Chapter 120: The Thing in Yellow: A World of Allusions

One evening, Fritz was reading an ancient arcane book by Claudio Carnivale called 'Oltre Le Sfere' or 'Beyond the Spheres'. He came across a section that mentioned a mysterious and ancient Anglo-Saxon rune song described as 'Il Beallad Del Cassilda Della Signora e Del Re' ('The Ballad of Lady Cassilda and the King'). There were a few scant verses of the ballad transcribed in the book. Fritz thought them so bizarre and frightening that he wanted to know the whole song and understand its hidden meanings. There were allusions to the city of Carcossa and the lake of Hali, Hastur, the King in Yellow and... the Yellow Sign. Fritz was intrigued and determined to learn more.

The next morning, Fritz went to see Mr. Oddwynn, one of the wisest of all Gnomes. The venerable Gnome told Fritz that he was acquainted with the song, but he could not tell him more about it, nor could he utter the words. He warned Fritz that the song and the quest for its meaning have driven many to madness and death. 'Forget you ever heard of it, my little friend,' Mr. Oddwynn said in a grim tone. 'You are a good Gnome and I would hate to see anything terrible happen to you.'
Fritz left disappointed, but undeterred. Despite his friend's warning, Fritz needed to know more.

It was Mr. Oddwynn's mention of madness that struck a chord in Fritz's mind. He went to see Attila 'the Killer', a deranged, psychopathic Gnome, who although violently dangerous, possessed a brilliant intellect. He knew many of the things reasonable Gnomes couldn't even comprehend as existing. He found him at the Arkham Asylum for the small. His cell was at the end of a long, dark corridor, past the rooms of infamous inmates Evad 'the Butcher' and Zarabella 'the Murderous Fairy'. Attila smiled slyly when Fritz asked him about the song. He spoke kindly and softly, but in riddles. 'Ask he of the pallid yellow mask,' he said. He then told Fritz it was time to go. As Fritz walked away confused, he heard Attila utter softly 'Lucha Libre, Lucha Libre...'

This could mean only one thing, which left Fritz even more confused. Pallid yellow mask? Luche Libre? Attila meant for Fritz to talk to the famous Gnome Mexican Wrestler Rey Amarillo. But why? How is it that a Luchadore could know of these things hidden and forgotten. Well Fritz went to see him anyway. In order to get a chance to talk to him, Fritz had to wrestle Amarillo. He did okay at first, but couldn't get a chance to talk. When Rey Amarillo put Fritz in the dreaded 'quarter naughty uncle' Fritz saw his opportunity. The Luchadore told Fritz to go see 'El Gran Sapo' (the Great Toad) called Kerplopus. He warned Fritz to bring an offering, or the Toad might just eat him.

Fritz travelled a long distance, searching many places to find the lair of Kerplopus. There are many legends about this being, and obviously most of them were wrong. He was not in the caves of Quiznar, nor was he at the summit of Mount Zzumpp. Fritz sought all of the fabled places where the beast was said to live, the Plains of Ashrutt, the Great Crater of Bling, the Forest of Stone and the Valley of Ettingren. It wasn't until Fritz came to the Screaming Cliffs of Zonker, tired and weary, that he found Kerplopus.

In a soggy grotto, Fritz found Kerplopus. It was not really a Toad, just some unearthly eldritch thing that resembled a Toad. The beast eyed Fritz strangely as he approached, but seemed more hospitable once Fritz gave it the offering of a sandwich (ham and cheese on whole wheat). Kerplopus said in a burping voice that Fritz should seek the Ancient Mariner. 'He is over 1,000 years old,' said the creature, 'and he knows every song ever sung. Follow the star Aldebaran until you come to a dark, vast lake.'

Fritz followed Aldebaran for several days. Just when he was about to give up, he saw, shining in the distance, a great, black lake. When he reached the shore, he met the Ancient Mariner. Fritz asked him about the song. The old man told Fritz he could only sing the song to those who sailed with him. So, asking permission, Fritz climbed aboard the man's boat. The craft started to move. 'Where are we going,' asked Fritz.
'When we get to those places,' the aged sailor said, 'you will see.'

Off into the black waters they drifted. They sailed to the island of Sirius and the workshop of telescopes, where Fritz saw the fabled obsidian mirror. Through it, he could see lost cities and ancient stars. He spied ruined worlds and gods beneath the waters. He saw Lady Cassilda as if in a dream, revealing her face from behind a horrid, pale mask. All these things he saw and more.

He heard many wild, old sea songs from the Mariner and at last he heard 'the Ballad of Cassilda and the King,' the unfinished song that few mortals have heard. The old man sang all the verses he knew. Fritz was moved to great sorrow and terrible dread. Finally, Fritz fell asleep for a very long time. When he awoke, he was at home. He vowed he would never recite the words of that terrible song, nor sing its haunting melody. And so, the song remains... in silence.

