Empath Abbey

Empath Abbey
Location of Empath Abbey
Located in:	Britannia
Type:	keep
Inside the monastery of Empath Abbey

Empath Abbey is situated on the northwestern coast of the Britannian mainland, nestled between the open sea and the Deep Forest and not far from city of Yew.

Description

Standing since the early Age of Enlightenment as a bastion of the Principle of Love, the Abbey has long been home to the monastic order known as the Brotherhood of the Rose, renowned not only for their dedication to Love's mysteries but also for their expertise in wine-making. For centuries, these monks have tended to the Flame of Love and offered instruction to pilgrims and spiritual seekers. With the ongoing dissolution of Yew into the forest itself, the Abbey took on additional administrative responsibilities.

Eventually, however, Empath Abbey fell prey to the ravages of the Great Cataclysm, with the brothers who once inhabited its environs relocating their order to the Cathedral of Love in distant Britain.

History

Age of Enlightenment

Empath Abbey was built around the time of Britannia's founding after the death of Exodus, in concert with the young Lord British's establishment of the Eight Virtues and their guiding Principles. Ruled over in its earlier days by Lord Robert and his lady, Marcy, the original Abbey appeared to have been built as a fortified castle, and was host to a company of guards and numerous defenses against the possibility of war. Within this well-guarded keep, travelers sought knowledge of Love's nature within a sacred grove of oak, and the aspirant Stranger, while on the quest toward Avatarhood, came to seek knowledge of such matters as the Candle of Love and the tripartite Word of Passage.

Later, during the tyranny of Blackthorn's regime, Empath Abbey stood alongside the Lycaeum and Serpent's Hold as one of the bulwarks of resistance to the Oppression, with the now enshrined Flame of Love keeping the ever-present threat of the Shadowlords at bay. Now under the administration of Lord Michael, the Abbey offered sanctuary to Julia, a prior companion to the Avatar who now lived as an outlaw under Blackthorn's rule. It was here that the Avatar eventually vanquished Astaroth, casting the Shard of Hatred from which it was spawned into the eternal fires of Love.

In the years following Lord British's return to power, the Abbey changed slowly to better conform to the needs of the Brotherhood of the Rose, with many of the old fortifications giving way to vineyards and a small cemetery. By the time of the Gargoyle War, the area had become populated with craftsmen, and had nothing by the way of a centralized leader to oversee its affairs.

Age of Armageddon

As the centuries passed, the Abbey slowly melded with nearby City of Justice, becoming the central building in a hodge-podge of scattered forest homes by the time of Ultima VII. With Yew no longer functioning as an administrated town, the Abbey came to officially control the High Court and its adjoining prison. Despite this changing landscape and shift in bureaucratic function, however, the day-to-day operations of the Abbey changed little in this span, with the monks still tending to their winery as and meditations. The graveyard nearby expanded but slightly to house the newer generations of the dead.

Years later, when the Guardian established his eight columns upon the surface of Britannia, Empath Abbey was destroyed in the upheaval, with the monks therein fleeing and reestablishing their brotherhood in the Cathedral of Love in Britain. Only one monk, Brock, remained in the desolate wreckage of what had once been the Castle of Love, guarding the secrets of the Candle of Love, which had been housed in the Abbey during its later years. Seeking this artifact so as to revive the torpid Shamino, the Avatar sought out the ruined Abbey and faced the test of its mystic flame, once having been proved as a pure and worthy protector of the sacred relic.

Lore

“

Nearby is the spiritual centre of Britannia, the famous Empath Abbey. Within these hallowed walls, wise men and women study the ancient writings of past Masters, and meditate upon the Great Principles that govern the universe. A good meditation, focusing on a proper Mantra, will sometimes yield valuable visions to those whose patience and powers of concentration are strong. The experience is worth sampling. – from The History of Britannia (Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar)

“	Nestled quietly against the sheltering trees of the Deep Forest, just southwest of Yew, this cloister of Love lies open to all of good heart. Here, by the shores of the calming sea, the sisters and brothers of Empath Abbey retreat to meditate, growing ever nearer to understanding and answers that will benefit us all. – from The Book of Lore (Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny)

