Thief books compiled?

Mikael Grizzly on 16/8/2007 at 13:37

The search turned nothing up, so I think I can ask:

Does a file that has all the books and text resources (letters and similiar) from all Thief games exist? A similiar resource is available for Morrowind (some 1000 pages), but I failed to find it for Thief.

jtr7 on 16/8/2007 at 15:05

Nope. There's no single source with all of them...yet. One's being made.

ganac on 17/8/2007 at 00:51

That's suprising. With so much text, they'd have to put it somewhere

jtr7 on 17/8/2007 at 00:58

Lots of places have most, if not all, game texts from TDP/Gold listed out. Many sites claim to have a complete this or a complete that, but they never finished what they started, nor changed the term "complete" to something more honest, like "most".

I have all the texts in a cleaned up format, but not all within a single document. Like the others, I have most of the texts from the OM's in one place, but it's not complete, nor does it include TDS. TDS has about the same amount of texts as the other games combined.

Mikael Grizzly on 17/8/2007 at 07:55

I *could* prepare such a document (since I lack life and have nothing better to do, except exams), using extracted text files first and molesting cutscenes second.

jtr7 on 17/8/2007 at 08:09

A lot of the work is already done. Copy-pasting it all together's the chore. I could do it all tonight, in fact. Taffer's will have to be content, for now, that there's little formatting, but all the words would be there.

We won't see a proper presentation until the release of the Encyclopaedia of the Thief Universe. That's not gonna be for a while.

I could upload the texts and others could edit it.:thumb:

Mugla on 17/8/2007 at 09:33

There is one such work around. Can't remember the names you could google for, but I downloaded it when I was referred to it. Thought you'd know about it jtr7.
Has T1 and T2 covered; (http://www.mediafire.com/?3wj2ezmaosv)

jtr7 on 17/8/2007 at 11:52

Thanks, Mugla, I hadn't heard of it. Personally, I'd made my own ugly document--sampled below--for all texts per mission, before TDS came along and brought its own set of rules, and before I owned my own copies of any of the games. I've never known of just the books being compiled, nor came across that compilation during my research. Good stuff.

So, TDS and Gold-TDP comparisons need to be added and it'll be one complete compilation.

Quote:

Thief: TDP/G:

Miscellaneous:

From the "ReadMe" file:

"I crumble."

Manual:

Faction Texts: "Dig your hands into the earth, and then let the clay and dirt fall to the ground. After a year's passing, can you find that clay again? But drop a stone block, a beam, a fired brick; it will persist a year, and another hundred years beside. --The Book of the Hammer"

"Vines will twine to drink out the life of the manfools, and where the bloods of trees is spilled the Leaf-man rises and topples the towers. His will makes the trees to grow again, his roots and branches thirsting and blood to drinks in the joy of open sky. --Unattributed Trickster Scroll"

"The world is a great scale, which must stay in balance, in the face of forces seeking to skew its arms. A collection of knowledge is a set of weights, to be added to one side of the scale or the other, as necessary. Our task to place the weights, slowly, carefully, over centuries, in order that the balance be preserved. --Excerpt from the Lectures of the Keeper Loremaster"

Intro:

Opening Text: Barely seen in the background: “[UNRI]GHTEOUS”

"Ye shall not rob from the house I have built. Or commit any theft or unrighteousness, lest ye be struck down and driven into the earth forthwith, and the land of the heathen consume you. --The Book of Stone"

Barely seen on a boiler: “ HI[GH]
PRES[SURE]
EXC[ESS]...
...”

"The paths of thief and god are worn as one in the earth."

"Thief--Wanted for theft of the gems of Sarnoth."

"Stop Thief" and “Stop” and “Thief” repeated...

"Woe to him that defies the tree for he shall be cast out into the world through the veils of pain and fire."

"Broken silence."

From the visible edges of the coins:
“...al Rena Senfus Aughqunal Pæna danini Kruq...” and “Verawertfelungiqual”
“...r Sc...” and “...Upet eLi...”

Mission 1/1: A Keeper's Training:

Briefing Text: "The essence of balance is detachment. To embrace a cause, to grow fond or spiteful, is to lose one's balance. After which, no action can be trusted. Our burden is not for the dependent of spirit. --Mayar, Third Keeper"

Seen in Movie: A close-up of calligraphic writings in unknown language.

“DEUS EX...”

Briefing V/O: “I was a kid. No parents, no home. Running messages and picking pockets to keep my ribs from meeting my spine. One night I saw a man. Folks just passed him by like he wasn't there. I thought he must have something valuable, so I snuck up on him and made a grab....

