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Dire Times and Magical Endeavors
Author: Master of Dromed
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Credits: A Great Thankyou to all of my great beta and alpha testers: my brothers Tumpi
and Paul, Taffer Boy, Ballzy, Mike77, Metalon, Daria31.

Beta Testers: Tumpi, Paul, Taffer Boy, Ballzy, Mike77, Metalon, Daria31.
Contact info: florin651@yahoo.com
Version: 1.08
Date of release:  12.02.2026

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Description:

This mission is part of my campaign Dark Age Memories-Life of a Thief. The action
takes place way before the events in A Tough Night and Into the Dark Forest and after
Raising Corpses. You don't need to play those missions before this to understand what
is happening. Just read Garrett's Journal in your inventory at start. It contains all the
story lines and all you need to know in order to play this mission.

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Briefing: 

"I never visited this section of Auldale, where a great number of mages houses were built
a long time ago. Due to the high number of mages, the area was even called 'The Mages
Quarter'. One day a man fell sick. His skin turn blue, his tongue was inflated and he
cannot breathe. He died soon after from suffocation. Then another got ill because of the
same mysterious plague, and soon yet another. The whole area was overcome with fear.
That night I heard a knock on my door. It was a mysterious priest, old looking and with
white hair, who wanted to talk to me. I don't like hammers but this one was rich enough
to pay me well. The sound of gold coins on my table and the taste of good wine brought
me into a good mood. The priest wanted me to investigate the mysterious illness that
occurred in his area of town. He suspected that some group of mages that were banned from
the Hand Brotherhood for engaging in necromancy and other mysterious practices were to
blame. Maruf al-Ahmar is the leader of this nefarious group and it is rumored that he is
engaged in pagan practices and adoration of the now dead Trickster.
I am in a dire need of money, so I have no other choice than to take this job. It's not so
hard to do, just to visit this part of town and make some inquiries about Maruf. I also
heard that the Hand Brotherhood Inner Circle leader Salazar al-Abyad and his closed group
of mages are in the possession of a valuable set of four precious vases, items that can be
sold to art collectors on the black market, collectors who are able to pay a fortune for
them. I may want to pay a visit to Salazar's palace which is also built in the area.
Also, speaking of Maruf, his golden Skull of  Power, a relic of ancient times, can make 
me a rich man if I can acquire it. It may be found at the highest floors of his palace,
probably.
Tonight is the night. I always wanted to plunder Auldale, this is the richest district you
can imagine, so let's not waste any time and get going. I have the sentiment my life is about
to change for the better."  

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* Play Information * 

Game:                     Thief: The Metal Age (New Dark version 1.27 or newer)
Mission Title:            Dire Times and Magical Endeavors
File names:               miss20.mis, dire.gam
Difficulty Settings:      yes
Equipment store:          yes
Map / automap:            map
New graphics:             no
New sounds:               no
New monsters:             no
EAX support:              no
Multi language support:   no

Briefing :                has briefing video

Playing Styles:           Normal, Hard, Expert

* Construction * 

Base:             Inspired from The Mage Towers, The Black Parade,
Ascend The Dim Valley, Alcazar
Build Time:       2 years 
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DIFFICULTY SETTINGS

Normal Thief 2 difficulty setting. 

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Known Bugs:

Has a few minor bugs, some sound rooms not propagate sound very well. Some fps drops 
in the outside area and other few places, that are annoying on older computers. 
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CREDITS: 

A big Thank You to all the dromeders who uploaded their objects on the now dead 'Thief
Object Repository' Site!!! Due to the high number of objects used by this mission it
was impossible for me to credit every object and file separately.

If you recognise any assets whose credits I have missed or mistaken, please let me know.

Objects: 

