Talorus

Talorus is a world visited by the Avatar in Ultima Underworld II, notable for its distinctly alien environment and the presence of the talorids, a race of intelligent, spherical beings. Once possessing a greater sense of autonomy and artistic expression, their society has been heavily influenced by the Guardian, who manipulated them into prioritizing efficiency for his own ends.

Description

Talorus presents a stark contrast to many other planes the Avatar visited. The hive-like compound encountered by the hero was constructed from brightly colored and strange materials. The inhabitants, known as talorids, appear as floating spheres surrounded by a diaphanous nimbus. Their social structure is characterized by a high degree of compartmentalization, with each member of the settlement dedicated to a single function, often in isolation from other talorids.

While early talorian culture fostered a greater sense of autonomy and artistic and philosophical expression, this shifted dramatically after their contact with the Guardian. His "suggestions" gradually led them to abolish most functions not essential to his own machinations, ultimately prioritizing societal efficiency for his own purposes.

Inhabitants

• Bliy Skup Ductosnore: a talorid responsible for ensuring its species reproduction
• Data Integrator: a talorid responsible for harmonizing conflicting data
• Dialogicians: two talorids tasked with facilitating communication and conversation
• Eloemosynator: a talorid whose function is hard to describe in human terms
• Futurian: a talorid responsible for preparing for possible futures
• Historian: a talorid responsible for recording and remembering the past
• Runekeeper: a talorid responsible for crafting rune stones
• Vorz Ductosnore: a talorid responsible for managing the production of Vorz

Lore

“

I am Hiztorian. It iz my funkzion to rekall the pazt, to any who azk me of it, even ztrange alienz zuch az thyzelf, Bishop. I will tell you of Taloruz, of itz pazt, both what iz diztant in time and what haz okkurred mozt rezently. Zinze the koming of the entity dezignated “Guardian,” all azpektz of Talorid life have been devoted to inkreazing the efezienzy of produktion. Thiz waz onze only one of the many Talorid virtuez, but now it haz bekome of paramount importanze to uz — I am not sure why thiz iz, only that it iz zoo. The Guardian knowz a great deal about effizienzy, and haz taught uz how to behave in order to makzimize the amount of goodz our zoziety can produze. To thiz end all Taloridz have adopted funktionz, and funktion kodez. I will lizt them for you, and show you where they are on thiz map, so that you kan find them if you zeek further informazion. – from Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II)

Trivia

• The Avatar can hear a variation of the lightbulb joke on Talorus from the Dialogicians. "How many Vorz does it take to skup a light-sphere?". Answer: "None — Vorz cannot skup, dinglenoggen!"

Gallery

• 

  Talorus

• 

  The Vorz of Talorus

• 

  The trash chute

References

---

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