On to the next chapter

Home

	One evening, Fritz was reading an ancient arcane book by Claudio Carnivale called 'Oltre Le Sfere' or 'Beyond the Spheres'. He came across a section that mentioned a mysterious and ancient Anglo-Saxon rune song described as 'Il Beallad Del Cassilda Della Signora e Del Re' ('The Ballad of Lady Cassilda and the King'). There were a few scant verses of the ballad transcribed in the book. Fritz thought them so bizarre and frightening that he wanted to know the whole song and understand its hidden meanings. There were allusions to the city of Carcossa and the lake of Hali, Hastur, the King in Yellow and... the Yellow Sign. Fritz was intrigued and determined to learn more.
	The next morning, Fritz went to see Mr. Oddwynn, one of the wisest of all Gnomes. The venerable Gnome told Fritz that he was acquainted with the song, but he could not tell him more about it, nor could he utter the words. He warned Fritz that the song and the quest for its meaning have driven many to madness and death. 'Forget you ever heard of it, my little friend,' Mr. Oddwynn said in a grim tone. 'You are a good Gnome and I would hate to see anything terrible happen to you.' Fritz left disappointed, but undeterred. Despite his friend's warning, Fritz needed to know more.
	It was Mr. Oddwynn's mention of madness that struck a chord in Fritz's mind. He went to see Attila 'the Killer', a deranged, psychopathic Gnome, who although violently dangerous, possessed a brilliant intellect. He knew many of the things reasonable Gnomes couldn't even comprehend as existing. He found him at the Arkham Asylum for the small. His cell was at the end of a long, dark corridor, past the rooms of infamous inmates Evad 'the Butcher' and Zarabella 'the Murderous Fairy'. Attila smiled slyly when Fritz asked him about the song. He spoke kindly and softly, but in riddles. 'Ask he of the pallid yellow mask,' he said. He then told Fritz it was time to go. As Fritz walked away confused, he heard Attila utter softly 'Lucha Libre, Lucha Libre...'
	This could mean only one thing, which left Fritz even more confused. Pallid yellow mask? Luche Libre? Attila meant for Fritz to talk to the famous Gnome Mexican Wrestler Rey Amarillo. But why? How is it that a Luchadore could know of these things hidden and forgotten. Well Fritz went to see him anyway. In order to get a chance to talk to him, Fritz had to wrestle Amarillo. He did okay at first, but couldn't get a chance to talk. When Rey Amarillo put Fritz in the dreaded 'quarter naughty uncle' Fritz saw his opportunity. The Luchadore told Fritz to go see 'El Gran Sapo' (the Great Toad) called Kerplopus. He warned Fritz to bring an offering, or the Toad might just eat him.
	Fritz travelled a long distance, searching many places to find the lair of Kerplopus. There are many legends about this being, and obviously most of them were wrong. He was not in the caves of Quiznar, nor was he at the summit of Mount Zzumpp. Fritz sought all of the fabled places where the beast was said to live, the Plains of Ashrutt, the Great Crater of Bling, the Forest of Stone and the Valley of Ettingren. It wasn't until Fritz came to the Screaming Cliffs of Zonker, tired and weary, that he found Kerplopus.
	In a soggy grotto, Fritz found Kerplopus. It was not really a Toad, just some unearthly eldritch thing that resembled a Toad. The beast eyed Fritz strangely as he approached, but seemed more hospitable once Fritz gave it the offering of a sandwich (ham and cheese on whole wheat). Kerplopus said in a burping voice that Fritz should seek the Ancient Mariner. 'He is over 1,000 years old,' said the creature, 'and he knows every song ever sung. Follow the star Aldebaran until you come to a dark, vast lake.'
	Fritz followed Aldebaran for several days. Just when he was about to give up, he saw, shining in the distance, a great, black lake. When he reached the shore, he met the Ancient Mariner. Fritz asked him about the song. The old man told Fritz he could only sing the song to those who sailed with him. So, asking permission, Fritz climbed aboard the man's boat. The craft started to move. 'Where are we going,' asked Fritz. 'When we get to those places,' the aged sailor said, 'you will see.'
	Off into the black waters they drifted. They sailed to the island of Sirius and the workshop of telescopes, where Fritz saw the fabled obsidian mirror. Through it, he could see lost cities and ancient stars. He spied ruined worlds and gods beneath the waters. He saw Lady Cassilda as if in a dream, revealing her face from behind a horrid, pale mask. All these things he saw and more.
	He heard many wild, old sea songs from the Mariner and at last he heard 'the Ballad of Cassilda and the King,' the unfinished song that few mortals have heard. The old man sang all the verses he knew. Fritz was moved to great sorrow and terrible dread. Finally, Fritz fell asleep for a very long time. When he awoke, he was at home. He vowed he would never recite the words of that terrible song, nor sing its haunting melody. And so, the song remains... in silence.