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Ultima series characters

Industry	Video games

This compilation enumerates key or frequently appearing characters throughout the Ultima series of video games, specifying the titles in which they make an appearance.

The Avatar and Allies

• Yes : The character features in that installment.
• No : The character does not appear in that installment.
• Join : The character can become part of the Avatar's group or is already a member.
• AE : An alternate version of the character is present in that installment.
• AEJ : An alternate version of the character appears and may join the Avatar's group.
• M/R : The character is only referenced or mentioned in that installment.

Character	U0	U1	U2	U3	U4	U5	U6	SE	MD	UU1	U7:BG	UU2	U7:SI	U8	U9	UO
The Avatar	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	M/R
Iolo	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Join	Join	Join	AEJ	AE	No	Join	Yes	Join	No	Yes	M/R
Shamino	No	Yes	No	Yes	Join	Join	Join	AEJ	AEJ	No	Join	No	Join	No	Yes	Yes
Dupre	No	No	Yes	Yes	Join	Join	Join	AEJ	AE	No	Join	Yes	Join	No	Yes	Yes
Jaana	No	No	No	No	Join	Join	Join	No	No	No	Join	No	No	No	Yes	M/R
Julia	No	No	No	No	Join	Join	Join	No	No	No	Join	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Katrina	No	No	No	No	Join	Join	Join	No	No	No	Join	No	No	No	Yes	M/R
Geoffrey	No	No	No	No	Join	Join	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Other companions include Sentri, Gorn, Johne, Maxwell, Toshi, Saduj (notably betraying the party), Seggallion, Beh Lem, Blaine, Leodon, Leonna, Sherry, Spark, Tseramed, Selina, Boydon, Stefano, Wilfred, Petra, Sethys, Automaton, Raven (a key figure in Ultima IX), and Spector. Numerous characters appear as recruitable allies or alternate versions across different entries.

The Stranger and the Avatar

In the early Ultima installments, the player-controlled character was known as the Stranger, with gameplay that permitted actions such as theft and aggression. Following Ultima III, creator Richard Garriott encountered backlash from parents concerned about immoral behavior and alleged Satanic themes, particularly due to the demonic villain featured on the game’s cover art. This criticism prompted Garriott to incorporate deeper symbolic elements, drawing inspiration from a television program on Hinduism and the idea of the Avatar, which led to the establishment of eight Virtues embodied by the protagonist in Ultima IV, who was renamed the Avatar.

The Avatar made its first appearance in Ultima IV, where the mission involved adhering to the Virtues and recovering the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. In later titles, the Avatar played pivotal roles such as toppling an oppressive government in Britannia (Ultima V), mediating peace between humans and gargoyles (Ultima VI), and confronting the Guardian in both Ultima VII and VIII, culminating in their mutual destruction during Ultima IX: Ascension.

With the exception of Ultima IX, players had the option to name their Avatar. Earlier games allowed customization regarding race, gender, and appearance, but in Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Avatar was fixed as a blond-haired, blue-eyed male. Dialogue systems progressed from keyword-based inputs to full conversational exchanges by Ultima VII and Ultima Underworld, with digitized voice recordings introduced in Ultima IX.

Originally designed as a neutral figure reflecting player identity, this character was among the earliest uses of "avatar" in its contemporary virtual context, enabling players to choose race and gender to represent themselves within the game world. Over time, however, the Avatar evolved into a more distinct persona with defined traits.

The Eight Companions

In Ultima IV, eight companions accompany the Stranger on his journey toward becoming the Avatar. Since one companion shares the Stranger’s profession, only seven actually join him. Each companion initially practices a trade connected to one of the eight Virtues and is associated with a specific town. These characters return in later Britannia-based games—namely Ultima IV, V, VI, VII (Part I), and IX—often joining the Avatar’s party and occasionally assuming new roles.

• Iolo is a celebrated bard and bowyer, recognized for crafting crossbows and composing the song "Stones," which features lyrics by his wife Gwenno. He owns a talking horse named Smith and operates two bow shops by the time of Ultima VII. The character is modeled after real-life bowyer and musician David R. Watson.

