondi e porta al collo una bussola d'oro.

Non è veramente una bussola, ma una sfera armillare. In ogni caso, è un dono.

C'è una ragazza che è anche un sogno e un'idea. E se questo confonde voi, potete immaginare come se la passi lei.

C'è una donna che è anche un serpente, e un Ricettacolo, ma prima di tutto è un'Alchimista. 

L'Alchimista è diventata prigioniera per essere libera, ma la cosa non la turba. Neanche questo è importante.

C'è un Maestro scomparso e una fuga senza fine. Ma davvero, non è questo il punto della storia.

Ricordati sempre. 

In principio c'era il Sogno.

Draft prologue for "The tales of the Dreamer", plus concept sketches of the main characters, Arual the Wayward Dreamer and Lady Chandra, Alchemist and Noble Citizen of Alagadda.

The whole project is meant to be a tribute to all the pieces of media, music, literature and art that inspired me through the years.