Session 1

The first session began with Andrew Saunders and Doctor Frederick Bartlett being invited to a play called Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger, to be premiered at the Scala Theatre, Charlotte Street London on October 17th 1928. Having been given 2 tickets each, they invited their friends Nathaniel Browne and Captain George Withers.

Before the play, the PCs got to know each other, and revealed their professions.

Doctor Bartlett, a retired psychiatrist, had seen Andrew in a professional capacity after a very strange experience on a train journey which Andrew had undertaken with Nathaniel.

Captain Withers, a career army man, was an old friend of Doctor Bartlett's

Andrew, a museum creator with a special interest in mythology, had come to see his sister, Hannah Keith, perform the role of the Queen.

Nathaniel, an author, had been invited by Andrew and was 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, prompting Captain Withers to deliver a blow which breaks the man's nose (whereupon he is attacked by his equally violent wife). Someone sets off the fire alarm and there is a stampede toward the exits before the ushersrestore order. Hearing approaching sirens the PCs decide to take up the invitation to the after play function.

At the function, the PCs meet Hannah Keith and her husband George Keith. Hannah admits to Andrew that she is somewhat disturbed by the play. Walter Paige and Michael Gillen enter. Michael talks to Doctor Bartlett about being woriied about Talbot Estus's mental state. He appears to be obsessed with the story of Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger, more so with the novel he is writing from the material than the play itself.