Return of the King
tagshow
 #1 Article |
 #1 Joke Article |
 Top Ten Article |
 Active Contributor |
 Contest Winner |
 Contest Runner-Up |
 Challenge Winner |
 Art Contest Winner |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Registered Phenomena Code: 409
Object class: Alpha-Yellow
Hazard Types: Info-Hazard, Extra-dimensional Hazard (Unconfirmed)
Containment Protocols: RPC-409 is to be stored within a secured bookcase equipped with a locking mechanism accessible only by staff with level three clearance or higher. Any testing is to be approved by the Head Researcher and interviews are to be monitored by 2 ASF guards at all times along with 409-1A and 409-1B subjects being restrained as of Interview-#20
Addendum-C: As of 18/4/20██, testing has been discontinued- Head Researcher Chao
Description: RPC-409 is a hard copy of the book “The King in Yellow" by author Robert E. Chambers. RPC-409 has been rewritten to contain a transcription of the supposedly-fictional "The King in Yellow" play featured in the original stories.. The interpretation somewhat connects to the short excerpts featured in the original stories and has the same anomalous effects mentioned in the short stories have been mirrored. However, new effects have also been noticed during testing alongside certain references from the stories being altered to accommodate certain anomalous effects.
The original effects mentioned in the stories are somewhat present and include:
An extreme compulsion to read the entirety of Act 2. This is unchanged from the original source.
This is proceeded by drastic alterations in personality (occurring in 60% of all testing), designated as RPC-409-1A, or gradual mental deterioration (occurring in the remaining 40%), designated as RPC-409-1B. These appear to be altered from the original concepts somewhat, as the book has never been explained/ doesn’t appear to work this way in the stories.
RPC-409-1A exhibit two randomised but permanent changes after reading 409, behavioural alterations and personality alterations. Personality alterations are less concerning, with many -1A instances altering their personality to be more subdued. Only 30% of cases see an increase in aggressiveness with >6% of cases acting impulsively, meaning fatalities in most aggressive instances are uncommon. Behavioural alterations diagnosed include:
- Schizophrenia (3 instances)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (6 instances)
- Tourettes (2 instances)
- Bipolar 2 Disorder (5 instances)
- And 6 other unique alterations reported
The Subject's Altercation triggers randomly for a short period of time and there appears to be no correlation between the reader’s previous mental state and these diagnosed disorders.
RPC-409-1B instances seem to encompass these mental disorders to the point of psychosis, with some 409-1A instances even converting into 409-1B instances in extreme circumstances. 409-1B instances can also trigger a RPC-409-2 manifestation by mentioning in any context: “The Yellow Sign”. It is unclear at the time if 409-1B instances are compelled to say it by possibly 409-2, or if they say it by their own free will.
RPC-409-2 is an unidentified humanoid entity that stalks 409-1B instances until they have vacated any surrounding public spaces before displacing them to an unconfirmed location [Attaching GPS devices to 1B instances have left inconclusive results, as the device stops working when the Subject is displaced. According to 409-1B interviews during tests, 409-2 will regularly disguise as either a researcher or security personnel. 409-2 is only visible to 409-1B instances, and will phase through objects if any attempt of physical contact is made.
All subjects refuse to explicitly state what was written in Act 2 under any circumstances. 409-1A and 1B instances also seem to share a mass dream where they visualise the city of Carcosa as interpreted in 409. Subjects have witnessed entities in this dream, collectively designated 409-3. They are mostly hostile, with only 2 entities described: a female entity with wings, only sighted once in Explorations. The other entity has never been described other than being mentioned as “He”. researchers have theorised it to be either [REDACTED] and there have been 5 sightings of “Him” as of 8/12/20█. All other 409-3 entities have been seen only when chasing subjects and appear as crowds.
