Rituals

In Ultima IX, there are rituals which are not spells, are still a form of magic. These rituals demand a certain action to be done in order to be effective. Most of these are done only one time, while others are repeated regularly.

The Rituals

Ritual of Binding

With the new form of magic in Britannia, spells can now be bound into a spellbook with no more reagents needed. However, only spells of freed circles of magic can be bound into the spellbook. The number of freed circles is equal to that of repaired shrines.

To do so, the mage first needs a spellbook. Once this is obtained, a scroll with the spell of question and the needed reagents for this spell are put into the middle of a special binding pentagram. The next step is to ignite all candles of the pentagram, then chant the words of power in order to bind the spell into the book.

Should the reagents be wrong, then both, scroll and reagents, are lost.

Taught by Altomar in Britain.

Sanctify

The effects of Sanctify ritual are twofold. It repairs a destroyed shrine of virtue, and it turns a twisted glyph back into the original rune of virtue. This also has the effect of opening up one more circle of magic and enabling the Restoriation ritual at the repaired shrine.

To do so, three essential items are needs. The sigil of the virtue of the shrine is needed first, the twisted gylph of this virtue next and the mantra of this virtue last. Once all these items are gathered, both physical items are put on the shrine, then the fitting mantra is chanted in order to repair the shrine and cleanse the rune.

Taught by Sarah east of Britain.

Restoration

The Restoration ritual completely heals the caster, cures all poisons and restores the caster's mana. This makes it essentially equal to serpentwyne in its power but can be used without a limit.

Performing this ritual is very simple. Once a shrine is repaired, it will ask, after the mantra is chanted, if the ritual of Restoration is to be performed. After a positive answer, the spell VAS MANI CORP has to be chanted in order to receive the boost.

Taught by Mariah in Moonglow (if still alive).

Summon Moongate

Since the moongate system is disturbed, the Gate Travel spell is no longer available at the time of Ascension and the Orb of the Moons of old ceased to function decades ago, Summon Moongate is needed in order to use the moongates for fast transportation. For it, the mage first needs possession of a new kind of orb.

Once the Orb of the Moons is obtained, in order to call the gate, the orb is to be placed in a moongate circle and then the mantra of the destination gate has to be chanted. Note that travel is only possible to gates whose shrines already have been repaired. Otherwise, the way stays closed.

Taught by Nico in Minoc.

Spirit Speak

Speaking with the soul of one who is already deceased needs special preparation, when the dead in question has already left, meaning that the Seance spell will not function. Spirit Speak will call the spirit to the caster's location to answer the questions.

To do so, the ashes of the deceased have to be put on top of one of the shrines of virtue, no more is needed.

Taught by Myrea in Trinsic.

Reunite Body and Soul

It can happen that body and soul are separated from each other. In this case, Reunite Body and Soul is needed in order to put them back together, as otherwise the soul will lose contact to the body.

For it, the Book of Truth, the Candle of Love and the Bell of Courage are needed. The three items have to be grouped around the body of the person, whose soul is missing. The first step is to read in the book, the next to light the candle and the third to ring the bell. To complete the ritual, the mantra of Spirituality, OM, must be chanted.

Taught by Shamino's spirit in Skara Brae.

Summon Pyros

Summon Pyros summons the powerful titan Pyros from his domain to do the caster's bidding. Doing so is highly dangerous, as he is greatly annoyed by such disturbance of his sleep and if the caster is not powerful enough, it will be his or her end!

To summon him, the caster needs to put a daemon skull, spider silk, sulfurous ash and a piece of blackrock into a specially prepared pentagram made of blood. Then a red candle is placed into the middle it and then ignited, in order to call Pyros.

Taught by Shamino in the Spirit Realm.

Barrier of Life

This ritual creates a barrier of pure energy that essentially prevents anything from escaping or entering it, once it is powered up. Not even the mighty Armageddon spell can break the Barrier of Life. It is unknown if there is a way to again safely de-activate it.

To build the barrier, the mage first has to place the Sigils of virtue in a circle around the area that is to be isolated, then stand in the middle of the circle and chant the spell SANCT VAS GRAV IN MANI AN CORP in order to erect the barrier.

Taught by the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom on the Isle of the Avatar.

Armageddon

The Armageddon ritual is essentially the same as the Armageddon spell, with the same horrible consequences: the end of all life on the planet. Once this power of destruction is turned loose, it is going to burn off the surface of the entire world, leaving nothing apart from dead rock. Only the Barrier of Life can withstand its effects.

To start the end of the world, three pieces of blackrock have to be put into the middle of a magical circle, then the words VAS KAL AN MANI IN CORP HUR TYM have to be spoken in order to destroy the world itself.

Taught by the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom on the Isle of the Avatar.

Lore

“

The oldest form of druidic magic, a ritual draws upon the residue of more dire struggles fought long ago, when the world was but a flaming poem. The simple dignity of the rituals herein seeks to caress the aura of ancient rites and guide that magic towards goodness. Rituals take many forms and can leap from life magic to that of death with the change of a single word or the inclusion of a candle. Rituals are closely held magic, for they do not require any rare aptitude or skill to perform. You will learn them, from other mages, from ancient runes, from the land itself, when fate has so decreed. Do not aspire to harness them for venal purposes, for their magic is deeper than imagination itself. A ritual is a structured set of rules. Step outside these bounds at your peril. In practice, a ritual is a series of exercises performed with rare foci. The placement of the foci and the person of the mage open vast wells of ancient energy. The mage queries the energy therein, guides it to his purpose, negotiates his spirit across the portal to the far side, and closes it behind him. With these nine rituals, you form a covenant with their magic: you will use them only for the causes of Virtue. Though a ritual requires no mana to cast, it may require foci or particular knowledge. – from Spellbook (Ultima IX)

---

Rituals in Ultima IX
Ritual	Binding ☥ Sanctify ☥ Restoration ☥ Summon Moongate ☥ Spirit Speak Reunite Body and Soul ☥ Summon Pyros ☥ Barrier of Life ☥ Armageddon

---

Magic Systems
Sosaria	Sosarian magic
Britannia	Britannian magic ☥ Britannian spells ☥ Ascension magic ☥ Rituals ☥ Ultima VII (SNES)
Serpent Isle	Serpent Isle magic ☥ Serpent Isle spells
Pagan	Pagan magic ☥ Pagan spells ☥ Necromancy ☥ Tempestry ☥ Theurgy ☥ Sorcery ☥ Thaumaturgy
Other	Runic magic ☥ Runic spells ☥ Savage Empire magic