Britain

Description
Britain is the capital of Britannia and its largest, most prosperous city. It is dedicated to the Virtue of Compassion and is the realm's cultural center. Situated between Britanny Bay and the Serpent's Spine mountain range, Britain has grown over the ages, expanding from a simple town in the early Age of the Avatar to a sprawling metropolis that came to border Castle Britannia and, for a time, engulf Paws.

At the apex of its development, the northern section of the city contained numerous state buildings and royally funded public institutions, such as the Royal Mint, the Royal Museum, the Royal Theatre and the Music Hall. It is within Britain that the Great Council held its meetings and the Britannian Tax Council arbitrated the use of the kingdom's funds.

Britain has been famous for its musicians since the days of Exodus, and the bards of the city who demonstrate the virtue of Compassion in their profession. During its early years of Britannia's founding, songsters and entertainers could regularly be found on the public green, educating and amusing the city's children.

The economy of the city has long been one of the strongest in Britannia, and it is also well known as a major port. During its heyday it boasted an extensive commercial district. Iolo's Bows, a bowyer's shop startled by the legendary companion of the Avatar, Iolo FitzOwen, was active in the city for centuries, as were the Blue Boar Tavern and Wayfarer's Inn.

Its moongate is situated east of the city.

History
Britain is one of the land's oldest settlements, originating no later than the early days of Lord British's ascent to power after arriving in Sosaria.

Age of Darkness
In Ultima I, Britain stood within the confines of British's fiefdom in the Lands of Lord British, standing alongside such cities of Moon, Old Fawn, Montor and Yew. It was home to an armour shop, a  weaponsmith,  provisioners of magical supplies and  transport, a  grocery and a  pub. After the sundering of Sosaria following the defeat of Mondain, Britain still existed on the remaining continent comprising Sosaria. During this time, Lord British commissioned a project known as the "Great Work" in which he ordered a series of exploratory travels to provide detailed maps and descriptions of his realm. Iolo FitzOwen, a bard of some renown, composed a song in honor of the city, lauding its position as a center of commerce and home to entertainers and song-writers.

Age of Enlightenment
By the time of, Lord British had united all of Sosaria under the new name of Britannia, following the destruction of Exodus by the Stranger. Britain became dedicated to the virtue of Compassion, in keeping with British's new agenda of ethicality and learning. In this age, the city was roughly the same size as the other major settlements of the land, with Castle Britannia a short distance to the southeast. It was also during this time that Iolo, now residing in the city whose song he had written, could join in the Stranger's quest to attain Avatarhood.

In  three villages, known as the Britannys, had grown around Castle Britannia. Britain was now known as a major port in the kingdom, with an active shipwright's workshop operating out of East Britanny. Due to the increased tourism following the formation of the Great Council, a hospitality industry grew in Britain, catering to visitors of the castle. During the oppressive reign of Lord Blackthorn, Britain, like the other major cities, fell victim to regular incursions by the Shadowlords. Iolo FitzOwen, like many of the companions of the Avatar, was driven into hiding, although his shop, Iolo's Bows, still operated under the industry of his wife Gwenno and apprentice Gwenneth. Annon, the city's representative on the Great Council, remained in Britain, hiding from the persecution of Blackthorn's regime in a secret basement within the Wayfarer's Inn.

By, Britain had grown to engulf the former Britannys and now bordered the lands of Lord British's estate. New public institutions, such as the Royal Museum and the Conservatory, had been founded, while a Royal Mint and Royal Orchards were also established in the city. The commercial district, although still home to the well-established Wayfarer's Inn and Blue Boar Tavern, had significantly expanded over the years. The city was governed by Tholden von Bazillius as mayor at this time.

Age of Armageddon
Over the next two centuries, Britain continued its growth, absorbing the village of Paws as one of its suburbs. Commerce expanded, bringing jewelers,  bakers and  clothiers to the city. The Royal Theatre was established and the nascent philosophical group known as the Fellowship opened its head branch within the heart of Britain, which was now acknowledged as the kingdom's capital. By the time of, the city, like much of the land, was falling to the slow moral decay that plagued the realm during the early Age of Armageddon. In spite of earlier edicts claiming the abolition of the class system, a social nobility remained, and many suffered due to the Britannian Tax Council's uneven regulations. Patterson, the mayor of the city, gained his position riding on Fellowship support, which shunned the farmer running against him. Although progressives such as Great Council member, Miranda, attempted to improve the regime, Britain, like so much of Britannia, was beset with subtle social problems of classism, racism, and apathy.

Later, following the eventual disbanding of the Fellowship and the Reconstruction in which many of the realm's deep-seated issues were addressed, Britain was host to the crisis in which Castle Britannia was attacked by the Guardian during a celebration of the kingdom's progress since the destruction of the Black Gate. During this trial in, in which the inhabitants of the castle were walled off from the city by means of a magical Blackrock Dome, Patterson, who was still mayor of Britain at the time, caved to the Guardian's temptations, and murdered two of the other entrapped revelers before being cut down by the Avatar. While the blackrock dome was eventually destroyed and the attempted invasion it prepared for quashed, it is uncertain as to what direction Britain's leadership took thereafter. To compound matters, the growing Imbalance of the multiverse took its toll on the city over the next year, with teleport storms and earthquakes ravaging the city. The Royal Mint and its supply of the country's gold were transposed with the great lighthouse of Fawn from the Serpent Isle. A crack formed in the base of Castle Britannia at this time due to the constant tremors, threatening to topple the citadel.