Addendum-B: There has been an unusual instance of 409-1A. These instances contain no long term abnormalities other than the collective dream and appear in <2% of cases. The first recorded instance was with Subject ████, and there have been [REDACTED] cases since. 409-2 is highly aggressive and persistent towards capturing these 409-1A instances. Any 409-1A instances should be immediately diagnosed and interviewed for any information pertaining to anything but the second act of 409-Researchers Diana & Werner
Discovery: RPC-409 was found in the dormitory of one Kurtis ███ in the University of ███,
England. An anonymous call notified Authority Field Agents, warning of "A danger only fit for the Authority to contain.” RPC-409 was found on the desk with Kurtis missing from the premises. With the evidence recovered field agents initially designated him a POI, but researchers later discovered he manifested 409-2 and POI status was revoked.
Experiment log excerpts:
Test #2: 4 Subjects were made to read the entirety of Act 1, then were told to re-enact it. Each subject given a role from the play:
CSD-5633 - Camilla
CSD-6221 - Cassilda
CSD-3246 - The Stranger
CSD-1578 - The Narrator (inner monologue of the Stranger)/ Head of Ministers
CSD-0453 - Ministers/Citizens of Carcosa when appropriate
Results: The 1st act was preformed with no anomalous effects present. A summary is present below of the 1st act.
Researcher's Notes:Well, at least that effect hasn’t been altered despite the circumstance of performing the story instead of reading it. Now however comes the real test- Researcher Diana
The play starts with introducing “The Stranger”, the protagonist, and situates him as a spy arriving from Aldebaran, his home city, to see the King in Yellow. His inner monologue makes clear he hasn’t been in Carcosa since he was an infant and he is eager to meet The King for the first time, especially since his espionage turned the tide of the war between Aldebaran and Carcosa to Carcosa’s favour. He is only able to meet The Queen and Princess of Carcosa, Cassilda and Camilla, who invite him to The King’s Masquerade party for his efforts, which is taking place in a few days.
The following scenes consist of The Stranger exploring Carcosa, waiting for the Masquerade party. Many scenes revolve around the Stranger meeting citizens of Carcosa, and him noticing events that make the City and its people appear stranger and stranger.
The Stranger realises something is wrong with Carcosa, and decides to investigate. He talks with the Queen and Princess about The King, and learns they only see him at Masquerade parties, along with the rest of Carcosa. And with him mentioning The Lake of Hali outside of Carcosa, the 2 get upset and order him not to go there under any circumstances. When The Stranger leaves, Cassilda orders the Head of the Ministers to use his contacts to shadow him to ensure he doesn’t investigate any further. Despite the warning, he evades his stalkers and goes to the Lake of Hali. There is no scene explaining what happens there, instead it immediately goes to the final scene.
The final scene starts with the Stranger appearing at the Masquerade and announcing his intention to Camilla and Cassilda of unmasking the King and accusing him of a massive conspiracy during the party. Cassilda agrees to help, soliloquising on the tribulations of her king’s actions and deeming this a punishment for his neglect. Camilla however is hesitant and runs out. It ends with The Stranger and Cassilda running through the plan as Camilla runs through the streets of Carcosa, calling out to The King, pleading for her life.
Test #3: The same subjects were given the same roles and were told to read and perform Act 2.
Results: Complete non-compliance from all Subjects, with 4 being converted into 409-1A instances and the other, a 409-1B instance. Despite the threat of termination, all subjects refused to perform. When physically forced, all 409-1A instances converted into 409-1B instances and attempted to mutilate their limbs and rip out others throats with their teeth or swallow their own tongues. While Security attempted to stop the subjects, the isolated 409-1B instance was taken by 409-2. All remaining 1B instances were self terminated or otherwise mute.
Test #7: Subject was an 409-1B instance, acted mostly comatose but under stress was prone to hysteria. Subject mentioned the Yellow sign and 409-2 manifestation was imminent. All personnel were told to avoid the area and security were told to stay with the Subject and shoot wherever the Subject deems 409-2 is.
Results: Subject went into hysteria 5 minutes after mentioning the Yellow sign, and test procedures were implemented. Subject became highly agitated and pointed at the door, leading security opened fire at the door. Fire at the door lasted 5 seconds, which Security then asked if 409-2 was terminated. Subject then responded that he was attempting to open the door, but security reported that they could hear nothing from the door. Onlooking researchers ordered to open the door. When Security opened the door, the power cut out for 5 seconds. When they came back on, the security guards had converted into 409-1B instances, and the Subject was gone. Researchers recall only hearing minuscule sounds during the power outage.
