Carrocio

From Ultima Codex
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Carrocio
Carrocio.gif
Carrocio, from Ultima VII
Species: human
Appearances
Ultima VII
Location: Castle Britannia

Carrocio is a children's entertainer who operates various shows and games near Castle Britannia in Britain during Ultima VII.

Description[edit]

Carrocio is a poetic sort, and constantly speaks in rhyming couplets – although whether this is a habit he carries in all walks of like or merely part of his gleeman persona is unclear. On his small green near the castle, he hosts a small Punch and Judy show powered via elaborate automata; a high striker which gives a reward of stuffed dragons to those who ring its bell; and a mock-up sword in a stone, which he claims will grant the kingship of Britannia to whomsoever pulls the one out of the other. Children from the Royal Nursery can often be found playing near his displays.[1]

Making but a humble income from these endeavors, Carrocio was not yet able to afford the wedding rings he needed to marry his fiancée, Nell, a chambermaid in Lord British's castle. To further compound matters, he alleged that Snaz, a local beggar, had been making a habit of stealing his jokes, thus drawing income from his showmanship.[2]

Should the Avatar discover that Nell was with child, both she and Carrocio would plead with the hero not to reveal this secret, especially not to Nell's overprotective brother, Charles. Should the Avatar betray them, Charles would fly into a rage, intent on sparking a conflict with Carrocio. While the champion had the opportunity to warn the entertainer of his future brother-in-law's anger, such admissions did little to quiet the situation, although Carrocio vowed not to harm Charles for Nell's sake.[3]

Whatever transpired, Carrocio and Nell wed regardless, in a ceremony within the castle itself. The young woman gave birth to a son soon after, and the new made family appeared to be doing well by the time of Ultima Underworld II, during which Nell found herself briefly separated from her husband and child due to the Guardian's blackrock dome.

Lore[edit]

We also have an amusement area, where one can watch a puppet show (Carrocio charges a gold for it, however), or pull a sword from a rock or some such, or hit a hammer to ring a bell. In all honesty, I have never seen these, but people around town have been raving about them for quite a while.

Trivia[edit]

  • Despite seeming a logical side-quest to some, purchasing a wedding ring from Sean has no effect on Carrocio and Nell's matrimonial plans, and there are no dialogue options which allow the player to give rings to the couple.
  • Should the Avatar slay Lord British, a will can be found upon the sovereign's body revealing that the king had had an affair with Nell and that he believed her unborn child to be his. The ruler names the baby as his heir, giving it and its mother the whole of his property and domain.[4] It is unknown, ultimately, by whom the child was actually fathered – with the king appearing quite sure it is his and Nell being near positive that it is Carrocio's.
  • In the ninth installment of Might and Magic, dating back to 2002, you also win a stuffed dragon, if you win 'Ding the bell', a high-striker-variant. It is likely to be a tribute to Ultima VII

References[edit]

  1. Carrocio. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcriptUltima VII. "gears and wheels, job, puppet show, strength test".
  2. Carrocio. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcriptUltima VII. "Nell, marriage, mongrel beggar".
  3. Carrocio. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcriptUltima VII. "Charles is angry, Nell with child".
  4. Lord British. Lord British's Last Will and Testament (Ultima VII – in-game).