Dorstag

Dorstag
Dorstag, from Ultima Underworld II
Species:	human
Appearances
Ultima Underworld II Location: Pits of Carnage

Dorstag is a warrior of great renown in the Pits of Carnage. He appears in Ultima Underworld II.

Description

According to Dorstag, he had run afoul of an unnamed duke, and had been dragged to the Pits of Carnage by a company of ten men who had ambushed him as he lay sleeping. In time, his great prowess with his crossbow, Patarac, earned him a place of prestige in the cutthroat world of the pits, and at the time of the Avatar’s arrival in the underground penal colony, he had managed to set himself up as the local warlord.

The Avatar would soon come to learn that Dorstag had gained possession of the world's blackrock gem, having killed the fighter who found it and taken it as a token of luck. Knowing it had to be obtained to break the Guardian’s ensorcellment of Castle Britannia, the hero would be faced with the task of wresting it from Dorstag's possession: a quest which could be accomplished in a myriad of ways.

Should the Avatar be martially skilled enough to face Dorstag in combat, he could be challenged to a duel once the hero gained enough credibility as an arena fighter. (Such as slaying Dorstag's nearest rival, Zaria, for instance.) Alternatively, the hero could seek out the aid of the troll, Blog, who had previously wounded Dorstag when the fighter led a exploratory party into the lower pits. After gaining Blog's friendship, the Avatar would be able to call upon his aid to bully Dorstag into surrendering the gem without a fight.

A truly bold Avatar could even seek to seize the gem publicly, after learning of Dorstag's hidden vault from the mage, Zogith. Doing so, however, would arouse not only Dorstag's ire but that of his numerous retainers and bodyguards, resulting in a much more difficult melee than the hero would face against Dorstag in the arenas.

Lore

“

Dorstag is the toughest warrior in the Pits, and he has gained enough prestige among the prisoners to have made himself something of an untouchable. He lives in a suite of rooms in the northwest corner of the prison, surrounded by bodyguards and flatterers. To the north of his personal chamber is his secret treasure room, where he keeps, among other things, an enchanted cudgel of Entry, with which he can batter down even a securely locked door. One time, Dorstag took a troop of warriors down to the lower dungeons, but a great troll slew all of his men and left Dorstag himself with a permanent scar. Another note: Dorstag has recently discovered a strange gem, which he guards jealously. – from Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II)

Trivia

• If the Avatar hasn't won any arena battles since arriving in the pits, Dorstag will refuse any parlay.
• The Avatar may trick Dorstag into giving up his preferred choice of arena by drawing attention to the prominent scar Blog left on his cheek. Mentioning it at a point when Dorstag is willing to accept a challenge from the hero will result in him losing his temper and issuing a challenge himself.
• A leather cap of Missile Protection may be found in the lowest levels of the Pits of Carnage (in the lair of a dire reaper). Equipping it can make combat against Dorstag much less difficult, as it nullifies his ranged attacks.