Light

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This article is about a spell. For other uses, see Light (disambiguation).

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Light
Ultima IX Incantation: In Lor Reagents: SA Circle: 1st Ultima VII Part Two Incantation: In Lor Reagents: SA Circle: 1st Ultima Underworld II Incantation: In Lor Circle: 1st Ultima VII (SNES) Name: Illumination Circle: 2nd Mana: 2 Ultima VII Incantation: In Lor Reagents: SA Circle: 1st Ultima Underworld Incantation: In Lor Circle: 1st Ultima VI Incantation: In Lor Reagents: SA Circle: 1st Ultima V Name: In Lor Reagents: SA Circle: 1st Ultima IV Reagents: SA Mana: 5 The Forge of Virtue Incantation: In Lor Reagents: SA Circle: 1st The Temper of Wisdom Incantation: In Lor Reagents: SA Circle: 1st

Light provides illumination similar to torches or certain potions.

Spell Description

Darkness can often severely imperil an adventurer. If it is night, or the party is deep inside a dungeon, they will be essentially blind and unable to perceive any dangers nearby.

Light lasts longer than the Glimmer spell but less than the Great Light spell. White potions fulfill the same purpose as the spell, but less effectively, acting more like the Glimmer spell.

History

Magical light spells were already available at the earliest Age of Darkness and were further developed into said age with the spells Lorum and Luminae and stronger light spells. After the founding of Britannia, it took until Ultima V in the Age of Enlightenment before light spells of varying intensity were again developed. By Ultima IX, this spell would create a small, orange-glowing sphere hovering above the caster and shedding light into the surroundings. The sphere would continue to leech on the mage's mana until either it was all used up, or the sphere was dismissed with another casting of the spell or other inhibitions on the magic.

Daylight is a stronger version of this spell, illuminating a greater area.

Lore

“

The enchantment of Light is a trivial one, often the very first spell acquired by the budding sorcerer. It requires but a pinch of Sulphurous Ash, which is applied to the end of a staff and gently blown upon until it begins to glow with a soft yellow light. The spellcaster must concentrate briefly on the image of a candle and expend a slight amount of energy to start the magical glow. From then on it will burn softly until the reagent is consumed, lighting the underground passages where the thaumaturge treads. There are two principal advantages to the use of Light spells in place of ordinary torches. They are unaffected by all but magical winds or breezes; and they do not smoke and cause one’s eyes to smart. Many a warrior has suffered grievously because his eyes were shut by the sting of a wealth of tears. – from The Book of Mystic Wisdom (Ultima IV)

“

This simple spell creates a pool of light. Although a short duration, In Lor creates a brighter light than the best of torches. Note, however, that In Lor cannot be used in place of real flame to enhance the mixing of reagents for spells, for its properties are quite different. In Lor’s sole ingredient is sulphurous ash powder. Place the powder upon the object intended as the light source; rub it rhythmically while chanting “In Lor.” Almost instantly, the object will blaze with white light. – from The Book of Lore (Ultima V)

“	Illuminates a darkened area. – from Compendium (Ultima VI)

“	Illuminates a darkened area. – from Player’s Guide (Ultima Underworld)

“	This spell is a more potent version of the Linear spell Glimmer. It creates a source of light that will illuminate a darkened area. This light source can travel with the party and lasts for a significant amount of time. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII)

“	This spell provides illumination. – from Player’s Guide (Ultima Underworld II)

“	This spell brings into being a mobile source of light that lasts for half an hour. – from Beyond the Serpent Pillars (Ultima VII Part Two)

“

Should Grimwar ever find the means to cast Light, many a sleepy night of mine would henceforth be disturbed. The Light spell summons an orb of light that follows a mage’s movements. Its range is limited, yet it can be of great use in darkened catacombs. Some toothy nuisances prefer the dark and may choose to avoid the caster until the spell is dispelled or mana has run dry. – from Spellbook (Ultima IX)

