Ultima V Part 2: Many Meetings
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny
Part 2: Many Meetings
Since I forgot to include it last time, here is a (computer-generated) map of Britannia.
As you can see, it looks almost the same as last time. You can find a better version of the map with labels and everything
here.
BTW, I am playing with the
Ultima V upgrade patch that adds the MIDI soundtrack from the Commodore 128 version.
I head east from Empath Abbey.
I now arrive at the city of Yew. However, something is amiss . . .
These are Blackthorn's new laws. They are basically an attempt to legislate virtue.
Thank goodness they did not have mugshots back then!
Ultima V marks the first game where the runic language becomes very widespread. This sign reads "political prisoners."
Job.
Aleyn: I fear I have broken a law!
Law.
Aleyn: I failed to enforce the Seventh Law of Virtue.
Seventh law.
Aleyn: I did not turn my father in for donating too little to charity!
Charity.
Aleyn: That's just what I'm told!
That little bastard stole something from me!
Shit! A Shadowlord! This guy is way out of my league, so I hightail it out of town and wait a day. I then talk to the boy's father, Mario.
Job.
I am bein' 'orribly punished for a trivial crime.
Punished.
I've been sentenced to slowly die in the stocks, for me minor crime.
Son.
He too 'as been left to die!
Crime.
I was convicted by Ye Court of Inquisition. I could afford only 40% of me earnings to give unto charity! A fact that I did not confess until I was caught and tortured!
Tortured.
Don't ask Won't ye 'elp me please?
Yes.
Please, unlock the stocks an 'elp me 'scape!
Unlock.
For Pete's sake, use a key and jimmy the bloody lock!
I gain karma for helping people like Aleyn and his son, but I don't have the keys to spare right now.
Le fuck?! If I am caught by a guard, I have to pay some kind of tribute. I usually just reload. BTW, I can now save my game in towns and dungeons.
This is Judge Dryden, one of Blackthorn's inner circle and the head of the "justice" system in Britannia.
Job.
Dryden: I am the head Inquisitor.
Judge.
Dryden: This is the Court of Inquisition of His Majesty Blackthorn! Art thou here to confess?
No.
Dryden: Perhaps then, to plead for the life of another, yes?
No.
Dryden: Then what?
Bye.
Dryden: Live by the Eight Laws!
I head to the cells in the back of the courthouse.
Job.
Jerone: Well, I used to be an adventurer!
Adventurer.
Jerone: Now I'm a prisoner!
Prisoner.
Jerone: I was convicted of heresy!
Heresy.
Jerone: I stated my belief that Lord British was alive!
British.
Jerone: It happened one night when I was camping out on the moors.
Camp.
Jerone: A strange apparition arose before my fire!
Apparition.
Jerone: It was HIM, I swear it! Surely thou dost believe me?
Yes.
Jerone: Then surely thou must agree, there is hope! If only my brother would hurry!
Brother.
Collect.
Jerone: He used to give me keys, but I kept getting caught!
Keys.
This is Greymarch. He will be important later.
This is Jeremy, Jerone's brother. He works as a cook at the Slaughtered Lamb.
Job.
Jeremy: I am the chef at The Slaughtered Lamb. Is there anything that thou dost need- food, keys or perhaps information?
Information.
Jeremy: All I can tell thee is that Chamfort knows a Mantra!
Chef.
Jeremy: I work hard- I need the money.
Money.
Jeremy: I'm trying to get my brother out of jail.
Brother.
Jeremy: It is going to cost me 500 gold crowns!
500 gold crowns.
Jeremy: I know not how I shall save that much.
Keys.
Jeremy: Have five! Surely thou wilt give me 50 gold for those keys?
No.
Jeremy: Scoundrel!
Yeah, yeah. Not giving him the 50 gold will lower my karma a little, but money is tight right now.
Nice! Anyway, the weird floor tile to the east is a trap door, and stepping on it flings my party underground.
Eeek! A rat!
We make quick work of it.
The corner to the north of me is a secret door.
Searching in that direction makes the door reveal itself. I then head up, to the left and down to another room.
Jaana: So, tell me, hast thou returned to set things right?
Yes.
Jaana: Good! Hath thy journeys fared well so far?
Yes.
Whohoo! Jaana the Druid has become a mage.
Anyway, I find a ladder up and exit through the fireplace (taking damage) into the blacksmith's house. He must be working for the resistance as well, but I need to find out more info first.
Don't ask me to fucking translate that!
This one says:
"East Britain
South Paws."
I head east.
