Ultima VI Part 5
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Part 5
With that amusing diversion out of the way, it is time to take back all the shrines!
Since I just got the Rune of Valor in the last update, I will warp to the Shrine of Valor (1N 2E).
Die, Daemon Scum!
I hold the Rune of Valor in my hand and chant 'RA' to lower the magical barriers and retrieve a moonstone.
Since I haven't yet seen what the sheepfu-- I mean the humble inhabitants of New Magincia are up to, I teleport there (2W) to find out.
As usual, here is a map. I arrive in a field of sheep. I now go to find the mayor.
Basically he tells me that I need to figure out who is the most humble person in New Magincia to get the rune. This seems like such a stupid game to play when the realm is in danger. I decide to play along for now. First I talk to the guy in that field of sheep.
Hi there! Is there anything I can do for you?
Name.
Once I was Aurendir the mighty - now I live a more
modest life.
Job.
I came here to
meditate and tend
sheep.
Sheep.
So they can be
shorn.
Shorn.
To make
wool.
Wool.
It's used to make
thread.
Thread.
To be woven into
cloth.
Cloth.
You can make
robes from it.
Robes.
I wear a robe while I tend
sheep. It's all part of life's great
circle.
*cue Elton John*
It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
*end Elton John*
Circle of Life.
From earth, to grass, to sheep, to me... when I die, I'll return to the
earth.
Humble.
I used to be a powerful and wealthy mage. I wore silk robes, and fine jewelry. In fact, I even had my own
castle. But one day in my travels I visited the
Shrine of Humility. Meditating there, I had an idea. I would give up all my earthly possessions and quit the practice of magic. I would live as a shepherd! Surely this would be the greatest act of humility a man could perform. And so you see me here today.
Alright, this guy is SO not humble.
Shrine.
I should go there again soon... It changed my life.
Mantra.
Let's get away from this dirty hippie and find someone else. I now enter the tavern and talk to the cook.
Yep, he is definitely 'competing' in the Humility contest. I now run into my old (and useless) companion Katrina.
Hast thou returned to save our land from the
gargoyles?
Yes.
Then surely we are saved already!
Name.
I am called Katrina, milord, as I was the last time we met.
Job.
Times have changed, milord. Where once I grazed sheep, now I till the land. All work is the same to a peasant, milord. We all do what is expected of us. If thou wouldst have me
join thy quest, thou needst but ask.
Humble.
Yep, she definitely thinks she is the most humble person in New Magincia. I find a fisherman by the docks.
Name.
Connor: Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Conor Starfalcon. And what is your name?
Elzair.
Connor: Well met, milord!
Job.
Connor: I am a fisherman. In catching
fish, as in all of life, there is something to be learned.
Fish.
Connor: I still have not mastered the
way of the fisherman. But I think perhaps the key to enlightenment lies not so much in the destination as in the road one travels.
Humble.
Connor: You seek to find the humblest in New Magincia? That's a difficult task. I'd hate to commend one of my neighbors to you and fail to do justice to the others.
Hmmm . . . That sounds very humble of him. There are two other inhabitants of New Magincia: the farmer William and the weaver Charlotte, but I think I have found my man.
Wait a minute. Why is that plant by the docks glowing like that?
When I move the plant out of the way and uncover a Magic Shield. Unfortunately the game counts it as stealing if I take it. Oh well!
There are two other people I did not talk to, a farmer named William and a weaver named Charlotte, but they are just as proud of their humility. I take my findings back to the mayor.
Yes! I now teleport to the Shrine of Spirituality. Remember this shrine? It is the one that is always only reachable by moongates. Well, the Orb of the Moons goes there just fine. (1S 2W)
I hold onto the Rune of Spirituality and chant 'OM' to lower the forcefield, and then I grab the moonstone and teleport to the Shrine of Justice (1S 2E).
I use the rune, chant 'BEH' and grab the moonstone. I then teleport to the Shrine of Humility (1N 2W).
m
I use the Rune of Humility, chant 'LUM' and grab the moonstone. I only have two virtues left: Sacrifice and Honesty; I decide to do Sacrifice first, so I teleport to Minoc (2S 2E).
I think this says Mudfish Road. Anyway, I head to the mayor's office.
Name.
I am Lady Isabella. Thy name, of course, is well
known throughout the land.
Known.
The tales of thy exploits are known by even the smallest of children. I recognized thee from the portrait
Woodroffe made the last time thou came to our land.
