Courage
| Courage | |
|---|---|
| |
| Colour: | red |
| Keep: | Serpent's Hold |
| Item: | Bell of Courage |
| Syllable: | Cor |
| Antithesis: | Cowardice |
| Opposing Shadowlord: |
Nosfentor |
| Virtues: | Valor Sacrifice Honor Spirituality |
Courage is one of the Three Principles of the Eight Virtues of Britannia.
Description[edit]
The principle of Courage is most important to survive in a hostile environment and to do the task, even if it is difficult.
Courage is the foundation for the virtues of Valor, Sacrifice, Honor and Spirituality. By itself, Courage is the only principle leading to the virtue of Valor. The opposite of Courage is Cowardice, embodied by the Shadowlord Nosfentor.
The symbols of Courage are the Bell of Courage, which was brought by the Avatar to Serpent's Hold, the Fortress of Courage on the Isle of Deeds, after Ultima IV, and the eternal Flame of Courage, located in the very same fortress.
The shrine of Courage with the corresponding test is situated on the Isle of Fire. The test involves much combat, but the main goal is to create a weapon that can destroy an otherwise invincible dragon. The shrine itself disappeared before Ultima IV, when the Isle of Fire sank into the seas, so it wasn't used in the quest for Avatarhood. However, the Avatar gained access to the shrine when the Isle of Fire reappeared during Ultima VII, passing the test well over 200 years after the original quest.
Courage on Serpent Isle[edit]
While the knights and pikemen of Monitor on first sight seem to follow the principle of Courage, it soon becomes clear that Courage has become an empty word after all the passing years. Fighting for its own sake, arrogant ideas of superiority and numerous internal infighting have eaten away the meaning of Courage, leaving an empty shell. That their group left Britannia because it could not accept other principles beside Courage speaks for a disregard for anything outside of pure strength.
The Avatar could witness a demonstration of this impoverished Courage when visiting the city, especially since forced Courage – become a knight at age 15 or get banished from the city – disregarded how true Courage had to come from one’s nature. Additionally, they also embody Apathy (an Ophidian anti-force of Order), due to concentrating on internal struggles and doing little against the Goblin menace.
The Helm of Courage is the symbol of this principle on Serpent Isle, which was given as a trophy to the reigning Knight Champion.
Lore[edit]
| “ | The great castles of learning were established to study the principles of Truth, Love, and Courage. – from Book of Lore (Ultima V)
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| “ | The Eight Virtues may be summarized in the form of three great Principles: Truth, Love and Courage |
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Trivia[edit]
- In The History of Britannia, Courage is more specified with the restrictions put onto it by the Code of Chivalry, and how it is not Courage to slay everything that walks, swims and flies. This also was a subtle indication that creatures are divided into “evil” and “non-evil” in Ultima IV.
- In Ultima IV to gain one third of the Key of Three Parts, the Stranger has to visit the Altar of Courage and use the red, orange, purple and white stones to gain that part of the key.
Gallery[edit]
The Shrine of Courage
| The Eight Virtues | |
|---|---|
| Principles | Truth ☥ Love ☥ Courage |
| Virtues | Honesty ☥ Compassion ☥ Valor ☥ Justice ☥ Sacrifice ☥ Honor ☥ Spirituality ☥ Humility |