[THIEF ANNIVERSARY CONTEST]

-

ASHES AND DUST

 

LOOT LIST

 

 

My second anniversary mission was ‘Ashes and Dust’. The main objective was to find a special book called the Codex of Ashes and Dust in Lord Desmond’s manor, plus 2,400 in loot. I was restricted to two knockouts and needed to use Desmond’s secret exit when done. Sounded like a challenge, so off I went.

 

Reading the terrain

The basement had numerous patrollers, but was nicely set up for sneaking. A lantern guard circled the rooms clockwise, so I had to move in the same direction to stay out of sight. Found a hidden mask early on in one of the storage rooms. A switch behind one of the crates opened a panel in the top corner revealing the item. The two guards finished their little chat before I looted the quarters. One footlocker was locked, so I’d have to get back later. Arrived at the next floor through the kitchen hatch.

 

The first floor was also scattered with enemy patrols, although none too tight to handle. The layout of the map was nicely done, with low ceilings and tight hallways, just the way I like it. The guards’ lanterns I haven’t seen before either (left image below). Some hard to find loot on the south side of the foyer: a ring on a windowsill and some spectacles underneath the hallway couch (right image below).

 

      screenshot1      screenshot4

 

Frederick roamed between the top three floors. He came by as soon as I ascended the foyer stairs, so I snagged his key and kept on looting. The captain of the guard was stationed on the third floor (left image below), and the key on his belt opened the locked footlocker in the basement. It contained Marcus’ dagger, which needed to be sanctified from the holy water in the southwest bedroom on the second floor. Also in here was a very hard-to-find switch (right image below) opening a wall-panel with another mask. The rest of the second floor was simple.

 

      screenshot1      screenshot2

 

Closing in on the codex

The captain didn’t mind me unlocking the third floor door, but he commented when I closed it. Strange behavior, but I had to deal with it to avoid a Supreme bust. I knew Frederick would come up the stairs eventually, so I waited in the dark by the gallery. As I heard him arrive, I timed it so that I locked the door as he was about to enter. With a little luck, he’d reopen the door before it shut entirely, preventing the alert. Guards will comment on noise caused by Garrett, but not on noise from fellow AIs. I could freely clean the rest of the top floor.

 

As I thought I had finished the mission, the tables turned and Desmond appeared reincarnated and ugly. Two more hideous creatures had also spawned in the library (left image below). The codex was floating in the air above, ready to be slashed. But I had to make my way up the stairs. Desmond, although never having spotted me, still did hunt moves on the walkway. He was turned slightly to the right, so the left stairs were the most approachable. He didn’t comment like normal enemies, but instead headed back to the bed chamber. I managed to avoid that by sneaking as close to the stairs as possible, then ducking in behind the railing before anybody had time to spot me. I could ascend the stairs and approach the codex from behind (right image below). That was it. Bye bye Desmond!

 

      screenshot3      screenshot4

 

Statistics:

Time: 27:33

Loot: 2897 out of 2897

Pickpockets: 5 out of 5

Locks Picked: 7

Damage Dealt: 0 Damage Taken: 0

Consumables: None

Ghost: Success!

Perfect Thief: Success!

Supreme Thief: Success!

Perfect Supreme Thief: Success!

 

 

LOOT LIST