Thief: The Dark Project

Museum:

"Gamall is after the Artifacts in the Wieldstrom Museum, and so am I. She has a head start, an army of statues, and glyph powers that make her almost unstoppable. I have...well, all I know is I have to get those Artifacts first. I've already got two of the five. The last three are museum exhibits and include a couple of old friends. The Kurshok Crown seems to have made its way here. And there's The Eye, a gemstone I've got some history with. Meanwhile Artemus is trying to drag the truth out of Orland. These Artifacts won't do me any good if I don't know what to do with them. Call it ego, but I've always wanted to tackle the Museum. The place is loaded with valuables and all the crack security needed to protect them. The last time someone tried to break in, the crime reports read

'Museum proves Thief-proof, Would-be thieves dead'. Nobody's tried since then. Gamall may be inside by now. All right, hag, let's find out who the real thief is."
MuseumAlt:

"Gamall is after the Artifacts in the Wieldstrom Museum, and so am I. She has a head start, an army of statues, and glyph powers that make her almost unstoppable. I have...well, all I know is I have to get those Artifacts first. I've already got three of the five. Luckily, I never got around to pawning the Kurshok Crown, so I don't have to track it down and steal it again. The last two are museum exhibits and include an old friend: The Eye, a gemstone I've got some history with. Meanwhile Artemus is trying to drag the truth out of Orland. These Artifacts won't do me any good if I don't know what to do with them. Call it ego, but I've always wanted to tackle the Museum. The place is loaded with valuables and all the crack security needed to protect them. The last time someone tried to break in, the crime reports read 'Museum proves Thief-proof, Would-be thieves dead'. Nobody's tried since then. Gamall may be inside by now. All right, hag, let's find out who the real thief is."

OldQuarter:

"For once, Orland wasted no time. He framed me with that trial, and it didn’t take the Keepers long to figure out I’d escaped from their prison cell. Now I’m on the streets of Old Quarter, and they’ve sent the Enforcers after me. Enforcers... Assassins is more like it. They’re good, but I think I can get past them. First I need to find someplace safe...then figure out what to do next. My fence in this part of town, Ramien...might be my best bet, maybe my only bet. But Old Quarter’s not a great place to be on the run. It’s the oldest part of town - with narrow cluttered streets. The Hammers say the rest of the City just grew out and around it. They would know, this is a Hammerite district, and they probably built most of it. But never mind that--I’ve got real troubles. The Enforcers aren’t human...not any more. The glyphs changed them somehow. And they’ve only got one purpose...to hunt me down...and kill me."

PaganIntro:

"The Keepers want me to steal an object from the Pagans called the Jacknall's Paw. It's a mummified hand--charming. But then, what should I expect from a strange cult of unpredictable primitives who worship the ancient Trickster god? No one's heard much about the Pagans lately, but Artemus gave me a tip about this South Quarter neighborhood, and I've heard rumors of break-ins and howling in the night. This tunnel is going the right way, I can smell it--vegetation and rot. Stealing from the Pagans is never easy, or smart. They and their creatures don't have any love for me. When I'm done, the Keepers better come through on their part of the bargain. I don't like risking my neck for nothing. Severed hands don't pay the rent."

SeasideMansion:

"The lead from the Abysmal Gale has brought me here--to the captain’s seaside mansion. Well, former captain. Ol' Moira and most of his crew didn't survive their final voyage, but luckily for me the ship's manifest did. It talked about a golden slab, which sounds like the Compendium of Reproach the Keepers have been looking for. The log said Captain Moira brought it home for safekeeping. I doubt he knew what he had--probably just wanted it for the gold. My stolen rowboat got me here in one piece. Now I just have to find and steal the Compendium. There’s no way to know how many of the Captain's loyal men are guarding the place, but the household will probably be in an uproar over the captain's death. With luck, no one will notice me sneaking around. The Widow Moira might know where her late husband kept his treasures. Maybe I'll start by paying her a little visit."

SouthQuarter1_int:

"South Quarter...one of the City’s most crowded residential districts, in the center of town, near the river. It’s not wall to wall nobility, like Auldale, but there’s money here...if you know where to look. South Quarter’s where I live, so I guess this is home. As long as I behave myself, I can go anywhere and do as I please and the residents won’t give me any trouble. But the City Watch will. The entire force knows what I look like, and they’ll attack me on sight. If I don’t stay out of the way of their patrols, I might be looking at some jail time...or worse. First thing I need to do is see my fence, Heartless Perry--his shop is down in Black Alley. I’m bringing Perry the Bloodline Opal. I don’t want to hang onto this stone any longer than I have to. Something about that job has left me with a bad feeling...."

