Headless
| Headless | |
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 Headless, from Ultima VII manual | |
| First appearance: | Ultima IV |
| Last appearance: | Serpent Isle |
The headless are a bizarre race of humanoid creatures who lack a head or neck. They appear in Ultima IV, Ultima V, Ultima VI, Ultima VII and Ultima VII Part Two, as well as Ultima Underworld and Ultima Underworld II.
Description[edit]
It is unknown how these strange beasts first came into being, although many hypothesize that they are the product of perverse experimentation by a rogue magician. Despite their lack of sensory organs, these grotesque beings apparently have no trouble sensing their surroundings and make surprisingly apt fighters, frequently hunting in packs. Early sightings of them also place them in the company of the enigmatic gazers and occasionally stray phantoms, although it is not known how such a strange motley of monsters came to be associates.
Lore[edit]
| “ | Another evil being best suited to terror and destruction, the Headless is indeed a creature of nightmares. Many a traveller has fled in abject horror at the sight of these headless torsos bearing down upon them. – from The History of Britannia (Ultima IV)
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| “ | No one knows exactly how the senses work on these mutant abominations. Do they sense the world only through touch and feeling? Or do they “see” with some inner vision? Whatever the answer, these relatively strong creatures are fairly enduring and do mild damage to their foes. They tend to carry goods with them. – from The Book of Lore (Ultima V)
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| “ | The product of a wizard’s failed experiments, these wretched creatures somehow manage to sense the location of their quarry and strike with unnatural accuracy. Do not fall prey to pity, for the headless would as soon strangle you with his bare hands as accept your mercy. – from Compendium (Ultima VI)
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| “ | Do not fall prey to pity for these wretched deformities, for the Headless have a relentless animosity for all upright beings with heads — they attack without thought, and give no quarter unless on the verge of their own extinction. Having no visible eyes or ears, it has long been a mystery how the Headless find and pursue their prey. It is a simple matter to avoid a pack of these beasts by exercising silence and keeping a prudent distance. – from Memoirs of Sir Cabirus (Ultima Underworld)
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| “ | This ensorcelled creature appears to be a living, ambulatory, beheaded human being. It is unknown exactly how it compensates for its apparent lack of sensory organs, but it manages to do so quite well. Its favorite method of attack is strangulation. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII)
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| “ | The headless seem to be the result of a bizarre and cruel prank on the part of some powerful human or possibly nature itself. Headless appear as twisted human bodies, lacking any sort of head or neck. It is not known how they feed, or how they sense the world around them. However, they do have some means of locating an opponent, and once they know a human is near they will almost always fight to the death. They are a vicious abomination, to be pitied and avoided. |
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| “ | As the name implies, these are creatures without heads. Barring that difference, albeit significant, these bipedal beasts resemble humans. I have not yet captured one for study, but the ease with which they act without apparent senses defies logic. |
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Trivia[edit]
- Headless were to be included in the canceled Ultima X. For more information see: Planned monsters for Ultima X: Headless.
- Headless have a strange fondness for gold nuggets as they are often found in their possessions after being slain.
Gallery[edit]
Ultima X concept art
A headless in Ultima Underworld II
