Let's Play Ultima: From Akalabeth to Ascension! (Now on VII)

[Elzair]

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[Elzair]

Ultima VI Part 11

Ultima VI: The False Prophet

Part 11

In this update, I will grind my way to level 8, tie-up some loose ends, and do some sidequests.

First, I realize that I have not talked very much with my party members, so I decide to see what they think of the situation. I talk to Iolo the bard first.

You see your old friend Iolo. Well, Elzair, got time for a story, eh?

Since it is traditional to ask, what is your name?

Iolo's the only name I remember having. (He pronounces his name 'Yo-low.')

What have you been up to since I was away?

I've been a crossbow maker for so long, I've gotten weary of it. Hopefully, now that my apprentice has taken over the shop, I'll be able to spend more time as a bard.

How has Iolo's Bows been faring?

My shop still sells the finest crossbows in the land. I've done a lot over the years to refine the design, and I trained my apprentice well. I'm sure she'll carry on the tradition in fine fashion.

It is nice to see you have gotten back into bardolatry.

Yes, it's always been a hobby of mine.

Have you heard the piece 'Stones' that I composed some years ago?

Uh . . . . yeah.

It's one of my favorites.

So, how's the missus?

She's had more time to develop her musical talents than I all these years. But after this quest I hope to join her in Minoc and enter the artisan's guild.

Why do you want to join the artisan's guild?

Though there is still need for the instruments of war, as I grow in years I would now take up those of peace.

How is Minoc these days?

Not as big as Britain, but it's a peaceful town.

How is Britain these days?

You know. Where Mr. Nose hangs out.

Who the fuck is Mr. Nose?

Remember, he doesn't like people to call him that...

So, what do you think about this quest?

There always seems to be a quest when you come to visit us, doesn't there? Some time you should just drop by for tea.

Tea?!

All right, make it Frasier's Folly, then.

Where should I drop by for a drink?

My hut is in the Deep Forest, south of Yew. My horse Smith lives there.

What do you think about these gargoyles?

They're pretty ugly looking, if you ask me...

Tell me that story you promised to tell me.

My favorite one is about the time I had to wake Dupre up for a tournament...

Iolo! You promised NEVER to tell anyone about that!

Yes, you're right. I'm sorry.

*whispering* Ask me later when he's not around...

Later!

I've still got to tell you that story about Dupre sometime...

He is lying; he will never tell me. :evil:

I now talk to Shamino the ranger.

You see a quiet man, who almost seems to be a creature of the forest. Yes, my friend?

What is your name?

Shamino Salle' Dacil.

What have you been up to lately?

I help my friends when they need it. The rest of my time I prefer to spend exploring the woods.

Are we still friends? :puppyeyes:

Though we have spent much time apart between your several visits to our realm, still I consider you one of my closest friends.

Which woods do you like to explore?

I prefer the Deep Forest. Spiritwood isn't as dense, and it has those strange wisps everywhere.

Tell me about the Deep Forest.

It is home to me. I love walking in the dark shadows of the trees, and studying the nature of the forest creatures.

You consider the forest your home?!

A home needs not walls to make it so.

You don't like walls?

When folk ask why I have no walls in my home, I ask where are the trees in theirs! He smiles.

*mumbling* God damn hippies!

So you are a treehugger?

In many ways they are the lifesblood of the realm. Without trees, we could not long endure.

Tell me about the creatures of the forest.

Those that dwell in the woods have lives of their own, more interesting to me than the ways of townfolk. There is much to be learned from the animals, if you will but listen.

Now Shamino's going on about talking to animals... The whole world's going batty!

Tell me about the wisps you mentioned.

I know little of their nature. I believe there are some mages who have investigated them, however.

What did the mages find out?

Perhaps one of the members of the council could tell you more.

So, what do you think of the gargoyles?

I feel that Lord British does not understand their true nature.

What do you think of Lord British?

I know him better than you might think.

I guess this is a reference to the fact that both Lord British and Shamino are alter-egos of Richard Garriott.

Later!

A pleasure.

Last up is Dupre the drunken paladin.

You see a ruggedly handsome man, wearing a gleaming suit of armor. Yes, $4?

What is your name?

It's Dupre - sounds like dew pray, remember?

What have you been doing?

Why, questing, of course! We've been on many a quest together, you and I.

Have you enjoyed our quests?

Yes, you've gone on some really fine ones. When you're not around I have to settle for rescuing damsels, finding grails, and the like.

You ACTUALLY rescue damsels?

It could be worse. Some of them are pretty eager to show their gratitude, if you know what I mean...

I can guess how they show their gratitude.

Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more...

Did you say that you have actually been on grail quests?

That's right. Lord British likes to keep grails around to use at his banquets, but he's always losing them.

I bet he can throws some good parties . . . er banquets.

He'll throw us a fine feast if you can deal with the gargoyle invasion somehow.

What do you think about the gargoyles?

They may be the toughest threat we've ever faced.

Do you remember when you kept trying to sell me a duck?

NOTE: This happened in the last game, but I forgot to cover it.

What the fuck was that about?

Please, let's not talk about ducks...

Later!

Yes, enough chit chat. Let's go find some action!

Alright, now that we have gotten up to date on my companions, it is time to finally find Chuckle's clue. Here is a recap of what I have already covered. This whole thing started when I first talked to Chuckles, Lord British's favorite jester.

