Hydra Brothers
| Hydra Brothers | |||||
 Hydra Brothers, from Ultima VII | |||||
| Species: | hydra | ||||
| Appearances | |||||
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The Hydra Brothers are a three-headed beast which guards the Caddellite meteorite on Ambrosia. While being in possession of a singular body, the monster's three heads each bears a distinct personality and will talk amongst themselves, referring to one another as "brother." They each bear a name: Shandu, Shanda and Shando.
Description[edit]
The Avatar met the hydra within the caverns of the lost island of Ambrosia, where the creature lay asleep. Upon approaching it, Shandu would wake and rouse his brothers. Shando, the "eldest" of the three by virtue of having first emerged from the womb, would immediately begin to muse on how the hero might suit his palate, whilst Shanda, being either unwilling or incapable of using human speech would merely growl. Throughout the brief conversation which the Avatar enjoyed with the brothers, Shandu would regularly take the lead, answering the hero's questions whilst Shando laughed at the hero's seeming lack of intelligence and wondered loudly as to the Avatar's flavor. The mute Shanda would often express his displeasure at the Avatar's words through grunts and roars – relying on his brethren to translate when necessary.[1]
Eventually, Shandu would reveal the siblings' purpose in protecting the mystic Caddellite from the occasional adventurer who sought to steal it, and the beasts' hunger would grow increasingly dangerous. When the Avatar intention to acquire the stone had been revealed, the hydra would dispense with further talk and attack the hero, eventually meeting its end in the ensuing battle.[2]
Lore[edit]
| “ | My one trip there, however, was spent persuading the three-headed hydra not to eat me, so thou wilt forgive me if have no useful stories to tell about the island. – from Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VII)
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Trivia[edit]
- Inspecting the body of the hydra will reveal that it had recently eaten both a troll and a headless.
- Trying to talk to the hydra after enraging them will cause them to state that the time for pleasantries is over.
Gallery[edit]
Discussion between the heads
Their most recent meal
References[edit]
- ↑ Hydra Brothers. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "name, Shanda, Shando, Shandu, What did he say?".
- ↑ Hydra Brothers. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "Caddellite, guarding, job, protect, steal".