Trellek
| Trellek | |||||
 Trellek, from Ultima VII | |||||
| Species: | emp | ||||
| Appearances | |||||
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Trellek is an emp living in a communal village amongst the Silverleaf trees of the Deep Forest in Ultima VII.
Description[edit]
Like all of his gentle tribe, Trellek would prove shy if approached without introduction. However, once the Avatar proved willing to give the emps gifts of honey, the young creature and his kin would become more approachable.
The bond-mate of Saralek, Trellek lived peacefully with his fellow emps, foraging for fruits and living in the midst of their native Silverleaf grove. Able to talk to the enigmatic wisps, the emp volunteered his services as a guide to the hero, who needed to contact the strange inter-planar messengers in order to contact the Time Lord. Before he would leave with the Avatar's company, however, Trellek asked that the hero attain Saralek's permission, not wishing to run contrary to his partner's wishes.[1]
Saralek, however, proved reluctant to part from her beloved, and asked the hero to seek authorization from the elder, Salamon, hoping that the wizened emp would not approve of the undertaking. Eventually, after the Avatar put an end to Silverleaf logging at Salamon's behest, the matriarch granted her permission for Trellek to leave the area. Distraught that her conditions had actually been met, Saralek regretfully informed the hero of both her deception and her true feelings regarding Trellek's absence.[2] Obedient to his bond-mate's desire, Trellek nevertheless wished to assist the Avatar, and carved a whistle that would summon the wisps to the hero's location, recommending to seek the creatures in the ruins of an abandoned fortress nearby.[3]
In addition to this service, the emp could also give the Avatar word of the human, Julius, who had died amidst a forest fire, saving many emps before he perished. Such news could bring peace to his lonely daughter, Nastassia, who had grown up an orphan, thinking her father had abandoned her.[4]
Lore[edit]
| “ | Somewhere in the eastern half of the forest lives a race of monkey-like creatures I call Emps. They are pacifists who deplore killing, even to eat. My encounters with them have revealed an extreme fondness for sweets, particularly honey. I have noted within them an ability to detect the emotions of others. This empathic ability is, in fact, the root of my name for them. – from Key to the Black Gate (Ultima VII)
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Trivia[edit]
- Earlier drafts of Ultima VII's plot indicate Trellek, despite Saralek's misgivings, was originally to have joined the Avatar's company.[5] Party dialogue for the emp remains in the usecode, as well as an unused piece of paperdoll art (seen in the gallery) in the game's data files.
- Trellek's real world counterpart is veteran Ultima programmer, composer, and writer Herman Miller.[6] Miller also adopted this pseudonym in his postings on Origin's official Ultima IX forum, and is listed with it as his nickname in the credits for Ultima Online: Renaissance.[7]
- In the SNES-port of Ultima VII, Trellek has no mate, and if offered honey, he will directly reward the Avatar with a Magic Lantern, which may be used in place of the Wisp Whistle to summon the wisps to a meeting.[8]
Gallery[edit]
Paperdoll art for an emp found in GUMPS.VGA
References[edit]
- ↑ Trellek. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "emp, fruit, gatherer, home, join, Silverleaf trees, talk to wisps, wisps".
- ↑ Saralek. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "join party, Salamon's permission".
- ↑ Trellek. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "no permission, Saralek's idea, whistle, woods".
- ↑ Trellek. Underworld Dragon’s Ultima VII transcript. Ultima VII. "Julius".
- ↑ Morris, Andrew. "Empath/Yew". Ultima VII -- The Black Gate 5.0: City Plots Vesper, Moonglow, Empath Abbey/Yew (Ultima VII). July 16, 1991. Page 10.
- ↑ Ultima VII: The Black Gate - Characters List. August 5, 1991. Page 4.
- ↑ “Credits”. Ultima Online: Renaissance. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ↑ Trellek. Ultima VII SNES transcript. Ultima VII. "give honey, what?".