The Book of Circles
The Book of Circles is a holy book of the Gargoyles that appears in Ultima VI and Ultima VII.
Description[edit]
The Book of Circles is one of the three holy books of the Gargoyles (the others being the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom and The Book of Prophecies). The book contains information on the Virtues of the Gargoyles and how the work together. This also shows the similarities and differences to the beliefs of Britannia.
The book was found in the Shrine of Singularity in Ultima VI, but played no further role in the quest, apart from understanding this race and its motivations better. In Ultima VII, a translated edition, created by the scholar Jillian, could be found in the library of the Lycaeum, while the original book was not encountered.
Gargoyle Virtues[edit]
All begins with the three principles: Control, Passion and Diligence.
From Control springs Direction. From Passion springs Feeling. From Diligence springs Persistence. But these three virtues are no more important than the other five: Control combines with Passion to give Balance. Passion combines with Diligence to yield Achievement. And Diligence joins with Control to provide Precision. The absence of Control, Passion and Diligence is Chaos. Thus the absence of the principles points toward the seventh virtue, Order.
The three principles unify to form Singularity. This is the eighth virtue, but it is also the first, because within Singularity can be found all the principles, and thus all the virtues. A circle has no end. It continues forever, with all parts equally important in the success of the whole. Our society is the same. It too continues forever, with all members (and all virtues) equal parts of the unified whole.
Trivia[edit]
- On the cover of The Book of Circles three interlocking circles of blue, green and gold can be seen.