Geoffrey (Ultima)

Ultima series characters

Industry	Video games

The Avatar and Allies

• Yes : The ally is featured in that title.
• No : The ally does not appear in the game.
• Join : The ally may become or has become part of the Avatar's group.
• AE : An alternate persona of the ally is present.
• AEJ : An alternate persona appears and may join the group.
• M/R : The ally is solely mentioned or alluded to.

The Stranger and the Avatar

In the early Ultima installments, players assumed the role of the Stranger, with gameplay that permitted actions such as theft and violence. Following Ultima III, creator Richard Garriott encountered backlash from parents concerned about immoral behavior and alleged Satanic themes, largely due to the demonic figure featured on the game's cover art. To address these issues, Garriott incorporated significant symbolism inspired by a television program on Hinduism and the notion of the Avatar, leading to the formulation of eight Virtues that defined the protagonist in Ultima IV.

The Avatar character was introduced in Ultima IV, where players embark on a quest guided by these Virtues to obtain the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. Later entries portrayed the Avatar overthrowing an oppressive government (Ultima V), mediating peace between humans and gargoyles (Ultima VI), and confronting the Guardian across Ultima VII, VIII, culminating in Ultima IX: Ascension. Except for Ultima IX, players could personalize the Avatar’s name; while Ultima VIII standardized his appearance as a blond male, previous games allowed customization of race, gender, and physical traits.

Beginning with Ultima IV, dialogue shifted from basic keyword commands to fully developed conversations in Ultima VII and Ultima Underworld, with digitized voice acting introduced in Ultima IX. Initially designed as a blank slate reflecting the player’s choices, the Avatar was among the earliest uses of "avatar" in its contemporary virtual context, permitting selection of gender and race. Over time, this character gained a more distinct identity and visual representation, becoming an iconic figure within gaming history.

The Eight Companions

In Ultima IV, the Eight Companions accompany the Stranger on his journey toward becoming the Avatar. Only seven companions actively join since one shares the same profession as the Stranger. Each companion originally practices a vocation associated with one of the eight Virtues and their respective towns. These individuals serve as the Avatar’s initial allies and reappear throughout subsequent Britannia-set titles—namely Ultima IV, V, VI, VII (Part I), and IX—often participating in evolving capacities.

• Iolo is a celebrated bard and crossbow maker residing in Britain during Ultima IV. Together with his wife Gwenno, introduced in Ultima V, he composed the well-known ballad "Stones". Iolo owns Smith, a talking horse, and by Ultima VII operates two bow shops. His character is inspired by David R. Watson, a real-life bowyer and musician.

• Shamino Sallé Dacil is a ranger hailing from Skara Brae and former monarch of an ancient Sosarian kingdom. After assisting the Stranger in Ultima I, he becomes stranded in Britannia following Mondain’s defeat. Shamino reappears in Ultima VII Part II on Serpent Isle, where he reunites with his lost love Beatrix. His persona derives from Richard Garriott’s alias within the Society for Creative Anachronism.

• Dupre serves as a paladin and mayor of Trinsic who joins the Avatar’s mission and remains an important companion throughout later games. He is knighted between Ultima VI and VII and is known for his indulgence in wine and women, often accruing large tavern debts. Dupre sacrifices himself to protect Serpent Isle but is resurrected to fight once more in Ultima IX. This character is modeled after Garriott’s friend Greg Dykes.

• Jaana is a druid allied with Lord British who opposes Blackthorn’s regime. She later assumes the role of healer in Cove and aids efforts against the Guardian. Jaana is named after a Finnish acquaintance of Garriott.

• Julia is a tinker from Minoc with a Scottish accent who exposes weaknesses in ship construction by Ultima VII. In Ultima IX, she confesses her affection for the Avatar. Her character is based on someone Garriott once dated.

• Katrina works as a shepherdess and is Magincia’s sole survivor following a daemon attack, living among its ruins. She later contributes to rebuilding New Magincia as an agricultural settlement embodying Humility. Katrina draws inspiration from Garriott’s friend nicknamed Trina.

• Geoffrey is a fighter encountered in Jhelom who becomes captain of the guard defending against gargoyle invasions before retiring to Lord British’s castle. He is modeled after Jeff Hillhouse, Origin’s first employee.

