Isle of the Avatar

Isle of the Avatar
Location of Ambrosia
Located in:	Britannia
Type:	island
The stone guardians of the Codex

The Isle of the Avatar is a volcanic island in the southeastern seas of Britannia.

Description

Originally called the Isle of the Abyss, this dangerous and desolate land was first discovered in the early Age of Enlightenment, when it became known that the Codex which lay deep within its bowels would be necessary in bringing about the revelation of the Avatar. Home also to a part of the labyrinthine dungeon Hythloth and the daemon-haunted Shrine of Humility, the isle has long stood as a place to test the mettle of aspirant heroes, and has featured prominently throughout the adventures of Britannia's champion.

History

Age of Enlightenment

In its earliest days, the Isle of the Abyss proved crucial in the Stranger's ascension to Avatarhood during Ultima IV. It was here that the questing hero managed to secure the lighter-than-air device necessary to pass over the Serpent's Spine mountains, and on the course of pilgrimage toward enlightenment the Stranger would come to pray within the Shrine that lay on the isle's northern shore – deflecting the unending bands of daemons which dwelt there with the legendary Silver Horn. Its greatest role in the Quest of the Avatar, however, lay in the Abyss, where the hero at long last gazed upon the pages of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom and was initiated into its mysteries.

Shortly after the hero’s return to Earth, the Great Council endeavored to raise the Codex from its resting place within the island's volcanic dungeons, and enshrined it within a stone edifice on the isle's south shores, where it lay guarded by stone sentinels until its eventual transference into the Void at the end of the Gargoyle War. Throughout the quests of both Ultima V and Ultima VI, often returning to the isle which now bore the Avatar's name, the hero gained insights into the ways of the virtue from the holy book of Britannia.

Ten years after the sacrifice of the Codex, the isle found itself home to the peculiar visionary colony of Sir Cabirus, who sought to establish a city which embodied the sum of the virtues in harmony – within the maw of the Great Stygian Abyss itself. In order that this experimental settlement might maintain contact with the Britannian surface, a small keep under the direction of Baron Almric was established near the mouth of the Abyss.

Tragically, this fragile Abyssal Colony fell into ruin and anarchy with Cabirus' death, and Almric ordered the doors of the great dungeon sealed, turning the knight's dream of a utopian society into a wretched penal colony for those who crossed the Baron's will. Eventually, the Avatar would return to the Isle, guided by the ghost of the magician Garamon, and would be rudely forced into the Abyssal ruins, having been falsely accused of the abduction of Almric's young daughter, Arial. Finding that far darker undertakings than the baronetess' kidnapping were at hand, the hero was forced to trigger an eruption of the island's major volcano after rescuing the remaining colonists – destroying the remnants of the failed colony and the baron's castle in the process.

Age of Armageddon

After nearly two centuries of relative peace which the realm of Britannia enjoyed follow the end of hostilities between men and gargoyles, the isle became home to the followers of the malevolent Guardian, who had his followers within the philosophical cult known as the Fellowship build a stronghold within the tunnels of the dungeon Hythloth, where they might someday summon him into their world through a blackrock moongate. It was here at the end of Ultima VII that the Avatar confronted the disciples of the Red Titan, and foiled his plans through the destruction of the Black Gate.

Years later, after weathering the changes wrought by the Imbalance and the Great Cataclysm, the Isle of the Avatar was shrouded in magical mists of the Guardian's devising, leading many to believe that the island had vanished under the weight of the disasters which had wracked the land. In Ultima IX, however, the Avatar nevertheless managed to return there, harnessing the powers of the conquered Pyros to carry them once more into the heart of the Abyss. It was here, that the weary Lord British also had his final confrontation with Blackthorn, atoning for his years of relying on the valor of his champion rather than using his own powers to assist the realm.

Lore

“

This enigma of nature rose from the sea when the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom was brought up from the depths of the Great Stygian Abyss. The great subterranean upheaval that gave it birth left the large island dotted with volcanic craters, steaming fumaroles, and a ready supply of sulfurous ash. Few are brave enough to risk the hazards of this place — even to behold the Codex in the Shrine of the Avatar. – from Compendium (Ultima VI)

“	The Isle of the Avatar was discovered during the Fourth Age (as related in Quest of the Avatar), at the climax of the Avatar's quest. The Stranger from Another World, who came to Britannia in answer to Lord British's summons, completed the Test of the Eight Virtues and became the Avatar — the embodiment of the pure axiom of life. – from Memoirs of Sir Cabirus (Ultima Underworld)

“

While no formal city has ever been built upon the Isle of the Avatar, it is such a place of interest that it is included here in this section. This strange volcanic island—which arose from the tumultuous upheaval of the Great Stygian Abyss—receives numerous visitors on pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Codex. The Shrine is considered to be a national monument of great historical importance to Britannia and as such is under armed guard day and night. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII)

“

Birthed in the fires of righteous crusade, the Isle of the Avatar is the magical monument to the trials of the Champion of Britannia. From the Great Stygian Abyss, this isle erupted when Lord British drew the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom from the depths of the Abyss. Over the rights of the Codex, a long and protracted battle ensued between man and gargoyle. It was resolved that both shall have the right to worship the Codex on the Isle of the Avatar, a testament to the man who found peace between the peoples. Yet, during the Cataclysm, the isle disappeared. In its place on the ocean lingers a veil of fog and renewed bitterness between gargoyle and man. No ready culprit has presented himself, and much needless blood has been split because of it. With the woe afoot in Britannia, some claim that the righteous fires that gave birth to the Isle have faded into embers and taken it and the Codex from the people forever. – from Journal (Ultima IX)

Places of Interest

• The Bay of Pirates
• Dungeon Hythloth
• Shrine of the Codex
• Shrine of Humility
• Stone Guardians
• The Abyss

Trivia

• The positions of the shrines are at times inconsistent.
  • In Ultima IV, a ship passing through a bay from the west can reach a trail leading to the Abyss. The Shrine of Humility is accessed from north.
  • In Ultima V, the Shrine of Humility is still accessed the same way, and the Shrine of Codex is accessed from the southern side of the island.
  • For some reason, the Shrine of the Codex and the Shrine of Humility inverted their positions in Ultima VI (undone in Ultima VII).
  • On the map shown in Ultima Underworld, the Shrine of Humility can be accessed by walking southwards from the bay (same error as in Ultima VI).
  • On the Ultima VII map, the bay is not connected to the sea anymore (though it is in the game). The Shrine of Humility is accessed from the north, and the Shrine of Codex from south, as they should be.
  • In Ultima IX, the southern half of the isle is gone. The shrine of the Codex is now found on the northern side, while the Shrine of Humility is gone entirely.
• While in Ultima IX, the people of Britannia are meant to believe the Isle of the Avatar has sunk, it still appears on the World Map which creates some confusion.

References

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Geography