Test #10: Subject was the 2nd recorded abnormal 409-1A instance. Due to the aggressiveness of 409-2, Subject was immediately interviewed on diagnosis as an abnormal 409-1A instance. The first Question asked by the Junior Researcher interviewing was about the contents of Act 2.
Results: As soon as the Subject started talking, all personnel in earshot became entranced. With the subject finishing his summary of Act 2, all listening personnel became either 1A or 1B instances, while 409-2 seemingly manifested and took the Subject. All transcripts of this interview were incinerated due to the possibility of a Auditory hazard.
Foreword: Subjects were tasked in their dream state to explore and recount their findings. Breakthrough explorations are shown below. For a full list, see Document-██████-███.
Exploration #02: Subject was a 409-1A instance with an aggravated personality shift and diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Ordered to check the nearest house in dream.
Results: Subject described the architecture of houses as dome-like, and perceived many large towers in the city. All houses subsequently entered were all empty despite signs of life. Dream concluded after 20 mins perceived by the Subject.
Exploration #03: Subject was a 409-1A instance with a calm personality shift, and diagnosed with Narcolepsy. Told to observe the landscape and notice any landmarks in an attempt to locate where Carcosa is situated.
Results: Subject failed to describe the land around Carcosa, but managed to describe features in the sky. He recounted the sky was bright despite it seemingly being night, with 3 moons and black stars in the sky. Subject also identified the Constellations ████ and ██████. Subject woke after approximately 5 mins from entering the dream. Astrological tracking pinpointed that the █████ would be where Carcosa is situated, but with observation of the planet, the city could not be seen. The head researcher proposed his █████ █████ Theory, leading to a doubled effort in explorations and interviews.
Exploration #05 Subject was a 409-1A instance with a nervous personality shift and was prone to bouts of Kleptomania. Subjects was told to try and interact with any people or creatures if any do appear, and to take note of any differences in the landscape.
Results: Subject described a day setting, with 2 suns. With this being the 1st dream state to be set in the day, subject was able to describe a lake, presumably the aforementioned Lake of Hali as depicted in 409. The landscape surrounding Carcosa was depicted by the Subject as a barren desert, with a mountain range behind the city. Despite nervousness, subject tried to interact with a female entity with wings seen near the lake. She immediately flew into the city and hid. Subject tried to follow, but was scared away by a entity only described as "Large" and tittled “He” by the Subject. Despite persuasion, Subject refused to describe the entity in any other way than the moniker “He”. Subject woke up when he attempted to steal a small coin purse from a nearby house. Subject claimed as soon as he put it in his pocket, he woke up.
Exploration #6: Subject was a 409-1A instance, with a reclusive personality shift, diagnosed with a form of PTSD. Ordered to check important looking buildings.
Results: After several minutes of agitation upon awakening, the Subject recited their experience. The subject appeared in a market square, and began searching for important buildings. After a few minutes, he discovered a Cathedral, and proceed towards it. The subject noticed the Cathedral was built similar to the other buildings, with a dome-like structure and large towers, along with banners adorning a symbol now recognised as the Yellow sign. (See Subject sketch here:) Upon entering, he heard a conversation between 2 unseen people. The only clear words and phrases he could hear were: “Our sign”,“Summon”,“The Blasphemous sinners”,"His puppets”, “The few of us that remain” and “Rebirth". It was then the 2 conversing must have realised the Subject was present and they moved quickly towards the Subject. Not knowing where they were, The Subject ran out, and immediately heard more people pursuing him and chased him through the city chanting “Reborn Carcosa”. The Subject attempted to reach the outskirts of the city and was able to reach a path leading to the Mountain range, and he hid in the Mountains until he woke up 5 mins later.
Foreword: The main purpose of these interviews were to see if the subjects could relate any further information on the book, its mechanisms, it’s Author or the location of 409-2’s victims. 3 choice interviews are listed below. To see the full list, read Document-██████-███.