• Mariah is an adventurous mage from Moonglow who goes into hiding at Lycaeum after Shadowlord assaults, assisting the Avatar thereafter. In Ultima VI, she translates gargoyle inscriptions and recovers from mage-induced madness with help from the Avatar. Mariah’s character is based on Garriott’s assistant Michelle Caddel.

Additional Companions

Starting with Ultima V, the Avatar gains the ability to enlist a diverse range of companions. Some of these characters make appearances in multiple titles, while others are featured briefly or just once.

• Gwenno serves as an entertainer, scholar, and adventurer who frequently travels alongside her spouse, Iolo. She occasionally joins the Avatar on his journey and is credited with composing the lyrics for the song "Stones". Her persona is modeled after Kathleen Jones, wife of David R. Watson (Iolo).
• Sentri debuted as a captive in Ultima II before ascending to the role of Baron of Serpent Hold. By Ultima VII, he resides in Britain and provides complimentary combat training to the Avatar and his companions. Although he does not appear in Ultima IX, his enchanted leggings can be found in Trinsic.
• Gorn is a barbarian prisoner who assists the Avatar's escape in Ultima V and reappears as an ally in Ultima VI. In Ultima VII, he venerates a mysterious entity linked to the Fellowship Meditation Retreat. His character draws inspiration from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Conan.
• Johne lost his vessel, the Ararat, to a whirlpool prior to the events of Ultima V. Driven insane after discovering fragments of the Gem of Immortality, he created the Shadowlords from the blood of his fallen comrades. Known as Captain John in Ultima VI, he dwells among gargoyles, teaching their language and assisting the Avatar.
• The low-ranking fighter and bard companions Maxwell and Toshi appear in Ultima V.
• Saduj, affiliated with Blackthorn’s faction "Oppression", may join during Ultima V but ultimately betrays the group during battle.
• The pirate lord Seggallion from Ultima V returns in Ultima VI, claiming origins from another dimension with no possibility of return.
• Beh Lem, a young gargoyle, escorts the Avatar into Vesper during Ultima VI.
• The gypsy juggler Blaine is available as a companion in Ultima VI.
• Ship captains Leodon and Leonna, both skilled fighters, offer their services in Ultima VI.
• The talking mouse scout Sherry debuts in Ultima VI and later reappears assisting children in Ultima VII. Her character is based on a real individual connected to Richard Garriott.
• Introduced in Ultima VII, Spark pursues justice for his father’s murder and is inspired by programmer Raymond Benson’s son.
• Ranger Tseramed from Ultima VII employs bee venom-tipped sleep arrows and harbors bitterness toward Fellowship leaders. He is modeled after lead programmer Ken Demarest III.
• In Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle, adept Selina from Moonshade appears with her own agenda.
• The Frankenstein-esque entity Boydon joins following reassembly in Serpent Isle.
• Stefano aids the Avatar’s escape from the Mountains of Freedom within Serpent Isle.
• The Bear Knight Wilfred may become an ally but exhibits uncertain loyalties.
• The automaton Petra, who assists Rocco at the Blue Boar tavern, later supports the Avatar in Serpent Isle.
• Preserved for centuries within the Temple of Tolerance, Sethys assists with summoning rituals.
• Iron automatons can be animated through magic spells and added to the party during Serpent Isle.
• Raven, daughter of Samhayne, initially betrays but eventually aids the Avatar. She commands her vessel, The Silver Hart, develops a close relationship with him, and departs before the final confrontation against the Guardian.

Worlds of Ultima allies

• Dr. Johann Spector serves as a companion to the Avatar originating from Earth. Within Ultima: Savage Empire, he falls under the corrupting influence of the Valley of Eodon, transforming into Zipactriotl, the chief of a powerful tribal settlement. His objective is to unify the Myrmidex insectoid forces to launch an invasion of Earth. Once the Avatar dispels this enchantment, Spector returns to his original self and joins the Avatar’s group, later traveling alongside him to Mars in Ultima: Martian Dreams. This character draws inspiration from Warren Spector, a former employee at Origin.

Arch-enemies

• Yes : Character is featured in the specified title.
• No : Character does not appear in that title.
• M/R : Character is mentioned or alluded to.
• Mnl : Character is referenced solely within the manual.

