Ambrosia (U9)
This article is about a city in Ultima IX. For an island in Ultima III and Ultima VII, see Ambrosia.
The underwater city of Ambrosia is where the gargoyles retreated to in Ultima IX, a city on the floor of the ocean, protected by a huge dome.
Description[edit]
After the Great Cataclysm, the gargoyles of Britannia isolated themselves from the human population and decided to invest in their pride by building a city on the ocean floor. The name they chose was that of the lost island of Ambrosia which had sunk during the cataclysm. This did not go without conflict, however, and in the end they exiled their own king, Vasagralem. A schism then developed between the winged and wingless gargoyles, who were in a constant state of tension, with violence between the two groups being common.
The great inventor Wislem was credited with this "unbreakable" dome. However, his pride would be the gargoyles' doom, as during the Avatar’s visit to the city, the dome did start to collapse right after completion of his grandiose statue at the peak inside the dome, killing all the inhabitants in the end.
Lore[edit]
| “ | In the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom lies the ever-spinning tale of Ambrosia. Centuries ago, a meteorite crashed into the sea, and its husk formed an island. To mankind, this island was a bad omen, yet this alien to the world of man drew the gargoyle people, who gave it the name: Ambrosia. Though rarely occupied, the isle of Ambrosia served as a symbol of good fortune, as a land was created where previously there was none. During the cataclysm, however, this land from another world sank into the sea, and became a part of Britannian lore.
With the rise of the columns, the gargoyles' pride grew and they became discontent with man and his imperfections. In secret, far below the waves, the gargoyles built a new city, a place to call their own, and dubbed it Ambrosia, in memory of the alien isle that sparked the dream. Beneath a grand and magical dome, the city of Ambrosia was born, its glowing spires safe from the history of man. |
|---|
Inhabitants[edit]
- Deresh: deceased wingless gargoyle
- Grond: shipwrecked human
- Exferlem: leader of the wingless
- Noname: wingless prisoner
- Queen Zhah: the queen
- Valkadesh: leader of the winged
- Voresh: prison warden
- Wislem: inventor
Trivia[edit]
- In the Dialogue Patch for Ultima IX, Ambrosia was renamed Baltergres, literally Gargish for "Way out from Evil Place" (probably meaning "refuge from hostile Britannia").
- The distinct, pyramidal Gargish architecture of Ambrosia is also seen in the Realm of the Gargoyles in Ultima VI.
- The subaquatic Gargish city of Ambrosia appears, albeit already in ruins, in early drafts of Ultima IX from 1995, and is similarly accessed through a whirlpool close to New Magincia, as in the final game. Sought by Vasagralem and Desbet as refuge from the Guardian's invasion of Britannia, it is connected to the sewer system of Britain, rather than New Magincia, via the underwater tunnels of sunken Hythloth, which the Avatar traverses in order to return to the surface world.[1] Ambrosia was removed from the game for a time,[2] before reappearing in the final release.
- While the model of the dome in the game is impressive, the engine-created fog makes most of it invisible, essentially ruining the entire effect. Only removing the fog by editing the files gives an idea what the designers intended.
- To enter the chamber of the queen, the Amulet of Singularity is needed.
- Even though the dome is supposed to be sealed to prevent entry by anything, somehow the Avatar and Grond end up inside the dome following failing through maelstroms.
Gallery[edit]
Complete overview of the city
Another overview of the city
Gargish Ambrosia, as depicted in early Ultima IX concept art
References[edit]
- ↑ White, Robert. Ultima IX: Ascension Dungeons – Hythloth. May 3, 1995. Page 1.
- ↑ White, Robert. Ultima IX: Ascension – Plot Treatment. July 17, 1997. Page 52.