Open

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This article is about a post-Sosarian spell for opening chests and sometimes locked doors. For other uses, see Open (disambiguation).

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Open
Ultima V Name: An Sanct Reagents: BM, SA Circle: 2nd Ultima Underworld II Incantation: Ex Ylem Circle: 5th Mana: 15 Documented: yes Ultima Underworld Incantation: Ex Ylem Circle: 5th Mana: 15 Documented: yes Ultima IV Incantation: Appar Unem Reagents: BM, SA Mana: 5

The Open spell is a useful utility spell designed to bypass conventional locks on doors and chests, as well as disarm traps.

Description

Open safely bypasses traps on chests and sometimes locks on doors. This alleviates the magic user's need for a lockpick for mechanical locks. However, the more powerful Unlock Magic is required for magically-locked doors. Perhaps most importantly, this spell is the only way to be completely sure one evades a trap successfully when opening a chest. This spell effectively combines its primary function with the effects of the later Destroy Trap spell.

In Ultima IV, this spell only applies to locked or trapped treasure chests. In the time of Ultima V it can be used on non-magically locked doors as well.

Lore

“

There was once a time when all beings were fair and just. The principal vessel used for the transport of one’s worldly possessions in these times was the wooden chest, which is still the popular means. But since the coming of the evil ones and their lasting influence on the inhabitants of our fair land, the practice of placing obnoxious and sometimes lethal traps on the locks of chests has become quite commonplace. Virtually all folk use such devices, even the denizens of the underworld who guard naught but ill-gotten wealth. To bypass these sinister mechanisms the thaumaturge need but utter the chant “Appar Unem” and sprinkle a mix of Sulphurous Ash and Blood Moss on the offending lock. The flash of the Sulphurous Ash powers the movement potential of the Blood Moss and the lock will open itself safely, leaving the contents of the chest at the disposal of the spellcaster. – from The Book of Mystic Wisdom (Ultima IV)

“

Many evil creatures carry chests full of treasure and useful items, often the result of thievery against some other good Britannian. No good person begrudges the vanquisher a monster’s gold and goods. But evil creatures often arm their chests with deadly traps. Popular chest traps are acid sprays, poison fumes, bombs and gaseous atmospheres. The first two are designed with intent to destroy the individual tampering with the lock. The last two affect the entire area of the chest and injure anyone in that area. An Sanct used blood moss and sulphurous ash to seep into hidden traps and render them impotent. The spell also negates any non-magical locks in the chest. The same spell may be used to unlock doors locked by mechanical keys. – from The Book of Lore (Ultima V)

“ Unlocks a locked door or chest.

– from the Player's Guide (Ultima Underworld)

“ This spell unlocks a locked door or chest.

– from the Player's Guide (Ultima Underworld II)

Trivia

• A spell named Open in Ultima I was used to safely disarm coffins, while Appar Unem was for chests.
• The Ultima VI spell Curse uses the same Words of Power as this spell in Ultima V: An Sanct.
• In Ultima Underworld II, the spell cannot be used in Britannia due to the blackrock dome. This can be done by casting it in another world and then returning to Britannia with the spell on the cursor, effectively bypassing the dome’s restriction.

See Also

• Appar Unem
• Unlock Magic
• Magic Lock
• Destroy Trap
• Open (Sosarian)

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