By the time of, the city had shrunk considerably in size, and the inhabitants of the city had become corrupted by the influence of the Guardians columns, becoming callous and cold-hearted. At that time, Aidon, the mayor of the Britain, had enacted a policy of deporting the infirm and ill of the city to Paws, which had been flooded by the local swamps and reduced to a miserable shanty town. After the Avatar cleansed the local shrine, Aidon was confronted with his daughter's exile (due to his own uncompassionate policies), and the city began to return to its roots of Virtue, re-embracing Compassion.

Lore




Ultima I

 * Iolo: bard

Ultima III

 * Dupre

Ultima III (Nintendo Port)

 * Sherry (Noriko Hagawe): an enigmatic and attractive young woman

Ultima IV

 * Bridge Guard (Britain): bridge guard
 * Celest: proprietor of Wound Healing
 * Child (Britain): child
 * Cricket: bard
 * Gate Guard (Britain): cheerful guard
 * Gwenno: Charming jester
 * Iolo: Companion of the Avatar
 * Jason: proprietor of Britannia Manor
 * Joe: drunken fighter
 * Julio: solemn bard
 * Mentor: wise shepherd
 * Pepper: bard
 * Sam (U4): proprietor of Jolly Spirits
 * Sebastian: injured man
 * Shalimar: tired shepherd
 * Shapero: druid
 * Singing Child: small child
 * Sprite: poor beggar
 * Thevel: seasoned fighter
 * Windrick: proprietor of Adventure Food
 * Winston: proprietor of Windsor Weaponry
 * Winston (Armour): proprietor of Windsor Armour



Ultima V

 * Annon: member of the Great Council
 * Donya: innkeeper at the Wayfarer's Inn
 * Eb: busboy in Wayfarer's Inn
 * Greyson: fighting bard
 * Gwenneth: shopkeeper at Iolo's Bows
 * Gwenno: Companion of the Avatar
 * Justin: cook in Wayfarer's Inn
 * Telila: cleaning maid
 * Terrance: orchard keeper
 * Tika: barmaid at Wayfarer's Inn

Ultima V: Lazarus

 * Antos: toymaker
 * Eponine: gemcutter
 * Fagles: trainer
 * Gustavo: graveyard caretaker
 * Lord Petyr: mayor
 * Ludrag: young bard
 * Maul: guard
 * Miranda: trainer
 * Oreste: shipbuilder
 * Salan: teacher
 * Shivan: child
 * Silvy: clothier
 * Teril: young bard
 * Thom: provisioner

Ultima VI

 * Anya: proprietor of the Blue Boar Tavern
 * Ariana: holder of the Rune
 * Arty: shipwright
 * Cullen: baker
 * Daver: bell ringer
 * Efram: provisioner
 * Finn: beggar with a strange humor
 * Fyodor: weaver
 * Gwenneth: shopkeeper at Iolo's Bows
 * Kenneth: bard teacher at the Music Hall and husband of Nan
 * Kytyn: curator of the Royal Museum
 * Lazeena: bard
 * Linda: farmer
 * Lynn: fletcher
 * Matt: mute husband of Anya
 * Max: armourer
 * Nan: bard and the wife of Kenneth
 * Nema: keeper of the Royal Orchards
 * Peyton: innkeeper of the Wayfarer's Inn
 * Rufus: blacksmith
 * Terri: director of the Royal Mint
 * Tholden: mayor of Britain
 * Tiberius: healer of Britain
 * Wilbur: works in the stables

The Ultima VI Project

 * Gate Guard: a Guard
 * Hermione: leader of the adventurer guild

Ultima VII

 * Amber: actress at the Royal Theatre and Shamino's girlfriend
 * Batlin: leader of the Fellowship
 * Brownie: pumpkin farmer
 * Candice: curator of the Royal Museum
 * Carrocio: overseer of the play ground
 * Clint: shipwright
 * Csil: healer
 * Cynthia: director of the Royal Mint
 * Coop: shopkeeper at Iolo's Bows
 * Denby: trainer in Britain
 * Diane: keeper of the stables
 * Figg: keeper of the Royal Orchards
 * Fred: husband of Kelly and meat seller at the Farmer's Market
 * Gaye: clothier
 * Gordon: sells fish n' chips
 * Grayson: arms seller
 * Greg: provisioner
 * James: owner and proprietor of the Wayfarer's Inn
 * Jeanette: barmaid working at the Blue Boar Tavern
 * Jesse: actor at the Royal Theatre
 * Judith: head Instructor at Britain's Music Hall
 * Kessler: owner of the Apothecary
 * Kelly: wife of Fred and seller of food at the Farmer's Market
 * Lucy: owner and proprietor of the Blue Boar Tavern
 * Mack: farmer east of Britain
 * Millie: recruiter for the Fellowship
 * Neno: musician
 * Patterson: mayor of Britain
 * Raymundo: director of the Royal Theatre
 * Sean: jeweler in Britain
 * Sentri: trainer and Companion of the Avatar
 * Shamino: Companion of the Avatar
 * Snaz: beggar
 * Stuart: actor at the Royal Theatre
 * Willy: baker
 * Zella: trainer

