Armageddon

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This article is about is about a spell. For other uses, see Armageddon (disambiguation).

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Armageddon
Ultima VII Incantation: Vas Kal An Mani In Corp Hur Tym Reagents: BP, BM, GA, GS, MR, NS, SS, SA Circle: 8th Ultima VI Incantation: Vas Corp Bet Mani Reagents: BP, BM, GA, GS, MR, NS, SS, SA Circle: 8th Ultima Underworld Incantation: Vas Kal Corp Circle: 8th Ultima Underworld II Incantation: Vas Kal Corp Circle: 8th

Armageddon is an apocalyptic spell that irreversibly eradicates all lifeforms from the world within it is cast, with the exception of the spellcaster and certain beings of sufficient power as to possess immunity to its devastation. The spell first appears in Ultima VI, followed by Ultima Underworld and Ultima VII, Ultima Underworld II. In Ultima IX it appears as a ritual.

History

Armageddon in effect

Age of Enlightenment

The origins of the spell are unclear, but it first appears in Britannia’s Age of Enlightenment. Being the dreadful secret it is, the devastating cantrip is closely guarded by the few entrusted to comprise the Council of Wizards. In conversation with the Avatar during the human-gargoyle conflict of 161, Xiao, a member of the council at the time, deemed the hero eligible to be trusted with the knowledge of Armageddon, requesting it be sought from the wisps before she would instruct in spells of the eighth circle. Such a Xorinite representative would freely part with the spell upon discussion, although, ominously, not without dismissing the scope of its destructive potential.

During the Avatar's later imprisonment in the Great Stygian Abyss by order of Baron Almric, the wisps could offer the spell as formulated in runic magic and, should the hero have rejected it, would acknowledge the wisdom in realizing not all information is beneficial.

Age of Armageddon

When the Avatar returned to Britannia centuries later to thwart a scheme to assert dominion over the realm, enacted by the cosmic entity known as the Guardian, the Armageddon spell had now found its way into Cove mage Rudyom's repertoire, and that of at least one other unidentified sorcerer who would seek to dispose of the Avatar when encountered. The spell's very existence also appeared to have entered the public consciousness by this period, as it was openly listed among other incantations in Batlin's The Book of Archaic Knowledge.

During the Guardian's subsequent encapsulation of Castle Britannia within a colossal blackrock dome, a sufficiently advanced Avatar would possess the ability to cast runic Armageddon without needing to first acquire the spell.

Ultimately, it would not be until the Avatar's final return to Britannia to vanquish the Guardian that the hero would find cause to invoke Armageddon in an act of self-sacrifice. Prepared with a ritualistic casting, the hero was first able to lure the Guardian inside a protective barrier generated by circular placement of the eight Sigils of Virtue, which restricted Armageddon’s area of effect to the two nemeses within and left the Britannian populace unharmed.

Effects

In Ultima VI, casting Armageddon immediately removes all characters and creatures from existence altogether, with the exception of Lord British, who becomes unresponsive.

In Ultima VII, the invocation will likewise cause the spontaneous demise of almost every being, sparing only Lord British, Batlin, and the Ferryman of Skara Brae. The realm, littered with corpses that defy resurrection, is also plunged into an apocalyptic winter storm.

In both Ultima Underworld and Ultima Underworld II, the spell additionally causes the destruction of all objects, doors, and stairways, leaving the Avatar not only alone but confined to the area of casting.

Lore

“	This spell is believed to be so powerful that it may be capable of destroying all known living things in the entire world. Fortunately, this spell has never been cast! – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII: The Black Gate)

“	This spell kills all creatures, destroys all objects, doors, stairways and bridges, and has other strange effects on all realms. Not recommended. – from Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II)

Quotes

Batlin looks at you and his gaze returns to the Armageddon winter storm. "Many years ago, Avatar, I went to Skara Brae, the ghost city. The way the world is now reminds me of that dead place. In Skara Brae I had a spiritual experience so profound that I have never spoken of to another soul. I would like to share that experience with thee now, Avatar.

"There at Skara Brae I saw a man who was called The Tortured One. I asked this dead man, pray tell, what is the answer to the question of Life and Death? He gave me no reply, and I asked him again. I beseeched him to impart some small parcel of wisdom upon me. What is the answer to the question of Life and Death?! He said nothing, but in his eyes... In his eyes I could see, Avatar, that he could not answer me for there was no answer to give. No answers to the question of Life and Death! It was then I understood. No meanings! No virtues! No values!!!... I commend thee, Avatar, for reaching that same liberating illumination!"

– Batlin in Ultima VII.

"Fool!! What possessed thee to cast that damned Armageddon Spell? I knew it was dangerous! Thou didst know it was dangerous!! Now look at us! We are all alone on the entire planet! Britannia is ruined! What kind of Avatar art thou!?! Now, with no Moongates working, we are both forced to spend eternity in this blasted wasteland! Of course, it could be viewed as a clever solution to all of our problems. After all, not even this so-called Guardian would want Britannia now!"

– Lord British in Ultima VII.

The Ultima 6 Project

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This is an Ultima 6 Project-related article or section. The information within may not apply to Ultima VI or other Ultima games.

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In The Ultima 6 Project, Armageddon is merely listed as Wisp Spell, obscuring its true destructive potential.

