Trilkhai

The Trilkhai are work-animals on Atarka with an interesting past.

The Avatar was more than surprised when the Trilkhai in Killorn Keep in Ultima Underworld II spoke to the hero telepathically, saying to speak with their leader Blackie in the stables. Blackie told the Avatar that they were all pretty much work slaves to do all the heavy hauling, and hid their intelligence from everyone. Blackie wanted the Avatar to find out, if there was any truth that their kind had a much better past.

In the Ethereal Void the Avatar much later got the answer from a Xorinite Wisp, who told the hero that the Trilkhai had once been space-faring humanoids, but a huge war had ruined them, so they had regressed to the point that they had lost the ability to use tools.

The Avatar brought this news to Blackie, who felt a lot better when hearing this, and hoped she could now rally her kin against their oppressors.

Trivia

 * "Trilkhai" is of course an anagram of "Kilrathi," the big cat-like antagonists of Wing Commander, another Origin Systems product.
 * Should the Avatar try to crash the keep, all Trilkhai become hostile.