Gwenno (Ultima)

Ultima series

Industry	Video games

This compilation enumerates key or frequently appearing characters within the Ultima series of video games, specifying the titles in which each character is featured.

The Avatar and Companions

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

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
Julia
Katrina
Geoffrey
Mariah
Gwenno
Sentri
Gorn
} The Stranger and the Avatar In the initial Ultima titles, players assumed the role of the Stranger, a character allowing unrestricted gameplay that included 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 villain featured on the game's cover art. To address these concerns, Garriott incorporated profound concepts and symbolism inspired by the Hindu notion of the Avatar, which led to the development of eight Virtues guiding the protagonist in Ultima IV. The Avatar made its first appearance in Ultima IV, tasked with embodying the Virtues and recovering the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. In later installments, the Avatar played pivotal roles such as toppling a despotic ruler (Ultima V), negotiating peace between humans and gargoyles (Ultima VI), and confronting the Guardian in both Ultima VII and VIII, culminating in their mutual destruction in Ultima IX: Ascension. Except for Ultima IX, players had the option to name their Avatar. Most entries permitted customization of attributes like race, gender, and appearance; however, in Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Avatar was fixed as a blond-haired, blue-eyed male. Starting with Ultima IV, communication evolved from simple keyword commands to fully developed dialogue systems in later games, with Ultima IX introducing digitized voice acting. Originally designed as a blank slate to reflect the player's identity, the Avatar helped popularize the modern use of "avatar" as a virtual representation. This character offered unprecedented freedom in selecting race and gender, serving as a medium for player self-expression and moral contemplation. Over time, however, the Avatar acquired a more distinct visual identity and narrative significance. The Eight Companions In Ultima IV, eight companions accompany the Stranger on his journey toward becoming the Avatar. Only seven join directly since one shares the same profession as the Stranger. Each companion practices a trade connected to one of the eight Virtues and their respective towns. These followers appear not only in Ultima IV but also recur throughout Britannia-centric titles such as Ultima V, VI, VII (Part I), and IX. Many can be recruited into the player's party and occasionally change professions later in the series. Iolo is a celebrated bard and skilled bowyer known for crafting fine crossbows who resides in Britain during Ultima IV. He is married to Gwenno, with whom he co-wrote the song "Stones" revealed in Ultima V. Owner of a talking horse named Smith, Iolo operates two bow shops by Ultima VII. The character is modeled after real-life bowyer and musician David R. Watson. Shamino Sallé Dacil hails from Skara Brae as a ranger and was once ruler of an ancient Sosarian kingdom. After assisting the Stranger in Ultima I, he became stranded in Britannia due to continental separations. By Ultima IV, he serves as a ranger and later joins forces with the Avatar on Serpent Isle during Ultima VII Part II. Shamino's storyline involves intricate connections to former rulers and his lost love Beatrix. His name derives from Richard Garriott’s persona within the Society for Creative Anachronism, inspired by his bicycle brand Shimano. Dupre is a paladin who also serves as Trinsic’s mayor, joining and remaining loyal to the Stranger throughout his quest. He is knighted between Ultima VI and VII and is known for his enjoyment of wine and women, often accumulating bar debts that can be paid off by the Avatar. Dupre sacrifices himself to protect Serpent Isle but is resurrected to confront the Guardian in Ultima IX. The character is based on Garriott’s friend Greg Dykes. Jaana is a druid allied with Lord British who becomes an outlaw under Blackthorn’s rule, actively participating in resistance efforts. Later she relocates to Cove where she serves as a healer aiding against threats posed by the Guardian. Her name honors a Finnish friend of Garriott. Julia is a tinker originating from Minoc who speaks with a Scottish accent. She exposes shipbuilding defects in Ultima VII and reveals her affection for the Avatar in Ultima IX. Julia is inspired by someone Garriott knew personally. Katrina works as a shepherd and is the sole survivor of a daemon assault on Magincia. She remains among its