Colored realms
The colored realms are a moongate-linked maze within the Ethereal Void encountered in Ultima Underworld II.
Description[edit]
The presence of this domain in Ultima Underworld II was somewhat inexplicable, having sprung up around the Shrine of Spirituality where before there only had been void. It's also implied they had always existed and seemed to shift their position in the Void at times. The area is a common haunt of the minds of people while dreaming, allowing them to explore this segment of the Void as dream manifestations - though most either forget about it when waking up or believe it to be a mere dream. The realms consist of a central hub of colored platforms and walkways surrounding the Shrine of Spirituality. From there, moongates allow transportation to four zones, each of those areas associated with a color.
- The red zone is filled with daemons and lava, as well as random fireballs. It proves to be the most dangerous of the four areas.
- The yellow zone is a massive labyrinth with can be solved by walking on the tops of the walls to reach the exit.
- The blue zone is relatively peaceful, apart from some monsters, but demands some acrobatic skills.
- The purple zone is the most enigmatic zone, featuring things such as a gate in the form of the Guardian.
Also located in these planes is a colored pyramid and the Sigil of Binding.
History[edit]
In Ultima Underworld II, eating a dream herb and then sleeping would induce a dream vision of the Shrine of Spirituality to the Avatar, yet while the dream could be manipulated, nothing material could be taken from it. The Avatar also heard of the variety of zones from the words of the madman Mokpo, who had lost lost his grip on reality after visiting the realms in his dreams. The Avatar finally travelled there physically - even as others found there persisted in a state of dreaming - through the blackrock jewel, in order to destroy the Guardian's place of power and find a blackrock gem, all the while overcoming dangerous gazers, daemons and brain creatures. After mastering all four colored zones, the hero reached the shrine.
Inhabitants[edit]
Actually there:
- Prinx - blue zone
- Imp (unnamed) - the shrine
- Xorinite wisp - blue zone
Dreamers:
- A. I. Crunchowicz - purple zone
- Blog - purple zone
- Borne
- Iolo - the hub
- Mokpo - the hub
- Mystell - yellow zone
- Rawstag - red treasure chamber
Lore[edit]
| “ | I do not know why the Void looks the way it does, how it came about or what determines its structure. There are many who appear here, and disappear just as suddenly — they claim to be dreaming, and that all they see about them is unreal. And yet, they seem to me to be the unreal ones, as their existence rarely lasts more than an hour - perhaps they are merely random, temporary coagulations of the ether that surrounds us. I know not. |
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Trivia[edit]
- The labyrinth in the purple zone is an homage to the early entries in the series where dungeons are displayed with vector lines (such as in Akalabeth), complete with primitively drawn enemies (here called "stickmen"). That area also holds a secret in the form of the Axe of Life Stealing.
Gallery[edit]
The hub of the realms
The red zone
The yellow zone
The blue zone
The purple zone
A gate shaped like the Guardian
The bizarre labyrinth
