Ben

Ben is the woodcutter in Yew in Ultima VII; the latest in a ten-generation woodcutter dynasty.

Ben was proud of the legacy of the family, being the tenth woodcutter in the family line, telling the Avatar a little about his work. Ben admitted that he liked it in the forest and seldom saw other people, knowing only the owner of the Minoc sawmill by name. Other than that, he was rather isolated.

Ben also was very busy with cutting down Silverleaf trees, since the demand had skyrocketed because of all the rich snobs in Britannia wanting to eat Silverleaf Meal. When the Avatar revealed to him that by felling the Silverleaf trees he was destroying the habitat of the Emps, Ben decided he didn't want to continue, his ethics winning out over business.

In the end he signed a contract in which he promised to no longer cut down any Silverleaf Trees. Following this, the market for Silverleaf Meals broke down, and the meal itself vanished from the taverns throughout Britannia.

Trivia

 * The woodcutter Ben encountered in Ultima VI could very well be his great-great-great-grandfather.