Vardion

Vardion is the First Acolyte of the Cabal in Daemon's Crag. He appears in Ultima VIII.

Description
Vardion was the grandchild of the mage Mordra, who had told him stories about her travels across the planes before her eventual relocation to Britannia and her subsequent death there. A traditionalist amongst the insular sorcerers, Vardion would prove terse and distrustful of the Avatar when first approached, but would warm to the hero somewhat should they claim to be a world traveller.

Once Vardion felt he could see potential in the Avatar, he would ask them to perform an errand on his behalf, and if they agreed he would task them with discovering the truename of his rival, Bane, whom he claimed was involved in a plot to unseat Master Malchir. Should the hero agree to assist him, he would promise to take them as his apprentice, and would reveal his own truename (Morduin) to them that they might later learn sorcery through him. Once they delivered Bane's truename of Sabriane, Vardion would use this knowledge to summon a daemon to slay her. Malchir would thereafter admonish Vardion for these impulsive actions, but would grudgingly allow him to train the Avatar as Bane's replacement in the cabal.

When the Avatar eventually slew Malchir in the course of a duel for possession of the Tongue of Flames, Vardion would congratulate them upon their return to the enclave, and would bow before them in recognition of their mastery.

Siding with Bane
Should the Avatar take the side of Bane in the dispute between her and Vardion, they could deliver the First Acolyte's truename to her, which would result in a daemon being summoned to slay Vardion rather than Bane. Bane would thereafter take the hero as her disciple and would lead them in their exploration of sorcery.

This course of events, however, would enrage the acolyte Gorgrond, who would resent the Avatar's participation in Vardion's death and condemn Bane for leading the cabal into conflict with Tenebrae.

Trivia

 * Vardion's truename, Morduin, means "Dark Flame."
 * Vardion's fascination with his grandmother's stories led Bentic to include a brief history of Britannia in his Chronicle of Pagan, which he claims he inserted at the sorcerer's insistence.
 * If the Avatar cites Earth as their homeland, Vardion will assume that it is a dark and desolate place, given his experience with Lithos' element on Pagan.
 * Making two mistakes while summoning Pyros will result in Vardion's death if he is present.