Clue.

Yes.

Perhaps I'll tell you anyway! Do you think I will?

No.

Congratulations! You're exactly right! I won't tell you the clue...

I then found the note in Nystul's chest.

The note told me that another hint is hidden under a plant in Serpent's Hold.

When I arrived in Serpent's Hold, I found a note under a plant just like it said.

I now have to travel to Minoc and find some beehives to look under.

The note is under a beehive along the southern wall of the basket weaver's shop. I have to take the beehive to uncover it, though.

Oh shit!

I warp to Moonglow and head to the Blue Bottle tavern.

I search the harpsichord to find the second note.

Shit!

Oh well, I warp there.

I search the bed in the northeast corner to find the note.

God damnit! How long is this going to continue?!

I move aside the cauldron in Charlotte the weaver's bedroom to reveal another note.

I am really going to kill Chuckles when I next find him.

I search the leftmost lion statue just outside the throne room to reveal the note.

So, Smith is still at Iolo's hut, which is still in the Deep Forest southeast of Empath Abbey. I warp to Yew, follow the road southwest to Empath Abbey, and continue to follow the road southeast until I arrive at a clearing in the woods.

This looks like the place.

First I loot the house (of course).

Next I check with Iolo to make sure this really is the place. That means the lone horse in the stables can only be Smith.

Elzair.

Name.

Job.

Hay.

Task.

Okay, fuck this! Just tell me the clue!

What the hell, thank you!

See ya later!

Wow! What a colossal waste of fucking time that was! I will not take my vengeance out on Smith because telling hints on previous games is his schtick, but Chuckles will receive NO mercy from me.

While I was in Paws, I forgot to stop by the Cat's Lair. Let's travel back there now.

Wow, the place is crawling with cats. I guess that is how it got its name. Anyway, I speak to the man behind the bar.

This is Dr. Cat, the persona of David Shapiro, who worked as a writer for many of the classic Ultima games. As you can probably guess, he was also a proto-furry.

Welcom to the Cat's Lair.

Who are you?

My name's Dr. Cat.

You're the bartender, right?

I sell ale, mead, wine, milk, and mutton. Of course I like to chat with my patrons and indulge in a friendly game now and then.

Who are your patrons?

This is a nice friendly town. All the townsfolk know each other. We get a lot of visitors too.

Who visits this place?

I chose Paws for my tavern because it's right on the King's Way, midway between Britain and Trinsic. There's no better travelled spot in all Britannia, and that makes for good business.

So what do you think of Paws?

I like the name of the town too, of course!

Of course.

What is with you and cats?

If you treat my cats well, they'll treat you the same.

Okay . . . what do you think of Trinsic?

A bit too honorable for my tastes, if you know what I mean . . .

No I do not.

Anyway, I might like to mention I am acquainted with the bard Mandrake *wink*, *wink*, *nudge*, *nudge*.

Are you friends of that deadbeat? He owes me for more drinks than I care to think about. The only reason I give him food and drink is because he can't sing with his mouth full.

Uh . . . how about a game?

Thindle and Mortude may not agree, but I like a game that provides a little intellectual challenge.

I'm up for some challenge!

I think I've got time for a quick game of Nim . . .Would you care to wager on the outcome, just to keep things interesting?

Sure!

Excellent! How much would you like to bet?

30 gold.

Let me just remind you of the rules, in case you don't remember. We start with ten of these glass beads. Each player takes turns, taking one, two or three beads out of the pile. Whoever gets the last one wins! I'll let you play first this time.

1.

2.

There are 4 beads left. How many do you take?

1.

Would you like to play again?

Fuck yeah!

50 gold.

2.

2.

2.

Damn straight!

Would you like to play again?

Not right now.

Did you just purr when you said perhaps?

Very good! You purr almost as well as Kytyn.

Who?

She lives in Britain.

Oh, you are talking about the batty lady who runs the Museum of Oddities!

That's the one!

What an odd little man! Let's get out of here!

I now head back to LB for some healing.

Huh?! Okay!

Anyway, I head for a nice little dungeon that is directly northeast of the Shrine of Honor. It is called Hero's Hole.

Goddamnit,

.

Anyway, there is nothing important here. It is just a place to kill monsters for XP and loot. Therefore I will not bother to post the map.

One of the most memorable encounters is with a pack of guards and a wizard. Here are some screenshots of the battle.

Here I encounter a pack of reapers.

The dungeon is only two levels deep.

This ladder leads down to a secluded cavern with a lake.

I believe this ladder leads to Despise.

I take the nearby ladder down to the second level of Despise.

The second level is crawling with Reapers.

I hate these things!

Yeah! You ain't so tough now, snakie boy! I then go alone into an alcove to the northeast.

Holy moly! That is a lot of potions. It is too bad I probably won't live to see them.

Nope! Ah well, I am not above reloading. Ultima VI has really harsh penalties for death: 3/4 of my XP is taken away.

Well, this time I avoid the traps easily. BTW, I wonder what those disturbed patches of earth are? Ah well, it is probably not important. It looks like I am going to have a potion kegger, and nothing is going to stop me!

GOD DAMN IT!!

It is time to send in the cavalry.

Yeah! Apparently, corpsers will spit you back out after a while. I must not taste very good.

I am bored of this dungeon. Let's go somewhere else.

Okay!