ruins until New Magincia emerges as an agricultural settlement embracing Humility, where she becomes its founding citizen. Eventually living alone again, she receives assistance from the Avatar to restore Humility. The character is based on Garriott’s friend nicknamed Trina. Geoffrey is a fighter encountered in Jhelom who rises to become captain of its guard defending against gargoyle attacks before retiring to Lord British’s castle. Geoffrey’s character draws from Jeff Hillhouse, Origin’s first and last employee. Mariah is a mage from Moonglow who seeks adventure. After Shadowlord assaults force her into hiding at Lycaeum, she assists the Avatar. In Ultima VI, Mariah translates Gargoyle tablets while struggling with mage-induced insanity until cured by the Avatar. She is based on Garriott’s personal assistant Michelle Caddel. Additional Allies Starting with Ultima V and continuing in later titles, the Avatar has the opportunity to enlist a variety of companions beyond the core Eight. Some of these characters recur throughout the series, while others make brief or singular appearances. Gwenno serves as an entertainer, scholar, and adventurer who frequently travels alongside her husband Iolo. She occasionally joins the Avatar’s group and is credited with composing the lyrics for the song "Stones". Her character draws inspiration from Kathleen Jones, the spouse of David R. Watson (Iolo). Sentri is a warrior first introduced in Ultima II, later ascending to become Baron of Serpent Hold. In Ultima VII, he resides in Britain and offers complimentary combat training to the Avatar and their allies. Although he does not appear in Ultima IX, his enchanted leggings are found in Trinsic. Gorn is a barbarian captive who assists the Avatar’s escape in Ultima V and returns in subsequent titles. Modeled after Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Conan, he is characterized by a distinctive accent and complex loyalties. Johne lost his vessel to a whirlpool before the events of Ultima V. Having gone mad after uncovering shards of the Gem of Immortality, he created the Shadowlords from the blood of his fallen comrades. Renamed Captain John in Ultima VI, he studies gargoyles and teaches their language to the Avatar, facilitating improved relations between humans and gargoyles. Maxwell and Toshi appear as a novice fighter and bard respectively in Ultima V. Saduj, affiliated with Blackthorn's "Oppression", may join temporarily but will betray the Avatar during battle. Seggallion is a pirate lord who provides the Avatar with a spyglass in Ultima V and returns in Ultima VI, claiming to hail from Ashtalarea, another game universe. Beh Lem is a young gargoyle who escorts the Avatar into Vesper and their territory in Ultima VI. Blaine is a nomadic gypsy juggler who might join the party in Ultima VI. Leodon and Leonna are experienced ship captains from Buccaneer's Den offering their services during Ultima VI. Sherry, a talking mouse scout introduced in Ultima VI, later reappears as an assistant at Lord British's Nursery in Ultima VII. Her character was inspired by Richard Garriott’s former partner. Spark is a young individual seeking vengeance for his father's murder in Ultima VII, based on programmer Raymond Benson’s son. Tseramed, a ranger featured in Ultima VII, specializes in venomous bee attacks and holds animosity toward Fellowship leaders. His character is modeled after lead programmer Ken Demarest III. Selina, an adept from Moonshade, may accompany the Avatar in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle, driven by her own agenda. Boydon, resembling a Frankenstein-like creature from Ultima VII Part Two, can join after being reconstructed following experiments conducted by Erstam. Stefano is a magic thief who assists the Avatar’s escape from the Mountains of Freedom in Ultima VII Part Two. Wilfred, a Bear Knight from Monitor, may join but conceals ulterior motives. Petra, an automaton helping manage Moonshade’s Blue Boar inn, plays an important role later in the storyline. Sethys, preserved for centuries within the Temple of Tolerance, aids in summoning critical entities during quests. Standard iron automatons can be animated through spells and added to the party during Ultima VII Part Two. Raven, daughter of Samhayne, initially betrays but ultimately supports the Avatar. She grants access to her ship, The Silver Hart, and develops a strong bond before departing prior to the final confrontation with the Guardian. Worlds of Ultima Companions Dr. Johann Spector is a companion originating from Earth who allies with the Avatar. In Ultima: Savage Empire, he falls under the corrupting influence of the Valley of Eodon, taking on the role of Zipactriotl, chief of a tribal community. His objective is to rally the Myrmidex, insectoid creatures, for an invasion of Earth. Once the Avatar frees him from this enchantment, he resumes his identity as Dr. Spector 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 Origin employee. Arch-enemies Yes : Character is featured in the respective game. No : Character does not appear in that title. M/R : Character is mentioned or alluded to. Mnl : Character is referenced solely in the game manual. 