Virtues of UltimaThe Ultima series of games featured a Virtue system that the player was required to follow in the game as the Avatar. These Virtues were inspired in part by the codes of Chivalry and the Eightfold Path of Buddhism, and were created specifically for Ultima.
Strangely enough, the Wizard of Oz also played a part in the creation of the virtues, with Richard Garriott stating at one time that the three companions of Dorothy could be linked to the three principles - Scarecrow (Truth), Tin Woodsman (Love) and Cowardly Lion (Courage).
The Three Principles
The Eight Virtues explored in Ultima are based on Three Principles:
| Principle |
Place Associated |
Item |
| Truth |
Lycaeum |
Book |
Love |
Empath Abbey |
Candle |
| Courage |
Serpent's Hold |
Bell |
These Principles are themselves derived from the Axiom of Infinity, which is represented in Castle Britannia.
The Eight Virtues
The Principles are combined to form the following Eight Virtues:
| Virtue |
Principles |
Towns associated |
Mantra |
Player Class |
Dungeon |
Color |
Notes |
| Honesty |
Pure Truth |
Moonglow |
Ahm |
Mage |
Deceit |
Blue |
| Compassion |
Pure Love |
Britain, Cove |
Mu |
Bard |
Despise |
Yellow |
Britain is the original town of Compassion, Cove is nearest the shrine. |
| Valor |
Pure Courage |
Jhelom |
Ra |
Fighter |
Destard |
Red |
| Justice |
Truth, Love |
Yew |
Beh |
Druid |
Wrong |
Green |
| Sacrifice |
Love, Courage |
Minoc |
Cah |
Tinker |
Covetous |
Orange |
| Honor |
Truth, Courage |
Trinsic |
Summ |
Paladin |
Shame |
Purple |
| Spirituality |
Truth, Love, and Courage |
Skara Brae |
Om |
Ranger |
The Great Stygian Abyss |
White |
| Humility |
Beyond the three principles |
(New) Magincia, Paws |
Lum |
Shepherd |
Hythloth |
Black |
Magincia was destroyed by demons for its Pride (Pride's mantra is Mul). New Magincia, built in its ruins, was founded on Humility.
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The Embodiment of the Virtues in the game is the Avatar, the character who the player is roleplaying. He (or she) is commonly seen with an Ankh which represents life and luck.
Lord Blackthorn's Code of Virtues
The Code of Virtues under Lord Blackthorn are a set of strict laws, rather than ethics.
| Virtue |
Law |
| Honesty |
Thou shalt not lie, or thou shalt lose thy tongue. |
| Compassion |
Thou shalt help those in need, or thou shalt suffer the same need. |
| Valor |
Thou shalt fight to the death if challenged, or thou shalt be banished as a coward. |
| Justice |
Thou shalt confess to thy crime and suffer its just punishment, or thou shalt be put to death.
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| Sacrifice |
Thou shalt donate half of thy income to charity, or thou shalt have no income. |
| Honor |
If thou dost lose thine own honour, thou shalt take thine own life. |
| Spirituality |
Thou shalt enforce the laws of virtue, or thou shalt die as a heretic. |
| Humility |
Thou shalt humble thyself to thy superiors, or thou shalt suffer their wrath. |
The Principles of the Shadowlords
The Shadowlords oppose one of the three principles.
| Principle |
Opposing principle |
Shadowlord |
| Cowardice |
Courage |
Nosfentor |
| Hatred |
Love |
Astaroth |
| Falsehood |
Truth |
Faulinei |
The Virtues of Mandrake
Mandrake the bard follows three principles
| Principle |
| Wine |
| Women |
| Song |
Eight virtues are derived from these three principles:
| Virtue |
Principle |
| Drunkenness |
Wine |
| Sensuality |
Women |
| Harmony |
Song |
| Lust |
Wine, Women |
| Laziness |
Wine, Song |
| Dance |
Women, Song |
| Indulgence |
Wine, Women, Song |
| Happiness |
Absence of Wine, Women, Song |
The Gargoyle Virtues
The Gargoyles three principles based on Order, and its opposite, Chaos
| Principle |
Mantra |
Embodiment |
| Control |
UN |
Mondain |
Passion |
OR |
Minax |
| Diligence |
US |
Exodus |
The Gargoyles have eight virtues based their three principles
| Virtue |
Principles |
Dungeon |
| Direction | Control | Shrine of Control |
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| Feeling | Passion | Shrine of Passion |
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| Persistence | Diligence | Shrine of Diligence |
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| Balance | Control, Passion |
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| Achievement | Passion, Diligence |
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| Precision | Control, Diligence |
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| Order | Absence of Control, Passion, Diligence |
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| Singularity | Control, Passion, Diligence |
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The Ophidian Virtues
The Ophidians have three principles
| Principle |
Embodiment |
| Order |
Blue Serpent of Order |
| Chaos |
Red Serpent of Chaos |
| Balance |
Earth Serpent of Balance |
Each principle has three virtues
| Virtue of Balance |
Virtue of Order |
Virtue of Chaos |
| Harmony |
Ethicality |
Tolerance |
| Dedication |
Discipline |
Enthusiasm |
| Rationality |
Logic |
Emotion |
Order and Balance each have three opposite virtues
| Opposite Virtue of Order |
Opposite Virtue of Chaos |
| Prejudice |
Anarchy |
| Apathy |
Wantonness |
| Ruthlessness |
Insanity |
See Also
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