It is now time to find a little dungeon I like to call the Swamp Cave. It is, apparently, Geoffrey's favorite training spot.

On the way there, I stop by Cove and pick-up the level 8 spell Resurrection from Rudyom. I cannot cast it now, but it will come in handy later!

As you can see, the entrance is located at roughly 0 *N, 38 *E. The easiest way to get here is to sail up the coastline east of Britain and look for a swamp.

*Sighs*

Here are some screenshots of my journey through the cave.

I don't even want to know what sheep are doing down here. Plus, it looks like Geoffrey has told his fellow guards about this place, because this guard does not attack me.

I try blowing up a stalagmite that is blocking my way, but it doesn't work. It looks like there is no way to get rid of those annoying things! :nerdrage:

After grinding long enough, I have finally gotten over 6400 XP. I now warp to the Shrine of Honor to level-up properly.

BOOYAH!!

I can now cast level 8 spells, so I go to the Lycaeum to buy some from Xiao.

Hook me up with some level 8 spells!

WTF?!

I have to get a secret from the wisps?!

How powerful?

Of course you can trust me! :twisted:

I find some wisps on the path south of Iolo's Hut.

Elzair.

No.

If 'you' are some kind of collective consciousness, how do 'you' know the word 'you.'

You know, this is really fascinating and all, but I am here to learn some kind of secret from you, so spill the beans!

Did you just give me the power to end all life in Britannia in one fell swoop? :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

What else have you got?

What kind of exchanges do you do?

Anyway, let's look at my spellbook.

Oh, that is so beautiful. Do you guys want to see what happens when I cast it?

Anyway, I am interested in further exchange, so I decide to find a suitably dense information source.

The only thing I can think of is a book, so I head to the Lycaeum library.

Here is the book I find in the northwest corner of level 3.

It appears to be a novelized version of Origins's 1989 release Knights of Legend. It looks like Segallion came from there.

Look what I find in the southeast corner.

Since Lord British is looking for a copy of this book, I decide to give the library's copy to him. :twisted:

I do some more exploring and finally find the book I am looking for.

I take it with me.

Since I know the secret of the wisps, I can now buy level 8 spells from Xiao. I buy them all.

Here is an amusing anecdote.

I was killing cloned magic suits of armor for fun and profit when one of them spawned into the off-limits back room of the armory. The armor then began attacking the dog.

In a battle of teeth vs. armor, armor wins every time!

Note to self: Never stand too close to the tile I am casting Mass Kill on.

Let's try my new arsenal out on some trolls.

Damn! That was one short battle!

The trolls got their revenge by placing a poison gas trap on the chest. Since my party was standing closeby, nearly everyone was poisoned.

Note to self: ALWAYS cast Untrap on every chest left behind by enemies.

Since I am in Yew, I should pay Nicodemus a visit.

Wakey, wakey!

I then buy his entire catalog of spells. I do the same with Rudyom and Horance. I then travel back to Xiao.

The lever raises the southern portcullis, which allows me to steal a bag of reagents.

I wonder where that ladder leads.

It just leads into the Moonglow crypts. Been there; done that!

I love doing that!

I now buy all of Xiao's spells as well. Let's take a glance at my spellbook.

It's SO beautiful!

Indeed it is! Now, I decide to give Lord British the book he has been requesting.

So, I here you have been asking about the Wizard of Oz?

Yeah, and I have a copy right here.

As a reward he gives me 30 gems or so. That is a pretty decent reward for the amount of effort I put into it. Now, let's see what the wisps will give us in exchange for our information.

Yes.

Hell no! Give me the gold!

Jumping Jehosophat! Every party member has been loaded down with as many golden nuggets as they could carry. I carry all my earnings back to the Royal Mint in Britain to get them exchanged for gold coins.

Holy shit! I am set for life! I run out and buy 100 of every reagent in the game.

No more trips to the magic shop for me!

I forgot to mention that I met up with Sentri in Serpent's Hold. He cannot join me because I do not have enough room.

I have only one thing left to do. It is time to head for Buccaneer's Den to fulfill a promise.

Yes.

Yes.

I may be an evil bastard sometimes, but I always keep my promises.

Alright, that about wraps it up for sidequests. Next time I will head to Hythloth and beyond!

 

[Elzair]

Ultima VI Part 12

Ultima VI: The False Prophet

Part 12

It is now time to track down the gargoyles. To do that, I take Sin'Vraal's advice and travel to the dungeon Hythloth, which is located, as always, on the Isle of the Avatar.

I am not even going to say anything.

We seem to be in the lower cave.

We head up and to the right killing drakes as we go.

Here are some spare pieces of sulfurous ash I manage to find. The ladder is in the northwest cavern.

Unfortunately, it is guarded by two dragons.

Fortunately, dragons are no match for Mass Kill. :grin:

The ladder is in the northeast corner of the northwestern cavern.

I start in the northwest corner and make my way to the lava bed in the center.

I wonder if there is anything on that island in the center?

Apparently there is a ladder!

Unfortunately, it leads nowhere!

I keep exploring. Eventually I run into it a pack of daemons. These guys are still annoying because they can charm party members.

Here it is! I head down the ladder to level 3.

Sieg Heil!

To get to level four, I just have to make my way around to the cavern directly to the east.

I first rest-up and then enter solo mode to scout out the route.

Yes, it involves walking through more lava.

I finally make it!

