Crystal Ball

A Crystal Ball is essentially what the name says. These glass spheres hove long been a staple of professions that deal with divination, in that they try so see future events in these enchanted spheres, while the magic user with no talent for divination can use them to see far-away lands.

History
Crystal balls as means for divination were not unknown in old Sosaria, as evidenced from pictures that show Oacles using one to divine the future. However, these spheres only came in wide-spread usage during the time of Ultima V. Using one during that time would enable the viewer to see the surroundings in the same way as using a peer gem. However, they had to be used with care, as errors would result in a "death vision", seriously hurting the viewer in the process.

At the time of Ultima VI, crystal balls were in wide-spread use. Nystul owned one and presumetly used it to see the Avatar's peril at the hand of the gargoyles. Penumbra in Moonglow also was using a crystal ball to divine the future and produced results that were later revealed as true. Other crystal balls could be found and usage by the Avatar would result in a magical scout being created at coordinates of choice, which can be used for a limited time to scout the surroundings.

In Ultima Underworld, crystal balls sometimes enabled the Avatar to see the future. One especially revealed the escape route that Garamon had prepared in the realm of the Slasher. The villan Tyball meanwhile had created a special crystal ball that absorber all mana on the seventh level, and which had to be destroyed by a chunk of orb rock.

In Ultima VII, only the gypsy Margareta still seemed to be able to use a crystal ball to see the future. All other crystal balls encountered were just capable of showing the Avatar a fixed location. A special crystal ball made by Alagner acted as a recording device to allow him to see what he did earlier. After his murder, the Avatar used it to unveil the murderes identity.

In Ultima Underworld II, many crystal balls were encountered, but few were useful. One on Anodunos not only showed the Avatar past events, but also a glimpse of the future.

Crystal balls were next to unknown on the Serpent Isle in Ultima VII Part Two. The only ones of real importance were the ones of Harnna in Monitor, which showed after Cantra's disappearance what had happened to the girl, and the crystal ball of Fedabiblio of Moonshade, that showed the fate of Edrin after getting the conclusions from Gustacio's experiments.

Crystal balls were in wide use in Ultima IX, used to scout out far-away places. One special one, the Blackrock Crystal Ball, was found in the posession of the lich Khelereth deep in the dungeon Covetous and was the only one to actually show possible future events.

Trivia

 * The Guardian prevents the Avatar from using some crystal balls in Ultima VII. Why he does so is unknown.


 * The abundance of crystal balls in Ultima IX creates a case of fridge logic. Everyone acts as if they have no idea of the Guardian's presence, yet the crystal balls in the castle clearly show his fortress.