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 M/R Yes The Guardian style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Batlin style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|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 and is depicted as a formidable sorcerer. As the younger son of Wolfgang, the ruler of Akalabeth, he initially received instruction in rudimentary magic; however, he was prohibited from practicing it due to his absence of empathy. In response, Mondain murdered his father and appropriated a gem to forge the "Gem of Immortality," which amplified his dominion over sinister beings and allowed him to fabricate hybrid creatures such as minotaurs, lizardmen, orcs, and goblins. His fortress was located on Terfin Island. Following his defeat by Lord British, Mondain summoned an extensive army to subjugate Sosaria. The Gem of Immortality rendered him invulnerable during that era, necessitating the gem’s destruction to end his life. The Stranger utilized time travel to annihilate the gem a millennium earlier, thereby slaying Mondain and demolishing his stronghold. Fragments of the shattered gem assume pivotal roles in subsequent installments: in Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny, they manifest as the Shadowlords; in Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, both shards and Mondain’s skull influence gameplay significantly; and in Ultima Online, multiple shards symbolize alternate realities containing Britannia. In Ultima Online and Ultima IX: Ascension, Mondain is portrayed as bald with a goatee, bearing resemblance to Ming the Merciless; whereas in Ultima VI, he appears with a full head of hair and no facial hair. Minax Minax acts as the principal antagonist in Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress and also features in Ultima Online. A skilled but vengeful enchantress, she surpassed Mondain’s power. Originally both an apprentice and lover to Mondain, she survived his demise at the hands of the Stranger by going into hiding. A decade later, Minax sought vengeance by invading the Stranger’s homeworld through dimensional and temporal portals, initiating the Time of Legends at the Origin of Times to assault future worlds without jeopardizing her own existence. Minax invaded Earth, causing temporal disruptions and obliterating the planet to prevent interference with her schemes. Two decades after Mondain’s death, she launched a campaign against Sosaria accompanied by her dark forces. In Ultima II, Lord British called upon a hero to confront Minax. The Stranger traversed her fortress Shadowguard using timegates and an enchanted ring to circumvent protective force fields. After an extended confrontation, he defeated Minax with the quicksword Enilno. Her demise unleashed dark energies that transformed Sosaria into two landmasses: Sosaria proper and Ambrosia. Unknown to all, Mondain and Minax had produced offspring—Exodus—a being neither fully human nor machine. Exodus Exodus is the antagonist featured in Ultima III: Exodus, born from Mondain and Minax. The character is first encountered when a vessel returns devoid of crew members, with "EXODUS" scrawled in blood on its deck. Exodus proceeds to release monsters from its fortress on the Isle of Fire to terrorize Sosaria. Twenty years following Minax's death, the Stranger returns to confront Exodus. Entry to the Isle of Fire is obstructed by the ensnared Great Earth Serpent, which the Stranger liberates by uttering a magical word; this serpent later assists the Avatar in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle. Castle Exodus is shielded by magical barriers that require specific marks for safe passage, while hostile entities and animated flooring attack any intruders. Though Exodus appears demonic, it is ultimately revealed to be a magical computer that can only be destroyed by inserting four cards—Love, Sol, Moons, and Death—into designated slots. Upon its destruction, the Isle of Fire sinks until events unfold in Ultima VII: The Black Gate. In the Forge of Virtue expansion, Exodus’s Dark Core persists and must be banished into the