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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4906818" data-attributes="member: 3285">Castle Ambrose: ConclusionIn the center of this room was an ornate mahogany casket. The casket rested on a raised dais. A silver candelabra and an iron brazier stood at the head and feet of the casket. The candelabra held burning amber candles, and perfumed smoke rose from the brazier. A large tapestry covered all the wall space, depicting the murder of Aldones by Camilla.Carved into the inside lid of the casket were the words “Burn the tapestry to break my curse”. A skeleton wearing a crown of gold lay inside the casket. Sebastian set fire to the tapestry.A man dressed in rich yellow robes and wearing a golden crown and other fine jewelry suddenly appeared, stepping out of the smoke and ashes. “Aldones Stefan Ambrose.” Beldin recognized him from the last time they met in Freeport.Aldones stretched and said, “Thanks, I’ve been trapped in there for ages.” The tomb disappeared and they were back outside of the Cresh House in Freeport. “And thus the war between the masked men and the naked is at an end,” said Aldones.  “The King in Yellow has come again to Carcosa…and failed to come to Arcanis, as was foretold. There was much that needed to be undone, which you have completed and by doing so, reforged the Covenant of the Sign.”“So it’s really over?” asked Vlad.  “The Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign?  The Unspeakable One?  All that?”Aldones smiled.  “We have triumphed in the war.  And thus I am the inheritor of the King in Yellow, and have reclaimed the Dynasty.” He turned to Sebastian. “The price was the fixing of the mask.  And you have paid it.”Sebastian reached hesitantly for the mask on his face.  “I can…remove it?”“You could always remove it, poor tortured Sebastian.”  Sebastian removed the mask.  He handed it to Aldones.  “Although you may not fully understand, you all had a part to play.  Hastur, Yhtill, and Alar, and indeed all of Carcosa, were corrupt.  The King in Yellow needed Arcanis to change it; he needed his Stranger, his Phantom of Truth.  And you played your parts well.”“But all the madness and suffering…” began Beldin.Aldones nodded his head sadly.  “The King in Yellow is our god, but he is an incomprehensible being. Your world, when exposed to ours, goes mad.  And the converse is true…it is why I was not myself when we first met. All I knew is that I had to get back to Carcosa.”“And what of our friend?” asked Vlad.A slight grin crept across Aldones’ lips.  “They’re sleeping behind you.  It was thanks to Kham that our world exists at all.  He dreamed it up, after all, and it was his dreams that helped you succeed—he sent you the amber glow that healed your wounds.”“They?” Sebastian turned around.  Slumbering peacefully in the alley was Kham, Drak Scarbelly, Rask, and Prolk. “All those who did not belong in Carcosa have been released.” Aldones became more serious. “Be warned, that includes some who may not be so grateful.”Sebastian nodded.  “And what of you?”“I will return to build my world.  Even now, it is returning to what it once was.  I am the father of all in Hastur.  Carcosa will no longer be necessary, until in due course of starwheels we lose our way again.”  He paused.  “But for your travails I will bestow one wish on each of you. Step forward.”They looked at each other.  Sebastian stepped forward.“Sebastian Arnyal, when you first sought to lead the King in Yellow away from Arcanis, you planned to take him to hell with you.  But you are a whole person, Sebastian, not a half-breed.  And by sacrificing yourself, you proved that you are more man than devil.  And yet, you are what you are.  Do you wish me to make you human?”Sebastian blinked.  “No.  I…I like who I am.”“As well you should.  Do not be ashamed of who you are; I know you loathe those feathers.  Fortunately, they are mere props for our play.  Shake them off.”Sebastian looked hesitantly over his shoulder.  Then he concentrated and unfurled his wings.  The feathers fell off of it, as if they had been glued to him.Vlad stepped forward next.  “Vlad Martell, you fought heedlessly without concern for your own safety.  You slew the colossus and countless other foes.  You already have a powerful sword, but it shall be even more powerful still. You will find that it will now warn you of traps before you stumble through them and allow you to perceive invisible enemies before they stab you in the back.”In its scabbard, Grungronazharr thrummed. “And you, Master Dwarf.  Please come forward.”Beldin stepped forward.“You are a defender of the weak, of the downtrodden, of the frail.  Your warm presence will protect your charges from cold hearts.  Your shield will be more powerful still.”  Beldin’s shield glowed with a bluish-white light.He handed each of them a brooch, formed of black onyx with the Yellow Sign inscribed in gold.  “Keep this to remember me by. Now my time here is at an end,” said Aldones.  “And so the King in Yellow withdraws his protection of Arcanis…”“Protection?” asked Sebastian, incredulous.  “Wasn’t it the Unspeakable One who started the war on our world?  A Valinor appeared and gave the Emperor his blessing to start a civil war. Thousands will die because of your so-called King!”Aldones lowered his head.  “Alas, that was not His doing, but that of his half-brother, Leviathan.  Now that the King is leaving, his half-brother will extend his will upon Arcanis. Only the Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign kept Leviathan’s minions in check. Beware…Leviathan has no play to complete, no purpose.  He only seeks to awaken, and when he rouses, all of Arcanis will shudder in his wake.” Thanking them again, Aldones spoke some arcane words and, with grand gestures, disappeared in a billow of smoke.</blockquote>

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