- Water Towers by Ottoj55 files jotwr001.bin, jotwr002.bin, jotwr003.bin, jotwr004.bin
- Big Cisterns by Lord Alan files cisterna.bin, cisternb.bin
- Book Collection by Team 2X files book1.bin, book2.bin, ... book24.bin. Total 24 bin files.
- Demijohn by vigil file chianti.bin
- Electrical Machinery by OttoJ55 files jobigen.bin, jobigtr.bin, jotrans2.bin, jotrans3.bin
- Flowers by Team CoSaS files cosF1.bin... cosF6.bin, total 6 files, cosFPlant1.bin...
cosFPlant8.bin, total 8 files, cosPFPlant1.bin... cosPFPlant8.bin, total 8 files, cosPlant1,
... cosPlant8.bin, total 8 files, cosPot.bin, cosPPlant1.bin ... cosPPlant8.bin, total 
8 files, longpot.bin
- Full Trays & Full Goblet by Yandros files fdtray01.bin, fdtray02.bin, fdtray03.bin, pgobwinr.bin
- Olive oil bottle by Vigil file oliveoil.bin
- Open books by Team T2X files booko1.bin, booko2.bin, ... booko6.bin, total 6 files
- Papers by Eshaktaar files keppage.bin, keppages.bin
- Pile of books by R Soul file bookpile.bin
- Piles of Newspaper by team Rose Cottage files rcpap1.bin, rcpap2.bin, ... rcpap5.bin, total 5 files
- Post it board by T2X file postit.bin
- Pub Set by Team CoSaS files whiskey1.bin, whiskey2.bin, whiskey3.bin, wrack1.bin
- Shelved Books Pack by Nielsen74 files 3boogry74.bin, 5boogry74.bin, 10boogry74.bin,
3LCBoo74.bin, 5LCBoo74.bin, 10LCBoo74.bin, 3BooRed74.bin, 5BooRed74.bin, 10BooRed74.bin
- TG-like Machines by FireMage files machine01.bin, machine02.bin, ... machine05.bin, total 5 files
- Tool Cases by OttoJ55 files tools1.bin, tools2.bin
- Files ZHmBild.bin, ZHmBild1.bin, ZHmBild2.bin from Meisterdieb-Seite - several paintings and portraits
- Lilly Pads by Christine files lily.bin, lily.pcx
- Ancient Tree - original model by 3DMaesen (sketchfab.com/bumstrum), Dark Engine port by Soul Tear
(low poly / UV / material / texture) - files AncientTree.bin, AncientTreeB.bin, AncTrLeaves.bin
- CoSaS Chest Boxes - files jewelbox.bin, luggage1.bin, ... luggage5.bin, openchst1.bin, openchst2.bin
- 2 Porticullis by Team T2X files port812b.bin, portmega.bin
- 2 Scales by Team T2X files scales.bin, scales2.bin
- 3 Gemstones by Team T2X files ngem1.bin ... ngem3.bin total 3 files
- 3 Pillows by Team T2X files PillowBl.bin, PillowGr.bin, PillowRd.bin
- Ancient Chalice by LarryG file AnChalice.bin
- ArCactus by Ar-Zimrathon files kaktus.bin, kaktus2.bin
- Black Pot by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file BlackPot.bin
- Books Collection by Team T2X files book1.bin ... book24.bin total 24 files
- Broken bunks by Team T2X files BunkDst1.bin, ... BunkDst3.bin, total 3 files, BunkSup1.bin
- Buildings by Jason Otto files house01.bin ..., house06.bin, total 6 files, tower01, ... tower 03.bin,
total 3 files, bmedi17s, bmedi17t, bmedi18s, bolds17s.gif, bolds78s.gif, bolds115.gif, bolds174s.gif,
bolds211.gif, jobtrims01.gif, pold74s.gif, pwall9a.gif, rslate45s.gif, rslate64s.gif, stmclock.gif
- Cannon by Team T2X file cannon.bin
- Stacks of China Plates by LarryG files BowlStackW.bin, BowlStackW2.bin, BowlStackW42.bin, PlateStackW.bin,
PlateStackW2.bin, SPlateStackW.bin, SPlateStackW2.bin, SrvBowlStackW.bin, SrvBowlStackW2.bin,
SrvBowlStackW3.bin, SrvPlateStackW.bin, SrvPltrStackW.bin ... SrvPltrStackW4.bin total 4 files
- CoSaS Gambling Tables by Team CoSaS files chip10b, chip10g, chip10r, chip10w, deck.bin, gmbl_blacktab.bin,
gmbl_blacktabCH.bin, gmbl_crapstab.bin, gmbl_pokertab.bin, gmbl_pokertabCH.bin, gmbl_routab.bin,
gmbl_sltmac.bin
- CoSaS carpets by Team CoSaS files carpet1.bin ... carpet3.bin total 3 files
- Edited Building by Team T2X file gbnew.bin
- Edited Tower by Team T2X file gtowernew.bin
- Engines by Jason Otto files engine1.bin ... engine3.bin total 3 files
- Full Cabinets by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) files CabFBBowl.bin, CabFIBowl.bin, SCabinet74.bin,
TCabinet74.bin
- Gemstones by Team T2X files Gem2.bin, Gem3.bin, Gem4.bin
- Golden Book by Team T2X files linjbook.bin, newbook.bin
- Golden Ring by Team T2X file golring.bin