Ethereal Void to complete related quests. Lord Blackthorn Lord Blackthorn assumes the regency of Britannia following the disappearance of Lord British in Ultima V. Initially a fair and just leader, he becomes corrupted by the Shadowlords and transforms into a despotic ruler. By the conclusion of the game, Lord British returns to power, and Blackthorn is banished through a red moongate to an unknown realm—later identified as Serpent Isle in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle. There, he attains redemption by joining the Xenkan Monks and becoming part of their order. Nevertheless, Ultima IX presents a conflicting narrative, depicting Blackthorn as an agent of the Guardian and antagonist who ultimately perishes in a magical confrontation with Lord British at the Great Stygian Abyss, contradicting his earlier redemption. In Ultima Online, which follows a divergent timeline after Ultima I, Blackthorn is portrayed both as Lord British’s closest ally and his most formidable adversary. He advocates for individuality and liberty through his personal ideal of chaos—not destructive but a balancing force. Embracing dark magic, he emerges as a malevolent presence and is apparently killed during an attack on Yew. This was later retconned as a duplicate; the original Blackthorn remains Britannia’s monarch. It is notable that Lord Blackthorn was the online persona used by Ultima Online project director Starr Long. The Guardian The Guardian is an immensely powerful extraterrestrial conqueror from another dimension, introduced initially in Ultima VII: The Black Gate. His goal is to subjugate Britannia, initially employing his agent Batlin—the founder of the Fellowship—to construct a black moongate that would allow his physical invasion. The Avatar prevents this by destroying the moongate. In Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, the Guardian imprisons the Avatar inside a blackrock dome encasing Castle Britannia, intending to dispatch forces through a portal to eliminate Britannia’s rulers. The Avatar dismantles both the dome and portal, journeying to worlds already vanquished or devastated by the Guardian. Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle reveals the Guardian’s contingency plan: sending Batlin to Serpent Isle to further his conquest. Batlin betrays him and is slain after releasing the Banes of Chaos. The Avatar neutralizes this menace by uniting the Serpents of Chaos, Order, and Balance but is captured by the Guardian at the game’s conclusion. In Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Guardian detains the Avatar on Pagan, a world under his dominion. There, the Avatar masters elemental magic before returning to Britannia. By Ultima IX: Ascension, the Guardian has erected eight columns across Britannia designed to draw its moons from orbit, risking planetary annihilation. The Avatar destroys these columns and defeats the Guardian, who reveals himself as the Avatar’s dark half—born from the evil discarded in Ultima IV. The Avatar merges with him using the Armageddon spell. Industry analysts have theorized that the Guardian symbolizes Origin’s parent company, Electronic Arts, reflecting alleged creative disputes with Richard Garriott. Supporting this interpretation are the Guardian’s artifacts—the sphere, cube, and tetrahedron—which resemble EA’s early 1990s logo. Additionally, characters Elizabeth and Abraham (E&A) in The Black Gate deceive the Avatar before being revealed as antagonists. The Guardian’s epithet "Destroyer of Worlds" may be an allusion to Origin’s slogan "We create worlds". Other notable or recurring characters Yes : Character is present in the game. No : Character does not appear. AE : Alternate persona appears. M/R : Only mentioned or alluded to. Mnl : Referenced solely in the game manual. ... [table continues similarly with other characters] ... Character U0 U1 U2 U3 U4 U5 U6 SE MD UU1 U7:BG UU2 U7:SI U8 U9 UO Lord British AE Chuckles M/R M/R The Time Lord M/R Mnl The Great Earth Serpent The Gypsy "" "" Hawkwind "" "" "" Mnl "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" Smith "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" M/R "" Wisps "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" Nystul "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" M/R '{"{ yes }"}' Lord Draxinusom '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' M/R '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' Arcadion '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ no }"}' M/R The King of the White Dragon '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' Sir Simon '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ yes }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' '{"{ no }"}' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' Lady Tessa <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' Gwenneth <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' <'{'{' '>'}'}-' '<Yes> '<Yes> '<No> '<No> '<No> '<No> '<No> '<No> '<No> '<No> '<No> Lord British Main article: Lord British Lord British serves as the sovereign of Britannia and represents the in-game avatar of series creator Richard Garriott. His moniker originated from a nickname bestowed by friends during a computer camp, with the "Lord" title appended during his participation in Dungeons & Dragons games. Early titles such as Akalabeth: World of Doom were released under this name, and he also appears as Lord British in Ultima Online. Garriott holds trademark ownership of this character, who also appears under the name General British in his later project Tabula Rasa (video game). Hailing originally from Earth, he adopted the name Cantabrigian British reflecting his birthplace, Cambridge, UK. Following his triumph over the malevolent wizard Mondain, he earned titles including "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 provides critical healing and resurrection services to the Avatar. Though widely regarded as invincible within the game world, Lord British has been killed due to programming bugs and player exploits, inspiring the "Lord British Postulate," which suggests that any living character in a game will eventually be targeted for demise. Garriott expressed displeasure when players managed to kill him using cannon fire in Ultima III: Exodus. In Ultima VII, a hidden easter egg permits his death by a falling gold plaque, referencing an actual accident at Origin's offices. During Ultima Onlines beta phase, bugs allowed players to slay Lord British, marking a notable milestone in online gaming where players could influence major NPCs. A similar event occurred with General British during Tabula Rasas beta. In Ultima IX: Ascension, players have the option to eliminate Lord British by poisoning bread crafted on Earth. Chuckles Chuckles functions as the court jester to Lord British, commonly found within Castle Britannia. While occasionally assisting the Avatar, he is also known for misleading them. This character is inspired by Chuck Bueche, one of Origin Systems’ founders. The Time Lord The Time Lord oversees the proper progression of time throughout space. In Ultima III, he instructs on how to position the Four Cards to defeat Exodus. He continues to assist the Avatar in both Ultima VII’’ and Ultima IX. The Great Earth Serpent The Great Earth Serpent is compelled by Exodus to guard the Isle of Fire in Ultima III, later aiding the Avatar in reestablishing balance on Serpent Isle during Ultima VII Part Two. The Gypsy The Avatar seeks guidance from the Gypsy to evaluate their virtue levels prior to undertaking quests in Ultima IV, V, VI, and IX. Hawkwind Hawkwind is a distinguished cartographer featured in Ultima III. He ascends to become Seer of Souls in Ultima IV, residing within Castle Britannia where he mentors the Stranger on their path to becoming an Avatar. His role is further expanded upon in Ultima IX. Smith A sentient horse capable of speech. Additional characters across the series The King of the White Dragon co-ruled with Shamino over the Lands of Danger and Despair (later known as Serpent Isle) in Ultima I. After Sosaria was fragmented following Mondain's defeat, Shamino became stranded near Lord British's domain, unable to return home. His fiancée Beatrix died from heartbreak, driving her father—the King—into madness. During a goblin assault, he slaughtered guests at his castle’s Solstice Festival before taking his own life. His restless spirit confronts the Avatar during events in Ultima VII Part Two, until finally finding peace. Sir Simon Lady Tessa Gwenneth serves as Iolo's apprentice and manages Iolo's Bows shop alongside Gwenno within Britain during Blackthorn’s outlawing of Iolo (as seen in Ultima V). By the time of Ultima VI, she assumes full control following Iolo’s retirement. Dr. Cat Sutek Sin’Vraal Nicodemus Rudyom Penumbra Horance Nell Patterson Nastassia Erstam The tale of Beatrix is elaborated upon in Ultima VII Part Two. She was daughter to the King of the White Dragon and Shamino’s betrothed during events depicted in Ultima I. After Sosaria’s sundering left Shamino stranded away from her, she died heartbroken. Her spirit lingered at Shamino’s abandoned castle and confronts him with anger upon their reunion alongside the Avatar. Samhayne External links The Ultima Wiki – detailed data on all Ultima figures