Deceit

Deceit is a dungeon located on the small Janus Island, north of Verity Isle. One of the eight major dungeons of Britannia, Deceit opposes the concept of Honesty, and throughout its history, many artifacts have been found within its depths relating to that particular virtue.

Ultima IV
Deceit was formed sometime after the fall of Exodus, and was one of the eight dungeons which the Stranger quested through in their ascendancy toward Avatarhood. During the hero's first journey hero, the dungeon contained the Blue Stone of Honesty, in addition to numerous magical orbs which gifted those who touched them with supernaturally enhanced intelligence. It also connected to the great Altar Room of Truth, which interlinked it with the dungeons Wrong, Shame and Hythloth.

Ultima V
Following the raising of the Codex from its seat in the Abyss, the Great Council placed a seal over Deceit, hoping to bar the horrors within it from reaching the surface world. This, however, in conjunction with the sealing of the other seven dungeons, had the unforeseen outcome of creating a vast and expansive Underworld beneath the soil, causing the minions of evil to fester and multiply therein.

After Blackthorn's rise to power, however, the members of the council were criminalized, and suffered persecution at the hands of the Oppression. With those who knew how to unseal the dungeons forced into hiding, the returned Avatar had to search for some time to discover Malifora, who knew the Word of Power which would reopen Deceit: "FALLAX." Once armed with knowledge of this evocation, the hero could use Deceit as a means to reaching the Underworld below it, and could thereby locate the Shards which had birthed the three Shadowlords responsible for the kingdom's plunge into tyranny.

Ultima VI
By the time of the Gargish conflict, a society of evil wizards had made the lowest levels of Deceit their home. An intrepid adventurer seeking fortune could find some scant artifacts of worth in this dungeon during this time, but the cavern was at this point removed from the events in play across Britannia.

Ultima VII


Two centuries later, during the time of the Guardian's first attempted invasion, Deceit had become home to the Red Titan's Tetrahedron Generator, which distorted the ethereal waves of Britannia such as that magic became unstable and dangerous. In order to repair the damage done by this diabolical contraption, the Avatar would have to journey into Deceit that they might dismantle it, wielding the power of the Ethereal Ring that they might penetrate the construct's defenses. Once this was done, the ether slowly returned to normal, and practitioners of the arcane could once more pick up their abandoned art.

Curiously, during this age, the entrance to Deceit shifted from its normal site on Janus island, and emerged on Dagger Isle instead.

Ultima IX
In the last days of the Age of Armageddon, Deceit was converted into a prison, and was used by the returned Lord Blackthorn to hold the captive Avatar. Due to seismic activity stemming from the Great Cataclysm, the cavernous part of the dungeon was overrun with burning lava, and the only exit from the cave was via magical teleportation. Eventually, the hero would free themselves from this gloomy gaol, possibly encountering their former companion, Mariah, who had been converted into the service of the Wyrmguard by the dark powers of the nearby column.

Ultima V: Lazarus

 * Madman: insane prisoner

Ultima VII

 * Amanda: questant
 * Eiko: questant
 * Iskander: cyclopean hero

Ultima IX

 * Hairam: Wyrmguard

Trivia

 * In Ultima V, the room that connects to the Underworld is split in two by a three tile thick wall. Inside this wall are five 1x1 rooms. The center room has a troll, the next two out ettins, and the last two dragons. The ettins and troll can be reached via morning star but the dragons cannot; however, they can be charmed with the sixth circle spell. Pushing the walls behind the torches is the way to get through.
 * In Runes of Virtue, Deceit appears on the Britannian mainland, and the Rune of Honesty can be found within. A powerful magic wand which has the ability to destroy even the strongest of spider webs can be liberated from the dungeon.  The trickster Finn, as well as the horse Klip Klop can also be found within its depths attempting lead the hero astray.
 * In Runes of Virtue II, the hero must rescue the mayor of Moonglow, Lord Aganar, from the depths of the Cavern of Deceit. The hero can also find the magical Talisman of Lightning within the foul catacomb.