Penumbra (video game series)

"Mankind is not united as I am, such a seething mass of individuals. Little wonder you all pull in different directions. All of me pulls in one direction, and for that reason alone have I bested those that have disturbed me!"

"I would not tempt Mankind's wrath by destroying you, I am more charitable than that!"

"Working together is the only way! I act as one, though I am many. Thank you Mankind!"

"Mankind is vicious, this I realize. Why do you try to prove it so?"

"Death is a necessary part of life, but not all deaths are necessary. Thank you Mankind!"

"Though I am one, my number is infinite. Through this I see the needs of the many outweigh the life of just one."

"I am relieved Mankind. In a being such as you, selfishness would be catastrophic. You have shown that you can think higher than your station, and for this reason I shall reveal to you what which I revealed to Howard!"

"I came here to this place, many millions of years ago, before mankind was even upright. As eons came and went, mankind appeared around me and found names for me. Demon... Spirit.... Tuurngait.... We existed in harmony for much time. I, lying dormant in what you refer to as "The Infected", and they benefiting from my knowledge and protection. But mankind changed and I fled. So much power in mankind, so many questions, and yet without the intelligence to answer them."

"Mankind grows, and tries to from a whole, a community. But somehow, it becomes more dangerous, more angry, and with no direction for this anger besides itself and its world."

"And then I was discovered, Mankind created this place to find me and silence me. They tore open my resting place and set about destroying me. And I, with no form of defence, was forced to attack. I am not the barbarian. I am not the invader. You are!"

"But you Mankind, you are different, you have proved this and now I ask for you mercy. Do not allow me to be destroyed by your kin, which they would surely do. They followed the Inuit here, and you followed them. There will be more. Will you send word, will you destroy all trace of this place so that no mankind will ever discover me again? Will you do this for me?"

"You cannot walk a thousand miles without taking the first step"

"The heart says 'I want it', but logic says 'You cannot have it'. Eventually logic gives in, and imagination takes over."

"Truth is like a sculpture - one perspective is never enough for true understanding."

"A question can never truly be known - agnosticism is the only answer."

"A friend is no more loyal than a mercenary - you pay your debts with kindness."

"A puppy is not just for Christmas - it is also for when it is freshly rolled in its own faeces."

"Don't ask, don't get."

"Which is more likely: that the irrevocable laws of the universe have been broken, or that you are somehow mistaken in thinking them so?"

"Truth is the consensus of opinion."

"Name: Eloff Carpenter. Rank: Elevated. Status: Code C, Imprisoned. We were so close, and yet following the release of the Tuurngait virus nine months ago, my personal security has at last been compromised. Yesterday, an unfamiliar survivor arrived in the next door cell. It seems unlikely I will see him again."

"My Name: Eloff Carpenter. Rank: What does it matter?"

"They came for me in the cell, just as I was recording my findings. I felt sure it was over, my cyanide capsule was dud. And then, I came to, in this place. This Monolith. It's unlike anything we have found so far."

"Most people unquestioningly pursue what society tells them to pursue, a mindless herd. But then, there are those that think for themselves. Only these stubbornly logical minds could join the Elevated Caste. I questioned everything I thought I knew and felt prepared. But what use is that now in a place that defies all logic?"

"My Name: Eloff Carpenter. Status: Code C, Confused."

"Archaic recommendation: Regardless of my own outcome, it now seems essential to me that this environment be documented to the fullest degree. I somehow doubt anyone capable of finding the entrance to this place will ever find the exit, but my responsibilities can not falter."

"Yet another strange phenomenon, I have a feeling like being watched, only less direct, as if someone where listing to my thoughts. Yes! That's right, I hear you there! Breathing, siphoning off my every notion like some perverted guardian angel! How are you in my head? WHERE are you? Show yourself!"

"Madness, and madmen, that seems to be all this place holds. Tom Redwood, I remember that name from somewhere. He contacted me, on a radio I don't remember picking up, talking gibberish, threatening me. I would rather die than end up like him. Do you hear me ghosts? I won't let you take me alive!"