Stonemarket:

"Well, I’ve made it past Lady Elizabeth and her thugs...and now here I am in Stonemarket. This district’s known for commerce and corruption, with plenty of both for everybody. Most people come here for the stores, but I tend to do my shopping after everything’s locked up for the night. There’s the Clocktower, one of the tallest buildings in the City, a good landmark day or night...and finally the Stonemarket Plaza. More vendors, more people. No doubt the City Watch will be keeping an eye out for pickpockets like me, though...being a thief is never as easy as it sounds. Anyway, it’s time for me to find this Bertha character and get rid of the Opal once and for all. I hope Perry was right about her."

Castle:

"The Bloodline Opal's mine now, and based on the size of this thing, I'd say it was worth it. But something tells me this Lady Elizabeth character had her own plans for the Rutherfords. I'd better get the opal to Perry soon – he can cut it into smaller stones that are easier to move, and we'll both make a tidy profit."

Clocktower:

"Those noises mean bad news. Time may have stopped, but this is looking more destructive than I had planned. And while I made some profit, I didn't notice any prophecies being fulfilled – I would hate to admit the Keepers were right after all. The best thing to do now is return to the Library until the dust settles. Maybe Caduca's finally ready to tell us who the Brethren and Betrayer is."

Dungeon:

"Well, I didn't make any new friends, but I found the Glyph Key that the Keepers have been searching for. Plus I picked up a little something extra for myself - not really my style in hats, but the gold it's made of should be worth a fair bit. With the key, the Keepers will be able to open their Compendium after all. I wonder what it says? Something tells me it isn't entirely good news."

DungeonAlt:

"Well I didn't make any new friends, but I found the Glyph Key that the Keepers have been searching for. Plus I picked up a little something extra for myself - not really my style in hats, but the gold it's made of should be worth a fair bit. According to Rafe's journal, the Keepers lost the Key decades ago. Only took me a day to find it."

HammerIntro:

"Now that I have the Chalice, I'm one step closer to the books in the Keeper library. Those prophecies had better be worth the trouble -- my little raid isn't going endear me to the Hammers."

HammerIntroAlt:

"Now that I have the Chalice, I have everything the Keepers asked for. That earns me access to their library and prophecies. Funny how making the Keepers happy ends up getting me in big trouble with everyone else."

HauntedHouse:

"I finally managed to escape from that... place. But I think I'm out of my depth here. I saw an old portrait of a girl who looks just like that Keeper Translator... but how can that be? I only found traces of the hag, I don't think she's been there since Drept saw her all those years ago. So I'm left with questions, and the vial of blood the ghost had me steal. The ghost is beckoning, and I think I'd better follow. This isn't over yet."

Inn:

"Nothing like mixing in society, especially if it comes with good loot. The velvet bag turned out to hold a bronze medallion stamped with a griffin...valuable enough...but more interesting was the conversation I overheard between Lord Julian and the cook. Especially the part about a huge opal, and a conspiracy for stealing it. I'd hate to have anyone but me get a stone like that, but I need a better idea where to start looking. If I show the medallion to my fence, I'm sure he'll know more. Heartless Perry always does."

KeeperCompound:

"I found more than I bargained for – a hideous old woman who makes statues walk...who is out for my blood and knows me by name. Orland doesn't seem to have a clue, so I don't think he's my man after all. Artemus didn't leave me much to go on either. I managed to escape the ambush, but the Keepers still think I'm the enemy. In fact I only know of one person who might be able to help me – a Hammerite named Inspector Drept."

Museum:

"I've got a headline for tomorrow's crime report:

Museum not thief-proof after all. Thief nabs everything worth having at Wieldstrom.

Turns out Gamall wasn't there – I'd like to know what she's been doing all night. In any case, all 5 artifacts are in my hands. Now to rendez-vous with Artemus at the Stonemarket Plaza. It's time to find out the truth, once and for all."