Character	U0	U1	U2	U3	U4	U5	U6	SE	MD	UU1	U7:BG	UU2	U7:SI	U8	U9	UO
The Avatar																M/R
Iolo					Join	Join	Join	AEJ	AE		Join		Join			M/R
Shamino					Join	Join	Join	AEJ	AEJ		Join		Join
Dupre					Join	Join	Join	AEJ	AE		Join		Join
Jaana					Join	Join	Join								style="background:#C0C0C0"| M/R
Julia				style="background:#FFFF90"| Join style="background:#FFFF90"| Join style="background:#FFFF90"| Join			style="background:#FFFF90"| Join
Katrina				style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join			style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join		style= "background:#C0C0C0" |M/R
Geoffrey				style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join
Mariah				style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join style= "background:#FFFF90" |Join

Character	U0	U1	U2	U3	U4	U5	U6	SE	MD	UU1	U7:BG	UU2	U7:SI	U8	U9	UO
Mondain	Mnl	Yes	Mnl	Mnl	M/R	M/R	Yes	No	No	No	M/R	M/R	Mnl	Mnl	M/R	M/R
Minax	No	No	Yes	Mnl	M/R	Mnl	Yes	No	No	No	M/R	M/R	Mnl	Mnl	M/R	Yes
Exodus	No	No	No	Yes	M/R	Mnl	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Mnl	Mnl	M/R	Yes
Lord Blackthorn	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	M/R	No	M/R	Mnl	Yes	Yes
The Shadowlords	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Mnl	No	Yes	No	Mnl	No	No	No"	No"	"M/R"	Yes"
The Guardian	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	Yes"	Yes"	Yes"	Yes"	Yes"	Yes"
Batlin	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	No"	Yes"	No"	Yes"	No"	"M/R"	No"

Mondain

Mondain serves as the chief adversary in Ultima I. As the younger son of Wolfgang, the ruler of Akalabeth, he received rudimentary magical training but was prohibited from practicing magic due to his absence of empathy. In response, Mondain murdered his father and stole a gem to forge the "Gem of Immortality," which amplified his dominion over sinister beings and enabled him to create hybrids such as minotaurs, lizardmen, orcs, and goblins. His base of operations was located on Terfin Island.

Following his defeat at the hands of Lord British, Mondain summoned dark entities in an effort to dominate Sosaria. The Gem of Immortality granted him invulnerability during his lifetime, making its destruction essential to his demise. The Stranger journeyed back a millennium, shattered the gem, and killed Mondain, leading to the ruin of his fortress.

Fragments of the gem play a pivotal role in Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny and Ultima Online. In Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, three shards alongside Mondain's skull are discovered beneath the submerged Terfin; these shards become the Shadowlords in Ultima V and are crucial for their defeat. In Ultima Online, various shards correspond to parallel universes that house different versions of Britannia.

Mondain's visual portrayal differs across titles: in Ultima Online and Ultima IX: Ascension, he is depicted as bald with a goatee reminiscent of Ming the Merciless, whereas in Ultima VI he appears with a full head of hair and no facial hair.

Minax

Minax is the principal antagonist in Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress and also features in Ultima Online. As a formidable enchantress and former disciple—and lover—of Mondain, she surpassed his magical prowess and sought vengeance following his demise.

Having survived Mondain’s downfall at the Stranger’s hands, Minax went into concealment. Years later, she located the Stranger’s homeworld and established the Time of Legends at the Origin of Times to launch assaults on future realities without exposure. To eliminate obstacles, she obliterated Earth using dimensional and temporal portals. Two decades after Mondain’s death, Minax invaded Sosaria with her armies.

In Ultima II, Lord British called upon a hero to confront Minax. The Stranger traversed timegates to reach her fortress, Shadowguard, where an enchanted ring was necessary to bypass protective force fields. After an extended confrontation, Minax was slain using the quicksword Enilno. Her death unleashed dark energies that transformed Sosaria into two landmasses: Sosaria itself and Ambrosia. Unknown to all, Mondain and Minax had produced offspring—Exodus—a being neither fully human nor machine.

Exodus

Exodus acts as the antagonist in Ultima III: Exodus, born from Mondain and Minax’s union. Its initial sign is a missing vessel that returns devoid of crew with "EXODUS" scrawled in blood. Exodus terrorizes Sosaria from its stronghold on the Isle of Fire. Twenty years after Minax’s passing, the Stranger returns to confront Exodus.

Access to the Isle of Fire is obstructed by the imprisoned Great Earth Serpent, which the Stranger liberates by uttering a magic word; this serpent later assists the Avatar in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle. Castle Exodus is shielded by mystical barriers requiring specific marks for safe passage, while hostile creatures and animated floors attack trespassers.