• Shamino Sallé Dacil serves as a ranger from Skara Brae and was once ruler of one of Sosaria’s eight kingdoms. After aiding the Stranger in Ultima I, he became stranded in Britannia following Mondain’s defeat. Shamino appears across multiple titles, including Ultima VII Part II set on Serpent Isle, where his past rulership is explored. His name derives from Richard Garriott’s alias used within the Society for Creative Anachronism.

• Dupre is a paladin who also functions as Trinsic’s mayor; he joins the Stranger’s quest and remains a frequent companion throughout subsequent games. Knighted between Ultima VI and VII, Dupre enjoys wine and women and occasionally writes travel guides. He sacrifices himself to protect Serpent Isle but is later resurrected to battle the Guardian in Ultima IX. Dupre is based on Garriott’s friend Greg Dykes.

• Jaana is a druid allied with Lord British who becomes an outlaw under Blackthorn’s regime. She joins the resistance movement, eventually serving as Cove’s healer and assisting in fighting against the Guardian. Her name honors a Finnish friend of Garriott.

• Julia is a tinker from Minoc known for her Scottish accent who exposes defects in shipbuilding during Ultima VII. In Ultima IX, she confesses her affection for the Avatar. Julia is inspired by one of Garriott’s former partners.

• Katrina works as a shepherd and is Magincia’s sole survivor following a daemon assault. She remains amidst its ruins before helping to restore Humility when New Magincia emerges as an agricultural settlement embodying that Virtue. Katrina takes inspiration from Garriott’s friend nicknamed Trina.

• Geoffrey is a fighter encountered in Jhelom who rises to become captain of the guard defending against gargoyle attacks before retiring to Lord British’s castle. He represents Jeff Hillhouse, Origin Systems’ first employee.

• Mariah is an adventurous mage from Moonglow who hides out in Lycaeum after Shadowlord assaults. She supports the Avatar by translating Gargoyle tablets in Ultima VI. Mariah struggles with depression caused by widespread insanity among mages but recovers with assistance from the Avatar. She is based on Garriott’s personal assistant Michelle Caddel.

Additional Allies

Starting with Ultima V, the Avatar gains the ability to enlist a variety of companions beyond the original Eight. Some of these characters make appearances in multiple installments, while others have more limited or singular roles. A number of these allies hold crucial importance throughout entire storylines.

• Gwenno is a multifaceted figure—a performer, intellectual, and adventurer—often seen alongside her spouse Iolo. She occasionally joins the Avatar's group as a traveling companion. In Ultima V, she is credited with composing the lyrics for the song "Stones" and was inspired by Kathleen Jones, the spouse of David R. Watson (Iolo).
• Sentri first appears as a warrior in Ultima II and later assumes the title of Baron of Serpent Hold. In Ultima VII, he resides in Britain and provides complimentary combat training to the Avatar and their associates. Although absent in Ultima IX, his enchanted leggings can be found in Trinsic.
• Gorn is a barbarian prisoner who assists the Avatar in escaping captivity during Ultima V and returns in later games. His distinctive speech pattern was modeled after Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Conan.
• Johne lost his ship, the Ararat, to a whirlpool prior to the events of Ultima V. Driven to madness by shards of the Gem of Immortality, he created the Shadowlords from the blood of his fallen comrades. The Avatar encounters him stranded and recruits him in hopes of redemption. Renamed Captain John in Ultima VI, he studies gargoyles, teaches their language, and helps the Avatar communicate with them.
• Maxwell and Toshi are minor fighter and bard companions respectively who appear in Ultima V.
• Saduj, affiliated with Blackthorn's "Oppression" faction in Ultima V, will betray the Avatar if recruited.
• Seggallion, a pirate lord introduced in Ultima V, provides the spyglass and returns in Ultima VI, claiming origins from Ashtalarea, a realm featured in Knights of Legend.
• Beh Lem is a young gargoyle who guides the Avatar into Vesper and joins the party in Ultima VI.
• Blaine, a gypsy juggler, may become part of the group during Ultima VI.
• Leodon and Leonna, experienced ship captains from Buccaneer's Den in Ultima VI, offer their services to assist the Avatar.
• Sherry, a talking mouse scout introduced in Ultima VI, later appears as an assistant at Lord British's Nursery in Ultima VII. Her character was inspired by Richard Garriott’s former girlfriend.
• Spark, introduced in Ultima VII, joins to seek justice for his father’s murder; his character is based on programmer Raymond Benson’s son.
• Tseramed, a ranger skilled at crafting sleep-inducing arrows, appears in Ultima VII. His background involves conflict with Fellowship leaders; he was modeled after lead programmer Ken Demarest III.
• Selina is an adept from Moonshade who may ally with the Avatar in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle.
• Boydon, resembling a Frankenstein-like creature from Ultima VII Part Two, joins after being reassembled.
• Stefano, a magic thief, assists with an escape from the Mountains of Freedom during Ultima VII Part Two.
• Wilfred, a Bear Knight from Monitor, may join later but harbors concealed intentions.
• Petra, an automaton working at Moonshade’s Blue Boar tavern, plays an essential role in quests throughout Ultima VII Part Two.
• Sethys has endured for centuries within the Temple of Tolerance and aids with summoning rituals during Ultima VII Part Two.
• Standard iron automatons can be animated through spells and added to the party in Ultima VII Part Two.
• Raven, daughter of Samhayne, initially betrays but eventually supports the Avatar. She allows use of her ship, The Silver Hart, forms an intimate bond before departing for the final confrontation against the Guardian.