"Where... where am I? Can you hear me... still? He promised me death, the madman, and I refused. My own life was the one thing I thought I could control. Do not make the same mistake as I, for I am trapped here. Eternal darkness!"

"Patient: Dr. Eminiss , Medical Examiner: Dr. Eminiss - Patient (that's me) reports disorientation and rash. I am infected; paranoia, oral distortion... did I say that already? Patient had the most exhilarating out of body experience. I... I escaped reality. I feel.... good. Confided findings in Dr. Swanson. There is a 79.55% probability it will lead to her death."

"Ah, Philip, it is I, your friend Dr. Eminiss! Where you expecting somebody else? I already know you will come to find me, but I invite you all the same. Infection, Philip, did not drive me insane as it did you. Oh yes, I know about Clarence. I bonded with the Tuurngait on a different plane. It has it's advantages. I know about you, about the universe, about god. But you know what else I know? I know what you did, I know you revealed the location of this facility!"

"Welcome to Shelter Research Station Greenland! Shelter is an almost entirely self-sufficient installation, built in the 70's to further serve the purposes of the Archaic Elevated Caste in their pursuit and defence of ancient knowledge."

"Day 3 - I forecasted that today the rescue crews would arrive, but I can only hypothesise that they would be unaware of my location, and hence busy themselves evacuating the other survivors. If they have not arrived by tomorrow, I will go out in search of them."

"Day 6 - My first mistake was to make assumptions on the matter of my rescue. My section mistake was to make assumptions on the safety of the mine. My third mistake was to act on both those assumptions in going outside of my safe haven. My best estimate is that I have left the workshop where I was secured about two days ago in search of aid, and I have found only danger. I approached the old living quarters but curiously, could find no signs of life. Whatsoever. I returned in what I thought was the direction from which I came but found myself in an unfamiliar locale. Confused, but focused, I attempted to make my way home, but found myself threatened by some species of feral creatures, which seems to have made this old mine its home. Although the specimen bore significant interest to me I chose to retreat, only to be outmanoeuvred and outnumbered by the beasts. I turned and ran injuring my ankle in the process, which I believe now is most likely a sprain, rather than a fracture. For some time I cowered and fled in the dark, but a few hours ago I discovered a door leading to a smaller disused part of the mine, the key for which I still have in my pocket. Within that area I discovered this store room, and I think it should keep me safe for some time. This place is a maze. My lesson learnt: I will not venture out again until I am certain the area is safe."

"Day 19 - Rescue seems increasing unrealistic. Supplies diminishing. Lots of spiders in this place. I do not like spiders."

"Day 34 - I caught one of the accursed, eight legged beasts nestling in my open mouth when I woke up this morning. In my surprise I swallowed it. It’s not so much the act of swallowing which concerns me, but the genus of arachnid. It would be unlikely that a cave dwelling spider would be venomous to any significant degree, but the possibility troubles me all the same."

"Day 35 - Any know venom would have affected me by now, and so today is the first minor cause for celebration I have had since the incident. By lucky coincidence, this revelation also means I have discovered a virtually inexhaustible supply of nutrition. I intend to venture into the basement beneath this storeroom, in the name of science, to discover more about these creature’s natural habitat."

"Day 50 - For four days now, I have been surviving solely off the quite considerable sustenance provided by the spiders. For some time I was struggling to gather enough of the crunchy little morsels, however, lady luck smiled on me once more when the batteries in my torch died and I made a second life saving finding: the creatures natural habitat is the dark. With my light now diminished, I need only lie still for a few minutes, and I will have attracted enough of the beasts for a rather hearty meal."

"Day 71 - My earlier assumptions on the benign nature of my cell mates may have been made in error. After a careful autopsy, I am concerned that there may be a small volume of natural chemicals stored in the stomach which, if ingested regularly, may be psychotropic, or even lethal. My only real chance is to break out of here and raid any stashes of supplies I can find. However, my evidence against such a move is insurmountable: 1. I have no source of light, 2. I swore to myself I wouldn’t leave until I heard human voices outside, 3. The spiders are so tasty."