Trivia

• Despite the promise in The Book of Mystic Wisdom that “magic winds” will not affect the Light spell, so-called “strange winds” will extinguish the spell as easily as the do torches.
• In Lynn Abbey's Ultima Saga, In Lor can be used to create magical glyphs which float in the air near the mage. The casting of these glyphs requires additional gestures on the part of the magician, and seems to shorten the duration of the Light spell. Annon and Balthan use these glyphs to try to counter Jordan's magical blindness.
• Light spells in Ultima VII and Ultima VII Part Two differ from all other light sources in the games by using the palette 6, which results in much nicer colors without a red tint. This mechanic for some reason was broken in Exult right from the start, where the spells instead used the palettes 11 and 12 like all other light sources. This was finally fixed in 2020.

Gallery

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  Casting Light in Ultima VI

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  Casting Light in Ultima VII

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  Light scroll found in Ultima VII Part Two

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  A light-sphere in Ultima IX

See Also

• Glimmer
• Great Light
• Infravision
• Daylight
• Light (concept) game mechanic

References

Ultima V Spells
1st Circle	An Nox ☥ An Ylem ☥ An Zu ☥ Grav Por ☥ In Lor ☥ Mani
2nd Circle	An Sanct ☥ An Xen Corp ☥ In Wis ☥ In Xen Mani ☥ Kal Xen ☥ Rel Hur
3rd Circle	In Flam Grav ☥ In Nox Grav ☥ In Por ☥ In Zu Grav ☥ Vas Flam ☥ Vas Lor
4th Circle	An Grav ☥ Des Por ☥ In Sanct ☥ In Sanct Grav ☥ Uus Por ☥ Wis Quas
5th Circle	An Ex Por ☥ In Bet Xen ☥ In Ex Por ☥ In Zu ☥ Rel Tym ☥ Vas Mani
6th Circle	An Xen Ex ☥ In An ☥ In Vas Por Ylem ☥ Quas An Wis ☥ Rel Xen Bet ☥ Wis An Ylem
7th Circle	In Nox Hur ☥ In Quas Corp ☥ In Quas Wis ☥ In Quas Xen ☥ Sanct Lor ☥ Xen Corp
8th Circle	An Tym ☥ In Flam Hur ☥ In Mani Corp ☥ In Vas Grav Corp ☥ Kal Xen Corp ☥ Vas Rel Por

Ultima VI Spells
1st Circle	Create Food ☥ Detect Magic ☥ Detect Trap ☥ Dispel Magic ☥ Douse ☥ Harm ☥ Heal ☥ Help ☥ Ignite ☥ Light
2nd Circle	Infravision ☥ Magic Arrow ☥ Poison ☥ Reappear ☥ Sleep ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Trap ☥ Unlock Magic ☥ Untrap ☥ Vanish
3rd Circle	Curse ☥ Dispel Field ☥ Fireball ☥ Great Light ☥ Magic Lock ☥ Mass Awaken ☥ Mass Sleep ☥ Peer ☥ Protection ☥ Repel Undead
4th Circle	Animate ☥ Conjure ☥ Disable ☥ Fire Field ☥ Great Heal ☥ Locate ☥ Mass Dispel ☥ Poison Field ☥ Sleep Field ☥ Wind Change
5th Circle	Energy Field ☥ Explosion ☥ Insect Swarm ☥ Invisibility ☥ Lightning ☥ Paralyze ☥ Pickpocket ☥ Reveal ☥ Seance ☥ X-Ray
6th Circle	Charm ☥ Clone ☥ Confuse ☥ Flame Wind ☥ Hail Storm ☥ Mass Protect ☥ Negate Magic ☥ Poison Wind ☥ Replicate ☥ Web
7th Circle	Chain Bolt ☥ Enchant ☥ Energy Wind ☥ Fear ☥ Gate Travel ☥ Kill ☥ Mass Curse ☥ Mass Invisibility ☥ Wing Strike ☥ Wizard Eye
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Death Wind ☥ Eclipse ☥ Mass Charm ☥ Mass Kill ☥ Resurrect ☥ Slime ☥ Summon ☥ Time Stop ☥ Tremor

