Inn
Inns are a source of pride for several Britannian townes and villages – providing a place for travelers to spend the night in peace.
Description[edit]
Inns provide safe, restful accommodations where travellers can retreat after a long, hard day, away from the dangers of the wilderness and the trouble of possible thieves and bandits that could prey onto a campsite. Many inns even offer fine dining facilities on-site, most actually being a combination of inn and tavern. Prices will vary from place to place, but even the most inexpensive inn is a welcome home away from home for the weary adventurer. They are comfortable and reasonable and usually provide a good, healing night's rest.
The Wayfarer's Inn in Britain is the most famous of inns in all of Britannia, having held a high standard and good reputation throughout the centuries, while the inn of the island of New Magincia holds a rustic charm that no other can reach.
History[edit]
Age of Enlightenment[edit]
Inns first appeared in Ultima IV, where each inn had a different number of beds and thus different healing percentage during the night. However, during that time it still was possible to be surprised by bandits during the night – an inn was not completely safe. By Ultima V inns introduced the ability to drop off party members and pick them up later. Also, some inns by that time had expanded into offering tavern services under the same roof, a trend that was reversed by Ultima VI.
Inns and taverns were again strictly separated by Ultima VI, each exercising their individual business models, although this would change in coming times.
Age of Armageddon[edit]
Perhaps due to economic pressure in the Age of Armageddon, by the time of Ultima VII, next to all inns had merged with taverns, leaving only the inns in Britain and Cove stand-alone businesses. Thus they offered food, drink and room all under one roof and the price for a room was now fixed instead of being calculated by the number of persons in a party.
By Ultima IX, intercity travel had dwindled to next to nothing due to the Great Cataclysm that most inns had gone out of business except for one tavern/inn in the city of Trinsic.
Other Worlds[edit]
On the Serpent Isle, each of the three cities had their own inn, with the one in Monitor being the only pure inn, following the same rules as Britannian inns at the time. The most famous however is the Inn of the Sleeping Bull.
Lore[edit]
| “ | The numerous inns of Britannia provide the tired travelers with a comfortable night’s sleep, which refreshes and revitalizes each character. The character of the inns throughout Britannia varies, as does the price. – from The History of Britannia (Ultima IV)
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| “ | Inns are a source of pride for several Britannian townes and villages. They are comfortable and reasonable and usually provide a good, healing night’s rest. The inn in the island city of Skara Brae even boasts a magnificent view. Most inns also provide for long stays. If a party member has a long-term need for lodging, the party can rent a room by the month and pick up the friend at a later date. – from The Book of Lore (Ultima V)
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| “ | Inns provide safe, restful accommodations where travelers can retreat after a long, hard day. Many inns even offer fine dining facilities on-site. Prices will vary from place to place, but even the most inexpensive inn is a welcome home away from home for the weary adventurer. – from Compendium (Ultima VI)
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| “ | The inns of Britannia provide the traveller with safety and a place to rest. Camping in the wilderness is always a risky proposition and the danger to one’s health is great, especially in time of inclement weather. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII)
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| “ | As icy temperatures have claimed more than one traveller’s life, especially during extremely cold evenings, several individuals have chosen to offer houses of safety and comfort for those on the road. The price is sometimes expensive, but to those making long journeys, it is often worth the charge. The Inn of the Sleeping Bull, located along the ancient Serpent Highway, is an excellent place to rest a weary body for the night. It once belonged to an enemy of mine, but he is long dead now, and the inn has passed on to more hospitable hands. |
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Notable Examples[edit]
- Britannia Manor is an inn in Britain which, during Ultima IV, is run by Jason. This is also the name of Richard Garriott's mansion.
- The Inn of the Sleeping Bull is the oldest establishment of New Sosaria.
- The Haunting Inn is an inn in Skara Brae which, during Ultima V, was run by Rogi. Later in Ultima VI, the inn was run by Gideon and his wife Marta, and it was famous for its fine wine and its real ghost.
- The Wayfarer's Inn is one of Britannia's oldest places of lodging, having been present in Britain since the time of Ultima V until its eventual disappearance following Ultima VII.
Gallery[edit]
The Haunting Inn in Ultima VI.
The Wayfarer's Inn in Ultima VII.
| Shops | |
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| Shops | Apothecary ☥ Armoury ☥ Bakery ☥ Clothier ☥ Fletchers and bowyers ☥ Grocery Healer ☥ Inn ☥ Jeweler ☥ Provisioner ☥ Shipwright ☥ Stables ☥ Tavern ☥ Trainer |
| Shops of Old | Armour shop ☥ Magic shop ☥ Oracle ☥ Weapon shop |