Fortunately, the acid slugs do not prove much of a threat. I then go back and get the rest of the party.

I now climb down the ladder.

I start in the southeast passage, and I have to make my way to the cavern to the west.

Yes, Virginia, we have to cross even more lava.

I now come upon a solitary man with a little hut in the bottom of the dungeon Hythloth. It can only be (former) Captain John, the guy who inadvertently created the Shadowlords.

Tis most fortuitous that thou hast returned, noble Elzair. Many cataclysms have occurred since thou last visited Britannia.

Who are you?

Why, I'm Captain John, milord!

What are you doing here?

For several years I have been here in the catacombs, studying the gargoyles.

Have you learned much while studying them?

Yes, I have learned much about them! I had a silver tablet that contained much of what I had learned. I gave it to some gypsies to take to Mariah at the Lycaeum. Did it arrive safely?

Not exactly.

No?! But I paid money, good money, for them to carry it to her! No matter. Now that thou art here, all is well. You can also study the gargoyles yourself, and carry the knowledge back to the surface.

Tell me more about the gargoyles.

They are not evil, as most humans believe! I have spent much time talking to them, and I have found them to be almost human. I have learned about their society, their beliefs and their language.

Tell me more about their society.

There are two kins of gargoyles, winged and wingless ones. At first it seemed as if the wingless ones were slaves. But now I know that the wingless ones are beloved and valued family members. They must be told what to do, because they are not truly intelligent. The gargoyles live honorably, by their own set of beliefs.

Tell me about the belief system of the gargoyles.

The gargoyles' beliefs are much like our own. Where we have the three principles of Truth, Love and Courage, they have the principles of Control, Passion and Diligence. Directly, these lead to the virtues of Direction, Feeling, and Persistence. Combined, they lead to Balance, Achievement, and Precision. Take together, they point to Order. And the sum of all the principles is Singularity. Gargoyle society stresses unity and singularity in all things. They have to; their world has always been harsh, even before the cataclysms.

What kind of cataclysms are you talking about?

The gargoyle world, once as large as Britannia itself, is slowly being destroyed! The forces thou set in motion have caused great sections of their land to fall of into the void! Only a single gargoyle city remains.

What about the city?

The gargoyle City of Investigation, their place of learning and government, is all that is left. Thou must do something to save the gargoyle race! I know not what, however. Thou must talk to the gargoyles.

How do I talk to them? I don't even know their language.

With the help of a gargoyle child, Beh Lem, I have learned how to speak their language. Wouldst thou like to learn?

Not really.

But you must!

. No. Fuck off!

I knew it!

Thou hast no chance of saving the gargoyles if thou knowest no their language.

Fine. I'll learn their fuckin' language.

Alright. Later!

Wait! Thou must meet Beh Lem and travel with him among the gargoyle people. That is the only way you can save them, and save them you must! And without Beh Lem with you, the gargoyles will attack!

What about this Beh Lem character?

He and I meet every day at noon, where Hythloth emerges in the gargoyle lands. Go and speak with him, learn about the gargoyles. You must save them!

Fine. Goodbye!

Farewell again, noble Avatar. As the gargoyles say, 'may thy persistence and precision lead to success.' Upon you rests the future of an entire race.

:twisted:

I may as well examine the scroll he gave me. Surely studying this one scroll will not give me complete knowledge of the entire gargoyle language!

I take the ladder to the northwest of the hut and climb down to the Underworld.

Wow! It is pretty bright down here! It looks like the gargoyle's even have their own sun!

How the fuck is that even possible?!

Remember, Britannia is flat!

Yes, Avatar, every educated person knows that!

That does not make any fucking sense and is completely inconsistent with all past Ultimas!

It's just magic; run with it.

No, it's just the only way Richard Garriott could think of to hammer his message about cultural differences in perspective into my skull!

Enough of this bullshit. Let's just find this little Beh Lem character.

To greet you, human. To recognize you as the False Prophet!

What is your name?

To be called Beh Lem, which means 'just one.' To have not yet received a true name.

What do you mean by a true name?

To not receive a true name until I have proved myself worthy.

How do you do that?

To not deserve a name yet. But to get one someday, just like my father Valkadesh!

What are you doing here?

To be here to wait for Captain John.

Tell me about your father, Valkadesh.

To very much respect Valkadesh my father. To want to be a scholar someday just like him! To wish to meet Valkadesh?

Uh, sure.

To go with you and guide you there! To not be able to join you right now. To ask again later, perhaps.

I dump Jaana, and he joins up. I guess she will have to find her own way back. :twisted:

Alright, how do I find your father Valkadesh?

To go from the entrance to Hythloth westward following the mountains. Then to turn north, at the Hall of Knowledge. To walk east along the mountains until you come to a narrow pass. To find the house of Valkadesh through the pass. To see it at 40 degrees south, 65 degrees east by the sextant. But, to take care! To avoid the lava pits and the Hall of Knowledge! To understand these directions?

Yes.

Good!

Let's get a move on.

May your precision and persistence lead to success!

I have to take him along because having him in the party is the only thing that keeps the gargoyles from attacking me on sight.

I then give him all of Jaana's old stuff.

Here is the map of the gargoyle realm. Now, let's see where we are.

It appears we are in the southeastern corner. I can follow Beh Lem's instructions to get to his father.

However, it is much quicker to just sail around the island.