Ultima Underworld Spells
1st Circle	Create Food ☥ Light ☥ Locate ☥ Magic Arrow ☥ Resist Blows ☥ Stealth
2nd Circle	Cause Fear ☥ Detect Monster ☥ Jump ☥ Lesser Heal ☥ Rune of Warding ☥ Slow Fall
3rd Circle	Conceal ☥ Lightning ☥ Night Vision ☥ Speed ☥ Strengthen Door ☥ Water Walk
4th Circle	Heal ☥ Levitate ☥ Poison ☥ Remove Trap ☥ Resist Fire
5th Circle	Cure Poison ☥ Fireball ☥ Missile Protection ☥ Name Enchantment ☥ Open ☥ Smite Undead
6th Circle	Daylight ☥ Gate Travel ☥ Greater Heal ☥ Paralyze ☥ Sheet Lightning ☥ Telekinesis
7th Circle	Ally ☥ Confusion ☥ Fly ☥ Invisibility ☥ Reveal
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Flame Wind ☥ Freeze Time ☥ Iron Flesh ☥ Roaming Sight ☥ Tremor

Ultima VII Spells
Linear	Awaken ☥ Douse ☥ Fireworks ☥ Glimmer ☥ Help ☥ Ignite ☥ Thunder ☥ Weather
1st Circle	Awaken All ☥ Create Food ☥ Cure ☥ Detect Trap ☥ Great Douse ☥ Great Ignite ☥ Light ☥ Locate
2nd Circle	Destroy Trap ☥ Enchant ☥ Fire Blast ☥ Great Light ☥ Mass Cure ☥ Protection ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Wizard Eye
3rd Circle	Curse ☥ Heal ☥ Paralyze ☥ Peer ☥ Poison ☥ Protect All ☥ Sleep ☥ Swarm
4th Circle	Conjure ☥ Lightning ☥ Mark ☥ Mass Curse ☥ Recall ☥ Reveal ☥ Seance ☥ Unlock Magic
5th Circle	Charm ☥ Dance ☥ Dispel Field ☥ Explosion ☥ Fire Field ☥ Great Heal ☥ Invisibility ☥ Mass Sleep
6th Circle	Cause Fear ☥ Clone ☥ Fire Ring ☥ Flame Strike ☥ Magic Storm ☥ Poison Field ☥ Sleep Field ☥ Tremor
7th Circle	Create Gold ☥ Death Bolt ☥ Delayed Blast ☥ Energy Field ☥ Energy Mist ☥ Mass Charm ☥ Mass Might ☥ Restoration
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Death Vortex ☥ Invisibility All ☥ Mass Death ☥ Resurrect ☥ Summon ☥ Swordstrike ☥ Time Stop

Ultima VII (SNES) Spells
1st Level Spells	Locating ☥ Kal Lor
2nd Level Spells	Illumination ☥ Healing
3rd Level Spells	Ring of Fire ☥ Unlock Door
4th Level Spells	Lifting ☥ Explosion
5th Level Spells	Levitation ☥ Unlock Magic
6th Level Spells	Great Heal ☥ Water Walk
7th Level Spells	Invisibility ☥ Teleportation
8th Level Spells	Invincibility ☥ Tremors

Ultima IX Spells
Linear	Stone ☥ Gust ☥ Ignite ☥ Douse
1st Circle	Create Reagents ☥ Lightning Bolt ☥ Light ☥ Light Heal
2nd Circle	Crystal Barrier ☥ Ethereal Sight ☥ Infernal Armor ☥ Cure
3rd Circle	Charm ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Fireball ☥ Fog
4th Circle	Time Stop ☥ Wizard Eye ☥ Day ☥ Freeze
5th Circle	Summon Undead ☥ Levitate ☥ Bolt of Flame ☥ Full Heal
6th Circle	Meteorite ☥ Invisibility ☥ Ring of Fire ☥ Mana Breath
7th Circle	Death ☥ Teleport ☥ Summon Demon ☥ Frost Storm
8th Circle	Earthquake ☥ Lightning Storm ☥ Inferno ☥ Searing Rain