Balayna
| Balayna | |||||
 Balayna, from Ultima VII | |||||
| Species: | human | ||||
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Balayna is an administration clerk for the Fellowship branch in Moonglow. She appears in Ultima VII.
Description[edit]
A serious devotee of the Fellowship's tenants, Balayna wholly believed in the validity of the Triad of Inner Strength. Should the Avatar ask her to explain her philosophy she would do so plainly and in her words, without reciting the rote speech that most Fellowship members gave, and even would go so far as to point out that principles such as "Worthiness preceding Reward" ought not be used to blame people for their own misfortunes. Having only come to Moonglow a few months prior, the new clerk seemed optimistic about the town as a source for new recruits, citing the strong moral character of the citizenry.[1]
If asked about her superior, Rankin, Balayna would cautiously reveal that she had doubts about the branch leader, and shared that she had overheard the man telling the newly initiated Tolemac that the Fellowship was a means to wealth and power for those who ascended its ranks, and that the majority of lay-people involved in it were being taken advantage of. She implied, hopefully, that the Avatar might take news of such deficits in Rankin's character to the Fellowship's headquarters in Britain, should the hero's travels go in that direction.[2]
Should the Avatar relay Balayna's concerns to Rankin, the man would react with surprise and would ask the hero to speak with him later, out of his clerk's earshot. Once alone, Rankin would do his best to assure the hero that Balayna was mistaken, and promised to personally speak with the woman to lay to rest her apprehensions. As a friendly gesture, he asked the Avatar to deliver to her an exotic liqueur, which he had purportedly purchased from the traveling merchant, Addom.[3]
If given the liqueur, the volatile vapors which emanated from the concoction would poison and kill Balayna in a matter of minutes after it was opened. Rankin would then go on to feign ignorance with regards to his "gift" and would insinuate that Addom was responsible for the poisoning, charging the Avatar with the investigation of the matter while he looked to preparations for the woman's funeral.[4][5]
Lore[edit]
| “ | Of course, Balayna — she is his clerk — is not quite so fond of him. At every meeting she takes careful notes during the sermon, but I get the feeling she is observing more than his words. – from Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VII)
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Trivia[edit]
- Should the Avatar refuse to deliver the liqueur to Balayna, Rankin will take action and kill her himself, hiding the body. If asked about his clerk's whereabouts, he will claim ignorance, although under the power of the Cube, he will admit that the woman has "conveniently stopped breathing."[6]
- In Anton's Key to the Black Gate, Phearcy mentions having observed Balayna taking careful notes on Rankin's behavior at Fellowship meetings, and appears to suspect that she is looking for signs of dissent.[7]
- In the SNES-port of Ultima VII, Balayana's accusations regarding Rafkin the branch leader, causes him only to dismiss her as a liar, rather than causing him to plot her untimely death. In addition to this, the vigilant clerk appears to have gossiped about the matter to Phearcy (a woman in this version of the game).[8][9]
References[edit]
- ↑ Balayna. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "citizens, clerk, Fellowship, good, job, Moonglow, principles, strive, Triad, Trust, Worthiness".
- ↑ Balayna. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "Rankin".
- ↑ Rankin. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "Balayna's accusation".
- ↑ Balayna. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "liqueur".
- ↑ Rankin. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "don't know, liqueur, she died".
- ↑ Rankin. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "Balayna, where".
- ↑ Morris, Andrew P.. Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VII). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1992. Pages 14.
- ↑ Rankin. Ultima VII SNES transcript. Ultima VII. "Balayna, lies".
- ↑ Phearcy. Ultima VII SNES transcript. Ultima VII. "Rankin".