Lord Heather

Lord Heather
Lord Heather, from Ultima VII
Species:	human
Appearances
Ultima VII Location: Cove

Lord Heather is the mayor of Cove in Ultima VII.

Description

Lord Heather came across as a man of relaxed temperament, having few stresses as political head of the small settlement he oversaw. While he was perturbed by the Britannian Mining Company's pollution of local Lock Lake, he expressed contentment at Cove's well-earned reputation for romance, and was able to provide the Avatar, if asked, with extensive information regarding who was seeing whom - including mention of his own relationship with the town's healer, Jaana (previously a companion to the hero).

He also could give sad accounting of the woeful keeper of the Shrine of Compassion, Nastassia, the only single person in Cove. If pressed about her, he would express his hopes that the Avatar might raise her spirits and could further direct the hero to the bard De Maria for the information regarding the tragic fate of her family.

Lord Heather would also gratefully sign into law legislation organized by Councilor Miranda enforcing penalties on those disposing of waste products in Lock Lake, should the hero bring him the bill at her behest. This edict, titled Bill of Punative [sic] Action for the Distribution of Waste Products in Lock Lake, would prescribe the penalty of immersion in the fetid waters of the lake for up to three days – a stiff punishment which was hoped would deter further unauthorized dumping.

Lore

“	Welcome to the city of Passion. Here in Cove, love abounds everywhere. Feel free to ask any of our fine citizens. – from Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VII)

“	Ah, 'tis a shame, for Nastassia is very lovely. But then again, so is my dear Jaana. She once traveled with the legendary Avatar, assuming thou dost believe in that sort of thing. Well, I still love her despite her persistence in fueling such rumors. – from Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VII)

Trivia

• Lord Heather's portrait is based on Mark Davis, a winner of the Ultima VI Immortality Contest.
• Iolo and Spark will comment on Heather's recitation of the various couplings in Cove, with Iolo complaining that the situation reeks of "bad theatre" while Spark inquires if there are any "wenches" of his own age about.
• If Jaana has joined the party, she and Lord Heather will say their goodbyes and embrace one another before parting.
• In the Key to the Black Gate, Lord Heather provides Anton with information about Cove, and his description of the area is a part of the work which the scholar compiles on behalf of the Avatar. Curiously, in his discussion of the town he claims that Jaana's standing as a companion of the Avatar is a local myth, and disapproves of his paramour's insistence in fueling such rumors.
• Lord Heather will remark that Lord British had informed him of the Avatar's potential arrival, even if the player has not visited British in the course of game play and alerted him of the hero's presence in Britannia.
• Like many in Cove, Lord Heather will refer to Nastassia as the only romantically uninvolved person, ignoring the equally single Rudyom. In the Key to the Black Gate, however, the mayor will mention the old mage as also being without a lover, citing that eligible partners might look askance at somebody who collects sulfur as a hobby.