"Day 100 - From the marks I have been making on the walls, and my scribbled diary entries – which, in the dark, may amount to an ineligible scrawl – today is the hundredth day of my new life. Over the past month my edible friends have become more and more aggressive, and have swelled in number and size. Whether or not this is a result of my plundering their ecosystem, I am unsure, however, at this rate of growth they will soon be too large to crawl through the gaps in the walls. For all I know I could only be seeing the tip of the iceberg. If all else fails, and I am never recovered, I hope at least my study of, and, indeed, involvement with, these fascinating creatures will one day be regarded as an important point in natural history. The greatest names in modern science got their more through fluke than talent, and it appears that this rule has extended itself to my discovery of this delicious new species. I pray that the second rule deems my breakthrough too insignificant: for all the great discoveries tend to consume their inventor."

"Day 200 - It has been sometime since I recorded any findings in relation to the spiders with whom I have shared my existence for the past eight months, partly due to my enforced retreat from their basement territory. Not too long ago their behaviour became overly aggressive, and so I have attempted to barricade the main entrance to their lair, and secured myself in one of the smaller rooms above it, the only one with an operational door lock. The other reason is that I have been recovering from a minor operation, which I was forced to conduct myself, without the aid of anaesthetic. Even if I did have any anaesthetic or surgical tools, I couldn’t afford to be less diligent in my work, so anaesthetic was out. Surgical tools are all well and good but although it may be becoming old and rusty, I still trust my pen knife to do the job just as well. The procedure itself was elementary enough, a simple amputation of a non vital organ. I began to notice a thick, glue like substance forming on my tongue, and I was force to accept it had become infected through constant toxin ingestion."

"Day 300 - Another century of days comes and goes: it seems like so long since I escaped here. At some stage since my last entry, I attempted to return from whence I came: that form I was fleeing seems a fate far worse than the one I now face. However in my time since I arrived from the larger mine system, a cave in has occurred, blocking any further progress. I was forced to return and accept whatever end life has in store for me. I hear my aggressive little friends scratching on the door to my cell."

"A few days ago, there was some kind of collapse, and some of the ceiling of the cave fell in on me. What scares me is that I was an off limits part of the mine. They may not look for me here, but if they do, and they find me, I’ll be in so much trouble! But don’t think I’ll have to worry about that, because I’m not sure I’ll be getting out of here. I don’t mind so much. I’ve been working in the mine for about three weeks now, and I am really proud that I can send my money home, but it’s pretty tough work, and so far, you’re the only person that has been nice to me."

"I have some nice company down here. There’s some friendly kind of creepy crawlies, and some old books I brought from home that I was taking from the rec room. If you think about it, I was really quite luck to have all this stuff with me, otherwise I would be bored stiff! As it is, I have Shakespeare, Bronte, Nietzsche; perfect bedtime reading. Although, I suppose I might be trapped here long enough that I have to read them twice."

"I wonder whether I shall starve to death, or go cave crazy first? Neither sounds too much fun, I guess, but if I had to choose, I’d say I’d want to go mad. It sounds like an adventure."

"Good day? Good day? Can you hear me? Well, I hope that your ears are working better than your tongue, so that you might use them to listen to my words."

"Go now, there is not time to explain! Well, in fact time is one of the few things we have in abundance down here, but surprises are spoiled by such catty curiosity."

"Ah, my memory is like something with a great many small holes. We shall be needing to perform some minor demolition work so that we might one day meet again. For this task, we shall require the use of a large earth-eating metal monster, and that monster is thirsty for juice from the place where-things-are-kept."

"By the way, you can call me "Red". It's not my name you understand, but I'm sure you will agree it is a name rather similar to a cardigan, fetching when worn correctly."

"Those holes in my mind are increasingly gaping. You can not breach the inner sanctum of the place of storing, the entryway is blocked. So what if the squashy material between my ears is squashier than most? I may not be perfect like a hanging picture but my words are wise, and backed up by time! A pox, a pox on both your brain cells! Try as I may you must think that I deceive you with my admittedly cunning ways! As far as my eye has seen our rocky grave extends, and yet you cast away my help as you would a puppy freshly rolled in its own faeces! I hope that your warped sense of morality is better company than I, because now it is all you have left!"