When I arrive at his home, Valkadesh is fast asleep.

I don't brook any of that nonsense from sub-humans, so I wake him up.

To have waited long for you to return to this side of the world. To believe that the Book of Prophecies is wrong. To believe that I can reason with you, persuade you to spare my people. To wish to address you honorably: To ask your name?

Elzair

Noble Elzair, to see that you are a being of honor and respect. To not betray that honor -- to return the Codex! To save my people from the prophecy!

Do you mean the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom?

To believe that it is not too late. To beg you to return the Codex. Avert the prophecy! Save your life, and my people's lives as well.

What prophecy are you talking about?

To be written in the Book of Prophecies that you would destroy our world. To also be written that only the sacrifice of the False Prophet would save us.

So that is why you tried to sacrifice me!

To be the only alternative to returning the Codex. Without the Codex, to have no choice but to sacrifice your life!

What kind of choice is that?!

Wait! To know that sacrifice has three meanings: of self, of others and of valuables. Perhaps to find a better answer in one of those other meanings.

What other kind of answer is there?

To be unable to help more. To suggest you seek out Naxatilor himself for further enlightenment.

How can this Naxatilor help me?

To learn much from Naxatilor, the wisest gargoyle. To find his chambers just to the northeast of the Hall of Knowledge. To suggest you go there and ask him of sacrifice.

Alright. Farewell.

As you turn to leave, the gargoyle stops you. Wait, he calls. To be feared and hated by all gargoyles. To be unsafe for you right now, False Prophet. To surrender is only answer. To surrender to Inquisitor. Then to be no longer a threat and then not to be feared by my people! To surrender to the Inquisitor, and then to be free to look for the solution.

Where do I find this Inquisitor?

To go to Draxinosum, the Inquisitor and leader of my race. To find his chambers just to the northwest of the Hall of Knowledge. To surrender to him, that you may travel freely in our land.

Just what do I need to do to surrender?

To travel to the Inquisitor. To tell the Inquisitor that you surrender. Then to be no longer a threat and no longer feared.

So this will allow me to travel freely?

To know that the moons are not properly aligned yet for the ritual. To assure you that you will not be sacrificed for many weeks. To assure you that surrender is the only way you can travel among my people.

Alright. Later.

May your precision and persistence lead to success!

I am really beginning to hate that saying.

I now warp to the slab (1S 1W) upon which I was almost sacrificed. It is not marked on the map above, but it is in the mountain alcove in top-center of the map that is due south of the Temple of Singularity.

While the map gives the location of Inquisitor Draxinusom's office, he sleeps in the house northwest of his office. I wake him up and attempt to dictate the terms of my 'surrender.'

To refrain from slaying you only because of the presence of the child, False Prophet! To express astonishment at your audacity, False Prophet!

What is your name?

To be named Draxinusom, leader of our race. To demand to know why you have come before me!

I surrender.

To be here to surrender?

Yes.

To be willing to die to save my people?

Yes.

To grant me your life?

Fuck no!

Bah! Get out of my sight, False Prophet! I will take thee when my armies return from the Underworld.

Well, that did not go as planned. Unfortunately, the game basically requires me to surrender to him, pledge that I willingly offer myself up as a sacrificial lamb, and then aggree to wear the Amulet of Submission (that cannot be taken off and indicates my sacrificial status) to get them to trust me.

Fuck that!

Fuck that, indeed!

Iolo!

What is it milord?

Spam! Spam! Spam! Humbug!

Make me an item!

I dial-up one Amulet of Submission (#76). It is automatically equipped around my neck.

The seer it directly east of Draxinusom's office. That weird stuff is the Gargoyle's written language.

I ain't learning that! I've had enough of these made up written languages.

Well, Brtannian runes are based on ancient Germanic runes, but the point is noted.

Anyway, I speak to the Gargoyle seer Naxalitor.

Why do you think I am fated to destroy the world?

Is that really my only choice?

Aren't there other meanings to the word 'sacrifice'?

Hmm . . . I don't mind sacrificing others if the cause (i.e. saving my skin) is right, but I should probably be diplomatic.

I mean sacrificing objects of value.

Surely thou doest not mean to destroy the Codex?

Of course not! Unless it is the only way to save my bacon, that is.

What is this about a vortex?

Okay. I now travel to the Hall of Knowledge. First, I speak with the

.

So, what is here in this hall?

To keep the treasured artifacts of our race here in this Hall, in the three chambers.

What all is in those three chambers?

To have three rooms here: To keep artifacts from the Underworld in the Human Chamber, to the east. To keep valuable books in the Librum Chamber to the West. And to keep the Cube and the Lens in the Vortex Chamber, to the south.

What do you mean by 'Underworld?'

Yes, the Underworld. To believe you know it as 'Britannia.'

This is what I was saying about the whole different cultural narratives thing Richard Garriott seems to be hammering home in this game.

What is the Vortex Cube?

To regret that that item is lost, stolen by human thieves years ago. To have heard the humans mention the name Stonegate as they fled. To have heard them say they would sail through Lost Hope Bay. To know nothing more about its whereabouts.

Okay, what about the lens?

To find what you seek in the Vortex Chamber.

Alright, I dispel the field blocking the Vortex Chamber.

Inside I find the Vortex Cube missing and the lens broken. I take it anyway.

I then enter the Librum Chamber to the west.