Woodroffe.
One of the finest artisans that ever dwelt in Minoc. Alas, he died of the
flu two years ago.
Job.
'Tis my privilege to be mayor of Minoc, the city of
sacrifice. We are renowned for our fine
craftsmen.
Sacrifice.
We were entrusted with the
Rune of Sacrifice.
Rune.
Mantra.
The good healer
Tara should be able to tell you the mantra.
I head over to the artisan's guild and speak to Selganor.
Oh, hello. Maybe you can help me with something.
What?
Volcanic eruption.
Thanks! Now what can I do for you?
Name.
My name is Selganor. 'Tis a name with a long
history... But you have the look of one with more important
business.
Business.
Perhaps you're interested in joining the
guild.
Guild.
Rune.
Shit! It looks like I have to learn to play the panpipes to get the damn rune! It is as if I have nothing better to do. Does this guy even know there is a gargoyle invasion?! I speak to Julia nearby.
Pipes.
Okay, so I need a freshly cut Yew board. I guess the best place to get one is in Yew. I teleport there and head west a ways until I get to the shack of a woodcutter. He doesn't like it when I barge into his house and start asking him questions, so I wait until he goes outside.
I buy one Yew log. Now I have to get it cut. I head back to Minoc and go to the woodcutter's place.
He cuts the log into a board.
I then head back to the guild hall and have Julia make me some pipes. I then find Gwenno, Iolo's wife, roaming around outside.
Name.
It's me, Gwenno. You have been away from our realm a long time, haven't you...
Job.
Iolo's
apprentice has taken over my job at
Iolo's Bows. These days I've been transcribing the folk
songs of Britannia into numerical
notation for the artisan's
guild. Of course, helping you on your quest is more important than that right now. Of course, if you need my help, I could leave the guild for a time and
join you.
Folksongs.
The songs of a people are an important part of their heritage. Putting them down on paper helps preserve our
traditions for future generations.
Traditions.
I'm so glad you appreciate the value of tradition.
Iolo.
Gwenno now heads back to the guildhall, and I follow her to learn Stones (again).
Stones.
Sweet! I now play it for Selganor.
Yes.
6789878767653
Thank gods that is done! I now head to the Shrine of Sacrifice (2S 1E).
I hold the Rune of Sacrifice, chant 'CAH', and grab the moonstone when the field is down. Only the Shrine of Honesty remains to be liberated. I head to the Blue Bottle tavern in Moonglow. Unfortunately, the door leading to the secret entrance to the Moonglow catacombs is locked. I will now show you a trick for opening pesky locked doors.
First, I cast Magic Lock to replace the lock with a magic lock.
Then I cast Unlock Magic to remove the magic lock. This removes the normal lock as well. It is a handy trick.
I spot a secret door north of the milk pitcher.
I move the pitcher out of the way and open the door.
I break the barrels and head down the ladder.
Whohoo! I am in my first dungeon! This dungeon is pretty small and does not have many hard enemies.
The first level is almost a square corridor. I just head down one of the ladders (represented by a down arrow).
The next level is composed mostly of a series of tombs. It is here that I will find the Rune of Honesty.
I wonder if the writing staff put their surnames on these tombs? No, game developers would NEVER be that tacky!
Here we are!
First, I make sure to leave the flowers. Yes, I have been carrying those things around all this time. Next, I use the key I was given by Beyvin's friend to unlock the door.
I search the mausoleum and take the Rune of Honesty. I now have what I came here for, but I want to explore (READ: loot) the rest of the catacombs.
I use my lockpicks to open a few of the locked doors. In one of the tombs I find a protection ring.
I then head down to level 3.
As you can see, there is not much on this level.
I unlock the door and head down the ladder.
This level is a bit more interesting.
I loot the eastern room and get a fire wand (or two, I can't remember).
The northern room contains some gold and an invisibility ring.
WTF?! I don't know what is going on in the eastern room, and I am afraid to look.
I go back there, and there is nothing but a few skeletons.
I need to do the boogie-dance!
Hot damn! Since I am lazy, I teleport to the Shrine of Honesty (2N 1W).
I hold the Rune of Honesty, chant 'AHM', and grab the moonstone. I have now liberated all of the shrines.
It is now time to head for Buccaneer's Den to pick up the trail of the tablet, but I will leave that for the next update.