Trivia

• As a spell, Armageddon serves no practical purpose in the games that feature it, as further progress is rendered impossible by its casting.
• Armageddon is not listed among the spells in Ultima VI’s accompanying documentation, Compendium.
• In Ultima VI, when the wisps deliver the spell to the Avatar, they also speak of conducting business with one Zog. This business was the last to be conducted with Sosaria for some time, leaving open the possibility that Zog was given Armageddon which wreaked devastation upon the ancient land. However, this contradicts Batlin’s good word that it was never cast.
• When casting Armageddon in Ultima VII, the Ferryman does not respond with situationally appropriate dialogue as Lord British and Batlin do, despite the character's conversation code allowing for it. This is remedied in the fan-made Ultima VII engine, Exult.
• The spell was omitted from the C64-port of Ultima VI.
• In Ultima VIII, the Devastation spell is almost functionally identical to Armageddon, but will also cause the spellcaster's demise.
• In an earlier draft of Ultima IX from Bob White's tenure as lead designer, a casting of Armageddon by Lord British and the Avatar was to have obliterated Britannia itself, destroying the Guardian before he could bind the planet's life force to his own. Citizens would have been spared, however, by taking refuge within a protective barrier established by the runes of Virtue around the perimeter of Skara Brae, before traversing the Ethereal Void upon the island of their salvation and eventually finding themselves extraterrestrial colonists of a "New Britannia".
• In Ultima IX, the Mirror of Darkness shows Armageddon when being used.

See Also

• Armageddon (Ritual)
• Devastation

References

Ultima VI Spells
1st Circle	Create Food ☥ Detect Magic ☥ Detect Trap ☥ Dispel Magic ☥ Douse ☥ Harm ☥ Heal ☥ Help ☥ Ignite ☥ Light
2nd Circle	Infravision ☥ Magic Arrow ☥ Poison ☥ Reappear ☥ Sleep ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Trap ☥ Unlock Magic ☥ Untrap ☥ Vanish
3rd Circle	Curse ☥ Dispel Field ☥ Fireball ☥ Great Light ☥ Magic Lock ☥ Mass Awaken ☥ Mass Sleep ☥ Peer ☥ Protection ☥ Repel Undead
4th Circle	Animate ☥ Conjure ☥ Disable ☥ Fire Field ☥ Great Heal ☥ Locate ☥ Mass Dispel ☥ Poison Field ☥ Sleep Field ☥ Wind Change
5th Circle	Energy Field ☥ Explosion ☥ Insect Swarm ☥ Invisibility ☥ Lightning ☥ Paralyze ☥ Pickpocket ☥ Reveal ☥ Seance ☥ X-Ray
6th Circle	Charm ☥ Clone ☥ Confuse ☥ Flame Wind ☥ Hail Storm ☥ Mass Protect ☥ Negate Magic ☥ Poison Wind ☥ Replicate ☥ Web
7th Circle	Chain Bolt ☥ Enchant ☥ Energy Wind ☥ Fear ☥ Gate Travel ☥ Kill ☥ Mass Curse ☥ Mass Invisibility ☥ Wing Strike ☥ Wizard Eye
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Death Wind ☥ Eclipse ☥ Mass Charm ☥ Mass Kill ☥ Resurrect ☥ Slime ☥ Summon ☥ Time Stop ☥ Tremor

Ultima Underworld Spells
1st Circle	Create Food ☥ Light ☥ Locate ☥ Magic Arrow ☥ Resist Blows ☥ Stealth
2nd Circle	Cause Fear ☥ Detect Monster ☥ Jump ☥ Lesser Heal ☥ Rune of Warding ☥ Slow Fall
3rd Circle	Conceal ☥ Lightning ☥ Night Vision ☥ Speed ☥ Strengthen Door ☥ Water Walk
4th Circle	Heal ☥ Levitate ☥ Poison ☥ Remove Trap ☥ Resist Fire
5th Circle	Cure Poison ☥ Fireball ☥ Missile Protection ☥ Name Enchantment ☥ Open ☥ Smite Undead
6th Circle	Daylight ☥ Gate Travel ☥ Greater Heal ☥ Paralyze ☥ Sheet Lightning ☥ Telekinesis
7th Circle	Ally ☥ Confusion ☥ Fly ☥ Invisibility ☥ Reveal
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Flame Wind ☥ Freeze Time ☥ Iron Flesh ☥ Roaming Sight ☥ Tremor

Ultima VII Spells
Linear	Awaken ☥ Douse ☥ Fireworks ☥ Glimmer ☥ Help ☥ Ignite ☥ Thunder ☥ Weather
1st Circle	Awaken All ☥ Create Food ☥ Cure ☥ Detect Trap ☥ Great Douse ☥ Great Ignite ☥ Light ☥ Locate
2nd Circle	Destroy Trap ☥ Enchant ☥ Fire Blast ☥ Great Light ☥ Mass Cure ☥ Protection ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Wizard Eye
3rd Circle	Curse ☥ Heal ☥ Paralyze ☥ Peer ☥ Poison ☥ Protect All ☥ Sleep ☥ Swarm
4th Circle	Conjure ☥ Lightning ☥ Mark ☥ Mass Curse ☥ Recall ☥ Reveal ☥ Seance ☥ Unlock Magic
5th Circle	Charm ☥ Dance ☥ Dispel Field ☥ Explosion ☥ Fire Field ☥ Great Heal ☥ Invisibility ☥ Mass Sleep
6th Circle	Cause Fear ☥ Clone ☥ Fire Ring ☥ Flame Strike ☥ Magic Storm ☥ Poison Field ☥ Sleep Field ☥ Tremor
7th Circle	Create Gold ☥ Death Bolt ☥ Delayed Blast ☥ Energy Field ☥ Energy Mist ☥ Mass Charm ☥ Mass Might ☥ Restoration
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Death Vortex ☥ Invisibility All ☥ Mass Death ☥ Resurrect ☥ Summon ☥ Swordstrike ☥ Time Stop