Aidon

Aidon
Aidon, from Ultima IX
Species:	human
Appearances
Ultima IX Location: Britain Transcript: Aidon

Aidon is the mayor of Britain in Ultima IX. Corrupted by the influence of the Guardian's column, he enacted tyrannical decrees that banished Britain's poor, sick, and destitute citizens to the nearby shanty town of Paws. After his own daughter, Meribeth, fell ill and was exiled under his mandates, Aidon realized the cruelty of his actions, ultimately assisting the Avatar in recovering the Heart of Compassion and restoring the Shrine of Compassion.

Description

Aidon, like the other denizens of Britain, fell prey to the influence of the Guardian's column; under its spell, he enacted harsh and unmerciful laws under the pretense of Compassion. He decreed that the city's underclasses be removed to nearby Paws, banishing from Britain those who were too sick or too poor to contribute to a mandatory charity fund. While Aidon claimed that this measure was ultimately compassionate and promised to allocate food and medical supplies to the exiles, the conditions in Paws were deplorable, with the small shanty town being almost entirely engulfed by noxious swamp waters.

When the Avatar initially encountered Aidon delivering a speech in the center of Britain, the mayor was unhelpful, speaking at length to justify his cruel edicts and flatly denying any knowledge of the city's sigil, the Heart of Compassion.

Aidon eventually became the victim of his own politics when his daughter, Meribeth, fell seriously ill and his callous aide, Killigan, had her removed to Paws. Desperate to retrieve her, Aidon ventured to the poverty-wracked slum himself, where he witnessed first-hand the results of his policies. Attacked by one of the giant rats that plagued the area, he was rescued by Peg Leg Joe, an amputee who had been cast out of Britain for his disability. This act of selflessness opened Aidon's eyes to the error of his ways. Upon returning to Britain, he bestowed the Heart of Compassion upon the Avatar, enabling the hero to cleanse the nearby shrine.

After the restoration of the shrine, Aidon attempted to reverse his policies, but Killigan actively hamstrung his efforts. Aidon later disclosed to the Avatar that Killigan had been entrusted with charitable funds that he refused to release, providing key evidence for the hero's investigation into the aide's true motivations.

Lore

“

Those wounded by fate or circumstance have been banished to Paws, wherein they may live among themselves. The mayor of Britain, who championed this standard, claims victory. The spread of disease, he says, has reduced. Theft has decreased. The economy has grown. Yet, the mayor does not lack opponents. Among the splintered families grows a disquietude that the mayor has sought to silence. – from Journal (Ultima IX)

Trivia

• In the fan-made dialogue patch for Ultima IX, Angus will note that Aidon has plans to rebuild the nearby Fellowship Hall, converting it into a theatre.