Magic Orbs

Magic Orbs are mysterious devices which bolster the abilities of those who touch them. They appear in  Ultima IV.

Description
The magic orbs appeared throughout Britannia's dungeons during the early Age of Enlightenment, and served at the time as the means of attaining greater aptitude in physical strength and dexterity or in mental acuity. Touching such artifacts would hone a specific skills depending upon which dungeon housed the orb, but would also injure those making contact with them in proportion to whatever boons they granted.

Therefore in the dungeons Deceit, Despise and Destard one had to be at least level 3 to not die from this experience. In the dungeons Covetous, Wrong and Shame, level 5 was required. In dungeon Hythloth, which had the best orbs, anyone below level 7 was automatically doomed to die if using its orbs. The Abyss contained no orbs at all.

Trivia

 * Since one orb in Hythloth is right next to the entrance, one tactic is to cast Xit and then use that orb. Exiting and entering the dungeon will refresh the orb. If not being at a high enough level to survive touching it, either characters must be resurrected or this is done as a kamikaze operation (useful at the start of the game to get maximum stats for the Stranger).