'Ugh!'
'That's not for you.'
'Please, sir, I'm hungry. Don't tell the Hammers. I promise--'
'What is your name, boy?'
'Garrett.'
'You have talent, lad.'
'Let go of me, old man!'
'To see a Keeper is not an easy thing, especially one who does not wish to be seen. We have a need for those as gifted as yourself. If you've grown tired of how you live, then follow me, and we will show you a different way.'
'Leave me alone!'
'As you wish.'

I caught up with him just before he vanished into the crowd. It was the beginning of a very long education....”

OBJECTIVES: "Follow the directions of your Instructor in order to pass the training tests."

Mission 2/2: Lord Bafford's Manor:

Briefing Text: "The most promising acolyte left us, not out of the lesser folly of sentiment, but the greater folly of anger. His heart was clouded, and his balance was lost, but his abilities were unmatched. Even then, we knew to watch him most carefully. --Keeper Annals"

Seen in Movie: An ornate letter “B” is painted on a door, and another on a banner above the entrance to Lord Bafford's manor.

Briefing V/O: "I have a simple job planned for this evening. Break into a guarded mansion, steal another fat nobleman's priceless trinket, and leave quietly. Lord Bafford is out of town, and rumor has it that the captain of his house guard went with him, as a bodyguard. The time is ripe for a bit of burglary.

The front gate of Lord Bafford's manor is always guarded, and the main street is far too exposed, but Cutty tells me there's a better way in: around to the side, more out of the way. One guard, and likely no witnesses to...complicate matters.

The piece Cutty wants is a scepter--silver, jewels, the usual adornments. It should command a high price. Bafford, like most of his kind, probably keeps his treasures on the top floor of the place. Close to his heart...and far from his servants.

No point in waiting. I have Cutty's old sketches of the place, and everyone who's going to be asleep inside already is. It's time to begin...."

OBJECTIVES: "Sneak into Lord Bafford's manor and case the place. The well house in back is your best bet, if you can get the key from the guard - blackjacking or pickpocketing him would be quietest.

NORMAL: Find Lord Bafford's prized jeweled scepter, and redistribute it... to yourself. Try to do it without causing too much commotion. Steal the jewelled scepter with as little notice as possible.

HARD: In addition to pinching the scepter, steal 350 worth of valuables while you're in the manor. Grab 350 in loot while you're in the manor. Don't kill any of the servants; they're harmless.

EXPERT: In addition to pinching the scepter, steal 700 worth of valuables while you're in the manor. Grab 700 in loot while you're in the manor. Don't kill anyone while you do the job. No servants, no guards, no pets... no one.

Once you've achieved your other objectives, get out of the manor house and back to the city streets."

 BOOKS, NOTES, LETTERS, and SIGNS:

M2tip1.str

"Bafford's previous master of guards reportedly spent a lot of time worrying about the sewers, but the current chief is more lax."

M2tip2.str

"The guards Lord Bafford hires are slow and not very competent, but there's at least fifteen of them scattered about through the mansion."

M2ants.str

"Lord Bafford:
A recent delivery of antiquities from Bohn contains several items which we felt might be of interest to you. Descriptions follow, but you are welcome to drop by our shop to examine them, or our other goods, in person.

An ornamental sceptre, three feet in length. The body of the stave is weirwood, carved in the star and dot pattern. Six inches of the ferrule, and five inches of the grip, are bound with burnished copper overlaid by an ink-and-glaze cracqudare varnish. The crowning feature of this magnificent piece, however, is the six inch teardrop-cut cloudstone, one of the finest of its type we have seen.

A treasure-box of two feet by three feet, of silver birchwood. The lid is of inlaid pearline and onyx, in a maze pattern carved into the wood. The feet are lion-paws, each clutching a crystal globe. The inside of the box contains two principal compartments, one with glass shelves, and one without. Beneath the compartments is a lockable two-inch false bottom for your most valuable treasures.

Grimworth and de Perrin,
Fine Antiquities and Precious Relics"

M2cook.str

"Cedric -
Please speak to Cook about last night's dinner. While, technically, the menu conformed to my instructions, I suspect that the lamb was somewhat older than this spring's, and I am in no way fooled by his practice of warming the salad to disguise wilting. If Cook is incapable of finding adequate ingredients, he can be replaced - and if he offers those same excuses about the Stonemarket shortages, please remind him that the grocery budget is a good fifty percent above last year's figures, and even he should be able to procure adequate victuals at those prices.
- Lord Bafford"

M2ginny.str

"Dominic:
A couple things I'd like you to look into. First, if you could give Ginny a chat and put some Fear of Flattening into him, I'd much appreciate it. I don't know who he thinks he's taffing around with, but this Dreckboun thing is too much. Ginny's been a good cadge for years now, so I'll give him benefit of the doubt, but not for much longer. Next, there's a new thiefs-pawn turned up, operating in the north districts, name of Victoria. She's made quite a few connections, and I don't want to think she'll be getting ambitions of moving in. See if you can dig up any leverage on her - best to have some insurance.

