Shrine of Sacrifice

The Shrine of Sacrifice is one of the eight holy sites established by the Council of Wizards during the days of Lord British's philosophical renaissance of the early Age of Enlightenment.

Description
This shrine in Britannia is dedicated to the virtue of Sacrifice. It lies on a small isle in the midst of Lake Generosity, situated in the Drylands on the eastern half of Britannia's main continent, though it was re-located late in its history. Dedicated to the ideals of renunciation and self-abasement for the sake of others, the shrine has long been a pilgrimage site for those seeking better understanding of its virtue. The mantra, "CAH" is used by aspirants wishing to receive visions at its altars, and frequently a corresponding rune must be used to gain entry to the shrine's hallowed grounds.

Age of Enlightenment
The Shrine of Sacrifice was erected at the opening of the Age of Enlightenment. While journeying toward the Abyss and ultimately, the wisdom of the Codex, the Stranger had need of meditating here, requiring elevation as a partial Avatar of Sacrifice after demonstrating the traits of the Virtue's principles – the love and courage to give oneself for others – before completing the trials.

In the years that followed, the formation of the Drylands destroyed the lake surrounding the shrine, leaving it in a lonely waste somewhat conducive to the mood its cardinal virtue evoked. During the Avatar's return and the struggle against the regent Blackthorn, the hero had to take care to guard its mantra from the Dark Lord, lest he use its magic against the holy site to defile it. In case of destrusction, the Word of Power "AVIDUS" had to be used to restore the shrine. Meditating again before the sanctuary, the Avatar was sent on a quest to read the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, gaining further insights as to the nature of sacrifice. The hero could also give tribute to the shrine at such a time, which served to furnish boons to spiritual well-being

During the gargoyle war, the shrine came under siege and was captured by Lord Draxinusom's troops, making it necessary for the Avatar to slay its captors that it might be liberated. Again the hero meditated and the champion of virtue was, with enough experience, able to receive miraculous gifts of swiftness and strength from the shrine.

Age of Armageddon
Two-hundred years later, the passage of time had replenished the waters of Lake Generosity, although the shrine, like many throughout the land had fallen into disuse as the Britannian people had slowly abandoned the "old ways." During the Avatar's travels in the days of near the time of the Astronomical Alignment, a lich had taken residence at the shrine, perverting its sanctity as it used it for unspeakable rituals.

While the hero could slay such an evil being, the shrine remained polluted, and seemingly continued in its corruption for years to come, eventually falling to the sway of the Guardian's columns in later decades. Seemingly, the impending destruction of the Drylands caused the shrine being re-located. The people of the nearby settlement of the second Minoc, seduced by the evil power of the column themselves, gave over to the mad plans of Raxos seeking to restore the defiled shrine through oblations of human blood. Eventually, the again-returned Avatar cleansed the shrine of its evil influence, loosening the grip of the Guardian on the nearby people's souls and restoring them to virtue.

Alternate Appearance

 * In Lord of Ultima, a Shrine of Sacrifice can randomly be located in Caledonia.
 * In the cancelled Ultima Online 2 and the Technocrat War trilogy, the Shrine of Sacrifice was to be included on the northern continent of New Britannia.

Trivia

 * The Keyring Mod for the utility, Exult, gives the Avatar the option to restore the Shrine of Sacrifice to its former state through the use of the a  Word of Power and then to meditate at the Shrine of Sacrifice using its corresponding rune. It will issue a quest for the hero to seek knowledge of Sacrifice from the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, as it had in previous games
 * In Ultima VI, the Shrine of Sacrifice adds one bonus point each to Strength and Dexterity when advancing a character's level.