Lizard Men

Created from some of the foulest of Mondain's magics, Lizard Men were birthed from the combination of the wizard's own expendable servants and great reptiles which dwelt in the Sosarian wetlands. Strong and dangerous in battle, they thankfully became more peaceful after Mondain's fall in the first Age of Darkness, and even co-existed with Goblins and Mountain-Folk, as seen in the Abyssal Colony. Though these Lizard men had their own spoken language, they were intelligent enough to understand (but not speak) the common tongue.

First encountered in Ultima I, lizard men are much more important to the plot in Ultima Underworld I, but weren't seen after this. The Lava Lizards in Ultima IV may very well be their primitive ancestors - or perhaps another of Mondain's reptilian experiments, previously thought to be lost.

Lizard men are usually found underground, near a source of water.

Lore


''"The Dark Ages" is the name given to that long-ago time when the Triad of Evil stalked the lands. In those same years when Lord British first arrived upon our shores, a young mage named Mondain was perfecting his skills in the arcane arts. The wizard slew his own father in order to seize a gem with mystic powers. Mondain subverted the jewel to evil purposes, and began a campaign of unrest and dismay against all of the world. In his most foul experiments, Mondain dissected his own servitors as well as the great reptiles which then dwelt in the southern swamps. Reuniting the body parts through magical means, he created a variety of strange sauran forms. One strain proved successful, and thus came the Lizard men into our world. After Mondain was slain, the Lizard men were hunted down one by one until none remained. Or so it was thought, until our colonists came to settle the Abyss! Here we found the last clan of the reptilians living in the grottos. Inspired by Compassion, we forbore slaying the monsters and taught them of the Path of the Avatar. To our delight, the Lizard men can understand the common tongue, but not speak it. Goblins and Lizard men intermingle in the wetter portions of the Abyss, and have a friendly rivalry with the Mountain-Folk (the mountain-men hate dampness, and would build channels and drain the Abyss if left to themselves!).''

- from "Memoirs of Cabirus" Ultima Underwold: The Stygian Abyss

Notable examples

 * In Ultima Underworld I, many Lizard men play an important role.

Trivia

 * Lizardmen were to be included in the cancelled Ultima X. Link: Ultima X Lizardman