PaganIntro:

"So this is the Jacknall's Paw. The Keepers will be happy, but I doubt the Pagans will be as pleased. There are more of them in the city than anyone knew, and now their secret's out. I just hope that when they go hunting for their property, they don't come looking for me too."

PaganIntroAlt:

"So this is the Jacknall's Paw. The Keepers will be happy, but I doubt the Pagans will be as pleased. There are more of them in the city than anyone knew, and now their secret's out. I just hope that when they go hunting for their property, they don't come looking for me too. I've already stolen the Hammer's Chalice, so I guess it's time to pay Artemus a little visit."

SeasideMansion:

"I've stolen the Compendium, but I can't read it any more than Captain Moira could. I'll have to bring it back to the Keepers. Besides, I want to see the look on their faces when I hand it over. They've been searching for years, and I found it in one night."

SeasideMansionAlt:

"I've stolen the Compendium, the book that the Glyph Key opens up. Once I bring it back to the Keepers, we'll finally get to see this long-lost prophecy of theirs. I hope it makes interesting reading."

AULalbrechwritings: "The Writings of Albrech, Volume Three Who shall watch the watchers? Who shall keep the Keepers? Alas, there is no one. No one to watch us. No one to keep us. This conclusion fills us with dread. For even a Keeper should not be left unchecked. So it became our work to plan for the worst possible contingencies. If at some distant time in the future, should the Keepers become unbalanced, then only our work now would stand in the way of disaster. This is why we labored so long and hard to create the Last of All Glyphs. Yet our best thinkers were not satisfied. What if, for some reason unknown, it came into play too soon? Before these future Keepers had a chance to complete an important task? So we devised the Sentients, each a separate key, each with a will of its own. The Heart, the Crown, the Paw, the Chalice, and the Eye. They would not consent to the journey, which would culminate in their annihilation, until the time was ripe and the One was present. To ensure success, five Keepers were recruited to make the crucial sacrifices. And so, the Last of All Glyphs, our safeguard, stands ready against Keeper corruption. I hope we have done service to the future. May the Unwritten Times never come."
AULartifactlist2: "My quest for the five Artifacts- I now have two of the five. The Chalice and the Jacknall’s Paw were easy. In my capacity as puppeteer for the fool Orland, I was able to have Garrett do the work to acquire them. Then, when my true nature was revealed, it was a trifle to remove them from the Keepers to the safety of my den, my lair. For the Heart and the Eye, they are attention seekers - and this has brought them both to the Wieldstrom Museum where they pass as ordinary displays. There they feed their desire to wound, to entrap, to pollute the minds of susceptible humans. The Eye is fueled by the flesh eye of my adversary. I wonder what that Sentient will have to say to me, when I finally hold it in my hands. I wonder if it can comprehend what I have become. As for the location of the Crown, for so long the glyphs were frustratingly silent. Until recently, when they gave up a secret – that the Crown is closer now than ever before. I’m sure I will have it soon. Now I must proceed to the museum and steal, possess, acquire the two Sentients that are there. Soon it will be time for all secrets to be made known."
AULartifactlist: "My quest for the five Artifacts- I now have two of the five. The Chalice and the Jacknall’s Paw were easy. In my capacity as puppeteer for the fool Orland, I was able to have Garrett do the work to acquire them. Then, when my true nature was revealed, it was a trifle to remove them from the Keepers to the safety of my den, my lair. For the Heart and the Eye, they are attention seekers - and this has brought them both to the Wieldstrom Museum where they pass as ordinary displays. There they feed their desire to wound, to entrap, to pollute the minds of susceptible humans. The Eye is fueled by the flesh eye of my adversary. I wonder what that Sentient will have to say to me, when I finally hold it in my hands. I wonder if it can comprehend what I have become. As for the location of the Crown, for so long the glyphs were frustratingly silent. Until recently, when it was made clear – the Crown too, has arrived at the Wieldstrom. This brings me extraordinarily close to my goal, my quest – it is as if the Sentients wish for me to find them. Now I must proceed to the museum and steal, possess, acquire the remaining Sentients. It is time for all secrets to be made known."
AULbackopen: "Back in Business!

New extended evening hours!

Inventory is higher quality than ever!

Items are priced to sell!"

