Corando's "Don't Lose Hope" (2022 comic)

"Don't Lose Hope" is a short story told in the mimicry of a music video. This version is a remake of the concept, based on an automated slideshow website modeled after the DSHW web storytelling format used by Dozerfleet Comics for various Sims storytelling projects such as The Battle for Gerosha and the original Ciem trilogy. The song was initially inspired in part by Nickelback's song "Photograph." This remake is set in Cataclysmic Gerosha, in the years 2017 and 2018, as part of the Orient volume.

History
In 2022, there was some renewed interest at Dozerfleet in bringing back and restoring classic works. Realizing the monumental difficulties with justifying release of the original version of this project's original form, however, a remake was authorized in April. New background story characters were created, along with revised lyrics, revised verses, and theme revisions. The remake's moving of the setting to 2017 in India resulted in the piece's background story being set in the Orient volume of The Gerosha Chronicles.

This makes for the only Orient volume comic to exist in Cataclysmic Gerosha, with the other four works in that volume all being novels. It also makes this piece the only Orient volume tale to be set in India. They Call Him...Black Rat and Little Shanghai Hornet, conversely, are set in China, with Mukade: Reinvention being set in Japan and Louisiana, and The Tale of Plum Bixie being set primarily in Idaho.

Characters

 * -|Appearing in feature=

Corando band members
Corando recorded their song's audio and video in 2018, right before they had to flee to Texas to get away from Affadidah's regime. They wanted to bring attention to various world issues, such as those that led to Filforth nearly destroying all of India. However, at that time, the world was more concerned with the revelation of Soetera as a second Cherinob, and with the damage done by Soetera, Kamohoalii, and Cherinob's war against Pele. Later that year, they edited together the music video in Texas, releasing it to a world that was confused as to how they were still in Maine during the time the video was recorded. Affadidah's occupation quickly made Maine a dangerous place to live after the band left.


 * Jerry Emberton (guitarist, lead singer)
 * Jen Emberton (drummer)
 * Spike Monide (bass guitarist)

Background story characters
Filforth's destruction of southern India takes place in 2017, a year before Corando supposedly recorded their song. Somehow, word of what happened reached the west, allowing Corando to reach out and learn more about the Chawlas. With their industry connections, Corando paid to have the Chawlas visit them in Texas. They had the couple re-enact their struggles in Porbandar; from inside a film studio near Houston, hiring actors to portray Amita, Daruka, and the temple rioters as closely as possible to how they actually looked. Corando would later sign on with the same label, run by Aaron Stefflin, as currently had Aaron's wife Meredith on it - one that considered also signing on Turkeybreath Skyline.


 * Protagonists
 * Darshan Chawla
 * Ketan Arudash
 * Mahima Zecharia


 * Antagonists
 * Daruka Naidu
 * Temple rioters
 * Prateem Chankedar
 * Reza Kirmani


 * Supporting characters
 * Filforth
 * Amita Zecharia
 * Adriv Chawla
 * Martin Zorge
 * Kasey Monide
 * Ruby Emberton


 * -|Additional characters referenced in timeline=

Before the feature presentation, a timeline is given of everything happening that leads up to and inspires Jerry to write his song, as well as a glimpse of some events that happen immediately after he and the band perform it. This timeline provides a quick overview of what to expect in The Gerosha Chronicles, starting with events in Experiments and Offspring and concluding with what Corando band members were trying to assemble in 2020 during the events of Sodality: Adaptation. The following characters (and some real life figures) are explicitly referred to, if not also featured in artwork:


 * Flippo family and closely associated
 * Sadasheeva Cherupara
 * Alexis Hood
 * Marissa Hood
 * Tobey Flippo
 * Steve McNolan
 * Alison Flippo
 * Stan Flippo
 * Shalia Flippo
 * Imaki Izuki
 * Donte McArthur / Emeraldon
 * Candi Flipo / Ciem
 * Miriam Flippo / Sniperbadger
 * Marina Baret
 * Matt Baret
 * Andy Baret / Pitohui
 * Melinda Baret
 * Danny Loffin
 * Tyrone Menster