Though Exodus appears demonic, it is revealed to be a magical computer destroyed only by inserting four cards—Love, Sol, Moons, and Death—into designated slots. Once defeated, the Isle of Fire sinks until events in Ultima VII: The Black Gate. In the Forge of Virtue expansion, Exodus’s Dark Core lingers and must be expelled into the Ethereal Void to complete related quests.

Lord Blackthorn

Lord Blackthorn assumes the role of Britannia's regent following the disappearance of Lord British in Ultima V. At first, he governs wisely but becomes corrupted by the Shadowlords, transforming into a despotic ruler. By the conclusion of the game, Lord British returns, and Blackthorn is banished through a red moongate to an unfamiliar realm—later identified in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle as the Serpent Isle. There, he attains redemption by joining the Xenkan Monks and becoming part of their order. Nevertheless, Ultima IX presents a conflicting storyline, portraying Blackthorn as departing before the Avatar’s arrival and reemerging as a villain allied with the Guardian. His demise occurs in a magical duel against Lord British, which contradicts earlier accounts.

In Ultima Online, diverging from the main series after Ultima I, Blackthorn serves as both Lord British’s closest ally and most formidable adversary. He advocates for freedom and individuality through his virtue of chaos—not destructive but transformative—and embraces dark magic, evolving into an antagonistic force. Following an apparent death during an attack on Yew, his evil persona was later retconned as a mere replica; the original Blackthorn ultimately becomes Britannia’s monarch. The character’s design was inspired by Ultima Online project director Starr Long.

The Guardian

The Guardian is a formidable extraterrestrial conqueror originating from another dimension, first introduced in Ultima VII: The Black Gate mainly as an unseen voice. Having subjugated numerous worlds, he targets Britannia via his agent Batlin, founder of the Fellowship, with the goal of opening a black moongate to facilitate a physical invasion. The Avatar thwarts this scheme by destroying the moongate.

In Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, the Guardian renews his assault by encasing Castle Britannia within a blackrock dome to imprison the Avatar and dispatch forces through a portal to assassinate Britannia’s leaders. The Avatar overcomes this threat by demolishing both the portal and dome while exploring worlds previously conquered or annihilated by the Guardian.

Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle unveils the Guardian’s contingency plan: dispatching Batlin to Serpent Isle to continue conquest efforts. Batlin betrays him but is slain after unleashing the Banes of Chaos; the Avatar neutralizes this menace by harmonizing the Chaos, Order, and Balance Serpents. At this game’s conclusion, the Guardian captures the Avatar.

In Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Guardian confines the Avatar on Pagan, a realm under his dominion. There, the Avatar masters elemental magic and ultimately returns to Britannia.

In Ultima IX: Ascension, while the Avatar remains captive, the Guardian erects eight colossal columns throughout Britannia designed to dislodge its moons from orbit, endangering planetary destruction. The Avatar dismantles these columns and defeats the Guardian, who reveals himself as the Avatar’s malevolent counterpart, created following Ultima IV. The final triumph merges them into a new entity through the Armageddon spell.

Industry analysts have theorized that the Guardian represents Origin’s parent company, Electronic Arts, reflecting alleged corporate influence over Richard Garriott’s creative decisions. This interpretation is supported by artifacts linked to the Guardian—the sphere, cube, and tetrahedron—that resemble EA’s early 1990s logo during its acquisition of Origin. Furthermore, Fellowship members Elizabeth and Abraham (E&A) mislead the Avatar before their roles as antagonists are revealed. The Guardian’s epithet "Destroyer of Worlds" contrasts with Origin’s slogan "We create worlds," reinforcing this symbolic reading.

Other Notable or Recurring Characters

• Yes : Character is present in that title.
• No : Character does not appear.
• AE : Alternate persona of the character is featured.
• M/R : Character is mentioned or alluded to.
• Mnl : Character is only cited in the manual.

