|
The Ultima series of computer role-playing games featured a Virtue system that the player was required to follow in the game as the Avatar. These Virtues were inspired in part by the codes of chivalry and the Eightfold Path of Buddhism, and were created specifically for Ultima.
Strangely enough, The Wizard of Oz also played a part in the creation of the virtues, with Richard Garriott stating at one time that the three companions of Dorothy Gale could be linked to the three principles — Scarecrow (Truth), Tin Woodsman (Love) and Cowardly Lion (Courage).
The Three Principles
The Eight Virtues explored in Ultima are based on Three Principles:
| Principle
| Place associated
| Item
|
| Truth
| Lycaeum
| Book
|
| Love
| Empath Abbey
| Candle
|
| Courage
| Serpent's Hold
| Bell
|
These Principles are themselves derived from the Axiom of Infinity, which is represented in Castle Britannia.
The Eight Virtues
The Principles are combined to form the following Eight Virtues:
| Virtue
| Principles
| Towns associated
| Mantra
| Player Class
| Dungeon
| Color
|
| Honesty
| Pure Truth
| Moonglow
| Ahm
| Mage
| Deceit
| Blue
|
| Compassion
| Pure Love
| Britain¹, Cove
| Mu
| Bard
| Despise
| Yellow
|
| Valor
| Pure Courage
| Jhelom
| Ra
| Fighter
| Destard
| Red
|
| Justice
| Truth, Love
| Yew
| Beh
| Druid
| Wrong
| Green
|
| Sacrifice
| Love, Courage
| Minoc
| Cah
| Tinker
| Covetous
| Orange
|
| Honor
| Truth, Courage
| Trinsic
| Summ
| Paladin
| Shame
| Purple
|
| Spirituality
| Truth, Love, and Courage
| Skara Brae
| Om
| Ranger
| The Great Stygian Abyss
| White
|
| Humility
| Beyond the three principles
| (New) Magincia², Paws
| Lum
| Shepherd
| Hythloth
| Black
|
Notes:
- Britain is the original town of Compassion, Cove is nearest the shrine.
- Magincia was destroyed by demons for its Pride (Pride's mantra is Mul). New Magincia, built in its ruins, was founded on Humility.
The Embodiment of the Virtues in the game is the Avatar, the character who the player is roleplaying. He (or she) is commonly seen with an Ankh which represents life and luck.
The relationship between the Principles and Virtues is often explained this way:
- Honesty is respect for Truth
- Compassion is Love of others
- Valor is Courage to stand up against risks
- Justice is Truth, tempered by Love
- Sacrifice is Courage to give oneself in name of Love
- Honor is Courage to seek and uphold the Truth
- Spirituality is to seek Truth, Love and Courage from one's own self and the world around
- Humility is the foundation of all Principles, and exists outside of them
See also The Codex Symbol, which explains the relationships between the virtues through colors.
Lord Blackthorn's Code of Virtues
In Ultima V, Lord Blackthorn, the tyrant who ruled in Lord British's absence, codified the Britannian Virtues into a set of draconian laws.
| Virtue
| Law
|
| Honesty
| Thou shalt not lie, or thou shalt lose thy tongue.
|
| Compassion
| Thou shalt help those in need, or thou shalt suffer the same need.
|
| Valor
| Thou shalt fight to the death if challenged, or thou shalt be banished as a coward.
|
| Justice
| Thou shalt confess to thy crime and suffer its just punishment, or thou shalt be put to death.
|
| Sacrifice
| Thou shalt donate half of thy income to charity, or thou shalt have no income.
|
| Honor
| If thou dost lose thine own honour, thou shalt take thine own life.
|
| Spirituality
| Thou shalt enforce the laws of virtue, or thou shalt die as a heretic.
|
| Humility
| Thou shalt humble thyself to thy superiors, or thou shalt suffer their wrath.
|
The Principles of the Shadowlords
In Ultima V, each of the Shadowlords opposed one of the three Principles.
| Principle
| Opposing principle
| Shadowlord
|
| Cowardice
| Courage
| Nosfentor
|
| Hatred
| Love
| Astaroth
|
| Falsehood
| Truth
| Faulinei
|
The Virtues of Mandrake
The joyful Mandrake the bard, in Ultima VI, has his own set of three Principles, which also form eight Virtues.
| Principle
|
| Wine
|
| Women
|
| Song
|
Eight virtues are derived from these three principles:
| Virtue
| Principle
|
| Drunkenness
| Wine
|
| Sensuality
| Women
|
| Harmony
| Song
|
| Lust
| Wine, Women
|
| Laziness
| Wine, Song
|
| Dance
| Women, Song
|
| Indulgence
| Wine, Women, Song
|
| Happiness
| Absence of Wine, Women, Song
|
The relationships between the Virtues and Principles isn't explained in the game, but the one presented in the table is the only logical deduction that has been made.
Presumably Happiness, just like Humility, exists independently of the Principles and is their foundation, therefore the need for Happiness would then be the fundamental reason to seek the truths of Wine, Women and Song.
The Gargoyle Virtues
The Virtues of the Gargoyles were first explored in detail in Ultima VI.
The Gargoyles have three principles based on Order, and its opposite, Chaos.
| Principle
| Mantra
| Embodiment
|
| Control
| UN
| Mondain
|
| Passion
| OR
| Minax
|
| Diligence
| US
| Exodus
|
The Gargoyles have eight virtues based their three principles
| Virtue
| Principles
| Dungeon
|
| Direction
| Control
| Shrine of Control
|
| Feeling
| Passion
| Shrine of Passion
|
| Persistence
| Diligence
| Shrine of Diligence
|
| Balance
| Control, Passion
|
|
| Achievement
| Passion, Diligence
|
|
| Precision
| Control, Diligence
|
|
| Order
| Absence of Control, Passion, Diligence
|
|
| Singularity
| Control, Passion, Diligence
|
|
The Ophidian Virtues
The Ophidians, in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle, have three principles
| Principle
| Embodiment
|
| Order
| Blue Serpent of Order
|
| Chaos
| Red Serpent of Chaos
|
| Balance
| Earth Serpent of Balance
|
Each principle has three Virtues:
| Virtue of Balance
| Virtue of Order
| Virtue of Chaos
|
| Harmony
| Ethicality
| Tolerance
|
| Dedication
| Discipline
| Enthusiasm
|
| Rationality
| Logic
| Emotion
|
Order and Balance each have three opposite Virtues:
| Opposite Virtue of Order
| Opposite Virtue of Chaos
|
| Prejudice
| Anarchy
|
| Apathy
| Wantonness
|
| Ruthlessness
| Insanity
|
See also
|