AULbradshawplaq: "The Bradshaw Monument

In Memory of Sir Bradshaw S. Auldale, District Founder"

AULcanalsign: "Canal"
AULcityquoteartifacts: "If there is evidence that the Artifacts were created by the earliest Keepers for some purpose, then that evidence would be in our very earliest writings. Which, of course, crumbled into dust ages ago - or so the Head Librarian asserts. -- Author Unknown"
AULdaegarbook: "Chronicles of Daegar: Epilogue

Imagine our great excitement at finding the new glyph. Somersault was the first to discover its secrets. But it wasn't long before our excitement grew to concern, then fear. Fear for the future, fear that the glyph could fall into the hands of an unbalanced mind. For we Keepers are human, and humans have weaknesses. With no way to destroy it, we enshrined it, sealed it with all manner of glyphs, and have set down these words to speak to the future. Do not heed the call of the Glyph of Transmutation - the glyph that can be used to steal another's form. Do not seek to unlock the seals that hold it. Let it sit, forever unused. And most of all, may balance be with us, the four entrusted with this terrible knowledge, task, and burden. Signed,

Keepers Daegar, Somersault, Gamall, and Vandolyn"
AULdiocenletters: "The Letters of Diocen, Book 5

To the Council- I am nearing the end of my ability to serve as Interpreter. My apprentice, Caduca, though blind, is highly gifted. She should be my successor when my time is ended. For the future, the prophecies are clear and rife with warnings. With the help of the young acolyte that chose thievery over us, we shall eventually overcome the first two trials. Then a third dark age will approach, but here the glyphs are not so clear. Interpreting this third trial will be Caduca's life work, and her eventual undoing. She knows this, and accepts her fate with dignity and balance. Interpreter Diocen

To the Council- This will be my last missive. The glyphs have taken all from me. I hope my efforts have not been in vain, and that my warnings have not fallen on deaf ears. I await a resolution on the matter of the glyphs I have postulated. If there is a Glyph of Transmutation, then there is terrible danger. A shape-shifter glyph would be too much a temptation for any Keeper. We must scour the old texts for any references to such a glyph. It is possible that early Keepers found it...but that the knowledge was lost. And it is how that knowledge might have come to be lost, that brings me great unrest. Interpreter Diocen"
AULdyannote: "Larkspur I bes havered another visioning of them Abomination. It bes has a lair in them canals. But I bes thinker, that if the water level bes kept high, then us Pagans will bes not stumbling into its den there. Bes you must sealing off the Pump House, and warn all Pagans to staying away from theres. Why bes this Abomination in my visionings when it bes them Hammerheads we fightings? I wishering that Viktoria comsey back to leading us. My thoughts bes ungreen and troubling. Dyan"
AULgamalljournal: "Gamall's Journal My efforts have met with obstacles, hindrances, delays...but there is a benefit to having Garrett alive. He can easily do what I cannot. The thief, the sneak. I know everything, and he knows nothing. My success is assured. It is time for recollection, retrospect. Decades, centuries past. I remember the day Somersault found the glyph. My glyph. And I knew, even I signed the covenant never to touch it, that it would be mine. It called to me. It sang me its song. Then it was foolish, trusting Vandolyn who shared with us his insight to use the glyphs against the accelerated aging. And it worked. Better than I hoped. And now I am more than any of them could have imagined. Of the recent past. The child Lauryl, whose form I used to hide from the others for so long. Sealed her grave with the glyphs, so that her skin would be mine for as long as I needed, wanted it. How did she escape? I still am unsure. And Orland, so easily manipulated by the letters. Signed with a C, any other would have unearthed my simple ploy. How easy it has been to remove from the Libraries the books that refer to me. And now for the future. I surmise that there are others following my path, my destiny. All they lack is the Glyph of Transmutation. And when the time comes, I will give it to them, my brethren, and more. I am become Glyphs. The time of secrets is almost over. A new age approaches."
AULgamallrant: "Always the thief! His name, always in the prophecies! And where is mine? Am I not just as terrible? Am I not even more fearsome? I must animate my army in more numbers than before! He will not fulfill his destiny!"
AULgardeningtip: "Leafers and vines grower more quicksy bes you feeder them with the saps and bones of manfools."
AULgoldcat: "The Grimalkin Tabby

The exquisite cat statuette is turquoise with emerald inlay for eyes. Please inquire for price."

AULgsmithsign: "Attention!

Fogerty's gold smithery is closed until I say so.