Character	U0	U1	U2	U3	U4	U5	U6	SE	MD	UU1	U7:BG	UU2	U7:SI	U8	U9	UO
Lord British	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	AE	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Chuckles	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	M/R	No	No	M/R	No
The Time Lord	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	M/R	Mnl	No	Yes	Yes
The Great Earth Serpent	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
The Gypsy	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Hawkwind	No	No	No	Mnl	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Smith	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	M/R	No
Wisps	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	> Template:"Yes"
Nystul	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	style=background:#C0C0C0;M/R	No	Yes
Lord Draxinusom	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	style=background:#C0C0C0;M/R	No	No	No	No
Arcadion	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	style=background:#C0C0C0;M/R
Character	U0	U1	U2	U3	U4	U5	U6	SE	MD	UU1	U7:BG	UU2	U7:SI	U8	U9	-	The King of the White Dragon	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	-	Sir Simon	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	-	Lady Tessa	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	-	Gwenneth	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	-	Dr. Cat	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	-	Sutek	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	|-	Sin'Vraal │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │

Lord British

Lord British serves as the sovereign of Britannia and represents the in-game persona of series creator Richard Garriott. The moniker originated as a nickname among Garriott's acquaintances, with "Lord" appended due to his role as a dungeon master in Dungeons & Dragons. Early games such as Akalabeth were published under this alias, and he appeared as Lord British in Ultima Online. Garriott maintained ownership rights over this character, who also took on the identity of General British in Tabula Rasa.

Hailing from Earth, Lord British enters Sosaria via a moongate and adopts the name Cantabrigian British in reference to his Cambridge origins. After vanquishing the malevolent wizard Mondain, he earns titles like "Champion of the White Light" and "Lord British, Protector of Akalabeth." He is instrumental in establishing key Britannian institutions such as the Museum and Conservatory and frequently supports the Avatar through healing and resurrection.

Although traditionally regarded as invincible, Lord British has been slain due to programming glitches and player exploits, giving rise to the "Lord British Postulate," which suggests that any living entity within a game will eventually face death. Despite Garriott’s dissatisfaction with certain exploits (such as cannon fire in Ultima III: Exodus), these occurrences have become embedded within the series’ lore. In Ultima VII, an easter egg enables his death by a falling gold plaque—a nod to an actual incident involving Garriott. During the beta phase of Ultima Online, Lord British’s demise due to bugs and oversights marked a milestone in online gaming, illustrating player impact on the virtual environment. Similarly, General British was eliminated during Tabula Rasa beta testing. In Ultima IX: Ascension, he is vulnerable to death by poisoned bread crafted on Earth.

Chuckles

Chuckles acts as Lord British’s court jester, typically found within Castle Britannia. While he occasionally aids the Avatar, he is notorious for diverting them on misleading errands. The character is inspired by Chuck Bueche, co-founder of Origin Systems.

The Time Lord

The Time Lord manages the proper progression of time. In Ultima III, he directs the placement of Four Cards needed to defeat Exodus; in Ultima VII, he supports the Avatar against the Fellowship; and he reappears in Ultima IX.

The Great Earth Serpent

Initially imprisoned by Exodus as guardian of the Isle of Fire in Ultima III, The Great Earth Serpent later assists the Avatar in reestablishing equilibrium on Serpent Isle during Ultima VII Part II.

The Gypsy

Before embarking on quests in Ultima IV, V, VI, and IX, the Avatar seeks guidance from the Gypsy to evaluate their virtue levels.

Hawkwind

Starting as a distinguished cartographer in Ultima III, Hawkwind evolves into Seer of Souls residing within Castle Britannia by the time of Ultima IV. He directs players along the path to becoming an Avatar and returns with further developed lore in Ultima IX.

Smith

A talking horse character featured throughout the series.

Other characters in the series

• The King of the White Dragon shared rulership over the Lands of Danger and Despair (later known as Serpent Isle) alongside Shamino in Ultima I. After Sosaria's fragmentation following Mondain's defeat, Shamino was separated from his homeland, which led to Beatrix’s death from grief. The King descended into insanity, slaughtering visitors during a goblin assault before taking his own life. His restless spirit haunts his castle in Ultima VII Part Two, where the Avatar ultimately defeats him.
• Sir Simon
• Lady Tessa
• Gwenneth, apprentice to Iolo, oversees Iolo's Bows shop by Ultima V after Iolo becomes an outlaw and assumes full control by Ultima VI.
• Dr. Cat
• Sutek
• Sin'Vraal
• Nicodemus
• Rudyom
• Penumbra
• Horance
• Nell
• Patterson
• Nastassia
• Erstam
• Beatrix plays a significant role in Ultima VII Part Two. As daughter of the King of the White Dragon and Shamino’s fiancée, her demise triggers her father’s madness. Her vengeful ghost confronts Shamino during the Avatar’s quest.
• Samhayne

External links

• The Ultima Wiki – an extensive database covering Ultima characters