 * Trenson family
 * Cynthia Trenson
 * Karen Trenson


 * Notable political figures
 * Bill Clinton
 * Barack Obama
 * Tom Kirby
 * Justin Trudeau


 * SCALLOP
 * Darius Philippine


 * Phaemer Village Peacekeepers
 * Evan Manicotti / Time Capsule
 * Keet Kabo


 * Hebbleskin Gang
 * Don "the Psycho" Mendoza
 * Lonny Factor / Drop-In
 * Garret Whaling
 * Bernie Mudster / Quoll
 * Kropimak Duzerit
 * Gleeful-N'-Young
 * Antonio Frenze / Lava Tigre
 * Sleet Mountain
 * Clyde Spendelworth
 * Vance Lingolin
 * Ashley Phillips
 * Kyle Tugrass
 * George Lawence
 * Mark Stefflin
 * Bob Lusital (Cataclysmic Gerosha)
 * Brent Yorming


 * Ferris State alumni
 * Monica Shelly
 * Aaron Stefflin
 * Hadley Mint


 * Padua Network
 * Chris Kennal / Purge-Flare


 * Marl-Q Industries
 * Dereck Johnson / Eqquibus


 * Society of the Icy Finger
 * Warren Buntine / Rappaccini
 * Miles Charleston / Chillingworth
 * Screwworm Network
 * Audrey Golin / Lady Screwworm
 * Eric Korsicht
 * Tod Beaverton / Wishpon
 * Ted Brackett
 * Kathy Hibbins
 * Halal Affadidah
 * Qalupaliks
 * Anito Squad
 * Haikili
 * Kamapua'a


 * Chinese MSS
 * Kai Yun
 * Zize Choi / Plum Bixie
 * Task Force Black Rat
 * Shing Xú / Black Rat
 * Mingmei Chéng / Stung Hornet


 * Lambrelli Labs
 * Seth Lambrelli
 * Pilltar droid
 * Ron Barrin
 * Stephanie Barrin
 * Strawberry droid


 * Critter Resistance Network
 * Tim Downsen
 * Rick Sun


 * Navyrope Society
 * Vince Finton / Navyrope
 * Tiffany Sterlie
 * Wanda Sterlie


 * Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility staff
 * Bruce Almin
 * Paul Driveway / Goatgruff
 * Jordan Grentzwell


 * Order of the Oraphim
 * Pakulihi Lekaho / Kamohoalii
 * Captain Henry Lohtz
 * Isitoq Sundue / Anarteq
 * Jissika Sundue / Nemara
 * John Domeck / Gray Champion
 * Pang family
 * Dae Pang
 * Hea Pang
 * Tabitha Pang
 * Ramirez family
 * Pablo Ramirez
 * Anna Ramirez
 * Marge Ramirez / Mapacha del Fuego


 * FPB
 * Clarence Felick


 * Angelic Army
 * God
 * Michael
 * Gabriel
 * Filforth
 * Cavalore
 * Maurice the Ferryman
 * Cherinob
 * Soetera


 * Biroots
 * Kritchobol / Yevghenny Mavoric / Veles
 * Prontchika / Pele
 * Belay
 * Astirnah


 * Phaletori-associated
 * Judge Terry Beliah
 * Camille Beliah


 * Horrorday Gang
 * Adolphus Kraus / Krampus
 * Lucca "the Snowmobster" Ricci
 * Polly Ann Wilson / Perchta
 * Gerald Smack / Jerry the Psycho Reindeer
 * Straggele
 * Annabelle Shelly / Luftmädchen


 * Idaho Exodus Agenda
 * Gary Wenzon


 * Strainer family
 * Rob Strainer
 * Amanda Strainer
 * Jack Strainer
 * Ted Strainer
 * Jemma Strainer


 * Estahm family
 * Chad Estahm
 * Anton Estahm


 * CPS
 * Wilma Menka


 * Last Legs
 * Tanya Woven / Ciem of Seattle
 * Nancy Hizrah
 * Brittany Lohmeyer
 * Patty Trean
 * Samirah Fantine


