Horance

Horance is a Mage in Skara Brae, whose fate couldn't be more extreme in all aspects.

Horance was a apprentice to Flain, but unlike his master, he was a peaceful nature, instead of going into dark arts, he wrote poetry. Then something happened prior to Ultima VI, causing Flain's death, and Horance started to change. By Ultima VI, he was quite strange already, but still traded with magic reagents and spells. But strangely enough, all his spells were destructive.

After that, he changed for the worse, and it became clear that a Lich had taken over his body. The Dark Tower was erected on the north end of the isle, people started to fear him, and his poetry became a horrible darkness. Then he summoned the dead to do his bidding. When the inhabitants of Skara Brae tried to destroy him, an accident burned down the city, and they all became his slaves.

When the Avatar met him in Ultima VII, he had become megalomaniac and powerful, effectively controlling all undead on the island, leeching on the essence of the spirits and planning to invade Britannia. With the Soul Cage and the Liche Potion however, the Avatar managed to destroy the Lich, freeing Horance, who now only wanted to repair the damage. After the destruction of the Well of Souls, and therefore the freeing of the spirits, Horance remained in Skara Brae, to help rebuild it to its former beauty.

Trivia

 * Horance is armed with a Firedoom Staff.