Zoranthus
| Zoranthus | |||||
 Zoranthus, from Ultima Underworld II | |||||
| Species: | human | ||||
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Zoranthus is a powerful mage who has voluntarily chosen to dwell in the Pits of Carnage. He appears in Ultima Underworld II.
Description[edit]
In the years following the Guardian's conquest of his planet, Zoranthus found himself alienated from a society which seemed all too eager to join the Red Titan in his wars across the planes. Seeking an obscure retreat in which he would not be bothered in his magical studies, the mage willingly entered the Pits of Carnage and made his home amongst the lower reaches of its caverns. Here he lived for some time in isolation, carrying out his studies in dimensional travel and other esoteric pursuits.
In time, the hermit realized that his work had grown too arcane and impractical, and he prepared to turn his efforts towards ousting the Guardian from his realm and others. He managed to form a loose alliance with similarly inclined individuals from various dimensions, and thus became an associate of Bishop of Tarna. When the Avatar approached him, he proved quite willing to assist the hero in freeing Castle Britannia and would offer one of his latest projects: a vessel which contained an ensorcelled air djinn. In order that the trans-dimensional flow of energies remained constant, however, he asked first that he be provided with a scepter of Deadly Seeker which he had lost when the associate he lent it to disappeared.
Once the Avatar fulfilled this part of this exchange, Zoranthus would give explicit instructions as to how to bind the captive djinn into a new container, explaining that the intended host must be coated in a mixture of filanium mud and basilisk oil before being subjected to fire. He cautioned the hero that a body which would contain the creature, would also have need of a potion of Iron Flesh and further warned to only release the Djinn within the limits of the Sigil of Binding on the ethereal plane.[1]
Lore[edit]
| “ | At the bidding of my esteemed colleague Bishop, I, Zoranthus the Mage, shall undertake for you a description of the terrain surrounding my squalid residence. The Pits of Carnage, which have been my home for many years now, are a savage prison in a savage world.
... I myself am the only "resident" of the Pits who lives here by choice. As a mage of considerable abilities, I find it convenient to conduct my research and experiments in the dungeons below the prison itself. It is, after all, the last place the Guardian would expect to find opposition. The brutal inhabitants of the Pits do not venture down to where I live — there are creatures living below that even the strongest prisoners would fear to combat. |
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Trivia[edit]
- Zoranthus was asked by Bishop to describe the lay of the Pits of Carnage for his work, Gems of Enlightenment, in the hopes that the sage's words would prove enlightening to those traversing the planes in opposition to the Guardian.[2]
- Zogith claims that Zoranthus was something of a prodigy, and that he graduated from Scintillus Academy at the age of sixteen.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ Zoranthus. Ethereal Software’s Ultima Underworld II transcript. Ultima Underworld II.
- ↑ Grossman, Austin. "Pits of Carnage". Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1992. Pages 34-37.
- ↑ Zogith. Ethereal Software’s Ultima Underworld II transcript. Ultima Underworld II.