Xorinite wisp

The Xorinite Wisps are actually all manifestations of the same mind. Acting as information brokers in every Ultima in which they appear, wisps were willing to offer information for a price. The Wisps are old - very old. They gave Zog the Armageddon spell over 700.000 years ago, although they don't see the spell as something powerful. Not to be confused with the Wisps in Ultima IV and V, they first appeared in Ultima VI.

The Avatar first met the Wisps in Ultima VI in the Deep Forest west of Yew. The Wisps gave him the Armageddon spell as a gift, but wanted the Book of Mantras for more services. Bringing it from the Lycaeum, the Avatar had the choice between information or a really huge amount of gold (as much as the party can actually carry).

The Wisps were also met in the Abyss in Ultima Underworld and the valley of Eodon in Savage Empire. In Eodon, the Wisps gave the Avatar a freebie, describing what exactly had happened to make Eodon the way it was.

By the next encounter in Ultima VII in the Spiritwood, the Wisps first paid no attention to the Avatar and the Companions. Magaretha the gypsy hinted that the Wisps have important information to share, so the Avatar sought a special whistle from the Emps to make a contact with the Wisps. As it turned out, the Wisps had crucial information about the Guardian, the Black Gate and the Time Lord, but wanted information for Alagner's notebook in return. The Avatar agreed to this deal. However, the Wisps sold the information to the Guardian, who in turn ordered Alagner murdered.

The last encounter with the Wisps was in Ultima Underworld II. The Avatar met them in the blue zone of the Ethereal Void. Demanding to know what happened to Bishop, they gave him/her in return information about what happened to the Trilkhai and their history (although other information can be asked for as well).

The Wisps weren't seen again after this. In Ultima VIII, there are reports of mysterious balls of light in the Plateau. Though while this does strongly point to the Wisps, it's uncertain if this really refers to them.

Trivia

 * From Ultima VI onward, the Wisps are invincible, and the player shouldn't dare to attack them, as it would be his/her end.