Iolo has a bow shop?! I speak to the lady in the back.
Name.
Gwenno: I am Gwenno.
Job.
Gwenno: I repair bows and crossbows.
Crossbows.
Gwenno: Iolo makes them, I repair them.
Repair.
Gwenno: The finest yew bows and the stoutest crossbows in the land!
Iolo.
Gwenno: Strange, is it not, that even though Iolo is an outlaw, we still manage to keep his bows in stock. . . Nudge, nudge. . .
Outlaw.
Gwenno: Yes, there are many signs about those brigands (tee hee) in many towns.
Signs.
Gwenno: Wanted: Dead or Alive!
Towns.
Gwenno: Yew, for instance!
Yew.
Gwenno: Northwest of here, in the Deep Forest.
We have another party member! This maxes out my current party. If I want to add another one, I will have to get rid of someone. I now speak to Greyson by the fountain in the center of town.
Job.
Greyson: I am an adventurer!
Adventurer.
Greyson: I have been many places, and seen many things!
Things.
Greyson: I've even seen the Guardians!
Guardians.
Greyson: They are like two winged stone giants, yet they possess life!
Life.
Greyson: Only those upon a sacred quest ordained by the mystic Shrines are granted passage unto the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom which lies beyond!
Codex.
Greyson: I know not more, for I was not on a sacred quest and could not pass.
Sacred quest.
Greyson: One must know first the Mantra for a particular shrine. Meditate there, and be sent upon a sacred quest, then canst thou enter the Shrine of the Codex!
Mantra.
British.
It is "MU" like last time. I now head to Hotel Brittany.
Job.
Justin: Why, I am the cook, of course!
Cook.
Justin: My specialty is roast leg of mutton a la Britanny!
Roast leg of mutton.
Justin: Ah, 'tis the finest in all the land, if I do say so myself! Wouldst thou like to try a bite?
Yes.
Justin: [gives food] Here thou art. . . Smack. . . Slurp. . . Chomp. . . Didst thou enjoy it?
Yes.
Justin: Surely then, thou wouldst pay me 3 gold coins for such a culinary delight?
Yes.
Justin: I thank thee kindly!
Yes.
I buy two packs of rations here and then speak to Eb.
avatar Elzair.
Eb: A pleasure!
avatar Glass.
Eb: Didst thou break a glass?
avatar No.
Eb: Dost thou admire fine glasswork?
avatar Yes.
No.
I then speak to the maid, Telila.
Job.
Telila: I clean the rooms.
Rooms.
Telila: We have but few guests these days.
Guests.
Mage.
Telila: His name is Annon- a strange fellow! He spends his days alone upon the balconies!
avatar Balconies.
Telila: Up on the second floor of the inn!
I now head towards Lord British's castle. Apparently, three mini-towns, the Brittanny's, have grown up around it.
Job.
Christopher: I fiddle in the fields to keep me fed.
Fields.
Christopher: I pride myself in a job well done, even if one does not enjoy it.
Enjoy.
Christopher: What I really enjoy is writing works of fantasy.
Fantasy.
Times of Lore.
Christopher: I hope to have it published soon.
Published.
Yes.
Christopher: Good! Enchanted, I'm sure, to have met such an enlightened soul. What a nice chap thou art.
This is the Blue Boar. It will become the primary inn/tavern of Britain in later Ultimas.
There is not much else here (yet). I head to the castle.
Here is LB's favorite jester, Chuckles the Bumble.
Chuckles: I am here to welcome and try to entertain!
Welcome.
Cantabrigian?! His first name is
Cantabrigian?! :smack:
Chuckes: And, his trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. . . . . . Jester, Chuckles the Bumble. . . . . . That's ME!
Entertain.
Chuckles: Ho eyo he hum! Ho eyo he hum! Ho eyo he hum! Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce! Didst thou enjoy that?
Yes.
Chuckles: I thought thou might!
I then speak to Treanna in the stables.
Job.
Treanna: I am the stable girl.
Stable.
Treanna: Lord British's stables are home to many of the finest breeds in the land.
Lord British.
Treanna: Alas, he is no longer with us.
Breeds.
Treanna: We have prime examples of most of the major breeds. What's thy favorite breed?
Valorian.
Yes.
Treanna: What was its name?
Ed.
Treanna: Not that one!
Smith.
Well, I need to head back there as soon as possible.
I then cross a bridge with trolls underneath. Fortunately, all my characters manage to sneak across without a fight.
This sign says:
"North Britain
East Paws
South Trinsic."
