Rhiannon
Rhiannon is the name of a world that was once ruled by the warrior king Praecor Loth before it fell to the Guardian. It appears in Ultima Underworld II.
Description[edit]
Seven centuries before the Avatar set foot on Rhiannon, the realm was invaded by the Guardian's forces from the world of Killorn Keep, led by a young favorite of the Red Titan known as Thibris. The resulting war lasted long and went to the disfavor of the Rhiannonan forces. At the 23rd day of Starsend, in the 28th year of his reign, on the 572nd day of the war against the Guardian's forces, the Rhiannonian king, Praecor Loth, was shot and killed in the pitch of battle by an arrow into the ear, and his queen, retainers, and servants followed him to the grave not long after. The Guardian's victorious servitors went on to rule the planet as part of their master's empire.[1]
Known Locations[edit]
Fyrna[edit]
Fyrna is an icy region in the northern part of Rhiannon. It was the site of the last major battle of the Guardian's campaign, and it is here that Praecor Loth died.
Logris Mountains[edit]
In his final account of the construction of Praecor Loth's tomb, Eshka mentions the Logris mountains as a source of granite on Rhiannon.[1]
The Tomb of Praecor Loth[edit]
Located in the steppes north of what was once Rhiannon's capital, the Tomb of Praecor Loth stands as a monument to the world's last free king. Built by the master architect, Eshka, the crypt contains the bodies of Praecor Loth and his entourage, many of whom appear to have been buried with him shortly after his own demise. The interior of the edifice was fitted with a labyrinth of traps and snares to deter graverobbers seeking the treasures lain to rest with its chief occupant.[1]
This was the sole location on Rhiannon that the Avatar was able to visit through the facets of the blackrock jewel, and after sojourning here, the hero discovered that the inhabitants of the tomb had been trapped in an undying limbo by perverse magics worked by Praecor Loth's three closest retainers, who had conspired together that they might convince the spirit of their lord that he still lived and reigned and thereby maintain some pretense of their former glory. It would fall to the Avatar to free Loth from his delusions of life, allowing both him and his people to at last rest in the Void.[2]
Inhabitants[edit]
- Eshka: architect
- Helena: former queen
- Lethe: former general and lover of Praecor Loth
- Lord Umbria: former court mage
- Molloy: former tailor
- Morphius: former spymaster and assassin
- Praecor Loth: former king
- Reef: former soldier
- Silanus: former servitor of the Guardian
- Trystero: former servant
Lore[edit]
| “ | It is with regret that I, Eshka the Unstable, finally put aside the plans to the Tomb of Praecor Loth, perhaps the finest structure I have ever designed. 'Tis unlikely I will ever build anything again, unless it be as a menial slave to the Guardian — perhaps I shall finish my days rowing a slave galley, or carving granite in the Logris Mountains. When the last of our citadels falls, the glory of my work shall be lost to history. The winter snows will cover the tomb, roads will decay and the stone crypt I built into a hillside for Praecor Loth will vanish into the trackless steppe.
No one will ever hear again of my necropolis save in this record, in which I shall set down the details of what was built there, what happened later, at the funeral, and what I discovered many years later, when I returned to the tomb to inspect my work. If any should ever discover this document in the place I shall hide it, I beg thee, merely read awhile, as long as it suits thee, then replace it in its niche for the next one to find, perhaps one hundred years hence. |
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Trivia[edit]
- Rhiannon exists on a different plane than the world of Killorn Keep, and time demonstrably flows differently on the two worlds.[3]
- The blue Killorn Banner is found near Loth's spirit.
- One of the gravestones on Level 2 of the Tomb bears the inscription "Here lies Felis, royal physician". Spotted by Basara Dragon (Slegnor) in January 2024, this has been confirmed to be a reference to David Shapiro, aka Dr._Cat , who worked on the game.
Gallery[edit]
Entrance hall of the tomb
Loth's tomb
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Grossman, Austin. "Tomb of Praecor Loth". Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1992. Pages 40-45.
- ↑ Helena. Ethereal Software’s Ultima Underworld II transcript. Ultima Underworld II.
- ↑ Lord Thibris. Ethereal Software’s Ultima Underworld II transcript. Ultima Underworld II.
| Worlds in the Ultima Series | |
|---|---|
| Main Worlds | Britannia ☥ Sosaria ☥ Serpent Isle ☥ Pagan ☥ Earth ☥ Eodon ☥ Mars |
| Worlds of the Blackrock Jewel |
Tarna ☥ Killorn Keep ☥ Anodunos ☥ Talorus ☥ Scintillus Academy ☥ Pits of Carnage ☥ Rhiannon ☥ Ethereal Void |
| Ahistorical Solar System |
Sun ☥ Mercury ☥ Venus ☥ Earth ☥ Mars ☥ Jupiter ☥ Saturn ☥ Uranus ☥ Neptune ☥ Pluto ☥ Planet X |
| Other Worlds | Nexus of the Worlds ☥ Caledonia ☥ Balema ☥ Ashtalarea ☥ Alucinor |