“

Home to the Brotherhood of the Rose, Empath Abbey serves as a retreat for those engaged in contemplation and reflection. Flanked by the oaks of the Deep Forest on one side and by the sea on the other, the Abbey sits as a lighthouse of peace in the northwestern region of Britannia, near the town of Yew. Well schooled in the vintner's craft, the brothers and sisters of the Abbey produce some of the land's finest wines, thus assuring their financial security and sustaining their monastic lifestyle. – from Compendium (Ultima VI: The False Prophet)

“	Here's one of the places that make it a pleasure indeed to live in Britannia. The monks make fine wines there, and also keep bees to supply honey for making mead. Truly, these monks are guided by divine spirits. (And I know divine spirits when I taste them!) The Flame of Love is kept here as well. – from The Book of Prophecy (Ultima VI)

“	Their only remaining link with outside civilization is Empath Abbey. The Abbey has assumed responsibility for the court of Yew as well as its prison. Many travellers to Empath Abbey come to visit the graves of loved ones at the nearby graveyard. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII: The Black Gate)

“	Naturally, the best reason to visit this part of the Deep Forest is to sample our fine wine. As thou must undoubtedly know, the monks here at Empath Abbey have been fermenting the fruit of our vineyards for centuries. Well, we have not been making wine that long, but members of the Brotherhood of the Rose have been. – from Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VII: The Black Gate)

Inhabitants

Ultima IV

Map of Empath Abbey in Ultima IV

• Benjamin: solemn bard
• Brother Antos: wise druid
• Chinup: greeter
• Deirdre: druid
• Derek the Bard: bard
• Diane: counselor
• Humlock: beggar
• Lady Marcy: Lady of Empath Abbey
• Lastro: solemn ranger
• Life: ankh
• Lord Robert: Lord of Empath Abbey
• Malchor: paladin
• Suzanna: lady in waiting (renamed Marina in the NES remake)
• Thomas: hearty tinker
• Nameless gate guard
• Nameless pass guard

Shopkeeper:

• Sallé: proprietor of The Love Healer

Ultima V

Empath Abbey levels 1, 2, and 3 in Ultima V

• Barbra: keeper of the flame
• Cory: cook
• Hardluck: jester
• Jessip: healer at The Empath
• Julia: Companion of the Avatar
• Lord Michael: lord of the keep
• Tim: bard
• Toshi: fighter (can join)

Ultima V: Lazarus

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This is an Ultima V: Lazarus-related article or section. The information within may not apply to Ultima V or other Ultima games.

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• Sarth: monk

Empath Abbey – Ultima V: Lazarus map

• Khenton: trapper

Ultima VI

Map of Empath Abbey in Ultima VI

• Eckhart: vinekeeper
• Faren: wine seller
• Glen: mortician
• Mole: grave digger
• Sionnach: bard
• Stephanie: healer
• Sylaina: seamstress
• Zeke: beekeeper

Empath Abbey – Ultima 6 Project map

Ultima VII

• Aimi: female monk
• Kreg: a criminal
• Perrin: scholar
• Reyna: healer
• Taylor: monk
• Tiery: undertaker

Ultima IX

• Brock: monk

Services

Ultima IV

• The Love Healer: healer

Ultima V

• The Empath: healer

Places of Interest

• Graveyard
• Knight's Bridge Field
• Oak Grove (Ultima IV only)

Trivia

• In Ultima V, there is a magical wishing well in the abbey which will magically manifest horses for those requesting them.
• Empath Abbey appears in Yoko Tanaka's manga re-telling of Ultima IV, where it appears as a classical monastery, rather than the fortress depicted in the original game. Here, the protagonist Deane, consults Brother Antos, looking for information about his lost brother Shiva.
• During Runes of Virtue II, Empath Abbey lay deserted, after a liche took up residence in the basement. The hero could slay the liche, freeing the keep from its evil embrace.
• Empath Abbey holds one of the worst geographical inaccuracies in Ultima IX. The ruins of the abbey are found far to the east – roughly where dungeon Wrong used to be – instead of its traditional site at the northwestern shores of Britannia.

Gallery

• 

  Empath Abbey art from Mysterious Sosaria

• 

  Empath Abbey in the manga

• 

  Ruins of Empath Abbey in Ultima IX

References

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Geography