I head east.
Job.
Gems.
Glinkie: I am searching for the mystic Shrine of Spirituality, and feel they would be of good use!
Destroyed.
Glinkie: Dost thou know where to find it?
Yes.
Glinkie: Where?
Moongate at midnight.
Glinkie: Art thou saying that I must enter a Moongate to reach the Shrine of Spirituality?
Yes.
Glinkie: At midnight?
Yes.
Glinkie: Oh, no wonder I never found it! Well, that one is likely safe then. . .
Words of Power.
This may be useful later since shrines can be destroyed in this game. Anyway, let's talk to more people.
Job.
Bandaii: I seek a magical beast.
Magical beast.
Bandaii: Since the last age, rumours abound of a legendary horse!
Horse.
Bandaii: I search for Smith, the notorious talking horse!
Smith.
Bandaii: I do not doubt the rumours, but this I must see for myself! Dost thou believe in talking horses?
Yes.
Bandaii: Hast thou seen one?
Yes.
Bandaii: Was it Smith?
Yes.
Bandaii: Where didst thou see him?
Iolo's hut.
Sweet! I cannot get it yet, though.
This sign reads, "welcome to Paws." Now, I will go to the moongate back near Britain.
Moon gates work a bit differently in this game. First of all, they only appear at night. Even though all of them appear at once, they will all go to only one destination depending on the phase of the moon. If it is not yet midnight, the leftmost moon determines the destination, and the right one does so after midnight. During the hour of midnight (I think), the moongates will always lead to the Shrine of Spirituality (I think). Here is a list of moonphases and their various destinations.
Code:
Moon Town
New Moonglow
Quarter waxing Britain
Half waxing Jhelom
Three-quarter waxing Yew
Full Minoc
Three-quarter waning Trinsic
Half waning Skara Brae
Quarter waning New Magincia
I wonder where I am?
I think I know now. Can you guess?
Uh oh!
I come back around morning, and the Shadowlord is gone. I speak to the kid.
Name.
So this is Malik? I ask him about glass.
Malik: Didst thou know my mother is a fortuneteller?
No.
Malik: We live in the building in the northwest corner. Go talk to her! She knows lots of chants and powerful words!
This is Blackthorn's law of Honesty.
In one of the houses I find some food in a barrel. Searching for items does not seem to affect my karma. I then head up the ladder.
Upstairs, I push (or, in this case, pull) the chest at the bottom to reach the chest in the corner. Pushing an object moves it one space in the direction I push it. If that direction is blocked, I pull it, which means that I and the object swap places. Unlike the last game, I cannot just walk over tiles occupied by objects.
Whohoo! Wearing this makes a character invisible to enemies. It only lasts for a while, though. I now head to see Malik's mother, the gypsy fortuneteller.
Name.
Malifora: I am Malifora.
Job.
Malifora: I can see many things beyond thy ken!
Things.
Malifora: Tell me what thou seeketh.
Word of Power.
This translates to FALLAX.
Mantra of Honesty.
The mantra is AHM, as usual. How does she know the word of power BTW? I thought only members of the Great Council knew those!
Council.
Malifora: Yes, Elzair, I served on the Great Council.
Shards.
Blackthorn.
Malifora: I see that he resides upon an isle of three volcanoes, far to the south in the great sea!
I tip her for her services and proceed to loot the town. Here are some more items I find.
I then head for the tower in the center of town.
Job.
Zachariah: I watch the stars.
Stars.
Zachariah: I watch the signs amongst the planets!
Signs.
Zachariah: Comets have come! A sign of evil!
Comets.
Shadowlords.
Attack.
Zachariah: If only the Avatar would return!
Avatar.
Zachariah: Art thou the Avatar of legend?
Yes.
Zachariah: Indeed? What is the password of our Resistance?
Shit! There is a password! I need to find this out.
Dunno.
Zachariah: I do not yet believe thee!
I then speak to Don Piatt.
Elzair.
Don Piatt: May I be of service unto thee?
Yes.
Don Piatt: Thou may wish to frequent our fine pub or our herbalist, but avoid the man in the tower!
Job.
Don Piatt: I am Head Counsel for this fine community.
Pub.
Don Piatt: It is in the southeast building.
Herbalist.
Don Piatt: It is in the southwest building.
Tower.
Don Piatt: The man in the tower is a seed of discontent and will bring thee ill fortune!
I then head out of town and to the north.
While crossing a bridge my party is attacked by trolls. Since only Gwenno and Julia have ranged weapons (a sling and a spear), I move my party into position.