Here are some of the Gargoyles' sacred texts.

Here is the book I am looking for.

Well, now that I know what the Vortex Cube does and why I need the lens, I go back to Naxatilor.

I travel to the lensmaker's house.

I need to get this lens repaired.

With the lens repaired I return to Naxatilor.

How will I get one of those?

Alright. I need to read the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom to find out how to return it, but to even get near it I need to be on a sacred quest. This is a pickle! I ask around about it.

This is Captain Bolesh.

Where did you get so injured?

What happened?

To have encountered an impervious force field around the Codex.

What do you know about that force field?

To remember that only those on sacred quests for wisdom could pass.

Where would I get one of those?

I still have to try! Where will I find the Temple of Singularity?

Alright I head there.

First, I set-up the balloon. Next, I use the fan to change the wind direction so that it is blowing from the south.

Then, I sail over the mountains.

Finally, I land and pack up the balloon.

North of me is the Temple of Singularity.

I dispel the fields blocking the entrance and head in. I come alone because of all the lava geysers around.

There is nothing useful here save for a book and the triangle in the center. Here is what the book says.

What is with Garriott and combining principles?

Here is where the Codex used to sit.

Funny. I don't remember any of this when I was last in the Codex chamber.

Shhh! You're pointing out flaws in the game!

Apparently, the Book of Prophecies must be missing as well. Well, I now talk to the triangle in the center.

FUCK!! It looks like I have been too bad!

I now teleport to all eight shrines of virtue and meditate at each. I then head back here.

I seek the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom.

For myself, duh!

Uhhh . . . I seek the Codex for . . . both the human and gargoyle race!

What can you tell me about the three principles?

What can you tell me about Control?

Alright, what about Passion?

Where is Diligence?

I now warp to the Shrine of Control (1N 1W).

It is just a giant lever puzzle. I just have to continue figuring out which levers open the grates between me and what I seek.

I believe this is the correct pattern. NOTE: The lever I am standing on is pointing to the left.

Beware! The end of the hallway is trapped! A Detect Trap will reveal all of the traps. Then I just have to move them out of the way.

It looks like I have approached a statue.

MONDAIN is the embodiment of Control? WTF?!

The statue is talking?! I have seen a lot of weird shit in this series, but this beats all!

Are you really Mondain?

So, uh, what are you doing here Mondain?

How exactly do you embody the principle of Control?

Okay then. I think he says my understanding of Control is flawed because I do not repeat 'Un' after him. I now warp to the Shrine of Passion (1N 1E).

Since it looks like this 'test' involves walking through more lava, I go it alone.

Since it looks like daemons are around, I cast Invisibility on myself. I

Oww! hothothothothothot!!!

Looking back, I probably should have just cast Douse a few times.

Now he tells me!

Since Mondain is the embodiment of Control, I wonder who is the embodiment of Passion?

*Sigh* What is your task?

Tell me about Passion.

I now rejoin my party and warp to the Shrine of Diligence (1S).

Shamino confirms it.

Here is a map of part of the level. The entrance is the room in the center. This seems like a lot of rooms to search!

To save time I cast Wizard's Eye. This spell creates an ethereal eye that cannot be harmed by monsters and can pass through anything.

I find a hidden ladder in the southwest corner of the room just south of me. Unfortunately, I search around the entire wall, but there are no secret door. I then find another hidden ladder just south of the first one.

I search the walls around it and find a secret door to the north.

As you can see, I find the hidden ladder two rooms south and one room west of the entrance. The little solitary dot on the left is where I am standing when I find the door. I head up the ladder.

Unfortunately, it is guarded by daemons. Fortunately, I journey alone and am invisible.

avatar Today I have encountered both Mondain and Minax! I wonder who is the embodiment of Diligence?

What might your task be (as if I don't already know)?

Tell me about Diligence.

I wonder if those two-letter mantras they keep having me chant will be important in some way?

My way out is blocked by a pack of slime. Any regular attack will just cause them to divide. However, they fall pretty easily to Flame Wind. :D Anyway, I make it back to the Temple of Singularity.

Yes.

It is probably UNORUS.

However, it will have to wait until next time!

Later!

 

[DaveO]

Push me, pull you!

Great job so far! I've been avoiding the Ultima 6 updates for the most part, but I do remember the statues and hand mapping the dungeons.

 

[Brother None]

I would like to point out that the wisps, in their casual handing out of Armageddon spells to anyone who asks in any dimension, are without a doubt by extension the greatest cross-dimensional mass-murderers in the history of...history itself!

Also: May your precision and persistence lead to success! Moar!

 

[Elzair]

The main question I have is whether or not I should drop the big one before I finish the game. You know what I mean!

 

[Elzair]

Ultima VI Part 13

Ultima VI: The False Prophet

Part 13

It is now time to end this. I warp to the Shrine of the Codex.

Since I am on a sacred quest now, it finally lets me past. I approach the Codex and absorb its wisdom.

This is just great, but I still need to find someone who is able to make the lens I need.

I wonder if I could find anyone at the Lycaeum?

I clearly have not talked to this fellow before.

What is your name?

What do you do?

I am an astronomer. More precisely, I calculate movements of the stars, phases of the moons... My field of specialization is tidal predictions. I also make various glasswares and instruments.

You make analytical instruments?

Yes, sextants mostly.

Hot damn! If I had known about him earlier, I would not have had to rob ol' mute Arty out of his only sextant!

