Sphere Generator
The Sphere Generator is one of the three colossal blackrock structures utilized by the Guardian to prepare Britannia for his coming in Ultima VII.
Description[edit]
Appearing sometime after the founding of the Fellowship approximately twenty years prior to the Astronomical Alignment, the Sphere Generator created a space-time trap, such that the Time Lord, who was eager to obstruct the Guardian's plans, would remain imprisoned within the Shrine of Spirituality. In addition to this function, the construct also disrupted the workings of the realm's moongates, causing the portals to grow unstable and dangerous.[1]
Located deep within Dungeon Despise, this generator was protected by a red moongate, which transported anyone who attempted to approach the construct several yards away from the intended destination. In order to breach this defense and access the interior of the black sphere, the Avatar would have to possess a specially Enchanted Hourglass which had been prepared by the mage Nicodemus. Armed with this artifact, the hero would be able to enter the blackrock construct, then solve a surreal maze of interconnected moongates and flames. At the center of this labyrinth was the miniature sphere-shaped prism from within the generator. Its removal precipitated its destruction.
While its destruction freed the Time Lord, the Guardian had built-in a safeguard to spite whoever would destroy the generator. This safeguard permanently shut down all moongates, effectively stranding the Avatar on Britannia.
Lore[edit]
| “ | The Sphere generator is located at the western edge of dungeon Despise and surrounded by three stone walls within the cavern chamber itself. Simply step into the moongates in the following sequence: red, blue, blue, red. Be careful, for a wrong moongate will force thee back in time. – from Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VIII)
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Trivia[edit]
- According to the Time Lord, the three blackrock generators were sent to Britannia from the Guardian's home-world;[2] indeed, while developing Ultima VII, Richard Garriott envisaged Britannia's would-be conqueror to have originated from a race of omniscient, god-like entities who might themselves eventually become antagonists in the series.[3] This, however, would later be superseded by Ultima IX, in which it is stated the Guardian coalesced out of darkness purged from the Avatar in the final moments of Ultima IV.[4]
- The shapes of the three generators (a cube, sphere, and tetrahedron) form the logo used by Electronic Arts from 1982 to 1999. Richard Garriott has since given conflicting statements, both denial and confirmation, as to whether this was conceived as intentional symbolism.[5][6]
- It actually is possible to carefully squeeze yourself past the moongate on the right side. Doing so short-circuits the plot.
- In the SNES-port of Ultima VII, the Sphere Generator had no inner defenses, and will self destruct the moment the Avatar moves its corresponding prism from a nearby pedestal. The generator is also much smaller and not even black.
Gallery[edit]
The Sphere Generator in clear light
Inside the Sphere Generator
The generator on the SNES-port
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Time Lord. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "mission, sphere".
- ↑ Time Lord. Ultima VII Usecode. Ultima VII. "Cube, Sphere, Tetrahedron".
- ↑ DeMaria, Rusel et al. "A Conversation With Richard Garriott". Ultima: The Avatar Adventures. Prima Publishing: 1992. Pages 381, 388–389.
- ↑ Shamino. Quill Dragon's Ultima IX Transcript. Ultima IX.
- ↑ Kumar, Mathew. "The Making of Ultima VII: The Black Gate". PC Gamer UK. Future Publishing Ltd: December 2011. Page 154.
- ↑ Garriott, Richard. “Richard Garriott on Twitter”. Twitter. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2017-09-13.