From the introduction: At some stage of their lives, each of the characters have come into contact with Anthony Carmichael, the gifted but undeniably decadent playwright. Unbeknownst to them, and the world at large, Carmichael, whilst recovering from a recent nervous breakdown (caused by a series of theatrical disasters almost leading to financial ruin) obtained and read one of the few extant copies of a play called "The King in Yellow". User summary: A Call of Cthulhu tournament in two acts, originally run at Arcanacon VI, July 7th - 10th 1988, Melbourne, Australia.