Thief: The Dark Project
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- M2TIP1
- M3HolyWaterTip
- M4ALARUS
- M4MARAD
- M4STATUE
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THIEF: The Dark Project "'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" "'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" “‘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” M2ANTS: "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.
Fine Antiquities and Precious Relics" M2COOK: "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" M2DOM: "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."
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.
ground, for all the dirt of her footprints have I found. - Dominic" M2GINNY: "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..." M2LEDGE: " 32434 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 "
" 4334 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 7,230 "
" 41034 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"
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.
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 "
of time worrying about the sewers, but the current chief is more lax." M2TIP2: "The guards Lord Bafford hires are slow and not very competent, but there's at least fifteen of them scattered about through the mansion."
4: Dellin, Ladytaker. Scalding. 7: Sennet, Cutthroat. Razor finger removed. Caning, Factory work 9: Issyt, Cadger. Caning and Sour Mash. Died 'neath Righteous Punishment." M3B2: "Cell Block 2 2: Potsol, Vandal. Fingers crushed. 5: Gelland, Thief. Wrist Broken. 8: Nammon, Jackablade. Flogging. Died 'neath Righteous Punishment."
3: Latton, Falsetale. Tongue Pierced, Factory Work. 4: Basso, Firelighter. Branding. 7: Deirne, Whore. Shorn and Branded. To be Released 10: Tarquis, Goldlender. Nose cropped, Factory Work."
4: Misa, Vandal. Whisking, Factory work. 5: Wills, Heretic. Meditation, Factory work. 6: Cutty, Thiefs-pawn. Palms scalded daily. 8: Tybal, Whorekeep. Died of Flux."
can be paying off some debts with this one, believe you me! I gots me a map, drawn by some dead old bugger, which shows a way in. I knows it's down there, in the Bonehoard, just like they always said. They say what that the dead walk down there, but ah, it's worth the risk now, ain't it? The way I hears it, the sound of the Horn echoing will lead me right to the thing.
But more's the chance that I'll see you topside, making a toast with the finest wine to be had. See you then!"
take back the top level of the haunted mines, because there's a specially-blessed holy water font there."
I charge thee to organize a search detail for that jackblade, Nammon. Somehow he hath slipped his bonds whilst Brother Inquistor didst turn for but a moment. Now he hath scaped with half the contents of the evidence box! Brother Carpenter hath reported a commotion to the west whilst he was repairing the stocks - start thou there. If the wretch be not found soon, doubtless he hath succumbed to the rigors of his interrogation. In truth, I wouldst rather find him in a search now than by the reek later. And who knows what may become of his mortal frame should he reach the haunted mines..." M3PRAY: "When I was cold, Thou taught of hearth and roof-beam. When I was hungry, Thou taught of pot and cauldron. When I was beset by foes, Thou taught of spear and shield.
Thy hammer strikes the iron, shapes the cauldron. Thy hammer in my hand, unto my foes."
should be a stash of fire crystals in the lowest oubliette, which was sealed for centuries but has been since opened up by the burricks. I'll need the crystals for the torches, if I'm going to get the Mystic's Soul." M4ALARUS: "ALARUS" M4EDINE: "EDINE" M4FELIX: "I'm so close! I hears the sound of the Horn, echoing all around. That coward Sutter, he left me an hour ago, after Cather blundered into a trap, but you can bet I'll be finding the prize on my own!
infamous Adolpho was down here, probably after one of the richer but heavily warded treasures. It looks like he failed, the poor bugger.
plundering some of these crypts, but the Horn's gonna be mine, I know it. If the rumors are true, the sound of the Horn should be"
happy and peaceful-like, with no thoughts of bothering old Felix. My only trouble now be my dwindling supply of holy water. I thought there would be a font in this area, but I'm blasted if I can find it. And the dead seem to be getting restless about something."
die for my mistake. The ancient tablet I found said that the Heart would be in "a room of statues, whose gaze is death," but though there are statues here, it's clear to me now that this is not that place. I dare not go back down -- the burricks prowl below in numbers, angered at my intrustion. Unless they leave, I will starve in this Godforsaken place." M4MARAD: "MARAD" M4MARCUS: "Felix doesn't care, but we've definitely found signs that Adolpho has been here before us. I don't know if he found that fabulous gemstone he always said was here, but if it's still here, it's worth more than the lousy Horn of Quintuplets, or whatever the thing is called. If I'm reading the signs right, Adolpho was convinced something useful was deep down below the Burrick tunnels." M4QTUS: "Quintus" M4QUINT: "Quintus' tomb completed today. Family complained, but they will pay our price. An expensive construction, but well planned. T'was fortunate for him we had space in the northwest corner. Several novices have complained of the noise, but they have not yet learned discipline. Ordered more lye. There come groans from the Thieves Reward, and the unrepentant oft do not lie easy." M4STATUE: "He upon whom the gaze of the Guardians falls, he shall be destroyed." M4SUTEXP: "I've had enough. If Felix wants to stay and be killed, that's his business, but the pay's not good enough to keep me down here a minute more. We already lost Dranko to those damn belching burricks, and Marcus didn't make the jump across that huge chasm. He probably drowned, if he wasn't dashed to bits. (I thought about looking for his body, as he was carrying some loot from a poorly-guarded tomb, but it wasn't worth the risk.)
those great octagonal vaults. Not that I cared one whit for Cather, the bastard, but I have no intention of ending up the same way."