Worlds of Ultima Allies

• Dr. Johann Spector is a companion to the Avatar, originating from Earth. In Ultima: Savage Empire, he becomes influenced by the power of the Valley of Eodon, adopting the persona Zipactriotl and leading a local tribal community. His goal is to unify the insect-like Myrmidex forces to invade Earth. Once the Avatar dispels the enchantment, he returns to his original self as Dr. Spector and joins the Avatar’s group, later traveling with him to Mars in Ultima: Martian Dreams. This character draws inspiration from Warren Spector, a former employee at Origin.

Arch-enemies

• Yes : Character featured in this title.
• No : Character absent from this title.
• M/R : Character mentioned or alluded to.
• Mnl : Character referenced solely within the 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
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. As the younger son of Wolfgang, the ruler of Akalabeth, he received rudimentary magical training but was prohibited from practicing magic due to his lack of empathy. In response, Mondain murdered his father and seized a gem to forge the "Gem of Immortality," which amplified his dominion over sinister creatures and allowed him to create hybrid beings such as minotaurs, lizardmen, orcs, and goblins. His fortress was established on Terfin Island.

Following his defeat at the hands of Lord British, Mondain summoned numerous dark entities in an effort to subjugate Sosaria. Shielded by the Gem of Immortality, he was invulnerable unless the gem itself was destroyed. The Stranger from Another World utilized a time machine to travel back a millennium, shatter the gem, and ultimately kill Mondain, also obliterating his castle.

Fragments of the shattered Gem of Immortality play a significant role in subsequent titles like Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny and Ultima Online. Pieces discovered in Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar give rise to the Shadowlords in Ultima V and are crucial for overcoming them. In Ultima Online, multiple shards exist across alternate dimensions containing Britannia.

In both 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 is depicted with a full head of hair and no facial hair.

Minax

Minax appears as the principal antagonist in Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress and features in Ultima Online. A formidable enchantress and former apprentice—and lover—of Mondain, she exceeded his magical prowess and sought vengeance following his demise at the Stranger’s hands.

To evade Mondain’s fate, Minax initiated the Time of Legends at the Origin of Times, which allowed her to strike future realities without consequence. She invaded Earth, disrupting its timeline and annihilating it to prevent any interference with her schemes. Two decades after Mondain’s death, she launched an assault on Sosaria commanding her armies.

In Ultima II, Lord British summoned a hero to confront Minax. The Stranger responded by traversing timegates and overcoming force fields within her stronghold Shadowguard. After an intense confrontation, he defeated Minax using the quicksword Enilno. Her demise unleashed dark forces that transformed Sosaria into two separate continents: 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 in Ultima III: Exodus, born from Mondain and Minax’s union. Its initial sign is a missing vessel that returns without crew, bearing "EXODUS" inscribed in blood. Exodus wreaks havoc upon Sosaria from its fortress on the Isle of Fire. Twenty years after Minax’s defeat, the Stranger returns to confront Exodus.