Ah well, it's not as if he could raise an outcry.

What kind of glass instruments do you make?

Lenses and the like.

Could you make a concave lens like this one?

You need a concave copy of it? Let me think... It would be very tricky to duplicate, being magical in nature, but I believe I might be able to do it. The material and the nature of the enchantment appear similar to those involved in the making of glass swords. If I could keep this to analyze while you go get me a glass sword, I'll try and make a copy for you. Before you can protest, he pockets the lens. Let me know when you have the glass sword.

I have one right here.

Ah, you've brought me a glass sword! Let me just get your lens... He fumbles through his pockets. Oh no! I seem to have lost the lens! Just kidding... Here it is. Now I'll melt down the glass sword and try to cast a lens for you. You watch as he works, intently focused on his task. Finally he pronounces the job a success. Here's your lens back, and the duplicate. There's no charge - the challenge of the task was reward enough. I don't know what you need these lenses for, but I wish you luck!

Now that I have both of the lenses, it is time to track down the Vortex Cube. I warp to Minoc and sail to the very south of Lost Hope Bay.

Stonegate is through that little canyon south of my position.

The entrance to the canyon is roughly 14 *N, 38 *E. When I enter the canyon, I spot a child. He says that he washed ashore here an orphan and was adopted by a Cyclops couple who had recently lost their son.

Whatever!

Here are mommy and daddy!

I ask daddy about getting into his cellar.

Okay, how do I get the key?

Yeah.

Alright, Dupre grabs the nearby fishing pole and heads out to the lake to fish. 'Fishing' mainly consists of standing near water and using the fishing pole repeatedly until you finally catch a fish.

Yes!

Unfortunately, I try to catch another one and end up accidentally clicking on the fish instead of the fishing pole and eating it.

Damnit!

Alright, fuck this!

How do you like dem fish, unibrow?

I search in the center of the first floor of Stonegate and find a secret door. I take the ladder down.

You cannot see them well, but there are four levers in the four corners of this room. Switching them opens up the locked grates on the outside part of this level.

I proceed through the now open doors and take the ladder down.

On the third level I just wander around until I find the ladder leading down. The next level initially features a set of four rooms. The northwest one is the one I want, but each door leading into it is blocked by an impenetrable energy field.

I find two secret doors leading into a central room from the east and south. I then throw the switch on the northern wall. This turns off the energy field.

In the northwest room I find a secret door on the northern wall.

I then dispel one of the poison fields and use the key I swiped from the Cyclops on the door to the north.

I then dispel part of the protection field guarding the Vortex Cube.

Gotcha!

Since I use it with the eight moonstones I put it in the same bag.

I now have everything I need to beat the game! First, however, I have some . . . unfinished business.

You will die for that, pervert!

He is not the only one.

I pick up his body and cast Help.

You like games, funny man? Well, play with these!

Oops! I was aiming for the lightning wand.

Oh well! I grab ol' Chuckles' body too. It is now time to take a little trip to Empath Abbey.

Yes! :twisted:

One down!

Both are now gone for good!

I chuck the ashes down some where.

I am not done yet!

Hey, Draxinusom!

That's for trying to sacrifice me!

I should probably resurrect the caretaker, though.

When somebody dies fighting me, they lose the ability to talk. The only way to prevent this is to kill someone without them realizing they are being attacked. This can, ironically, be accomplished by firing a cannon at them.

While we are here, let's see what the snakecharmer is like.

Okay.

What do you do around here?

What is this battle drug you mentioned?

Eww!

Anyway, what is that large horn doing there?

Well, it cannot hurt to look at it!

I remember finding a silver horn in Ultima IV. It was used to drive away the daemons guarding the Shrine of Humility. I guess there can be more than one silver horn, but it still seems kind of weird.

Whatever, let's blow on it!

Uh oh!

I cast Kill on this one

I do the same for this one.

I kill the third snake, and it does not seem any more are coming. This whole thing is completely irrelevant, so let's move on.

Speaking of irrelevance, it is now time to visit the Museum of Oddities in Britain. First I speak with its curator.

Hello and welcome, milord!

What is your name?

My name is Kytyn. She smiles. Perhaps that explains why I like birds.

So, whadda you do here?

I'm the curator of the royal museum of oddities.

There is a royal museum now?

It's just one of the projects Lord British has funded to provide a better life for his people.

What other 'projects' has LB gotten invovled in?

He also established the conservatory that shares the building with the museum. The roads that span the realm are his doing as well.

Alright, tell me about the museum.

I can tell you more about any of the exhibits you're interested in.

What exhibits do you have?

We have the monolith, the energy field, the perpetual motion machine, the bones of Zog, the mystery fountain, and the dragon's head, wings, and egg. Which one were you curious about?

Tell me about the Bones of Zog.

This skeleton seems to be about ten times older than any other ever found in Britannia. Surely it has much to tell us about our origins, if we only knew what it meant!

I wonder if I can resurrect him?

Damn!

Tell me about these dragon parts.

Someone named 'Gertan' donated all those parts. I think he said something about a dragon named 'Freitag'.

Is this really a perpetual motion machine?

That's a very curious device. The motion of each gear turns another, until eventually the movement is propagated back to the same gear again. There's one thing I can't figure out. We've made plans of the device, and I can't see how they started it moving in the first place. None of the gears would turn unless all the others were already going. What's worse, the motions serve to hold the machine together. If the gears were still, the whole thing would fall apart! How it was built is quite a mystery.

