Swamp boots

A pair of swamp boots

Swamp boots are specially prepared waterproofed footwear, which are designed to protect those who wear them from the sicknesses associated with walking unshod through noxious swampland. They appear in Ultima VI, Ultima VII, Ultima VII Part Two, and Ultima IX.

Description

The swamps of Britannia and Serpent Isle have the strange property of infecting those who walk through them with the toxins within them – seemingly passing poisons to wayfarers through the soles of their feet. To combat this hazard, waterproofed swamp boots have been developed, which allow their wearer to wade through all manner of mires and bogs without fear of ill health. Popular amongst adventurers for obvious reason, these boots have been available since the days of the gargoyle war, and were long sold by provisioners and armouries for an inexpensive fee.

During the last years of the Age of Armageddon, however, knowledge of how to make and treat swamp boots appeared to have waned, as only a single pair could be found throughout the realm, having been abandoned in the dungeon Hythloth. Nevertheless, this single pair would serve the Avatar, as their protective properties had not deteriorated in the days since they had been cast aside.

In Ultima IX, swamp boots would protect the Avatar from swamp-borne poisons, even if while being completely immersed in swamp water. These swamp boots were considered to be part of the artifact armor, a collection of armour parts with magical properties.

Protective Value

In Ultima VI swamp boots have a defensive rating of 0.

In Ultima VII swamp boots have a defensive rating of 1.

In Ultima VII Part Two swamp boots have a defensive rating of 1.

In Ultima IX swamp boots have a defensive rating of 2.

Lore

“

These are the first things any serious traveller should buy. Made of the finest leather, these boots are watertight, and coated with a special oil to keep them dry. They'll protect you from any of the diseases or poisons you might otherwise pick up from leeches in the swamps. Utomo the Islander, who lives in Yew, specializes in these green boots. – from Ultima VI Clue Book: The Book of Prophecy (Ultima VI)

Trivia

• In Ultima VII, a pair of swamp boots which were allegedly worn by the Avatar could be found in the Royal Museum in Britain.
• In the SNES-port of Ultima VII, only a single pair of swamp boots could be found in Britannia – within the house of Rudyom the mage.

See Also

• Armour values

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Armour

Basic Armour	Cloth armour ☥ Leather armour ☥ Ring mail ☥ Scale armour ☥ Chain armour ☥ Bone armor ☥ Plate armour ☥ Blackrock armor
Enhanced Armour	Magic armour ☥ Anachronistic armour ☥ Exotic Armour ☥ Mystic Armour ☥ Leather Vest of Flameproof ☥ Artifact armor
Other Armour	Armour in Martian Dreams ☥ Primitive armour ☥ Antique armour ☥ Armour of Beauty ☥ Winter gear ☥ Wyrmguard armor ☥ Pirate outfit ☥ Avatar armor
Head Protection	Helmets ☥ Viking helm ☥ Spiked helm ☥ Helm of Courage ☥ Caddellite helm ☥ Cap of Missile Protection ☥ Cowl of Valor ☥ Helm of Light ☥ Living toupee
Shields	Shields ☥ Shield of Monitor ☥ Shield of Valor ☥ Magic shield ☥ Jeweled shield ☥ Dupre's shield ☥ Mage shield ☥ Kiran shield ☥ Serpent Isle shields
Legs and Arms Protection	Swamp boots ☥ Boots of Bouncing ☥ Dragonskin boots ☥ Leather Leggings of Stealth ☥ Greaves ☥ Stocking ☥ Gauntlets of Missile Protection ☥ Gauntlets of Quickness
Other Items	Kidney belt ☥ Loriel's Gift ☥ Spiked collar ☥ Serpent artifacts ☥ Ring of Protection