Skara Brae

Description
Skara Brae is the the city of Spirituality and the home base of the Rangers of Britannia. It is situated on an island west of the main continent, separated from Spiritwood by the Misty Channel. Prior to Ultima VII the city had been utterly destroyed by a magical explosion, and when the Avatar visits it the island is a wasteland, the buildings ruined shells, and the inhabitants ghosts wandering the streets. The city can be reached in Ultima VII with the aid of the mysterious Ferryman, who waits at the Ferry Station. He demands 2 gold pieces for travel to Skara Brae, but travel to the mainland is free.

The city was rubuilt by the time of Ultima IX but the Avatar never saw it before it was again destroyed, this time by the Guardian. only recently, therefore all of the buildings are relatively new.

A sight in the city is the Dark Tower of Horance.

A Moongate on the island itself ensures fast transportation.

History of the city
Skara Brae was founded after the destruction of Exodus, and the following re-shaping of the land. It was dedicated to the virtue of Spirituality and remained a quiet place throughout the ages. The island location preventing much city growth. The city however, was not the place of one of the Runes in Ultima IV.

In Ultima V, the dark mage Flain, who was in league with the Opression, took residence in Skara Brae and had a tower built in its centre. The Shadowlords haunted the city like all of the eight cities of Virtue.

But bad fortune was with Skara Brae after that time. When the mage Horance was posessed by a Liche, a horrible accident in the efforts to stop him, caused by the stupidy of the mayor, burned down the whole city, and everyone died. It wasn't until Ultima VII, when the Avatar managed to free Horance from the Liche, and therefore lift the ban from Skara Brae. Now newly errected, Skara Brae again is a beautiful place.

(The city was again destroyed in Ultima IX, but this is not part of the history, because of the dubious status of the game in the canon)

Ultima V

 * Froed :a child.
 * Flain :dark mage.
 * Kindor :sick bard.
 * Saul :visitor of Kindor.
 * Temptious :Healer at The Spirit Healers.
 * Toama :alchemist
 * Rogi :innkeeper at The Haunting Inn.

Ultima VI

 * Delancy :sailor.
 * Dezena :healer.
 * Gideon :Innkeeper.
 * Horance :mage.
 * Marney :dock helper.
 * Marta :rose seller.
 * Quenton :a ghost.
 * Trenton :mayor of Skara Brae.
 * Yorl :fisherman.

Ultima VII
(Note that they are all ghosts, and therefore their "jobs" are only things of the past)


 * Cain :alchemist and tortured one.
 * Ferryman :well...a ferryman.
 * Forsythe :mayor of Skara Brae.
 * Horance :a powerful mage.
 * Markham :tavern owner.
 * Mordra :healer (and from Pagan).
 * Paulette :tavern maid.
 * Quenton :long-time ghost.
 * Rowena :wife of Trent.
 * Trent :blacksmith.

Things to see
This puts all of the locations into a easy to read list.


 * Dark Tower
 * Ferry Station

Trivia

 * Skara Brae is the name of a real historical settlement on the west coast of Orkney (off northern Scotland).


 * Skara Brae is also the town where the computer game The Bard's Tale takes place. Interestingly, on some platforms, you could import characters from Ultima III (and Wizardry) into The Bard's Tale.