Access to the Isle of Fire is blocked by the trapped Great Earth Serpent, which the Stranger frees by uttering a magical phrase; this serpent later aids in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle. Castle Exodus is safeguarded by enchanted barriers requiring specific marks for safe entry, defended by hostile creatures and an animated floor.

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. Following its destruction, the Isle of Fire sinks until events unfold in Ultima VII: The Black Gate. In the expansion pack Forge of Virtue for Ultima VII, Exodus’s Dark Core remains active and must be banished into the Ethereal Void to complete certain quests.

Lord Blackthorn

Lord Blackthorn assumes the role of Britannia's regent following Lord British's disappearance in Ultima V. Initially a just ruler, he succumbs to corruption under the influence of the Shadowlords, transforming into a despotic tyrant. By the conclusion of the game, Lord British returns, 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 seeks atonement by joining the Xenkan Monks and becoming part of their order. However, Ultima IX presents a conflicting narrative, showing Blackthorn departing before the Avatar's arrival and reemerging as a villain allied with the Guardian. Ultimately, he perishes in a magical duel against Lord British within the Great Stygian Abyss.

In Ultima Online, set along an alternate timeline following Ultima I, Blackthorn is portrayed as both Lord British’s closest ally and fiercest adversary. Advocating for personal freedom and individuality through his own principle of chaos—not destructive but balancing—he harnesses dark magic to become a malevolent figure. After an attack on Yew, this evil incarnation was retconned as merely an impostor; the true Blackthorn ascended as Britannia’s king. The character draws inspiration from Ultima Online’s project director, Starr Long.

The Guardian

The Guardian is an immensely powerful extraterrestrial conqueror from another dimension who first appears in Ultima VII: The Black Gate. His objective is to subjugate Britannia by means of his agent Batlin, founder of the Fellowship, who creates a black moongate to physically enter and dominate the realm. The Avatar foils this plan by destroying the moongate.

In Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, the Guardian imprisons the Avatar and companions within Castle Britannia beneath a blackrock dome, intending to dispatch forces through a portal to eliminate Britannia’s rulers. The Avatar counters this threat by destroying both the portal and dome while exploring worlds previously conquered or annihilated by the Guardian.

Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle reveals the Guardian’s contingency: dispatching Batlin to Serpent Isle to continue his campaign. Batlin betrays him and is slain after unleashing apocalyptic Banes of Chaos. The Avatar neutralizes this danger by reuniting the Chaos, Order, and Balance Serpents but is captured by the Guardian at the game’s conclusion.

In Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Guardian confines the Avatar on Pagan, a world under his dominion. There, the Avatar masters elemental magic before returning to Britannia.

In Ultima IX: Ascension, while the Avatar remains captive, the Guardian erects eight columns across Britannia designed to pull its moons from orbit with the aim of destroying the planet. The Avatar dismantles these columns and defeats the Guardian, who reveals himself as the Avatar’s dark counterpart from Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar. The Avatar then merges with him using the Armageddon spell.

Industry analysts have theorized that the Guardian represents Electronic Arts (EA), Origin’s parent company, which was rumored to restrict Richard Garriott’s creative freedom in later series entries. This interpretation is supported by artifacts associated with the Guardian—a sphere, cube, and tetrahedron—that resemble EA’s early 1990s logo. Additionally, Fellowship members Elizabeth and Abraham (E&A) mislead players before being exposed as adversaries. The Guardian’s epithet "Destroyer of Worlds" may be a nod to Origin’s slogan, "We create worlds."

Other notable or recurring figures

• Yes: Character is present within the game.
• No: Character does not appear.
• AE: Alternate persona is featured.
• M/R: Only mentioned or alluded to.
• Mnl: Appears solely in the manual.

