Ultima History
Click on the link to find information on the Ultima game of your choice.
Ultima I , II , III , IV , V , VI , VII 1 & 2, VIII , IX , Underworld I, Underworld II
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness
Release date: 1980
In the beginning of the First Age of Darkness is marked by the coming of a sorcerer named Mondain. The father of Mondain had refused to share his secret of immortality with his son, and their disputes ultimately led to the father's death. Torn with anguish and no doubt by his fears of persecution, Mondain turned his dark powers against the kingdoms of Sosaria. In desperation, Lord British called forth a champion to rise to the defense of the realm. The hero who responded to his summons would many years later come to be known as the Avatar. It was through the actions of this Avatar that Mondain's foul gem of power was shattered and Mondain himself did come to a very sad end indeed.
Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress
Release Date: 1982
The triumph of the Avatar did not last long, for in slaying Mondain he brought the wrath of Minax down upon the land. Minax was the young lover of Mondain and a sorceress with magical powers even greater than Mondain's. She had the power to command legions of foul creatures, and in her quest for vengeance over the death of her lover, she brought much misery to the people of Sosaria. Again the hero who would come to be known as the Avatar returned to Britannia in the first recorded use of the Moongates. The Avatar slew Minax's minions and did eventually destroy her as well. While there have been speculations as to the motivations of the Avatar, there is insufficient evidence to show that the Avatar was driven to violence by jealousy over Mondain's romantic involvement with Minax. That being said, such theories are hereby denounced and should not be given consideration.
Ultima III: Exodus
Release Date: 1983
No one in all of Sosaria, not even the Avatar, could have realized that by ending the lives of Mondain and Minax, the Avatar would be orphaning their only child. The name of this unusual child was Exodus, and he was neither machine nor human. Exodus rose from the bottom of the Great Ocean to carry out a campaign of revenge and destruction against the land of Sosaria. So terrible were the forces unleashed by Exodus that the hero whom we would come to know as the Avatar required the assistance of the mysterious being known as the Time Lord to thwart them. And thus it was that the Avatar did deal with Exodus in a similar manner as he had dealt with his mother and father. Since that time much speculation has been given to the potentially immeasurable good such a creature as Exodus could have brought the land had he been persuaded to become beneficent, but I wish to formally disagree with those who say the Avatar should have handled the situation differently.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Release Date: 1985
It was at this time of growth and prosperity in the kingdom of Britannia that Lord British put out a call for one to show the way of spiritual growth and virtue. The call was answered by the hero who would come to be known as the Avatar. It was at this time that the champion of Britannia did come to earn the title of `Avatar' by establishing the Eight Virtues and by seizing the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom from the depths of the Stygian Abyss. It has been said that the primary motivation of the Avatar has been personal redemption for the fate of Mondain, Minax and Exodus. While there has been no proof of this, I say that even if it were true, all the positive things brought forth in the world through the virtues would be enough to make amends for almost any misdoing.
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny
Release Date: 1988
It seems that by removing the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom the Avatar had inadvertently set into motion a cosmic chain of events which led to the release of three Shadowlords from remnant shards of the black gem of Mondain. These Shadowlords were sinister agents of evil. Soon they managed to dethrone Lord British and hold him prisoner in a foul dungeon. Denied his wisdom and compassion, the kingdom of Britannia quickly grew oppressive and cruel. This was the Britannia that greeted the return of the Avatar. After a score of valiant struggles, Lord British was liberated, his throne regained and the Shadowlords banished from our world. However, Lord British's escape from the underworld did cause a tremendously destructive series of earthquakes as the vast network of subterranean caverns collapsed. Much of the gargoyle race did perish in that tragic cataclysm.
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Release Date: 1990
After the tremors that shook Britannia subsided, gargoyles, inhabitants of the other side of the world who now found their homeland virtually destroyed, began to appear on the Britannian side of the world in increasing numbers as aggressors. They launched vicious attacks against the human race and many were they who lost their lives in defense of our realm. The gargoyles even attempted to assassinate the Avatar. They set a Moongate trap which lured the Avatar into their clutches, but the Avatar was rescued by his companions. So it was that Lord British did once again call upon his champion to set the world right. Ending this violent racial conflict was the greatest challenge that the Avatar had ever faced. At last it was revealed that the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, which had been removed from the underworld by the Avatar, was actually the property of the gargoyles. Therefore, the Avatar placed the Codex into the great ethereal void where it would be possessed by neither human nor gargoyle. Two lenses, used to view the Codex, were given to Lord British and the gargoyle ruler King Draxinusom. As the cause of the conflict between the two races had been removed, it was hoped that the rift between the two would eventually be closed. Those who would say that this terrible and destructive war could have been prevented entirely had the Avatar not appropriated the Codex from its true owners are merely dissidents who are grossly misinformed.
Ultima VII 1 & 2: The Black Gate & The Serpent Isle
Release Date: 1992
The Black Gate Following the sixth adventure, the Avatar disappeared from the land, returning nearly two centuries later! This time, however, the hero was summoned by the Guardian an evil creature of immense power, but no one knew of any cataclysms that required reparations. Yet it was not long before the Avatar again facing great evil, this time in the form of an insidious organization called The Fellowship that had insinuated itself into Britannian society. In addition, a magical island, once home to the very Exodus of the Third Age of Darkness, had risen to the surface, indicating a further threat to Britannia. During this seventh period of service, the Avatar was able to uncover the dastardly plot of The Fellowship, stop the Guardian and remove the evil presence forming on the island.
The Serpent Isle Eighteen monthes after the dismanteling of the Fellowship and the defeat of the Guardian, a magical scroll is found among the sage Batlin's possesions. When the scroll is opened the Guardian has instructed Batlin to follow Gwenno to a place called the Serpent Isle. Lord British sends the Avatar along with his companions Iolo, Dupre, and Shamino through the Serpent Pillars after Batlin to stop his dasterdly plot before the Guardian destroys all of Brittania.
Ultima VIII: Pagan
Release Date: 1994
Time and again the Avatar has proven himself a powerful threat to the Guardian's plans. Now he is imprisoned on a distant world where the forces of the Guardian hold absolute command. The rules are different here. Without allies or even a familiar frame of reference, the Avatar must learn to defeat the ruling Elemental Titans Hydros, Pyros, Lithos, and Stellos on their own terms in his quest to bring the battle to the Guardian and return to Brittania. Throughout his quest the Avatar is tormented by the Guardian and his powers. Finally the Avatar succedes and becomes the Titan of Ether.
Ultima IX: Ascension
Release Date: 1999
I know very little about this recently realeased game. I know there will be a huge battle with the Guardian and the Avatar will ascend to immortality.
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
Release Date: 1992
Sir Cabirus, seeing the success of the towns of virtue, decided to found another town in the Stygian Abyss, decades later the Abyss fell into ruins, it became a place of darkness and evil, Most of the inhabitents disregarded the principals of virtue. You, the Avatar, are drawn into Brittania by the spirit of the mage Garamond. You awaken to witness the kidnapping of Arial, the daughter of Baron Almeric, You are drug before the Baron and mistakingly accussed of the dropping the princess to a troll who fled into the Abyss. Baron Almeric, skeptical that you are the Avatar demands that you rescue Arial or die trying.
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
Release Date: 1993
More of a sequel to Ultima VII part 1 than to Ultima Underworld I. UW2 finds You, the Avatar arriving at the Castle British to celebrate the first anniversary of your victory over the Guardian at the Black Gate. During the night the Guardian casts a magical dome of blackrock over the castle trapping you and the leadership of Brittania inside. It's up to you alone to find an exit and save Brittania once again.