The King in Yellow

A Very Cursed Play

Often referred to just as "The Play," There is speculation that the first known publication occurred prior to 1865. Some scholars speculate that incidents of history and legend suggest the existence of the play substantially before 1865. The Journal of Asa Darabondi suggests that his efforts to destroy the printed editions of the play met with failure until he placed it on the shelf of a second-hand bookseller in New York City.

The Play and the Yellow Sign, often depicted on the cover, play a large role in the Static Protocol. Reports from other Delta Green agents suggest that the read only file regarding the play sometimes shifts and changes, despite the impossibility of that happening.

## Editions

### First Black Edition

Identified in spring, 1895, Paris, France. Whereabouts unknown.

The play is said to have been a small black book passed from artist to artist infecting them with melancholy, madness and death. Only one copy is thought to still exist. Sold to an unknown party at auction in 1989, New York City, for $616,000. Notes in the file ask if SA might be the buyer.

### Red Edition

Version with a red cover, retrieved from the collection of Michelle Vanfitz (daytime). The Yellow Sign was inscribed on the cover and Michelle was adamant that it be returned to her when the investigation was completed.

This version of the play's first known appearance was in June, 1951. In 1952, Agent Leland Fuller recognized the book as an English translation of a file from Deuxieme Bureau (Second Bureau of the General Staff) recovered after World War II. The file had previously been reviewed by German intelligence during the occupation of France.

Fuller believed that Agent Emmett Moseby translated the file and then worked with an unknown publisher to print it. Fuller then committed himself to Bellevue Hospital until his death in 1995.

Destroyed with fire by Applewhite, Bug and Frost.

### Black Edition

Found in the impossible library. Cover also inscribed with Yellow Sign. This was the Yellow Sign Bug showed Roger Carun. Bug speculates that this might be a "stronger" infection vector based on Carun's actions.

Destroyed with fire by Applewhite, Bug and Frost.

### Digital Version

Found on the computer taken from Roger Carun's apartment, document 51 labeled with the letter 'h' in Wingdings. Frost started to read it, but was stopped by Bug.

Destroyed when the hard drive was wiped by Frost, Applewhite and Bug.

### Libro Secretorum Manifesta

"The Book of Secrets" - Latin language edition by the Brotherhood of Doors, completed in August 1905. This version was based on memories of people who had attended the play in Paris in 1895. Printed at a vanity press with no listed author or printer.

Asa Darabondi stated in his journal that the book could not be destroyed, so he left it on the shelf of a secondhand book store in New York City. Darabondi also said that this book was less powerful than the red edition he acquired later.

## Performances

### PARIS 1895

The 1895 outbreak caused the deaths of more than 200 people, including two members of the French government. People were murdered, committed suicide or simply disappeared. The Deuximeme Bureau originally thought the play was the work of a foreign agitator, but eventually noticed clusters of crimes. The bureau directed the effort to collect and burn all copies of the book though they did include a copy of the play in the file. They arrested anyone associated with the play and made every attempt to erase all records of the strangeness associated with it.

At the time, the play was being performed to sold-out crowds.

Records recovered from the Chateau des Portes (House of Doors) on 20 July 1945 indicate the bureau believed the play had been translated into French, indicating an earlier source. Paris police sought an Englishman or American in connection with the manuscript.

Rumors of a red book with a "symbol like a looping dragon" appear as early as 1865 in England though no author or copies of the book have been found.

The author of the play is often listed as "X" or "Auteur X."

### Philco Television Playhouse, 1952

Gary Topchick was producing a children's television show about The Play. He was arrested for killing three children and the project was scrapped.

### Her Grey Song 1955

Delta Green was involved in stopping an incident in New York City in 1955.

Body count was similar to the Paris outbreak and involved an off-Broadway version of the the Play called Her Grey Song.

Code Named Operation Bristol, agents Ronald Burbach and Eric Carter were KIA in operation. Agent Capt. Virgil Ulysses Griffith is listed as MIA in the operation.