Finally, there's the business I spoke to you about before. I know you're a busy man, but Ramirez's prices are a bit steep for simple matters such as debtors. Would you consider..."

M2dom.str

"Milordy Bafford -

Speaksie sel to Ginny, did you bid. Dreckboun, the Hammer-hearts ha' been afoot, askulk, aferreting about, grabbing many a one to vanish in the coldstone down below their forgey-chained cells. Tooks they your dealer Tarquis in their clutches night past, and two patrons as well, named of Lisalle and Ryen, skupped up as they left - and these not the first, cries Ginny.
Little wonder, then, if Dreckboun grows sparse-come these days. Of course, the lack o' blame to one hand, but I gave Ginny a firm understandsey, blood and doom and the whole book, so he'll be learning himmun all he can about how to turn the Hammers off him, never you fear.

About your Victoria, nothing yet. Walks she an inch above the ground, for all the dirt of her footprints have I found.
- Dominic"

M2ledge.str

" 3/24/34
2,342 Cash pits: Sunnyfair
734 Interest payments: Sunnyfair
-461 Ramirez: Sunnyfair
-153 Girls' shopping trip: Sunnyfair
1,491 Cash pits and dealer take: Dreckboun
320 Interest payments: Dreckboun
-272 Ramirez: Dreckboun
2,785 Cash pits, liquor net: Fendon
1,852 Interest payments: Fendon
-696 Ramirez: Fendon
7,942
4/3/34
2,490 Cash pits: Sunnyfair
801 Interest payments: Sunnyfair
-494 Ramirez: Sunnyfair
982 Cash pits and dealer take: Dreckboun
245 Interest payments: Dreckboun
-184 Ramirez: Dreckboun
-150 Ramirez: debtor assist
2,632 Cash pits, liquor net: Fendon
1,532 Interest payments: Fendon
-625 Ramirez: Fendon
7,229

4/10/34
2,254 Cash pits: Sunnyfair
743 Interest payments: Sunnyfair
-450 Ramirez: Sunnyfair
-200 Token: Sunnyfair guard
754 Cash pits and dealer take: Dreckboun
180 Interest payments: Dreckboun
-140 Ramirez: Dreckboun
-150 Token: Dreckboun guard
2,368 Cash pits, liquor net: Fendon
1,158 Interest payments: Fendon
-529 Ramirez: Fendon
-200 Token: Fendon guard
5,788

What the hell is going on with Dreckboun? Even if Ginny's grafting, he damn well ought to be more subtle than this! If it's not turned around in another week, toss it up to Ramirez as breach."

M2memo.str

"To all staff:

The Sir will be taking his dinner and evening out tonight, so domestics and manservants have the night free. Housekeep is still expected to finish the quarters and the general polish. The house guard is not to find this an opportunity to shirk, and lapses will be brought up with the Sir.
- Cedric"

M2tax.str

"Lord Bafford,

I write to you to remind you of your duties to your Baron and your city. Surely you do not expect that the payment you sent on the first of the month are the entirety of your taxgelt - or do you think the Baron is unaware of your gambling houses? Let me remind you of the example made of Lord Brynveran, and assure you that the penalties for concealment of income are as harsh today as they were in Brynveran's time. The main difference, of course, is that today, the inspectors receive a bounty and are even more enthusiastic in their duties. The Baron waits for the remainder of your taxgelt. I advise that you not leave him waiting too long.

--Julian Friehalt, Commissioner of Taxes"

Mikael Grizzly on 17/8/2007 at 21:05

Lovely.

A thought jumped into my head about creating an in-character document, something like "Essentials, Excerpts From Works Of Days Past" and piecing together the fragments from all games into one, as I recall some documents were repeated a few times.

However, my memory tends to be foggy. Even though I'm 19. D:

jtr7 on 17/8/2007 at 21:24

Before I went to bed last night, I spent three hours copy-pasting all the book files from TDP and Gold into one document. I'll do cutscenes today then start on TMA. I'll work on TDS over the weekend.