What is this mystery fountain?

Somebody found a huge boulder with a jet of water spraying out of it. We had it magically teleported here, buried with its surface flush with the ground, and then we built this building on top of it. Of course we left a hole in the floor for the water to spray through. I often drink from it when I'm thirsty. The water is quite good, but there's something strange about it. It vanishes somehow before it hits the ground...

Alright, what is this energy field?

The field is generated by a curious spell. By some process not yet understood, it converts magical energy into electrical energy, producing a continuous discharge. If we understood this process better, it would probably lead to all sorts of useful applications.

Hmm. I wonder if I could dispel it?

Yep, I can!

Okay, what is a 2001 knockoff doing in an Ultima game?

I can't tell you much about that. Lord British donated it to the museum, but I can't get him to talk about it. From what little he's said, I think it's an artifact from his home world.

Later!

Be sure to have a look at our paintings while you're here. And come again soon... We're expecting some unicorn horns, and a Klein bottle from Trinsic.

Meh, this Codex shit is never going to keep the peace for long. It looks like the only peaceful solution is something a bit more permanent.

I know just the thing. It looks like I might have to destroy Britannia in order to save it.

Vas Corp Bet Mani!

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Rats! You're crazy ass is still here! It looks like I will have to do something about that!

This spell basically removes every NPC from the game. There bodies are not lying there; they are just . . . gone.

One cool thing about a dead world is that I can sleep anywhere. I sleep until dark.

Here he is eating all alone.

Here he is in his bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.

Wakey! Wakey!

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

The designers clearly never intended for Lord British to be killed, so they never bothered including a death animation for him. He just stands there like a statue. It really brings out the atmosphere in a room.

Does this mean I am king, now?

Yes.

Sweet!

I take the former king along for the ride.

Let's bring peace to a dead world.

I place the purple lens and the blue lens like so.

Next I move all eight moonstones into the Vortex Cube and place it just south of the Codex.

I then drop LB so he can bask in the glow of the concave lens.

Finally I try to use it and . . . . . . . . nothing happens!

Rats!

It looks like the designers anticipated that the player might cast Armageddon, so they made the ending cinematic only play if you have not. I am forced to reload before my massacre took place.

I try this again.

Wipeout man!

Now the ending 'cinematic' plays.

avatar Aren't you dead?

avatar WTF?! How did you survive too?!

avatar Wow! They went from mortal enemies to the best of friends just by reading a book together! The power of reading!

I AM DONE WITH ULTIMA VI AT LAST!!

 

[Silellak]

Sweet! Awesome work so far.

What's next - the Worlds of Ultima games?

As much as I love Ultima VI, it is admittedly annoying how suddenly there's another world on the "other side". I've never been sure if it's implied the Gargoyle world was the Underworld, or on the other side of the Underworld, or what. Honestly it's easier just to LARP that the Gargoyle world is in another dimension and/or a mirror universe or something, rather than physically be a part of Britannia. This would also help explain why the Gargoyle world was being eaten by the "Void".

I'm pretty sure it's revealed by the Wisps in Ultima VII that Zog was the only person to ever cast Armageddon. How sentient life ever returned to Sosaria after that is a mystery, though it makes you wonder if even the "original" inhabitants came from another world.

 

[Hieromancer]

Bravo.

 

[Brother None]

at there being no special Armageddon ending. "The Codex is returned, and you return to Britannia to frolic around, alone and naked. King of Britannia, forever!"

Looking forward to more.

 

[Yeesh]

Warm, insightful, funny, and heartbreaking. This is a most excellent LP.

 

[Silellak]

at there being no special Armageddon ending. "The Codex is returned, and you return to Britannia to frolic around, alone and naked. King of Britannia, forever!"

Looking forward to more.

At least Ultima VII still has a bad ending!

 

[Luzur]

Mr. Nose is the nickname of Lord British (in IRL too if im not mistaken), if you didnt know.

 

[Elzair]

In a little while, I should have ready an update or two of Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire, so bump dis shit!

 

[Sceptic]

Fuck yeah!

Bumptibump.

 

[Brother None]

My bumps! My bumps my bumps my bumps

 

[Silellak]

In lieu of actually updating my own LP, I shall opt to simply bump this one.

BUMP.

 

[Brother None]

That's cheating, Silellak.

Also, fumbumpalrooskie?

 

[Hieromancer]

Bumpan'.

 

[Michael Ellis]

Great job!

 

[TheCowburner]

Re: Ultima VI Part 13

I AM DONE WITH ULTIMA VI AT LAST!!

Great job Elzair!

Keep it up

[Bump]

 

[Brother None]

Pmub

 

[TheCowburner]

Bump

 

[Derper]

Probably doesn't need another bump?

 

[Azira]

I remember having Sherri the mouse in my party all the way through Ultima VI. Rudyom has a pet drake behind a fence in his house, and the only way to reach the corpse of said drake if you killed it with ranged combat (lightning wands were my favourite) was to use Sherri. She fit between the bars.

And since Sherri starts at level 1, you can level her up 7 times for a whooping +21 strength increase, so she actually ends up useful, aside from her high dexterity.

Exploit or feature? I'm not certain. I just remember I had fun with this game. :D