Altara
| Altara | |||||
 Altara, from Ultima Underworld II | |||||
| Species: | human | ||||
| Profession: | sorceress | ||||
| Appearances | |||||
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This article is about an NPC in Ultima Underworld II. For the NPC in Ultima IX, see Altara (U9).
Altara is the sorceress of Killorn Keep. She appears in Ultima Underworld II.
Description[edit]
Altara had previously numbered among the political activists influencing the High Council in the capitol of the world Killorn Keep inhabited. When she and others like her attempted to initiate reforms running contrary to the Guardian's wishes, she found herself exiled to Killorn. Having been deemed useful to the Red Titan on account of her knowledge of inter-dimensional theory, she evaded execution.
Immediately finding herself persecuted by the politically ambitious Mystell, Altara did her best to keep her dissident views a secret, and would only speak with the Avatar regarding her opposition to the Guardian should the hero mention Bishop, another opponent of the Titan from the realm of Tarna. After taking the Avatar as her confidant, Altara would entrust the hero with a specially prepared dagger designed to slay the Listener, a creature which was being used to spy upon events in Britannia.
Should the hero successfully kill the beast and keep Altara's treachery a secret, the sorceress would provide further assistance by constructing a magical scepter, which would cut the lines of power with which the Guardian was utilizing on various planes. In order to complete this artifact, however, she would require the adventurer bring her two items: the egg of a dread spider and an amethyst rod.
After the completion of the rod, Altara would continue to do what she could to aid the Avatar, and would eventually develop a spell which could imbue items with magical potency. In time, however, her actions would attract the attention of the Guardian and Mors Gotha, even if the hero did naught to betray her to Mystell. Fearing for her safety, the enchantress would flee Killorn Keep in the days before the castle launched its attack on Britannia, leaving the Avatar a letter to inform of her departure.[1]
Lore[edit]
| “ | Stranger, I greet thee. I am Altara, lately a favored servant of the Guardian, now Sorceress-in-Residence in godforsaken Killorn Keep, thanks to several indiscreet differences of opinion with the political hierarchy on this world. My skill in the analysis of interdimensional energy flow saved me from summary execution, and instead I was removed to Killorn, far from any political centers on this world, though the site of some interesting magical activity, as I shall explain below. |
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Trivia[edit]
- Some time after her exile to Killorn, Altara was contacted by Bishop and asked to provide details of the keep, that he might include them in his work Gems of Enlightenment – a compilation of information from various worlds designed to aid those seeking to oppose the Guardian.[2]
- She offers training in Mana and Casting skills.
- Altara makes mention of teleport storms, foreshadowing the events of Ultima VII Part Two.[1]
- Should the Avatar betray Altara to Mystell, she will refuse to cooperate further, flippantly demanding Relk’s head on a platter before she speaks again. The hero can, in fact, regain her trust by doing just that: killing the man and presenting her with his skull.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Altara. Ethereal Dragon’s Ultima Underworld II transcript. Ultima Underworld II.
- ↑ Grossman, Austin. "Killorn Keep". Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1992. Pages 14-17.