Mandrake

Mandrake is a bard in Ultima VI.

The Avatar found Mandrake throughout Britannia. He was known to sing at The Fallen Virgin, The Sword and Keg, The Blue Bottle, and The Cat's Lair. A jolly adventurous bard, he had traveled widely throughout Britannia, and had visited many of the dungeons. Always a lover of a good ale, he drank many Britannians under the table, although he admitted Derydlus often came out victorious in their drinking contests. Mandrake recommended that the Avatar visit Penumbra, and have his fortune told. He also highly praised The Cat's Lair and its proprietor, Dr. Cat. Always an accomplished bard, Mandrake entertained The Avatar with tales of daring, bravery, and adventure.

Mandrake's recent adventures had been fraught with danger due to his capture by gargoyles. He had been taken to the other side of the world, but had the good fortune to be saved by the young gargoyle Beh Lem. Mandrake was even credited for writing the Ultima VI Cluebook, which contained stories about his adventures through Britannia.

Mandrake knew of Lord British's eight virtues, but he believed them to be too stuffy, inventing his own virtues. Instead of Truth, Love, and Courage, Mandrake preferred wine, women and song. He told the Avatar those three principles would combine into the virtues of drunkenness, sensuality, harmony, lust, laziness, dance, indulgence, and happiness.

Runes of Virtue
In Runes of Virtue II, Mandrake could be found in Yew, where he assured the hero that the Wand of Fireballs could destroy even the strongest spider web. The bard could also be found in Jhelom, where he offered to sell the hero plate armour for 75gp, and then directed the hero to Moranda of Serpent's Hold for more powerful armour.