 * Other civilians, adventurers, heroes, villains, and historical figures
 * Nathaniel Hawthorne
 * Boris Heminski
 * Krystal Travin
 * Eric Stanley Opendi / Extirpon
 * Anda Hirano / Extirwraith
 * Simon Lanson / Spoliat
 * Madeline Casey
 * Charlotte Yamamura / Mukade
 * Kyle Freneti / Meerkat

Locations

 * -|Feature presentation locations=
 * Earth-G7 timeline
 * Earth
 * United States
 * Maine
 * Orono
 * Corando's Maine studio
 * Texas
 * Houston
 * Corando's Texas studio
 * India
 * Gujarat
 * Porbandar
 * Hidden St. Thomas church
 * Vira Bhagat Ni Jagya Temple
 * Daruka's brothel
 * Hotel Viram and Multi-Cuisine Restaurant
 * Gokul Mathura Towers
 * Porbandar Airport
 * Tara Mandir Planetarium
 * Bihar
 * Darshan and Mahima's home near the border with Nepal
 * -|Timeline tie-in section additional locations=


 * Earth-G7 timeline
 * Phaeleel
 * American Culture Museum of Dephinapolis
 * Dephinapolis
 * Man of 1998 Time Capsule Exhibit Room
 * Earth
 * Philippines
 * Manila
 * Canada
 * Project: Ijiraq site
 * Yellek
 * Sault Ste. Marie
 * India
 * China
 * Shanghai
 * Beijing
 * Xian
 * Japan
 * Tokyo
 * Romania
 * Bucharest
 * United States
 * Hawaii
 * Captain Cook
 * Nations Summit
 * Hut of Kamohoalii
 * Ohio
 * Cincinnati
 * South Dakota
 * Brookings
 * Colorado
 * Boulder
 * North Dakota
 * Forks
 * Oakes
 * Oklahoma
 * Oklahoma City
 * Iowa
 * Ankeny
 * Des Moines
 * Florida
 * Miami
 * Oklahoma
 * Massachusetts
 * Boston
 * Lynn
 * DC
 * Washington
 * Missouri
 * St. Louis
 * Indiana
 * Boonville / Gerosha
 * Posey's Market
 * Evansville
 * Madison
 * Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility
 * Idaho
 * Idaho Falls
 * Ucon
 * Michigan
 * Big Rapids
 * Ferris State University
 * North Bond Hall
 * Stanwood
 * Sault Ste. Marie
 * St. Mary's River
 * Sleet Mountain Lower Northern
 * Texas
 * Houston
 * SCALLOP Juvenile Containment Center

Foreground events
Jerry, Jen, and Spike perform the song in their basement recording studio stage, while also including snippets of them performing the song in parts of Maine. They dub their studio audio over all these scenes. They sometimes overlap content of themselves atop the background story, in order to remind viewers that they're performing a song over that story. Sometimes, the camera cuts to them in the studio, and takes a break from the story altogether.

Background story
Young Darshan Chawla is facing an uncertain future in his hometown of Porbandar. Being encouraged by his friend, Ketan Arudash, to take a plane to America, Darshan is willing to risk his exchange student future in order to court one Mahima Zecharia. Amita, Mahima's mother, a widow, is all in favor of the two of them getting together. They are shown to be St. Thomas Christians, with a small church that tries not to draw too much attention to itself. Daruka Naidu, who despises this church, whips up a frenzied mob of Hindu rioters to burn the church down. Amidst the chaos, Darshan and Mahima are separated.

Darshan ironically escapes the mob in a patch of woods, located not far from the Vira Bhagat Ni Jagya Temple, along with Ketan. Amita is killed by the mob, and Daruka kidnaps Mahima and makes off with her. It's revealed that Darshan and Ketan survive the woods, and return to civilization some time later. However, Ketan keeps pushing Darshan to get on the plane and start a new life in America. Meanwhile, Daruka taunts Mahima with the fact that he intends to have her trafficked on the global sex trade market, while holding her in a wooden cage outside some village. He also urges her to forget about Darshan, and face her impending dark future.