Unlike the past Ultimas, in this game my characters can aim their attacks in one or more squares away from their position depending on the range of their weapons. This means characters can finally attack diagonally. Another interesting thing is that characters can dual wield weapons, and when they do, they get one attack for each weapon. Since Iolo has a dagger and a main gauche, he can attack twice.
Since the top troll is trying to flee, I cast VAS FLAM to roast him.
Yeah! That is one troll burger extra crispy!
One of the trolls left behind a (trapped) chest. Chests now appear on the combat screen rather than the overworld.
Nice!
North is the Lycaeum, but I decide to play around with the moongates. First I head in to the moongates around midnight.
I remember the mantra, OM, from the last game.
The moongate deposits me on a tiny island. I sleep until morning.
This is the village of New Magincia. It was built on the ruins of old Magincia, which was destroyed by daemons for it pride sometime before Ultima IV.
It has been rebuilt by a bunch of shepherds/farmers into an agricultural commune. It seems to have replaced Yew and Skara Brae as the go-to destination for hippies.
Job.
Yasuda: I am a farmer.
Farmer.
Yasuda: We have worked very hard here to rebuild Magincia.
Rebuild.
Yasuda: It has been a very long and laborious task, but we are near completion.
Completion.
Yasuda: We would be through now if 'twer not for the black devils who come and take fully half our yield!
Black devils.
Yasuda: The Shadowlords are Blackthorn's enforcers of his self-righteous regime!
Apparently, there is some resentment with Blackthorn's regime. I now talk to more hippies.
Job.
Kaiko: I work to grow the crops for our towne.
Crops.
Kaiko: Without our work, many would starve, yet we seek no more than our humble earnings, unlike the new King!
King.
Kaiko: Blackthorn, the usurper!
Blackthorn.
Kaiko: He takes half our harvest, and imprisons those with the knowledge of the ancients!
Imprisons.
Throne.
It looks like I will have to brave Blackthorn's dungeons to find the councillor Hassan.
Job.
Fumiko: I share the workload in the community fields.
Community fields.
Fumiko: We work long days, but 'tis a choice we make freely!
Freely.
Fumiko: Devoid of freedom, what would virtue be. . .
Virtue.
These are words to live by!
Enslaved.
Fumiko: Those who mindlessly follow the will and tyranny of Blackthorn! Yet still, many believe themselves free!
This is Tomoka. She is another embittered hippie. Honestly, what is up with all the wappanese hippies in New Magincia?
Elzair.
Tetsuo: Pleased to meet thee!
Job.
Tetsuo: I work hard and reflect upon the greater meaning.
Meaning.
Tetsuo: Art thou a servant of Blackthorn?
No.
Tetsuo: I feel the Eight Laws are misguiding!
Misguiding.
Path.
This is pretty much the theme of the whole game.
This cemetery contains all of the NPCs from the last game. In here I find an old woman, Shirita.
Job.
Shirita: I tend the graves of the former inhabitants of Magincia, poor souls!
Magincia.
Shirita: Long ago, Magincia was destroyed for its sins of pride and arrogance.
Pride.
Shirita: Magincia was once a thriving merchant community, the envy of all Britannia!
Envy.
Shirita: Sadly, they were not at all humble. Daemons sprang from the earth, engulfing Magincia in flames!
Daemons.
Shirita: The souls of the inhabitants lived on as undead creatures to warn others from the twisted path of Pride! After years of torment, they have finally been laid to rest. Pride is difficult to avoid. Dost thou strive to walk a humble path?
Yes.
I now find my (useless) former companion, Katrina.
No.
Katrina: Alas, I yearn for battle!
Then why do you suck so much?
This is the grave of Demitry, the skeleton who told me about the Silver Horn that I used to scare off daemons near the Shrine of Humility. Where the hell did that thing go, anyway?
Here is another one of Blackthorn's laws of virtue.
Cool! If I push a chair in a direction, it will face that direction.
I find the old man Shirita was talking about south of the inn.
Job.
Wartow: I stay here to live out my life!
Life.
Wartow: I have lived many years.
Years.
Wartow: Too many to count!
Humility.
Wartow: Who dost thou serve?
British.
Wartow: Dost thou hate the evil tyrant Blackthorn?
No.
Yes.
This translates to LUM. This guy will also ask how I can judge Blackthorn and think myself superior to him when I don't know all there is to know about him. This game seems to suggest that men are not inherently evil but can make many misguided choices.
Anyway, that is all for now.
