Despise

Despise, a natural cave system in the Serpent's Spine mountains north of Britain, is one of the eight famed dungeons of Britannia. The Stranger explored it first during the Quest of the Avatar and returned to it many times after that.

Ultima IV
The Anti-Compassion Dungeon of Despise was first entered in Ultima IV. Deep in it's depths The Stranger found the Altar of Love and the Yellow Stone.

Ultima V
Also know as the "Maze of Lost Souls", as a sign in Runic reads at the entrance, the caves were sealed after the end of the Quest of the Avatar Despise by the Great Council to lock the horrors within. During Ultima V The Avatar yelled the Word of Power "VILIS", learned from Annon, to open the entrance. The cave is a twisting maze of pit traps and ladders and now connects to the newly formed Underworld near where Captain Johne and the wreck of the Ararat were found.

Ultima VI
A mine supplying much of the gold for Britannia. It is a series of twisting tunnels connected to large caverns.

Ultima VII


While only few monsters call these caves their home, Despise is dangerous because of another fact: It is the worst maze in all of Britannia, with many locked doors, teleporters, false leads and dead ends. Many a warrior had descended into this cave system, only to never return from it, having starved to death in its depths after getting lost in the maze.

The Avatar entered Despise in Ultima VII to loot it, finding the mage Garok Al-Mat in the process, and helped him out of the dungeon.

Ultima IX
In Ultima IX, the former cave system was turned into a dungeon. Before the Great Cataclysm, a mage by the name of Kiran chose the dungeon as his new abode. He refurnished the place, constructing an underground fortress. His magic shield is hidden inside. The treasure Hunters were found inside, having gone on the quest to find the Kiran Stones.

Trivia

 * Despise is the only dungeon in Ultima V with no dungeon rooms at all.
 * In Ultima VII, Despise and Shame are confused with each other.