- GR Butter by Greenhorn files ghbfA.bin, ghbfB.bin
- GRDry - Dry Vegetatin by Greenhorn files ghsrchA.bin ... ghsrchC.bin total 3 files, stammA.bin, ...
stammC.bin total 3 files
- Green Bench by Team T2X file CushBnch.bin
- Toilet Paper by Greenhorn file wischpapier.bin
- H2O Tower by Jason Otto file h2otower.bin
- Hammerite Chest by Team T2X file hamchest.bin
- Crane by Jason Otto file jocrane.bin
- Rugs vy Jason Otto files jorug01.bin, jorug02.bin
- Cob Webs by Lord Alan files web.bin, web1.bin, web2.bin
- Smoked meats by LarryG files LambCarcass.bin, SmkdFishF.bin, SmkdFishR.bin, SmkdFowl.bin, SmkdSausage.bin,
SmkdSausage2.bin, SmkdSausage4.bin, SmkdSausageR.bin
- Wine Bottles by LarryG files WineBot00.bin, ... WineBot09.bin total 9 files
- Milk Bottles by DarkShadow files glasbot.bin, milkb.bin
- Bowls by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) files Bowl01.bin, Bowl02.bin
- Carpenters Table by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file CapTab74.bin
- Dinner Plate by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file DinnerPlate.bin
- Fences by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) files 10FENCE.bin, FENCLOCK.bin
- Sacks by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) files CanSack.bin, TafFlour.bin
- Tea cup and plate by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) files Teecup.bin, TeecupPlate.bin
- New Pumpkin by DarkShadow file kurbis.bin
- New Factory Buildings by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) files Fac74a.bin, Fac74b.bin
- Butterfly by Nameless Voice file NVButterfly.bin, NVButterfly2.bin
- Inkwell by Nameless Voice file NVInkwell.bin
- Old Coil, Old Transmitter, Old Turbine by Team T2X files oldcoil.bin, oldtrans.bin, brokturb.bin,
brokturb2.bin
- Tea Pots by pdackel files teekanne.bin, teekanne1.bin
- Beds by Team Rose Cottage files bed1.bin, bed2.bin, bed3.bin, bed3b.bin
- Bookcases by Team Rose cottage files rcbc1.bin, ... rcbc5.bin
- Chandelier by Team Rose Cottage file rcchand.bin
- Metal Shelf by Team Rose Cottage file rcshelf.bin
- Trophy by Team Rose Cottage file rcsthead.bin
- New Sequoia Tree by Team T2X file seqD.bin
- Reskinable Shelf by RSoul file shelfRS.bin
- Big Chimney by Vaughan Cooper (Sluggs) file bigchim.bin
- New Building by Vaughan Cooper (Sluggs) file building.bin
- Chain by Vaughan Cooper (Sluggs) file chain1.bin
- Drum Heater by Vaughan Cooper (Sluggs) file drumheat.bin
- New Trees by Vaughan Cooper (Sluggs) files slgtre1.bin, ... slgtre15.bin
- Reskinable Chair by Vaughan Cooper (Sluggs) file sknchair.bin
- Stacks of porcelain plates by Vaughan Cooper (Sluggs) files dstack1.bin, ... dstack5.bin
- Spider Webs by Team T2X files txweb1b.bin, txweb1c.bin, txweb2.bin, txweb2a.bin
- Tapestries by Jason Otto files tap01.bin, ... tap03.bin total 3 files
- Toilet Paper by Team T2X file tp.bin
- Toilet Paper by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file TPaper74.bin
- Vials of Stuff by Nicked (Nick Dablin) files venomjar.bin, vialGF.bin
- Victorian Book Case by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file VBookC1_74.bin
- Victorian Chest by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file VicChest74.bin
- Victorian Hutch by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file VicMirTab74.bin
- Victorian Cabinets by Nielsen74 (Sonnich Brinch Nielsen) file VicCabFIBowl.bin, VicCabFBBowl.bin,
VicCab.bin

The sky distant art is taken from 'The Black Parade' - files distcit.dds, distcitR0.dds,
distcitR0x.dds.

All the new paintings are made with the help of Crayon AI  generator site.

* Copyright * 

This level is  2026 by Master of Dromed.

Distribution of this level is allowed as long as the archive and this file are kept intact.

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

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Special Thanks:  Paul, Tumpi, Taffer Boy, Ballzy, Mike77, Metalon, Daria31

Thank you Taffer Boy for making the briefing video.

- Master of Dromed -