Ultima VII (SNES Port)

 * Flick: keeper of the Royal Prison
 * Weston: prisoner



Ultima IX

 * Aidon: mayor of Britain and the father of Meribeth
 * Aleena: museum curator of the Royal Museum
 * Altara: blind fortune teller
 * Altomar: mage
 * Amoranth: monk
 * Angus: tavern patron at the King's Head Tavern.
 * Ashling: miller
 * Bailey: provisioner
 * Cameron: jeweler
 * Dara: runs the King's Head Tavern
 * Dermot: undertaker
 * Elva: farmhand
 * Evidious: Avatar look-alike
 * Farmer Bob: farmer
 * Flann: citizen
 * Giovanni: blacksmith and husband of Olwyn
 * Jarlath: farmhand
 * Jastral: baker
 * Killigan: assistant of the mayor
 * Kimberly: monk
 * Leon: bowyer
 * Margery: street cleaner
 * Meribeth: daughter of mayor Aidon
 * Nico: mage and a reagent seller
 * Nimrond: city bouncer
 * Olwyn: arms dealer
 * Orson: warrior and adventurer
 * Peiter: sailor
 * Renald: beggar
 * Robison: brigand
 * Sarah: keeper of the Shrine of Compassion
 * Sir Robin: valorian knight

Ultima (Apple)

 * Chad the Mad's Magic Shoppe: magic shoppe
 * Little Karelia's Finnish Grocery: food shoppe
 * Naughty Nomaan's Weapons Unlimited: weapon shop
 * Super Duper New and Used Transport, Inc. transport shoppe
 * The Armour Shop of Lord Eldric D'Charbonneux: armour shop
 * Ye Local Pub: pub

Ultima I

 * The Armour Shop of Lord Eldric D'Charbonneux: armour shop
 * Li'l Karelia's Finnish Grocery: food shoppe
 * Mad Chad's Magic Shoppe: magic shoppe
 * Pub de Varg: Pub
 * Scooter's Super Duper Transport, Inc.: transport shoppe
 * The Weapon Shop of Lord Eldric D'Charbonneux: weapon shop

Ultima III

 * Armoury: armour shop
 * De Grocer: grocery
 * The Pub: Tavern
 * Weapons: weapon shop

Ultima IV

 * Adventure Food: grocery
 * Britannia Manor: inn
 * Jolly Spirits: tavern
 * Windsor Armour: armour shop
 * Windsor Weaponry: weapon shop
 * Wound Healing: healer

Ultima V

 * Iolo's Bows: bowyer
 * Wayfarer's Inn: inn

Ultima VI

 * Blue Boar Tavern: tavern
 * Iolo's Bows: bowyer
 * Wayfarer's Inn: inn

Ultima VII

 * Blue Boar Tavern: tavern
 * Iolo's Bows: bowyer
 * Wayfarer's Inn: inn

Ultima IX

 * King's Head Tavern: tavern
 * Britain Gemcutter: jeweler
 * Britain's Bowyer and Fletcher: bowyer
 * Britain Blacksmith Shop: arms merchant
 * Britain Magic Shop: reagents store
 * Britain Outfitter: provisioner
 * Britain's Bakery: bakery

Places of interest
There are a number of famous sites located in Britannia's capital:


 * Castle Britannia: Lord British's castle
 * Farmer's Market: food
 * Music Hall: conservatory
 * Royal Mint: bank
 * Royal Museum: museum
 * Royal Orchards: apple orchards
 * Royal Theatre: entertainment

Trivia

 * In Ultima I, Britain (in the Lands of Lord British), Arnold (in the Lands of the Feudal Lords), Nassau (in the Lands of the Dark Unknown) and Gorlab (in the Lands of Danger and Despair) are facsimiles of one another. While differing in name and physical location, each city features an identical layout, selection of shops, and population.


 * In, dropping coins into Britain's lake rewards the player with an increase in total hit points (by 1.5 times the number of coins) and sometimes a random spell.


 * The word Britain is misspelled as Britian in the DOS and PC-88 versions of.


 * An Eldric D'Charbonneux appears on a Society for Creative Anachronism library listing as the author of "Making a Small Blacksmith's Forge" and "Archimedes Drill". It is possible that the name of the shop in Britain in is based upon this person, given Garriott's penchant for giving his friends in the SCA in-game cameos.


 * Another pub called Pub de Varg can be found in Towne Linda during.


 * In the Nintendo port of , Britain is known as the Royal City, or simply "Royal".


 * Early concept art (seen right) indicates Britain was originally envisioned to be of comparable size to its appearance in . This sketch also shows Castle Britannia (with its traditional moat), the Cathedral of Love (situated east instead of west), and the hedge maze.