Nelson

Nelson is the head librarian of the Lycaeum in Ultima VII. He later appears at the banquet in Ultima Underworld II as a guest of Lord British.

Description
An enthusiastic academic like his twin brother, Brion, Nelson was in his day considered the foremost scholarly authority in Britannia - challenged only by the gargoyle Inforlem. Also like his sibling at the Observatory, Nelson was both idealistic and eccentric, as well as being exceptionally proud of his collection of knick-knacks. His treasures included a gold leaf bookmark; a souvenir snake-shaped quill holder and letter opener from Serpent's Hold; a first edition copy of Stranger in a Strange Land given to him by Lord British; and a special book stand with a built in candle which he had invented to facilitate night time reading. He also had passing knowledge of the theoretical location of the fabled island of Ambrosia and could direct the Avatar to the scholar Jillian for more information about it.

He would admit, if asked, that he was infatuated with his assistant, Zelda - a cold woman who had, in fact, long harbored a secret attraction to Brion. The local tavern keeper and gossip, Phearcy, was keenly interested in the relationships between the three, and would encourage the Avatar to investigate them. Should the hero carry news of Zelda's feelings, they would find that the busy astronomer did not requite them, and could thereafter encourage Zelda to court Nelson in his stead. In the end, should the hero choose to intervene, the scholarly couple appeared to be cautiously moving toward a blossoming relationship.

A year later, Nelson was among those invited to attend a banquet in Castle Britannia in celebration of the Reconstruction. When the Guardian imprisoned the revelers within his Blackrock Dome, the scholar worked in close conjunction with the royal magician, Nystul in the hopes of finding a way to counter the magic which wrought the prison. Eventually, Nelson found a text of particular relevance by Batal Thaam - an early magician who had first discovered the metaphysical reality of ether and who had written extensively regarding the creation of blackrock and its mutability through magic.

After uncovering a runic spell which might succeed in breaking the blackrock gem, Nelson excitedly called upon the Avatar, eager to tell the hero of his findings. Tragically, before he could reveal the particulars of the incantation he had placed so much hope in, Nelson was stabbed in the neck by the Guardian's catspaw, Patterson, and died of his wounds shortly thereafter.

Lore




Trivia

 * The portraits of both Nelson and Brion are based upon Ultima VII programmer Paul Meyer.
 * Nelson, like Brion, will lament the fact that his twin is considerably more attractive and intelligent than he is - despite the fact that both of them are identical.
 * Should the player choose to steal items from Nelson's collection, he will react to their loss when asked about them.
 * In Ultima Underworld II, Nelson teaches Lore and Searching. After his death, Ogri is the sole remaining Lore trainer and no one else can train Searching.