Greetings, and welcome to the Keeper Theses section. Here you may browse the theses, and gain knowledge of the City and its peoples. Read this FAQ if you want to know more than what you have already read:

What are the Keeper Theses?

When a Keeper acolyte is deemed ready to become a Keeper, he is required to complete a series of tests. He is examined for his fitness and stamina, his skill with a bow, and his ability to be no more than a shadow when he wishes to. However, the Order of the Keepers is not only about action - it is also about knowledge. To prove their skill in this the acolyte must write a thesis about a topic that he has researched, and present it to the Keeper Council. If it is adequate the acolyte becomes a Keeper, and the thesis is placed in the Keeper Library where it may be read by all.

No, really, what are they?

Oh, outside of the game world? These theses are essays that I have written about various aspects of life in the City that I felt were of interest, and were sufficiently detailed in the game to enable me to make a reasonable stab at being accurate. They're fiction, as much as my fan fiction in The Circle, but they are based where possible on available evidence, or on deductions and conjecture where none is available.

What made you write them?

Hmm - difficult question! There are several answers really, all of them a major factor. The first is that I was slightly disappointed by the game, which left a lot of loose ends that were never tied up. To me, at least, this is highly annoying, and I wanted to put down in writing my thoughts of how those loose ends should be best disposed of. Additionally, I have always liked history, and the lure of drawing conclusions from very little evidence. Real history is, in my opinion, mostly complete, and for any new theories to be made requires years of study. However, here I had a highly-developed game world, with many interesting factions and intriguing hints of past events, that was totally open for me to draw what conclusions I wished.

Lastly, I wanted to write them as a way of polishing my English. As well as history, I have a deep regard for the English language, especially the British dialect. Writing these theses enabled me to learn how to write clearly and legibly, to express my ideas and opinions sensibly, and to logically links various aspects together. This is perhaps best noticeable in the difference in style between my early theses and my latest ones. Compare 'History of the City' with 'Crime in the City' - I definitely feel that my writing style has improved in fluency and confidence since I first began to write these.

Do you enjoy writing them?

Most of the time, I do. I enjoy drawing conclusions from scraps of evidence, perhaps throw-away details that the designer put into the game on a whim. I also enjoy tying up the loose ends, giving a backdrop to the game, and pretending that I am a genuine historian! However, at times it can be rather a drag to write them. I tend to revise my ideas as new evidence comes to light, and it can be annoying to try to fit my new conclusions in with conclusions that I drew in earlier theses. Additionally, for some theses it was necessary to use my imagination, and I confess to being uncomfortable when blithely writing down paragraphs without a scrap of evidence to support them.

How do you write them?

The process usually starts when I think of a topic that is of interest to me, and which I decide I have enough evidence for. After a short time to research various sources, and to read previous theses to remind myself of what has gone before, I sit down to write. All the theses, bar two, are the initial drafts - I loathe going back through work and correcting it, because I usually end up changing details and having to alter the remainder to make them fit in. I usually take two or three weeks to write a thesis, although it can be more, and sometimes less, depending on its length and the evidence available?

Where does your information come from?

I draw evidence from everywhere - texts in the game, conversations, architecture, and other authors' articles, stories and missions. Texts such as letters, diaries and notes are the easiest to work from, because they normally provide the most detail, and are the most likely to be easy to interpret. Conversations tend to provide minimal detail, and it is just plain boring to have to sit listening to them for hours!

Are they on any website elsewhere?

Unfortunately, they are not. I have not the time or the expertise to design a website, or to update it when necessary. If other Thief sites were to ask to feature them I would agree, but for now they are the solely available at The Circle.

What other ones can we expect?

A few more! I would love to do one on the Keepers, the Precursors, technology and education in the City, language in the City, and culture in the City. Whether I ever do these will depend on if I can find the time, the necessary sources, and whether Thief III, when/if it arrives, provides any additional information. Unfortunately, I have a lot of commitments, one of them being my latest fan fiction 'The Rise of Karras', and so it may be a while before the next one arrives.

Do you regret having done them?

No! I've mostly enjoyed doing them, and I'm pleased that I've managed to add to the Thief world a bit. I'm also delighted that a few people have read and enjoyed them, and I am glad that it gave me confidence in my writing, and practice for any similar essays that I might encounter.

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