Cape of Heroes

Cape of Heroes
Location of the Cape of Heroes
Located in:	Britannia
Type:	peninsula and bay
Shipwreck of the Empire off the Cape of Heroes

The Cape of Heroes is a geographical region located at the southernmost point of mainland Britannia, comprising two peninsulas and sometimes considered to include the body of water they surround.

Description

The Cape of Heroes lies south of Trinsic and is formed by two clawlike headlands that enclose a small bay. It is adjoined to the southeast by an archipelago ending with the Isle of Deeds, and its surrounding waters are known to have caused multiple shipwrecks.

History

The Cape of Heroes appeared with the formation of Britannia sometime after the defeat of Exodus, and was initially notable for claiming HMS Cape, a galleon of the early Age of Enlightenment renowned for its incredible speed and resilience, which wrecked in the deep waters here. While questing toward Avatarhood in Ultima IV, the Stranger would have occasion to explore the region, that the legendary ship's enchanted wheel might be wrested from its watery grave to confer HMS Cape's mystic properties upon the hero's own vessel, which would eventually be tasked with penetrating a formidable pirate fleet occupying the western cove of the Isle of the Abyss.

In later years, the returning Avatar would have further need to travel to the Cape of Heroes and its adjacent areas. By 139, the height of Lord Blackthorn's reign and his corruption by the malevolent Shadowlords (Ultima V), the Cape's eastern promontory would bear one of several lighthouses erected in peacetime years prior, Greyhaven, which the Avatar visited seeking tutelage from Kenneth, Lord British's court composer who had taken refuge there. Two decades later, during the gargoyle war of 161 (Ultima VI), the hero would find the notorious pirate Hawkins' ship, HMS Empire, wrecked on the archipelago nearby. Directed by Homer, one of Hawkins' former associates, it was here that a deceased anonymous crewmate of theirs could be found, along with his portion of the treasure map that would lead the Avatar to the missing fragment of an ancient silver tablet, which bore an invaluable translation of the Gargish language to the common tongue.

The Cape of Heroes would provide little of interest throughout the Age of Armageddon, but, unlike many other landmarks, survived the Great Cataclysm unscathed while the nearby islets sank.

Lore

“	The claws of the southern tip of Britannia embrace the Cape of Heroes. – from The History of Britannia (Ultima IV)

Trivia

• In the Nintendo port of Ultima IV, this geological feature is known as "Hero's Point."
• The Cape of Heroes is not labelled on some second issues of Ultima IV's cloth map.
• Throughout the series, the Cape of Heroes is defined as its peninsulas at some times and the bay between them at others. In reality, the names "cape" and "point" both refer to landmasses, also known as "promontories" or "headlands".

References

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Geography