Interview #05: Subject CSD-1503
Subject was a 409-1A instance and was quick to insult and antagonise overall. Excerpt from the end of the Interview:
Researcher Diana: Look, give me something or i swear to god i’ll terminate you myself.
CSD-1503: Oh, 5 minutes with me and you’re already threatening to kill me. Very classy, you bitch.
Researcher Diana: You think I fucking care at this point?
CSD-1503: <Laughs> I fear nothing motherfucker! If I could stop him, I can take you!
Researcher Diana: Stop him? Who? 409-2?
CSD-1503: He only takes bodies you idiot! Who the fuck you think i'm talking about?
Researcher Diana: I'm thinking you're going to tell me.
CSD-1053: Fat chance, suck my dick!
<Researcher Diana describes in detail the termination method she'll enact. Cut due to extensive length>
CSD-1503: Y-you’re fucking psycho!
Researcher Diana: You better start talking before this becomes a damn reality!
CSD-1503: I HOPE HE TAKES YOU AND PUNISHES YOU LIKE THE OTHERS! YOU-
<Subject starts screaming and flailing on the floor. CSD-1503 refuses to stop until sedated.>
Researcher Diana was reprimanded for unorthodox interviewing methods and it was later found that CSD-1503 converted into a 409-1B instance and chewed his own tongue off.
Interview #20: Subject CSD-4058
Subject was a 409-1B instance and would continuously shriek unless sedated. For interviewing, the Subject was partially sedated. The Full Interview is below:
Researcher Diana: Hello CSD-4058, i was hoping you’d answer some questions about the "bad man".
CSD-4058:(slightly slurred) He’s… coming after me…
Researcher Diana: And why’s that?
CSD-4058:(slightly slurred) My mask’s gone… I read the book… and… poof. He stole my mask…
Researcher Diana: Why is “the bad man" coming for you if he’s already stolen your mask?
CSD-4058: (slightly slurred) He’s… That’s… not him… He doesn’t like… when-
<CSD-4058 suddenly jolts her head up>
“…no mask? No mask!"
Researcher Diana: Well, do i have a mask?
CSD-4058: GIVE IT TO ME!!!
<CSD-4058 lunged Researcher Diana, almost pinning her to the ground. ASF personnel move Researcher Diana out of the interview room and Terminate CSD-4058. Interview concluded.>
409-1B instances after this incident now quote lines from the 1st act of RPC-409. No specific pattern or correlation has been established between the quotes used. The mention of Masks also seem to elevate, and subsequent interviews seem to tie the masks symbolising either a mental state or psyche. Cross analysation of Act 1 and this new theory is ongoing to decipher it further.
Interview #30: Subject CSD-0356
Subject was a 409-1B instance was extremely paranoid and would murmur to himself, believing anyone talking to him was a voice in his mind. The interview was common, until 5 mins in:
CSD-0356: …I can't let him… not now…”Not upon us, oh, king”…
Researcher Diana: What does “the bad man" look like again?
CSD-0356: …guards and scientists… he serves only… for masks… “Cassilda, Where is your mask?"…
Researcher Diana: (This is getting nowhere,) What was in the book again?
CSD-0356: <Noticeably distressed> …The Lake of Hali…We must reveal the truth…the sinners and maskless are sent…
Researcher Diana: Where are they taken? To Cassilda? To Carcosa?
CSD-0356: NO, no… Cassilda sinned and fell…Camilla pleaded for life…the sinners and maskless are to be saved by angels… rrraaAARGH
<CSD-0356 hold his head in his hands and starts yelling>
Researcher Diana: What’s happening?
CSD-0356: IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD EVEN NOW MY MANTLE IS SPREADING THROUGH THE GATEWAY BY THE STRENGTH OF HALI’S CAPTIVES
Researcher Diana: Shoot him!
