Destard

Destard
Dungeon Type:	Cave
Opposes the Virtue:	Valor
Word of Power:	INOPIA

Destard is a dungeon in the mountains west of Trinsic, which has long been known as a haven for dragons. As one of the eight major dungeons of Britannia, it opposes the virtue of Valor, and throughout the course of history, numerous articles relating to Valor have been found within its tunnels.

History

Ultima IV

Main article: Destard (Ultima IV)

Destard was formed around the time of the foundation of Britannia, and in the course of their quest toward Avatarhood the Stranger sojourned through its caverns. During the hero's descent into its caverns, they would find the Red Stone of Valor, in addition to numerous magical orbs which gifted those who touched them with supernaturally enhanced strength. In its deepest passages, it was adjoined to the great Altar Room of Courage, which interlinked it with the dungeons Covetous, Shame and Hythloth.

Ultima V

Main article: Destard (Ultima V)

After the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom was raised from the Abyss, the Great Council placed a seal over Destard and the other seven great dungeons, hoping to shield the surface world from the terrors which lay below. This, however, had the unforeseen outcome of creating a vast and expansive Underworld beneath the soil, providing a haven for dark and unnatural beasts to flourish.

After Blackthorn's rise to power, the members of the council were criminalized under the Oppression, and suffered persecution from the authorities of the realm. With those who knew how to unseal the dungeons forced into hiding, the returned Avatar had to seek out the maddened Goeth, who knew the Word of Power which would reopen despise: "INOPIA." Once armed with knowledge of this password, the hero could use the dungeon as a means to reaching the Underworld below it, where the dungeon opened onto an area near to the lost Amulet of Lord British.

Ultima VI

Main article: Destard (Ultima VI)

It was during the years after Blackthorn's exile that Destard became a home to the dragons which it would later be famous for. By the time of the Avatar's return to the realm amidst the Gargish conflict, the caves of the dungeon were home to a number of flights of dragons and their young. The Avatar would again have cause to journey here in this era, this time to procure dragon eggs for Sandy of Trinsic, that the ex-pirate might reveal to them information regarding the treasure map of Captain Hawkins.

Ultima Underworld I

During the eruption of the Stygian Abyss in the midst of the Avatar's fight to banish the Slasher of Veils, the spirit of the powerful wizard Garamon transported the remaining settlers from Sir Cabirus' colony to the tunnels of dungeon Destard. Here, the remnants of the experimental settlement supposedly attempted to build another dungeon city, although no trace of them remained by the time of the Avatar's next return to the realm, some two centuries later.

Ultima VII

Main article: Destard (Ultima VII)

A dragon's lair, typical of Destard, in Ultima VII

By the time of the Guardian's first attempted invasion, Destard was once more a haven to dragonkind, although a solitary unicorn inhabited its southern caves. In the days of the Avatar's adventure concerning the Black Gate, the deceitful Fellowship leader, Batlin, would send the hero to the dungeon in search of a nonexistent cache of money, falsely claiming Destard to be deserted. While the champion of virtue ultimately survived the ordeal foisted upon them, the sheer numbers of dragons could easily have proven overwhelming to the wayfarer and their companions.

Ultima IX

Main article: Destard (Ultima IX)

At some point in the course of the Guardian's slow corruption of Britannia in the late Age of Armageddon, a single female dragon rose to prominence in Destard. This creature, known as Talornia, made a compact with the Destroyer of Worlds, offering up her eggs that her young might outfit Blackthorn's growing Wyrmguard. In exchange for this, the Red Titan's followers offered her a cult of worship and helped to drive foes from her territory. By the time of the Avatar's final return, Destard was divided between Talornia's domain and the regions where Wyrmguard slavers oversaw mining operations to benefit the forces of the Red Titan. In addition, Destard had been sealed from the inside by Sir Drake using the Word of Power, which seems to prevent anyone from unsealing the dungeon from the outside. The Avatar entered Destard via a ice cover at the top of the dungeon.

The Avatar would eventually come to this hellish dungeon, where they would face their former companion Geoffrey, who like numerous other companions had fallen under the sway of the columns. Eventually, the hero would best Talornia in combat, that they might bring her head before the knights of Valoria.

Inhabitants

Ultima VII

• Cairbre: mercenary
• Cosmo: questant
• Kallibrus: gargoyle
• Lasher: unicorn

Ultima IX

• Bane: slave
• Dartane: Wyrmguard slaver
• Talornia: dragon
• Saphera: cult priestess
• Yerffoeg: Wyrmguard

Lore

The cavernous entrance to Destard, as depicted in early Ultima IX concept art

Due west of the Fens of the Dead, in the mountainous region in the southwest part of Britannia, lies the entrance to the dungeon Destard. The brave traveler will find wealth aplenty on the 4th level of this villainous series of caverns, but guardians of unsurpassed ferocity are also to be found here. Seek the altar that holds the red stone on the 7th level, and hie thee to the Altar Room of Courage that may be found herein.

- from Way of the Avatar (Ultima IV)

Far to the west of the Fens of the Dead, along the untamed coast of southwest Britannia, the cavern called Destard is a dank haven for savage tribes of orcs, trolls, and the like.

- from Paths of Destiny (Ultima V)

I prepared a map with the assistance of Gertan, one of the few people foolish enough to brave the depths of Destard. Everybody knows this is the lair of dragons. Gertan has a thing about dragons, though. Says there are drakes down here too, to eat up anything too small for the dragons to bother with. Legend has it there's an egg chamber on the fourth level, but I don't think anyone's ever gotten that far and lived to tell about it.
-Mandrake

- from The Book of Prophecy (Ultima VI)

For centuries, the caverns of Destard housed an ancient dragon and her treasures. Many of the brave warriors of the city of Valoria tested their mettle in her lair, and few returned. The legend of Talornia, the great red dragon spread through the countryside, as she fed upon village and farm. The Knights of Valoria mounted an expedition to seal her lair which apparently arrested her roamings about the countryside. Some claim that she yet lives and has grown old and mighty in her lair. Rumors of a cult of worshipers persist and are fed by the many disappearances. Plans for a new campaign to root out the dragons of Destard have become mired in the squabbling among the Knights of Valoria. Little is done, and all complain about it.

- from Journal (Ultima IX)

Trivia

• In Runes of Virtue, Destard, known as the Cavern of Cowardice, appears on Verity Isle. The Rune of Valor can be found within the dungeon, as well, a powerful magic rope which allows the hero to cross waterways dwells within its depths.
• In Runes of Virtue II, the Cavern of Cowardice is located on a small island to the south of Jhelom. From these depths, the hero would rescue Lord Zellivan from his imprisonment by the Black Knight. Also located within this dungeon was a magical shield and a powerful whip.
• In the cancelled Ultima Online 2 and the Technocrat War trilogy, Destard was to be included as a dungeon on the southwestern continent of Avenosh.
• In Ultima IX, there is a unhatched Dragon Egg that can be picked up and placed into your inventory. As Dragon riding was going to be a feature, this was probably originally placed in Destard with this mechanic in mind.

---

Geography