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				style="background:#C0C0C0"| Mnl
Smith															style="background:#C0C0C0"| M/R
Wisps																-	Nystul		no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	no	no	no	yes	yes	no	M/R	no	-	Lord Draxinusom		no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	no	no	no	yes	M/R	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	-	Sir Simon		no	= no	= no	= no	= yes	= yes	= yes	= 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		-	Sutek								{{{{ }} }} {{{{ } }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}
Sin'Vraal								{{{{ }} }} {{{{ } }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}{{{ }}}
Nicodemus								{{{ }} }} {{{ { }} }} {{{ { }} }} {{{ { }} }} {{{ { }} }}
} Lord British Lord British serves as the sovereign of Britannia and represents the in-game identity of the series’ creator, Richard Garriott. The moniker originated from a nickname he earned at computer camp, with "Lord" derived from his Dungeons & Dragons character title. Early titles such as Akalabeth were released under this alias, and he appeared as Lord British within Ultima Online. Garriott maintained trademark ownership of both the name and persona, who also appeared under the title General British in Garriott’s discontinued game Tabula Rasa. Originally an Earth native, Lord British enters Sosaria through a moongate and adopts the name Cantabrigian British, reflecting his birthplace of Cambridge, UK. After vanquishing the malevolent wizard Mondain, he earns titles including "Champion of the White Light" and "Protector of Akalabeth." Throughout the series, he is instrumental in establishing Britannia’s key institutions such as the Museum and Conservatory, and provides critical services like healing, resurrection, and guidance to the Avatar. Though widely regarded as invincible, Lord British has been defeated multiple times due to game bugs or player exploits. This phenomenon inspired the "Lord British Postulate," which suggests that any living entity in a game will eventually be targeted for demise. His susceptibility to such incidents—like being killed by cannon fire in Ultima III: Exodus or struck by a falling plaque in Ultima VII—has become a notable part of gaming history. During Ultima Online's beta phase, his character was eliminated through glitches and oversights, marking a pivotal moment by granting players unprecedented control over the virtual environment. Similarly, General British met his end during Tabula Rasa beta testing. In Ultima IX: Ascension, players can kill him using a poisoned loaf of bread crafted on Earth. Chuckles Chuckles, serving as Lord British’s court jester typically found within Castle Britannia, either aids or misleads the Avatar. This character is inspired by Chuck Bueche, co-founder of Origin Systems. The Time Lord The Time Lord oversees the proper progression of time throughout the universe. He provides crucial guidance to the Avatar in Ultima III by revealing how to defeat Exodus, offers assistance concerning the Fellowship in Ultima VII, and supports again during events in Ultima IX. The Great Earth Serpent Initially captured by Exodus to act as guardian of the Isle of Fire in Ultima III, The Great Earth Serpent later contributes to restoring equilibrium on Serpent Isle in Ultima VII Part II. The Gypsy Appearing in Ultima IV, V, VI, and IX, the Gypsy evaluates the Avatar’s virtues before embarking on quests. Hawkwind A distinguished cartographer featured in Ultima III, Hawkwind ascends to become Seer of Souls in Ultima IV. Residing within Castle Britannia, he guides the Avatar on their path to Avatarhood. His role is expanded further in Ultima IX. Smith A speaking horse who appears throughout the series. Additional Characters in the Series The King of the White Dragon co-governed the Lands of Danger and Despair (later known as Serpent Isle) alongside Shamino in Ultima I. After Mondain’s defeat fractured Sosaria, Shamino found himself isolated from his homeland. Beatrix, his fiancée and daughter of this King, succumbed to heartbreak. The King descended into madness, slaughtering guests during a goblin incursion before taking his own life. His spirit confronts the Avatar in Ultima VII Part Two but is ultimately overcome. Sir Simon Lady Tessa Gwenneth, apprentice to Iolo, manages Iolo's Bows shop while he is an outlaw in Ultima V and assumes full control following his retirement by Ultima VI. 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. As Shamino’s betrothed and daughter to the King of the White Dragon, her death from grief catalyzed her father’s descent into insanity and violence amidst goblin assaults. Her vengeful ghost confronts Shamino during his journey with the Avatar. Samhayne External links The Ultima Wiki – comprehensive details on all Ultima figures