CSD-0356: THE UNSPEAKABLE CANNOT BE STOPPED EVEN THE PHANTOM HIDES AND SPREADS LIES OF CARCOSA TO DECEIVE YOU AS HE DID HER
<ASF repeatedly shoot at CSD-0356. Subject continues talking through termination>
CSD-0356: AH! THE END OF THE COIL BECKONS THE VESSEL AS HIS THOUGHTS TURN TO DUST SHAMEFULLY SUSTAINING THE EXISTENCE OF THIS REALITY-
<CSD-0356 expires>
Researcher Diana: We record that? Get the Head Researcher in here his fucking theory is correct!
Closing statements: Testing is now forbidden and no one is allowed to read RPC-409 under the threat of termination. - Head Researcher Chao.
Foreword: This is a transcript of a recording found at the Dormitory of Kurtis ███. Field Agents are still looking for the intended recipient of this recording.
Kurtis: Ok… Yesterday, i mailed my piece to the Academy, hoping i would get in. Guess what? They mailed it back TODAY! They said they ran tests and they think my piece is too dangerous! How the fuck did they even mail a letter back so quickly? Well, you’d know how, "Miss Academy"… whatever. Since the higher ups at the Academy think my piece is too dangerous, i’m using it on myself. Sounds stupid i know, but they claimed the delirium was permanent when i know I SPECIFICALLY made it temporary and…oh…now i’m in the state of Delirium….
<Short silence>
Kurtis: Uh… yeah… i hear whispers. Paranoia is definitely setting in. Soon, i’ll fall asleep, and i’ll see if i’ve got the dream manipulation right. The Academy should’ve waited until the testers fell asleep. Yeah, then they would’ve said they visited Carcosa and they would’ve flip their shit! I've got to say, i have no idea where the story came from, i was just writing… and it just flowed out, like I was recounting history… Ok… I’m getting sleepy fast and i'm rambling. I’ll leave this on so i can immediately record my findings and hopefully i’ll wake up before the Academy call the Authorities. I’ll email this to them and then you, you did help after all.
<20 mins pass before a sound is heard>
Kurtis: Wow, holy shit ok. Well, the dream manipulation is working better than I thought, I was able to conjure up a complete background for Carcosa and even the Lake of Hali! I even got to talk to one of the characters, Camilla. She went on about the King’s Wrath and the Phantom of Truth and his betrayal of the King, amazing stuff. And then she talked about the Yellow sign, saying how it- <door heard opening> Professor? How’d you- wait, what’s wrong?
Unknown: He requires an audience with you. You have information on the one known as the Phantom.
Kurits: What? I just- wait… oh shit… you’re-
Unknown: If you resist, you'll regret his decision to keep you free. Come quietly and you'll be rewarded.
Kurtis: You stay the fuck away from me!
Unknown: Such a shame, i tried to be reasonable. Your fate will be decided by Him.
<A brief struggle is heard then silence. Tape continues in silence until 3 MST agents storm the room 3 hours later>
MST Agent: Room clear!
MST Agent 2: Why the fuck did we take this anonymous call so seriously?
MST Agent: There’s a recording device here, it's still on.
MST Agent 3: Turn it off and get the investigators here, also tell the others outside it’s a false alarm.
MST Agent: Jesus, how’re we going to play off 50 armed men turning up at a University Dormitory?
MST Agent 3: I think we should going to go with a bomb threat again, let HQ know what’s up and about our cover story.
MST Agent 2: Great, the MI13 chaps will have a laugh about this…
<Recording stopped>
Foreword: Letter found on the Desktop of Kurtis ███. Addressed to him by a “Christie” from L'accademia della vera arte.
Mr ███:
It has come to our attention that you’ve recently applied to the Academy of True Art, with your piece being, as you described: “A monumental blurring of reality and fiction”. We here at the Academy have reviewed your work and found it to be nothing as you have described in your passionate letter, with many of our testers being subjected to permanent change of character or insanity and some even disappearing. We first thought your piece was seriously defective, but with many of our subjects mentioning your piece as the instigation for this changes, we believe it now to be intentional.
You have 2 hours to reply to these accusations by the email address supplied below or else we will have no choice but to surrender your location to the proper Authorities.
████████████████
With regards:
Christie - Curator of Literature
