Session 1

October 17 1928

Doctor Frederick Bartlett, a retired psychiatrist, is invited by former patient Michael Gillen to see the premiere of the play Carcosa, or The Queen and The Stranger at the Scala Theatre on Charlotte Street, and to make an informal assessment of the mental state of playwright Talbot Estus, Gillen’s companion and housemate. Bartlett offers his second ticket to his friend Captain George Withers, a career army man. Before the performance, while sitting in the bar, they meet Andrew Saunders. Saunders, a museum curator with a special interest in mythology, is an acquaintance and former patient (after a very strange experience on a train journey) of Doctor Bartlett. Saunders' sister Hannah Kieth is starring in the play, and he has invited his friend Nathaniel Browne, with whom he shared the aforementioned train journey. Nathaniel, an author, is very enthusiastic about seeing this new play by the noted novellist, Talbot Estus.

Watching the play, the PCs observe that the audience is reacting strangely to the performance. Gasps of horror, surprise and even laughter are expressed at points in the performance that seem wholly inappropriate.

During the intermission between the two acts, Nathaniel reveals that the play is affecting him deeply, especially the appearance of the Yellow Sign. Similarly Andrew admits to being affected, though not as much. Captain Withers seems unimpressed, and Doctor Bartlett seems more interested in the audience's reaction to the play than the play itself. While they are talking, the group overhear a couple talking heatedly about the play, with the woman insisting she saw things which the husband disputes were there at all. Nathaniel is also puzzled that he saw two people get up and leave in the midle of the performance whereas the others saw no such thing.

Many of the patrons do not return for the second act.

The PCs watch the second act during which the emotions of the crowd appear to become more intense, culminating in a near riot at the end of the play. Some people cry out and others scream. Nathaniel is left crying uncontrollably, while the man on his left punches his wife and grabs Nathaniel. Fortunately Captain Withers, mystified rather than affected by the performance, remains clear-headed enough to save Browne from his assailant. Someone sets off the fire alarm and there is a stampede toward the exits before the ushers restore order.

Partly to avoid the police, who have arrived in the wake of the riot, the four companions go to the after-play reception and meet with the cast, who are largely unaware of any untoward incident. Browne meets Talbot Estus and discusses the play, which has inspired him, and its meaning with great fervour. Saunders discovers that his sister, Hannah Kieth has been dreaming of Carcosa and seems to find the play disturbing, as does young Jean Hewart. Michael Gillen tells Doctor Bartlett that Talbot Estus seems to have a fear of the stars, as well as a mania for the play, which he is attempting to novelise.

The reception breaks up after Estus has a heated exchange with the Scala Theatre's manager, who is pulling the plug on the production because of the riot. Arrangements are made by the new acquaintances to meet for lunch at the weekend.

Over the next few days:

Nathaniel Browne dreams several times of playing in a discordant orchestra, with a picture of the Yellow Sign instead of music. Researching the play’s origins he discovers the works of Robert W Chambers and that multiple plays of the same name appear to have existed in the past. He starts to write stories featuring elements from the play.

Andrew Saunders dreams several times of confronting an armed doppelganger of humself in a Carcosan Palace, and arranges to see his sister after the lunch with his friends.

Captain George Withers thinks little of the play until he encounters a landscape of Carcosa during a regimental function at a gallery.

Doctor Frederick Bartlett also thinks little of it, but does notice the Yellow Sign in a piece of London graffiti that says “The King will change London”. He also discusses Talbot Estus with Michael Gillen, but states there’s little he can do if Estus is unwilling to see him.

October 20th 1928

The four new friends meet for lunch at Overton’s Oyster House. The play is discussed. Nathaniel Browne, given a script by Talbot Estus, has discovered that the play as performed does not match the script that Estus wrote. Andrew Saunders agrees to mention this to his sister, Hannah Keith.

At tea, Saunders discovers that both his sister and her husband have identical scripts to Browne's, and claim to have performed the play as written.

Meanwhile, Dr Bartlett recieves an intriguing letter from an asylum superindendent in Herefordshire….