Heroes of the Ultima IV Manga

This here is a detailled role call of the Heroes of the Quest of the Avatar Manga', sorted by the virtues. It will include a picture and a description, especially the differences from the canon character. For information about the manga, see Ultima Manga.

Mariah
Mariah the mage was changed in strange ways.

Her looks were altered greatly, the middle-aged caucasian woman with reddish-brown hair was changed into an 18 year old woman who looks like she comes from India. Personality-wise however, she was not changed and still is a no-nonsense woman with a compassionate and gentle side.

Besides being an actual competent companion, she gives moral support for the other companions (even though some of them greatly annoy her) and berates Shamino when he again had acted stupid. 

Io
The bard Iolo was, in the most infamous change, turned into a 14 year old girl named Io with long, brownish hair. The designated love-interest for the hero. However, despite being pushed into the foreground by the story, she is an uninteresting character.

She contributes next to nothing to the plot itself and is capricious, selfish, and knows nothing of compassion. She not even involves herself in the battles out of cowardice and is prone to emotional oubursts. 

Geoffrey
Geoffrey was changed surprisingly little and is the character closest to his canon presentantion. He still is the valiant fighter of the same name and also retained his looks (although he lost his mustache). He also is the apropiate age of 32.

Because of the already crowded cast, he however hasn't that much to do and his main point besides fighting is, to keep Shamino from being too much of an ass. 

Shiva
The druid Jaana was replaced by a 22 year old male druid named Shiva, who has green hair and looks quite feminine. He wants to gain avatarhood by seeking to better himself and overcome his weaknesses through study of the virtues, thus becoming a virtuous man.

All this would make him a prime candidate for being the hero, but he plays only a minor role, since he would be in the way of the designated hero, Deane. He's killed off to make room for him. 

Julia
In a strange twist, the tinker Julia was turned male, without changing the name (most likely an error by the author). With 38 years he is older than the canon character and looks strangely like Dupre. He and is assigned by Lord British to Deane's protection in the manner of a knight and takes the job quite serious. He also is responsible for stopping Io and Kati from doing anything foolish.

While being a good axe-fighter in battle, his biggest contribution is saving the entire party duing a sea voyage. 

Deane
Dupre the paladin was replaced by 15 year old Deane, the paladin who is the designated hero. In a complete disregard what the Avatar is, the story turns him into a messiah by brith; born in similar circumstances as Christ. The virtues are next to totally disregarded and he's seen as an perfect Christ who just has to pick up the role of the Avatar. The whole Avatar-thing is viewed through a religious angle in the entire story.

Depite this, he doesn't do many virtuous things and in the real Ultima IV would have never managed to get partial avatarhood in even a single virtue. 

Shamino
While Shamino kept his name, the ranger, while nominally still called this, was changed to be a 21 year old ninja! His whole fighting style complete with all the equipment, is pure ninja.

His contributions to the plot are only seldom and he most often overconfident and jockey, just goofs around until being berated and/or given physical punishment by either Geoffrey or Mariah. 

Kati
For some reason, the humble shepherd Katrina was replaced by a 10 year old boy named Kati. Kati in general provides very little to the plot, apart from being an annoyance (Julia is assigned to make sure he doesn't do any stupid things).

His only real contribution is finding the egg of a Silver Serpent.