Astronomical alignment
The astronomical alignment is a rare event in which all major bodies of the Britannian planetary system, including Britannia itself and its two moons, Trammel and Felucca, are positioned in one straight line to their sun. One such alignment takes place during the conclusion of Ultima VII.
Description[edit]
The astronomical alignment occurs once every eight hundred years (presumably on the first of a Britannian month, which invariably coincides with a double new moon) and is said to be an event of great mystical significance, weakening the borders between planes of existence and allowing for great acts of magic to transpire. In 361, the year of the Avatar's first quest against the Guardian, an impending alignment was to activate the functionality of the red titan's intended gateway to Britannia, the Black Gate, which would become operable at the exact moment the planets aligned.[1][2]
The Avatar was first made aware of this conjunction by the administrator of Moonglow's observatory, Brion, who could provide the hero with a magical device permitting observation from afar of the facility's orrery, a large clockwork model of each planet's current position in the heavens. Having been informed by the Time Lord of the Guardian's machinations concerning the astronomical alignment, the Avatar was able to thwart the scheme by exploiting a malfunctional transmutation wand to shatter the blackrock used in the Black Gate's construction, thereby subverting the malevolent entity's incursion upon Britannia the very instant he was attempting to gain entry.
Lore[edit]
| “ | There was once a time when much consideration was given to the phases of the moon and the movements of the heavens. There was much concern over an event, the reoccurrence of which is eminent [sic], called the "astronomical alignment." It was said that the astronomical alignment would create a gateway between this world and another. In recent times the astronomical alignment has been all but forgotten. With the end of the time of magic, it is doubtful that such an event will have any significance to anyone but astronomers. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII)
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Trivia[edit]
- As Ultima VII's plot progression is event-driven, the orrery's model planets only change position each time one of the Guardian's blackrock generators is destroyed. Similarly, it is never possible to witness the models in perfect alignment, as the Guardian's entry, and therefore the planetary conjunction with which it coincides, does not begin until the player finishes the game either by using the transmutation wand on the Black Gate or walking through it.
Gallery[edit]
The alignment as seen in the Super Nintendo port of Ultima VII
