[Video]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin image appears suddenly, and though his face is composed, his thoughts are both cautious and alarmed.]

Everyone - be alert in liminal space, and avoid the men's bathroom four floors above where the portal let us into liminal space. The sign of the King in Yellow is still with us.

Comments

[creativefool]

...Okay, that's the second time I've heard someone sayin' that name. Who's this King? What's goin' on?

[neverfeltthatway]

...I'm not really the best one to talk to about these things. It's not part of the mythology of my world, and I wasn't present for most of what happened.

However, as best I understand, the King in Yellow is some kind of god or demon, a being of fear and madness. Three jaunts ago, in H-Harrogate, he tried to manifest into a version of Earth. We stopped him, but only narrowly.

[He stumbles over the word 'Harrogate' a little, and the 'we' is generous, but he really doesn't want to get in to his role in that jaunt.]

There's evidence that his power is such to rival the Trumps. He interfered with both liminal space and the telepathic network during that jaunt, and this is the third time his sigil has appeared in liminal space since - every time on some sort of pipe or drain. And both times previous there have been some sort of creature in the drain, though last time it was never fully released.

[It's not an easy subject, but Armin delivers it all with a crisp military tone and discipline.]

[shiroganeheir]

I have been wondering if this so-called King is the outside influence Sun spoke of to me. Or at least that influence is related to this entity.

Does anyone know anything at all about it other than the fact that the sign keeps appearing? What is its mythology? Does it have any background other than a mysterious nebulous powerful entity? We know more about the Trumps than that.

[creativefool]

Well, shit.

[There's a mental sigh.]

So there are things out there that could be worse'n the Trumps, who ain't even as cooperative as they are... and they're screwing with us too. As if gettin' dumped on the edge of hell wasn't bad enough news.

Stay clear of any weird signs on the plumbing. Got it.

[neverfeltthatway]

The influence that killed one of them? It's certainly possible.

...I'm not sure if I'd find that alarming, or comforting. If it's not the King in Yellow, that'd mean there's still something worse out there.

[shiroganeheir]

Not necessarily worse, but at least equal. It does seem that this entity would kill a Trump if possible. The question is, did it?

I apologize for my mis-placed frustration. I do not do well in heat.

[neverfeltthatway]

More likely they're screwing with the Trumps, and we're stuck in between. [There's a dark humor in his voice for a moment, though he's not truly amused.] That should be a familiar enough feeling, after the last jaunt.

Though I suppose they might be holding a grudge against us for stopping them. I suppose it's likely we'll find out - and sooner than we'd like.

[creativefool]

No kiddin'. [Kanji snorts briefly.] Yeah, they don't sound like the sort to let anyone go with a 'you beat us, well done'.

[neverfeltthatway]

Circumstances differ, of course - but in the case there's something else, whatever it is has managed to kill a Trump, and the King in Yellow hasn't. The implications are troubling either way.

[neverfeltthatway]

The question is whether they blame us for their defeat, or simply see us as tools of the Trumps. Beings on this level... they may see us as nothing more than a sword in the hands of their enemy. [And, of course, you don't blame a sword when it injures you - though you may still attempt to break it, or take it away from the wielder.]

[shiroganeheir]

Could be something as simple as the lack of opportunity, but that is not important at this time.

I believe we need more information about this entity, but I have no idea where to find that information. It does not seem like it would speak to anyone.

[creativefool]

Or as the Trumps' favourite pets.

[neverfeltthatway]

...In my experience, you don't generally send your pets to defeat your enemies. That may well be how the Trumps see us, but I find it unlikely The King in Yellow shares that view,

[neverfeltthatway]

Maybe - but there's no way to tell, at present.

...Some of us still have answers promised by the Trumps. But I don't know if this is the one answer that would benefit us most, in the long run.

[creativefool]

Tch. Yeah, good point there.

[shiroganeheir]

Doubtful. There must be some other way to find the information.

We need to keep our eyes open. Something like this should have echoes that we can find.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin briefly streams a close-up of the sign, the twisted gold bands on the pipes below one of the urinals.]

This is what it looks like.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin's frowns in thought.] Echoes? What do you mean?

[creativefool]

...Thanks, man. I'll keep an eye open for it.

[neverfeltthatway]

Let me know if you find it. Following the pattern, there should be only this one, in the bathroom I mentioned - but if it starts to spread, that's definitely something we need to know.

[creativefool]

No kiddin'. Sure thing: I'll pass the word on. Anything else lurkin' around that I oughta know about to look for?

[shutupandwalk]

[Joshua's modern day and reads a lot- he knows what the King in Yellow at least is a reference too.]

'Still' with us? [that's kind of concerning.]

[neverfeltthatway]

We stopped him from manifesting himself in a version of Earth several jaunts ago. His sign has been haunting liminal space since then. This is at least the third time it's appeared.

...Everyone should be sure to leave it alone. From what we know, the presence of the sign indicates the presence of creatures of his that we do not want to let out. [Armin has the scars to prove it.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin's answering nod is brief.] Thanks.

As for anything else... nothing I can think of, at the moment. The King in Yellow was a first for us, in many ways - there was no precedent for a lot of what happened there.

[shutupandwalk]

If you're talking about what I think you are, then I'm inclined to agree. [Lovecraftian mythos is not something Joshua knows a lot about, but... yes, it would be bad.] He certainly seems persistent.