Signed,

The New Management, Jimmy the Knife"

AULhammerleaflet: "Citizens- Art thou aware there are heathens in thy midst? Didst thou know the Master Builder judges all? Dost thou give thanks oft enough? If thou answered yea or nay to any of the above, then thou needs must attend our services. Thy very soul dost depend upon it! The Brothers of the Order of the Hammer"
AULhatchsign: "Canal Access Hatch

Hatch opens after canal drains"

AULheistplan: "The Big Museum Heist Master Plan

By Ma Graham So.

It'll be just the two of ya. Use the tunnel, right, boys? But, see, it's gotta be after dark. Wait for the day shift to head home for the night. Then sneak in. Avoid the night guards. They move around a lot, takin' breaks and such. If you're lucky, you'll catch ‘em sleeping. Stay away from them new fangled security machines they got. They'll fry you like an egg. When you see a good looking exhibit, nab it. When you start getting tired, that means your bags are full, and it's time to come on home. I'll have the supper waiting."
AULlandmarks: "Final Glyph / Last of All Glyphs - cross check for other names used? Sentients. Crown - Where? Check Caduca's notes on Propheticus.

Lost Beyond Time, Under the Above World (translation incorrect? recheck source) Landmarks? Must be significant. Relationship to Artifacts?

Auldale Plaza - Bradshaw Monument, -- Heart?

Stonemarket Proper - Clocktower, -- Chalice? Crown?

Old Quarter - near Fort Ironwood?

Docks - ??

South Quarter - Fountain? Research historical significance.

Eye = exhibit in Wieldstrom Museum. Ancient Keepers = were present when The City was built?

Earliest writings? Check oldest history texts. Why 'giant'? -- Could it be the streets themselves?

Which streets were built already?

Which are the oldest landmarks?

Oldest district? -- recheck the texts

Cross check Compendium against 'failsafe'? or 'ancient failsafe'? How did ancient Keepers refer to Final Glyph?"
AULlarkspurnote: "Pagans- We bes closing off them manfool Pump House. Dyan had a visioning! Bes an abomination that lives in them canal! Stay aways! As long as them water level in the canals stays high, not lowered, then no pagans or cityheads can go down into them canal and cause trouble with them abomination. Bes you needer to get into them Pump House, then seek you Dyan in them greensy park. She havers them Trickster amulet that makers them vines go away. Larkspur"
AULlettertobafford: "Lord Bafford- Greetings to you. I hope your gout is coming along nicely. Anyway, I seem to have run into a bit of financial trouble. And, since we have such a good business relationship, a friendship really, I feel I can come to you for help. I think two thousand ought to do it.

Hopefully,

Samuel Fogerty"
AULlettertorollings: "Sir Rollings- Greetings to you. I hope your rheumatism is coming along nicely. Anyway, I seem to have run into a bit of financial trouble. And, since we have such a good business relationship, a friendship really, I feel I can come to you for help. I think two thousand ought to do it.

Hopefully,

Samuel Fogerty"
AULleversign: "Pump House Controls

Turn wheel to lower water level"

AULmagraham: "Alright boys, here's your lunch, you can't go robbing the Wieldstrom Museum on an empty stomach. I ain't worried. You got the tunnel dug real good. Makes a mother proud. Remember, once you're inside, you have to watch out for all them fancy safety gadgets they got. Anyway, eat up, and good luck.

Hugs, Ma"

AULmuseumsign: "Wieldstrom Museum of Arts and Antiquities"
AULoutofbusiness: "Attention! Out of Business!

Closed permanently due to lack of inventory!"

AULplazasign: "Auldale Plaza"
AULpumphsign: "Pump House

Controls the water level of the canal"

AULreplicas: "Garrett- Hello, my friend. I have sent a messenger out to leave this note where - with any luck - you will find it. My crystal ball tells me that you are planning to rob the museum. If so, then I believe I have something you may find useful. I have very convincing replicas of some of the exhibits. If you swap them with the real exhibits, the museum guards will not notice that anything is wrong. Of course, there is never any pressure to buy - but the Wieldstrom Museum has a history of killing thieves, does it not? In fact, the replicas were custom ordered by Ma Graham for the heist her boys tried to pull off a while ago. But they never picked up the replicas. Probably the price was too high for them. And you know how that turned out.

Come to my shop if you are interested. May fortune smile on you,

Carmen Cantata

Proprietor, Carmen’s Place"