===================================================================================
2001 MAY 9
===================================================================================

Author: xarax
Contact Info: xarax@MailAndNews.com
Date of Release: 2001 May 9 (update 1.4b)

Description:

After escaping from the Trials of the Master Keeper, I thought that I should
visit my friend Ybynwan. I wanted to learn more about Keeper technology, what
Ybynwan calls, "Magic". In my line of work, "Magic" is simply misunderstood
technology.

I received some interesting information from Ybynwan. The town of Eldevir has
a strange stone obelisk called the "Varyx Obelisk". It's quite old and is rumored
to have some connection to the keepers, but nobody knows for sure.

The Varyx Obelisk may be the connection I need to learn more about my former
teachers, and maybe some profit. My conversation with Ybynwan in the town of Viowen
convinced me that there is something worthwhile here in Eldevir. After several days
traveling to Eldevir from Viowen, I learned that there is a curfew from dusk to dawn,
and the patrol guards are very unforgiving. I must be cautious on the streets.


===================================================================================

* Playing Information *

Game: Thief Gold
Mission Title: The Varyx Obelisk
File Name: Miss42.mis
Difficulty Settings: Yes
Equipment Store: Yes
Map: Yes
Auto Map: No
New Graphics: No
New Sounds: No
Multi-Language Support: No
Briefing: No


Difficulty Level Info: Ruffian, Professional, Virtuoso.

* Construction *

Base: Scratch
Build Time: 6 weeks

===================================================================================

*** THIS IS A BIG MISSION WITH 3-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE AND SUBTLE PUZZLES. ***

Note: For best results, play sneaker style. There are hints, subtle and not-so-subtle,
sprinkled throughout the mission. LISTEN CAREFULLY TO GARRETT; he can sense when
something is out of the ordinary. Not all is what it may appear to be, so don't always
trust your eyes. Remember: You can win the mission on Expert playing Lytha-style;
no damage given/taken, and get all of the loot. I've done it.

Several power-ups and quest items are randomly placed at the start of the mission
for better replayability. Many of the AI have above-average intelligence and will
search for you when you enter certain areas. So, just sneaking past an AI may not
be safe, because the AI may get suspicious and decide to search the area. Stay alert.

Note: There are SUBSTANTIVE differences in the gameplay, puzzles, and AI, depending
on the difficulty level. I suggest that you play all difficulties.

Normal: Standard play; you can slash-n-dash, but I suggest sneaker style.

Hard: You start without a sword. You can find it somewhere. You cannot kill
humans, sentinels, nor minions; that is, NO KILLING. Knock-outs are allowed,
but frowned upon (it's a sneaker mission).

Expert: You start with neither sword or blackjack. Search for them, but you don't
need them. You cannot kill humans (knock-out is grudgingly allowed). You cannot
harm sentinels (or cause them to injure themselves) nor their minions;
that is, NO DAMAGE TO non-human AI; not even knock-outs. You must sneak to
win the mission. It may be possible to ghost, but I haven't tried it. There
are a few places where you must use moss arrows and water arrows, or have
incredibly accurate timing to get past the AI.

Oh, did I mention that you should sneak?

===================================================================================

I maxed out on sound rooms, objects, and terrain brushes. I wanted to do so much
more with this mission. Oh well, I hope you enjoy it! There are several places
where I did things "the hard way", because I was too lazy to learn the right way. eek!

===================================================================================

* Loading information *

DarkLoader 3.07 ready

===================================================================================

Thanks to;

All of my beta testers, especially MsLedd (Mara Bernard) for catching spelling
errors. Thanks to CagedPillager (Scott Fisher), Peter Smith!, KatieMonster
(Lulu Lamer), Karen Trinkaus, and others too numerous to list here! Thanks!

Tels
For GenVBR and CowGEN (RIP). I hope Tels finds another wonderful 3D
first person game to reverse engineer and make more user-friendly. ;)
Also thanks to Tels for the map of Eldevir.

TTLG Forums, I couldn't have done this without the contributions to
the Thief Editors' Guild discussion forum.

Looking Glass Studios (LGS) (RIP) for Thief:The Dark Project, Thief Gold, and Thief II.

===================================================================================

* Copyright Information *

This level is Copyright ? 2000-2001 by Jeffrey D. Smith (aka xarax) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Distribution of this level is allowed as long as it is free and the package
is kept intact. You may not include this level to any map pack without my
permission. No one may edit and re-distribute this mission without my express
permission. These distribution rights are granted subject to the Looking Glass
Studios DromEd license agreement and subject to the author's copyright. Any
resemblance in this mission to copyrighted material outside of the Looking Glass
Studios "Thief" game series is purely coincidental and unintentional.

This level was not made and is not supported by Looking Glass Studios or Eidos
Interactive.