Hello,

Just who or what is the King in Rags and Tatters. Seen him mentioned here a couple of times in passing and saw that he is the example for rank 4 on the fear table in the core rulebook, but never really got a history on him. Is he detailed in the books somewhere? By the name and the fact that he's that friggin scary, he brings to mind The King in Yellow and other Lovecraftian images.

Also, has it ever been detailed what exactly is in the Threnos (sp?) Zone (the quarantine system that's surrounded by a satellite network blaring Imperial hymns on all frequences).

Anyways, any information would be great.

-Thulis

There is no information on him, but he's obviously based on Hastur.

It's implied that he's a manifestation of, or a servant of Tzeentch, or one of his aspects, so expect him to be obsessed with subversion and scheming.

His presence is insanely disturbing, to say the least.

There IS information on him ... get a copy of the great Disciples of the Dark Gods. He is associated with a nightmarish cult annex travelling circus called the Menagerie.

Oh hell I have that book but haven't read through the whole thing yet. Awesome! I'll take a look tonight!

-Thulis

The Laughing God said:

I don't recall there being any info at all on him apart from his association with the cult *goes to dig up DotDG.*

I've wanted to inlcude the Menagerie for a while now as the enemies of the Pilgrims of Hayte. The idea of the cell getting caught between a revelator and a false prophet is just too funny.

Locque said:

That brings up an interesting conundrum potentially. Do the Throne Agent go after both cults, knowing their odds of success may be slim; or do they let the two forces duke it out and hope to take down the (supposedly) weakened loser while knowing many innocents may be dragged to hell along the way? Really depends on the players and how their Inquisitor seems to opperate.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Yeah, no real hard info on the King.

Has anything ever been detailed about the Threnos Zone?

As for getting caught between two cells, I like the idea

-Thulis

Locque said:

well ofcourse he is not detailed in a precise manner, this is Dark Heresy after all Villains and entities are purposefully kept mysterious and threatening .. too much information would ruin the sense of impending danger surrounding them.

I have always felt that the illustration in DotDG on the left hand page in the Menagerie section was the King ... and it makes him even scarier.

The Laughing God said:

Not looking for stats for anything like that, but just some general info. Past encounters the =I= has had with him, what his motivations are, historical records... that type of thing would be nice.

-Thulis

Thulis said:

It's all there in disciples of the dark gods, there's nothing else on him. He's left entirely to your own imagination.

Locque said:

Ahh well. Was just curious. If/when I do use him in game, he'll be based off of the King in Yellow and deal out the insanity points like a blackjack dealer deals cards

-Thulis

What is this King in Yellow and Hastur thing everyone keeps talking about?

Some ultracool novel I have been missing out on for far too long?

The Laughing God said:

Yes, yes it is.

The King in Yellow

Edit:

And speaking of the King in Rags and Tatters as an homage to the king in Yellow...

"Songs that the Hyades shall sing,
Where flap the tatters of the King,
Must die unheard in Dim Carcosa."

Excerpt from Cassilda's song.

Graver said:

Actually if you can get hold of the short story More Light by James Blish (I think), that's realy good as well on this one!

Dr Bloodmoney said:

Get a copy of Call of Cthulhu's supplement Malleus Monstrorum, it has a two page entry on the King in Yellow.

Thanks all! Should I get both The King in Yellow and The Hastur Cycle or are they the same stories in two different volumes?

Graver said:

Interestingly, Hyades is the system/world that most of the events of the fifth Space Wolves novel; Sons of Fenris, takes place on. A considerable amount of Chaos influence abounds.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Brother Praetus said:

40k has been borrowing a bit here and there from both Chambers and Lovecraft for inspiration for some time

@The Laughing God, the King in Yellow and the Hastur Cycle are very different books with very different stories in them. The King in Yellow are the original short stories written by Chambers in the 1890's. The Hastur Cycle are the re-imaginings of the Hester Mythos and it's integration with the Cthuluh mythos by latter writers such as Lovecrafts few homages to KiY and latter writers.

I would also recommend, as game books go, Delta Green: Count Down as a much better interpretation of The King In Yellow which is more true to Chambers version then the Call of Cthuluh books which are more in line with Derleth's version which is lacking in the more subtle sublime horror that Chambers had going.