Hey everyone. This is the third in a series of interviews with key community members. For this spotlight, I talked with poet and Thief fan Aemanyl.
How did you find out about Thief?
It was a cold and dark late afternoon, sometime in November or December of 1999. My older sister invited a few of her classmates to our home and they were playing several computer games. I was only four years old back then, so I was just passively watching without touching the keyboard.
I remember that they were trying out the demo of Thief: The Dark Project and can faintly recall the interior of Lord Bafford’s Manor and how dark everything was.
What was your first experience with the series like?
After that indirect encounter, I played the full version of Thief II: The Metal Age for the first time in 2002 or 2003. I didn’t finish the game, because my younger self probably deemed it too difficult. My memory suggests that I used the “skip mission” cheat a lot, because I was very curious about the design and atmosphere of each level.
I had my second direct experience with Thief II in 2007 when I was old enough to finish the game and fully appreciate its beauty and magnificence. Shortly after that, I also played Thief Gold and Thief: Deadly Shadows.
What is it about Thief that keeps you coming back?
Atmosphere and the safe feeling of familiarity. It might seem like a contradiction, since the series are all about suspense, but for me coming back to the series is like a security blanket. Thief has a very calming effect on me. Every once in a while, I just turn off the light switch, light up a few candles, brew some tea, and immerse myself in its strange yet familiar world.
Which of the Thief games is your favorite?
I am a huge fan of Thief: The Dark Project. Don’t get me wrong though, I love Thief II and can appreciate the vision of how the City has changed due to technological progress and the rise of the Mechanists. I don’t mind exploring the Victorian mansions or the inclusion of cameras and combat bots.
Yet the dark, obscure, and sinister atmosphere of Thief: The Dark Project appeals more to my taste. As someone who has always been interested in medieval history and mythology, I cannot help but feel at home within the virtual confines of the first title in the series.
On a side note, the conflict between the Builder and the Trickster reminds me of the dichotomy between the Apollonian and Dionysian forces described by Nietzsche. When Constantine obtains the Eye, the rule of order and law is threatened by the forces of chaos and nature.
In Thief II: The Metal Age, the situation is reversed and the rapid industrial revolution spearheaded by the Mechanists upsets the equilibrium once again. It’s only my theory, but I believe that the developers from Looking Glass Studios were attuned to universal myths and archetypes which makes these games so appealing and essentially timeless.
Which missions are most memorable to you?
- Lord Bafford’s Manor – It was my first experience with the series.
- Return to the Cathedral – This is probably the scariest and most atmospheric level out of all the computer games I’ve played.
- The Sword – A bizarre descent into the unknown.
- Blackmail – Not only this is a well-designed level, but there is also an air of loneliness and impending doom in Truart’s mansion.
- Trail of Blood – Though linear, it’s Thief II’s most supernatural level.
Have you played any Fan Missions?
Yes, of course. Though I have my favorite fan missions (Shadow of Doubt, Calendra’s Cistern, and Autumn in Lampfire Hills are in my top three), I truly appreciate the effort, dedication, and time of every single author throughout the long history of the Thief community. No matter the genre, size, or quality, I’m always happy when new fan missions come out.
Any advice for someone new to the series?
Take your time with the original levels and if you happen to be frustrated with some of the aged gameplay or graphics, try not to quit immediately. Don’t be discouraged by the raw outer surface; real treasures can be found a little deeper.
Any other media you’d recommend to fellow Thief fans?
Books:
- The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
- At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past by A. Roger Ekirch
- Tales of Mystery & Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Lurker at the Threshold by August Derleth
TV shows:
- Angel (1999)
- Millennium (1996)
- Twin Peaks (1992)
How does Thief inspire your Poetry?
First of all, being an outsider and introvert myself, I’ve always found the character of Garrett quite relatable. In my poetry I like to write about all types of outcasts: from monks living in secluded monasteries and crazy wizards dwelling in tall spires to prisoners, rogues, thieves, and beggars.
My work aims to evoke feelings of loneliness, melancholy, alienation, and eeriness. The dark, medieval world of Thief provides me with more than enough creative inspiration. Sometimes I just like to launch a fan mission or an original level and slowly walk around the map soaking in the atmosphere.
Inspiration comes to me in bursts that I make notes of. For example, I can be sneaking through a belfry in a Hammerite temple and suddenly the vision of a coughing novice sleeping there, burdened by the cold and mold, hits me. So I write that down.
Then, in another part of the level, my attention is captured by a peculiar element of the design in the crypt beneath the church, and so on. A single poem can be inspired by different parts of a single level or multiple missions.
Do you have plans to release a collection of your work?
Yes. My collection of poetry inspired by Thief will be titled Secluded Realms and, if everything goes according to the plan, I’m going to publish it in the first quarter of 2023.
Where can people find your poetry?
They can find it on my website, Celestial Trail, as well as in a thread on the TTLG forums.