was somewhere north of the Vaults, but I think that was just a guess. (I thought those strange X-shaped marks off that branch of the burrick tunnels were worth investigating, but Felix said they were irrelevant.) Anyway, if the traps and zombies don't get him, the burricks will. Those tunnels were a nightmare. At least our marks were mostly still intact. I'm almost out, but I need to sleep. I think the place I've found is out of the way enough that the zombies won't find me." M4SUTHAR: "I've had enough. If Felix wants to stay and be killed, that's his business, but the pay's not good enough to keep me down here a minute more. We already lost Dranko to those damn belching burricks, and Marcus didn't make the jump across that huge chasm. He probably drowned, if he wasn't dashed to bits. (I thought about looking for his body, as he was carrying some loot from a poorly-guarded tomb, but it wasn't worth the risk.)
those great octagonal vaults. Not that I cared one whit for Cather, the bastard, but I have no intention of ending up the same way."
was somewhere north of the Vaults, but I think that was just a guess. And if the traps and zombies don't get him, the burricks will. Those tunnels were a nightmare. At least our marks were mostly still intact. I'm almost out, but I need to sleep. I think the place I've found is out of the way enough that the zombies won't find me." M4SUTNOR: "I've had enough. If Felix wants to stay and be killed, that's his business, but the pay's not good enough to keep me down here a minute more. We already lost Dranko to those damn belching burricks. Then we watched Cather get filled with arrows from a clever trap in one of those great octagonal vaults. Not that I cared one whit for Cather, the bastard, but I have no intention of ending up the same way. I don't expect I'll see Felix again. He seemed sure that the Horn of Quintus was somewhere north of the Vaults, but I think that was just a guess. And if the traps and zombies don't get him, the burricks will."
of the way enough that the zombies won't find me." M5BAFF: "Master Ramirez - I beg your attention. While, as you say, there is most certainly breach in the Dreckboun pit, my subordinates inform me that this is due to the incroach of Hammer patrols among the patrons, and that my immediate Dreckboun comptroller, Ginny, has been unable to deal with the problem. Should this qualify as full breach, I must regretfully insist that the breach is on Ginny's part and not mine. I am, of course, happy to furnish all ledgers for verification, -Lord Bafford" "'The ancient corruption was again contained. To do more would have upset the balance, but we knew to remain ever vigilant lest it resurface. Neither the Hammers nor the pagans could be trusted not to meddle.' -- Keeper Annals" M5BURR: "Lazy slobs - If I visit with my babies and again find that they have not been fed properly, I shall take the horsewhip to the lot of you! The poor dears must be given live food - their delicate stomachs cannot abide the smell of carrion! I am in no mood to hear of the shortages when my babies are starving."
Warden of North Quarter, Shalebridge, Newmarket, New Quarter. Bloodsports, moneylending, spywatching. Organization of about 20 subsidiaries, 50 personal toughboys and fireboys. Contact with Shemenovs.
Warden of Docks, Eastport, Dayport. Rooftop breakers, protection and anti-protection services, smuggling, coinfaking. 12 subsidiaries, 60 toughboys, 20-odd solo contractors. Strong foreign contacts."
Independent fence, previously Raputo's. Dominates include thiefs-pawnage of exotics, medicinals. No known organization; contact with second-tier nobility, Grand Library, and Order of the Vine. May have warden aspirations. Dorcas Goodfellow Blackbrook Underguild ambassador. Particular (importable) dominates include magical constructs, medicinals, and elemental crystals." M5LEGBRK: "Boys - While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I must point out that breaking legs is, really, rather inefficient, if we wish our clients to be able to pursue their rather active lives in order to immediately repay their debts. I encourage your initiative in this area - perhaps you might take a lesson from the gardener and his hedge clippers, who trims off one branch while leaving the rest to grow... and most of our clients do start with fingers to spare." M5LOKPIK: "Lockpick Instruction Manual To use a lockpick, use-and-hold it on a locked door for a few seconds. The handle of the door will move slowly to the open position, and you'll hear a continuous clicking, until the handle turns and the door pops open.
to switch lockpicks, and continue picking the door. You may need to switch picks more than once."
time to go find the key. Note that you must be quite close to a door to pick it, closer than you need to be to open it normally." M5NAVAN: "Commissioner deNavan - I note with displeasure that again, one of my tough-boys has been taken to Cragscleft. May I remind you of the substantial donations I make to your office, such that I may "pursue business unhindered by idle scrutiny"? May I remind you, as well, of your predecessor's unfortunate end? The rivers are so treacherous this time of year. I trust that you will attend to this, and if the Hammers are too difficult for your policemen, I trust as well that you will let me know.
M5OLDCTY: "Master Vrinde: Recall our previous conversation about untapped sources? Can you find any precedent on going into the Walled section of the Old Quarter? There's all that crap about walking evil, but you know how the Hammers are. Ten to one gets there's all sorts of property, no known heir, free for picking without even having to pay gelt for lawful overlook. Anyhow, no rush on this one; better to look into it on the quiet rather than rile the Hammers or let Raputo or Webster hear about it.
It's not as bad as it seems. The Sir isn't so harsh if you learn his habits. When he's upstairs like the library, cosset him with tea and cakes, and chat of the household doings. When he's in the cellar with his gold, though, don't dare bother him 'less he rings for you, and then hop to it like the Trickster's on your tail. - Lisse"
on gelt for the fifth time. Not worth the trouble - public bounty of 200.
times. Sent Quince and Jacow out to shorten him. Overlord's Fancy - gambling den. Check with Raputo - is it his? Either way, someone's not talking to someone they should." Yüklə 1,35 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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