The two lovebirds refuse to abandon hope that a way out will be provided, in spite the pressure both face to give up. The angel Filforth is seen in space, starting out in his starfish tropical island form before assuming a humanoid form. He then holds up an hourglass, carrying a look of scorn and contempt for southern India - indicative that time is up for the region.

A massive meteor shower hits the region, and Porbandar Airport is destroyed. A meteor falls on and kills Daruka, and another one smashes open the cage that Mahima is inside of. Mahima escapes, fleeing from the carnage all around her, until she is able to reach a town not far away. She calls Darshan's cell phone, and tells him where to find her. Darshan rips up the plane ticket, and takes the nearest car he can find with a full gas tank to Mahima's location, even as Ketan protests the fact that driving around amidst a meteor shower of that magnitude could get them all killed.

A fast-forward reveals that most of the region has been destroyed by meteors - including the Hindu temple that Daruka recruited his rioters from. However, Darshan and Mahima are finally reunited, with promise for a bright future awaiting them atop the ruins of civilization.

Message
The remake is about determination to believe in higher ideals, regardless the seeming hopelessness of one's situation. Darshan and Mahima's worlds are torn to pieces, right as they have learned to find value in each other's company. They are tempted to despair in their own ways, Darshan with an offer to become an exchange student in America and forget about Mahima; and Mahima to give in to despair and become a slave in whatever brothel she is sent to by her captors. Their stubborn refusal to give up on God - or each other - is rewarded in a bittersweet way.

Their homeland is destroyed by a vengeful angel; yet they are at least together in the end. Their family church is still in ruins; but so is everything that came between them. There is still hope for a tomorrow, even though the world they once knew is lost. All Mahima had to do, was refuse to stop looking for a way to escape the brothel, and refuse to stop looking for a way back to Darshan. All Darshan had to do, was refuse to get on the plane to America. Though separated amidst a very dangerous countryside in India, surrounded by raining destruction and heartless enemies, God directs them back together.

A secondary theme features in the song; one of concern for underground churches in India. In spite claiming to believe in "tolerance," not all Hindu sects practice it. Hindu mobs attacking St. Thomas Christians is a very common real threat across India. The story hopes to raise some awareness of this.

Song lyrics
These are the revised song lyrics from the 2022 version.

Production
The remake book uses the same template from Microsoft Publisher 2016 as was established by Dozerfleet Literature for use in developing Volkonir 2008, When Bikes Argue, When Bikes Argue 2, and the remake of Star Flops: Curse of the Medium Side, converted for use in Affinity Publisher.

These in-turn built atop the framework used for Blood Over Water: The Photocomic and Blood Over Water: Dirty Laundry. Screenshots were shot using The Sims 4, rather than The Sims 2. Photoshop Elements 1.0 has since been replaced with Photoshop Elements 2019, Affinity Photo, and Krita. This version utilizes a book format, largely due to the abandonment of DSHW. Shots of Earth from space were made with images extrapolated from Universe Sandbox.

Initial screenshot work for the remake was completed around 2:30 PM EDT on Tuesday, August 16th of 2022, and the piece was sent to post-production editing to add effects to screenshots, develop a chronological sequence for their viewing, splice Jerry and Darshan's stories together, and synchronize the output with the display of song lyrics and cutaways to dialog in Darshan's story.

Corando Story Pack for DzMD
See also: Corando Story Pack, Dozerfleet Machinomic Downloadables

Two different homes related to this piece have been made available for download on the Sims 4 Gallery, along with versions of some of the characters. They have not yet received proper releases on the Dozerfleet Labs blog.

Trivia

 * Jerry's voice is modeled after that of Chad Kroeger.


 * Filforth holding the hourglass before sending the meteors is symbolic of the fact that he is also the angel that sent most of the meteors toward Sodom in Dozerfleet mythos, a nod to his having a role often accredited to Raphael in Catholic and Talmudic tradition.


 * The remake is, to date of its production, only the second ever time a Dozerfleet work has ever been, even partially, set in India.
 * The Battle for Gerosha has the events of Sadasheeva Cherupara's assassination take place in India; but almost every single other event in the story happens in Indiana.
 * Outside of this work, there is little to no mention of the Chawla family ever again occurring in any other Gerosha-related work.