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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4872747" data-attributes="member: 3285">Castle Ambrose: Part 6b – The Throne Room“I have enfolded Yhtill,” said the King in Yellow, “and the Phantom of Truth is laid.” He spoke more quietly. “Henceforth, the ancient lies will rule as always…” The King turned to Cassilda. “Now. Cassilda!”Cassilda rose mutely to her knees.“Thou wert promised a Dynasty by Truth, and in truth shalt thou have a dynasty,” said the King. “The Kingdom of Hastur was first in all the world, and would have ruled the world, except for this: Carcosa did not want it. Hence, thereafter, Hastur and Arcanis divided; but those in Arcanis sent you from Aldebaran the Phantom of Truth and all was lost; together, you forgot the Covenant of the Sign. Now there is much which needs to be undone.”“How, King?” Naotabla asked faintly. “How?“Henceforth, Hastur and Arcanis will be divided forever. Forever shalt thou contend for mastery, and strive in bitter blood to claim which shall be uppermost: flesh or phantom, black or white. In due course of starwheels, this strife will come to issue; but not now; oh, no, not now.”“And—until then?” whispered Cassilda.“Until then, Carcosa will vanish; but my rule, I tell you now, is permanent, despite Aldebaran. Be warned. Also be promised: He who triumphs in this war shall be my—can I be honest?—inheritor, and so shall have the Dynasty back. But think: Already you own the world. The great query is: Can you rule it? The query is the gift. The King in Yellow gives it in your hands, to hold … or to let loose. Choose, terrible children.”“You are King, and are most gracious,” said Naotalba faintly. “We thank you.”“YOU thank ME?” The King drew himself up, indignant. “I am the living god! Bethink thyself, priest. There is a price, I have not as yet stated the half of it.”Everyone waited, petrified.“The price is: The fixing of the Mask.”Silence. “You do not understand me,” said the King. “I will explain it once and then no more. Hastur, you acceded to, and wore, the Pallid Mask. That is the price. Henceforth, all in Hastur shall wear the Mask, and by this sign be known. And war between the masked men and the naked shall be perpetual and bloody, until I come again … or fail to come.”Noatalba started to his knees. “Unfair, unfair! It was Arcanis invented the Pallid Mask! Aldones—““Why should I be fair? I am the living god. As for Aldones, he is the father of you all. That is the price: the fixing of the mask.”“Not upon us, oh King!” Camilla wept bitterly. “Not upon us!“Yhtill! Yhtill! Yhtill!” shouted the King.The Hyades and Carcosa were once more visible over the balcony rail. The mass of corruption that had been the Stranger rose slowly and uncertainly. A child ran out from the crowd, and seized the Stranger by one mushy hand, leading him shambling out across the balcony. There was a low, composite moan as they left.“Not upon us!” Cassilda stood and threw her arms wide. “Not upon us!”“What?!” asked the King. “Do you think to be human still?”“Now we shall…” began Naotalba.The King suddenly pointed at him. “You desired the commencement of a new age; I say unto you that I am the new age. My reign has begun, but what need have I for priests when the eternal dead may serve me? Where has your irrationality and certitude brought you? Begone!”The King spread his arms for but a moment. Naotalba screamed and dusty rose from his body, leaving his skeleton in mid-gesture.The King turned to Cassilda. “You desired survival; I say unto you only that you have survived.”“I have survived all of my children,” Cassilda said bitterly.“Was that not your desire? To survive? Or did I misunderstand?”“But not like this! You’ve taken my children…”“Not I,” interrupted the King. “See where your conciliation and indifference have brought you?”“…but I shall not surrender,” Cassilda said defiantly. “I shall never surrender.  Aldones may still live.  He shall be the last king.”“Aldones was the FIRST king. I am the Last King.”“I shall not abdicate.”“You already have.”A pause.“Have you conquered Hastur then?” asked Cassilda in a small voice.“I AM Hastur.  I have reclaimed Hastur from its human infestation.  The parasites who continue to live here do so at my sufferance.”“Is there nothing else?”“How can you deny it?”Cassilda was frantic. “But surely Carcosa is your city, not Hastur.”“But now, this IS Carcosa, for the doom of Carcosa is visited upon you all.” The King spread his arms wide.“Not upon us, oh King!” shrieked Cassilda. “Not upon us!”Then her flesh turned to dust.</blockquote>

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