I was working with another builder from this site on a two-mission pack for Thief 2, but I haven't heard from him in months and my emails to him keep bouncing.
I'm not a programmer, but I'm a writer by trade and I wrote up a good deal of dialog, scripts, books, scrolls, and other things for these missions. They're not the end-all, be-all of flavor text, but I think they're kind of fun and it would be a shame if they never got used.
So, I offer them to the builder community-at-large. I've posted a sample below, and if you're interested in more I'll be happy to email you a Word doc that has the rest of the stuff. I completely understand if I email it to you and you can't use any of it; some of it is mission specific and you would have to alter whatever mission you're building to shoe-horn it in. Then again, it might inspire you to make a new mission. :cheeky: All I ask is that if you use some of the text somewhere, give me a credit in the mission info or something.
This stuff was written for Thief 2, so I don't know how compatible it is with Thief 3 and it may need to be modified. I'll leave that up to you.
Quote:
(Necromancer lab (or mages tower), book)
Page_0: “Day 5
I've finally finished unpacking everything. The lab has been set up, the wards have been put into place, the alchemical paraphernalia is in place, and I've finished the laundry. I can now begin my quest to plumb the inky depths of knowledge that awaits me. I have so much to learn...perhaps my studies can lead to greater things. Perhaps, by studying the undead, I can unlock the secrets of both life and death, to perhaps become the master of one or even both. Oooh, the lads at the academy would be jealous then, let me tell you! Well, enough for now. Time for bed.”
Page_1: “Day 8
Well, I'm ready for my first trip. I've got all my supplies ready, and I've read up on a few offensive spells just in case. I also have a few flash bombs to distract the undead if they prove to be a little testy. Considering where I'm going, I have to be a little sneaky to get past the city watch.
Hopefully I can find some undead in their native environment and see how they behave. I'm so excited!”
Page_2: “Day 12
I SAW ONE! I've finally seen a real specimen of undead! It was of the taxonomy Nex Pustilious Minor, or in common parlance, a zombie. I found it in one of the ruined areas, walking about in a circle. I had been climbing about on the second floor of a nearby building when I heard it. It made curious grunting sounds as it walked.
I crept over to it as quietly as I could and observed it through a hole in the rotted floor. It seemed not to notice my presence and simply went on walking in its endless circle. Curious to see its reaction, I tossed a chunk of rubble over the edge to where it clattered in the corner. The zombie was instantly alerted by the noise and shuffled over to investigate. It seemed to have use of its sense of sight and hearing, but not a sense of smell. Perhaps the olfactory senses are lost upon undead re-birth, or perhaps they cannot smell beyond their own rotting stench. I must look into this.”
Page_3: “Day 25
My zombie has finally fallen apart. I feel a bit sad about this, considering I did put it through the paces with my experiments. However, I did gain much knowledge in the process, and it's not like there aren't any more zombies to be found. Still, I do feel a keen sense of responsibility regarding its condition. Strange, really...my eyes misted over when I heard its last tendons giving away, snapping like bowstrings as it lunged for me. I guess it's true that you never really get over your first.
I do have a bright spot of news, however. I've located the lair of a Nex Laity Majoris, also known as a haunt. These undead are much more intelligent than Pustilious Minors, so I think I have a chance to learn much more.”
Page_4: “Day 32
What in creation is this blasted thing SAYING? I've taken notes, but I can't make any sense of it. ‘Thy words have struck like spears'--this I can understand, as it must be lingering resentment at a slight leftover from life. But it keeps saying ‘transfer a murder, transfer a murder.'
HOW the bloody Hell does one transfer a murder? This MAKES NO SENSE. When agitated, it informs me that flames surround me and that I must join ‘us' now. Why ‘us'? Isn't it singular? A hive-mind? Does it see itself as royalty?
The only helpful thing it says is that ‘your soul cannot be saved.' This implies knowledge of the soul and an awareness of their condition. Perhaps there is more intelligence there than I previously thought.”
Page_5: “Day 46
I've decided to make contact. I know my collogues at the academy would think me mad, but I think I've learned enough. I've seen how the undead are not really hostile, just territorial. As long as you respect their territory, they mean no harm. I'm sure of it. I've watched these magnificent, misunderstood creatures, these undead in the mists, and seen that all they truly desire is kinship with their fellow, albeit living, man. As soon as I've established friendly contact, I plan to go to the district alderman and demand that these senseless killings--er, destroyings be put to a halt.”
