Armageddon

Armageddon is an apocalyptic spell found in Britannian magic that irreversibly eradicates all lifeforms from the world of its casting, with the exception of the spellcaster themselves and certain beings of sufficient power as to possess immunity to its devastation. Although introduced to Sosaria in the planet's distant past, the spell first appears in Ultima VI: The False Prophet, followed by Ultima Underworld, Ultima VII: The Black Gate, Ultima Underworld II, and finally as a ritual in Ultima IX: Ascension.

Prehistoric Sosaria
While the original architect of such a devastating spell as Armageddon is unclear, the earliest known purveyor of this invocation is not of Sosaria. Long before the era of modern Sosarians and Britannians, a data-seeking, interdimensional collective consciousness known as Xorinia was by some means able to assimilate the particulars of Armageddon into its vast cache of knowledge. Luminous, disembodied manifestations of Xorinia known as wisps, while gathering data from prehistoric Sosaria, then established communication with a being named Zog, to whom they offered the spell in hope of facilitating a reciprocal exchange of information. However, it is apparent that Zog, intentionally or not, instead called upon the supremely exterminating power of Armageddon and wiped sentient life from the planet for millennia.

Age of Enlightenment
Eventually, Sosaria underwent a repopulation of animal life that culminated in the arrival of humanoids, who were able to establish a thriving civilization that ultimately unified into the monarchic republic of Britannia. By the time this society was well into its Age of Enlightenment, the Armageddon spell had resurfaced but was withheld from circulation among the many magic users of the land, its dreadful secret closely guarded by the few entrusted to comprise the Council of Wizards. In conversation with the Avatar during the human-gargoyle conflict of 161, Xiao, a member of the council at the time, deemed the hero eligible to be trusted with the knowledge of Armageddon, requesting it be sought from the wisps before she would instruct in spells of the eighth circle. Such a Xorinite representative would freely part with the spell upon discussion, although, ominously, not without dismissing the scope of its destructive potential.

During the Avatar's later imprisonment in the Great Stygian Abyss by order of Baron Almric, the wisps could offer the spell as formulated in runic magic and, should the hero have rejected it, would acknowledge the wisdom in realizing not all information is beneficial.

Age of Armageddon
When the Avatar returned to Britannia centuries later to thwart a scheme to assert dominion over the realm, enacted by the cosmic entity known as the Guardian, the Armageddon spell had now found its way into Cove mage Rudyom's repertoire, and that of at least one other unidentified sorcerer who would seek to dispose of the Avatar when encountered. The spell's very existence also appeared to have entered the public consciousness by this period, as it was openly listed among other incantations in Batlin's The Book of Archaic Knowledge.

During the Guardian's subsequent encapsulation of Castle Britannia within a colossal blackrock dome, a sufficiently advanced Avatar would possess the ability to cast runic Armageddon without needing to first acquire the spell.

Ultimately, it would not be until the Avatar's final return to Britannia to vanquish the Guardian that the hero would find cause to invoke Armageddon in an act of self-sacrifice. Prepared with a ritualistic casting, the hero was first able to lure the Guardian inside a protective barrier generated by circular placement of the eight Sigils of Virtue, which restricted Armageddon's area of effect to the two nemeses within and left the Britannian populace unharmed.

Effects
In Ultima VI: The False Prophet, casting Armageddon immediately removes all characters and creatures from existence altogether, with the exception of Lord British, who becomes unresponsive.

In Ultima VII: The Black Gate, the invocation will likewise cause the spontaneous demise of almost every being, sparing only Lord British, Batlin, and the Ferryman of Skara Brae. The realm, littered with corpses that defy resurrection, is also plunged into an apocalyptic winter storm.

In both Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss and Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, the spell additionally causes the destruction of all objects, doors, and stairways, leaving the Avatar not only alone but confined to the area of casting.

The Ultima 6 Project
In The Ultima 6 Project, Armageddon is merely listed as Wisp Spell, obscuring its true destructive potential.

Quotes

 * Batlin looks at you and his gaze returns to the Armageddon winter storm. "Many years ago, Avatar, I went to Skara Brae, the ghost city. The way the world is now reminds me of that dead place. In Skara Brae I had a spiritual experience so profound that I have never spoken of to another soul. I would like to share that experience with thee now, Avatar.


 * "There at Skara Brae I saw a man who was called The Tortured One. I asked this dead man, pray tell, what is the answer to the question of Life and Death? He gave me no reply, and I asked him again. I beseeched him to impart some small parcel of wisdom upon me. What is the answer to the question of Life and Death?! He said nothing, but in his eyes... In his eyes I could see, Avatar, that he could not answer me for there was no answer to give. No answers to the question of Life and Death! It was then I understood. No meanings! No virtues! No values!!!... I commend thee, Avatar, for reaching that same liberating illumination!"
 * - Batlin in.


 * "Fool!! What possessed thee to cast that damned Armageddon Spell? I knew it was dangerous! Thou didst know it was dangerous!! Now look at us! We are all alone on the entire planet! Britannia is ruined! What kind of Avatar art thou!?! Now, with no Moongates working, we are both forced to spend eternity in this blasted wasteland!"Of course, it could be viewed as a clever solution to all of our problems. After all, not even this so-called Guardian would want Britannia now!"
 * - Lord British in.

Trivia

 * With the exception of Ultima IX: Ascension, Armageddon serves no practical purpose in the games that feature it, as further progress is rendered impossible by its casting.
 * Armageddon is not listed among the spells in 's accompanying documentation, Compendium.
 * When casting Armageddon in Ultima VII: The Black Gate, the Ferryman does not respond with situationally appropriate dialogue as Lord British and Batlin do, despite the character's conversation code allowing for it. This is remedied in the fan-made engine, Exult.
 * The spell was omitted from the C64-Port of Ultima VI.
 * In, the Devastation spell is almost functionally identical to Armageddon, but will also cause the spellcaster's demise.
 * In an earlier draft of from Bob White's tenure as lead designer, a casting of Armageddon by Lord British and the Avatar was to have obliterated Britannia itself, destroying the Guardian before he could bind the planet's life force to his own. Citizens would have been spared, however, by taking refuge within a protective barrier established by the Runes of Virtue around the perimeter of Skara Brae, before traversing the Ethereal Void upon the island of their salvation and eventually finding themselves extraterrestrial colonists of a "New Britannia".
 * In Ultima IX ,the Mirror of Darkness shows Armageddon when being used.