Books

The following Book transcripts are all from the Grand Library of Bismark.

The Up-Children-Down

Transcript: "...and, swarming about in the stomach of the world, the seven hundred thousand up-children-down of sin gnaw at the queen's established order, menacing her gentle rule. They are the physical incarnation of evil's harmful deeds in the world. Forever lost in their sickly madness, they are beyond redemption and immortal. Only the queen herself, when the final battle comes, could annihilate the miasmatic force that is the up-children-down.

Chapter 2

of the apocalypse and the dark liches.

The same shall happen to all souls banished for their sins; they shall be tortured forever by the accursed hordes of the dark liches, residing..."

The "up-children-down" and "dark liches" may refer to the Spectres, as it is suggested by the Judge that only the Queen can control them. More specifically, it may refer to the Upside-Down Spectres common in Bismark.

Bismark

Transcript: "For afterwards, she enstated three guardians, responsible for watching over the zones. The fire bird was designated lord of the second zone, the eternal city of Bismark. He was the tallest, the most beautiful, and the most just."

Bismark being referred to as "eternal" mirrors the implication that Japhet (the "fire bird") may be a phoenix.

The Cardinal Points

Transcript: "It is not necessary to know the cardinal points in the Pink Fortress, as there are big arrows showing the directions painted on the walls of the library. See the next page for the four symbols and their respective cardinal points.

↓ South

⇨ East

◀ West

⇈ North"

This book is displayed upside-down in the game, and the Batter is incapable of correcting its orientation.

Untitled

Transcript: "I have run out of oxygen"

Some believe that this book was written near the time of Chapter 4 of The Room, since Chapter 4 appears to take place in an apocalyptic world where there may not be any oxygen left. Alternatively, it could be the writing of a oxygen-breathing human who found themselves within the smokey Zones.

Tales and Legends

Transcript: "The Toad King
A long time ago, there lived an evil king with countenance so repulsive, he was called the Toad King. One beautiful day, a masked man presented hisself at the souvereign court, and spoke these words: "Good day, o evil monarch! Leave and return peace to thy people or taste mine blade and perish at its end." The king reponded: "I am the king, and thou art my subjects. Thou art not to oppose mine will." Thus, the masked man brandished his epee and killed the king.
The End."

Many believe the masked man described in this book to be Zacharie, as he is only seen while wearing a mask. Other evidence includes the chapter of Explanations called "The Toad King and the Merchant", and Zacharie's tendency to be depicted wielding a sword in concept art.

Title Unreadable

This book appears to contain taxonomic sketches of orchids. Aside from its presence in Chapter 4 of The Room, where it is given to what seems to be a past version of Japhet, it's largely unremarkable.

Explanations

Transcript: "Index

• Introduction
• The Creation of the Modern World
• The Guardians
• The Queen and her Son
• The Four Zones
• Zone 0
• The Toad King and the Merchant
• Appendix
• Glossary
• Author's Notes"

This book appears to explain confusing aspects of OFF's universe. Unfortunately, only the Table of Contents is viewable. On the left page appears to be the same symbol as appears on the right side of the screen in battles.

Written by E.S.

Translation: "Be careful, madam, you're starting to put on weight! ... And putting on weight means aging! ...With the Dalcroze method, which combines sport with music theory, you will keep the entirety of your slenderness. Three sonatas of [Beethoven] lead to gradual, quite sensitive weight loss and six fugues of [Bach] have a devastating effect on fat cells. The effects of this treatment can be accelerated by executing it on..."

The original is an excerpt from one of Erik Satie's writings, a french composer notable for his eccentricity. "Beethoven" and "Bach" have been scratched out.

The Three Guardians

This book has been printed four times, each on a different set of playing cards, and acts as a puzzle needed to ascend the Library.

• The repaired Clubs book.
• The repaired Diamonds book.
• The repaired Hearts book.
• The repaired Spades book.

1/4

Transcript: "This is the story of the three guardians, chosen by the Queen to rule over the zones, islets of life in the Nothingness of this world.
The first, Dedan, was tall and short of temper. His firmness of character and his body of steel ensured him supreme reign over his Zone.
The second, Japhet, was kind and generous. Always smiling benignantly, he was beloved by all. He always went off in all directions, never ceasing to give more security to his subjects.
The third, Enoch, was cold and just. He produced a fifth, artificial element in his Zone, sugar. His people became addicted to this magical substance. They were happy, but disconnected from reality.
Arcane legends tell of the Queen, living by her father's side in the Room, engendering the phantoms to destroy the world that they themselves have created. Some say that she is beautiful like the heart of the sun, others are certain that she is invisible. All of this is, evidently, nothing but unfounded speculation."

The Story of Japhet, the Fire Bird

This book, apparently printed eight times, chronicles the rise and fall of Japhet, as well as serving as a clue needed for a puzzle.

• Page 1.
• Page 2.
• Page 3.
• Page 4.
• Page 5.
• Page 6.
• Page 7.
• Page 8.

1/8

Transcript: "And, drawing from the last of his waning forces, he created the library, more beautiful even than it had ever been before. As its height pierced the clouds of smoke in the sky, he took his place...
He had done everything for them, like the most benevolent of guardians. He had given them peace, security and several means of having fun; such was the greatness of his generosity.
For a while, all was well for all, and they enjoyed the land that had been created for them with a most childish innocence. They were running through the streets, amazed by so many...
But the dynamics of this world soon escalated into madness. They started to forget their joys, descending in a spiral of fear and mindless worries. They had...
As for the fire bird, he wept on his lonesome throne, saddened by the oblivion into which his subjects had made him fall. They now had time for nought but their own worries.
And so, the fire bird became a cat, and the cat became a tyrant. Led by his wrath and sadness, he let a gale of ominous spirits rain upon his subjects. His madness blinded him from...
And as the spectres were destroying the world for him that he had himself created, he sought refuge at the summit of his most wonderful creation, the great library of Bismark...
There remained nought but to await the purifier, the man who would rise up to destroy him. For at the bottom of his soul, he knew: What he had done was evil.
The End."

Trivia

• Within the game's code, it appears that the 8 books on the 1st floor of the library (perhaps with the exception of "Title Unreadable") were at one point intended to be able to be checked out of the library and read while outside.