Lord British Postulate

Origin Systems

Industry	Video game development
Founder	Richard Garriott
Headquarters	Austin , United States
Products	Ultima series

The Avatar and Allies

• Yes: The ally is present in that title.
• No: The ally does not make an appearance.
• Join: The ally can or does become part of the Avatar's group.
• AE: A different persona of the ally is featured.
• AEJ: An alternate persona is present and may join the group.
• M/R: The ally is solely 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	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

The Stranger and the Avatar

In the earliest Ultima installments, players assumed the role of the Stranger, a protagonist within an open-ended framework that permitted quest completion through theft or violence. Following Ultima III, creator Richard Garriott encountered parental backlash concerning the game's morally questionable elements and accusations of Satanic themes, largely due to the demonic villain depicted on the box art. To address these concerns, Garriott incorporated substantive philosophies and symbolic content inspired by concepts such as the Hindu Avatar, culminating in the establishment of eight Virtues defining the protagonist’s character in Ultima IV.

The Avatar made its first appearance in Ultima IV, where the player was charged with embodying Virtues and recovering the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. Later entries featured the Avatar overthrowing a despotic ruler (Ultima V), mediating peace between humans and gargoyles (Ultima VI), and confronting the Guardian in both Ultima VII and VIII, ultimately culminating in self-sacrifice during Ultima IX.

Except for Ultima IX, players had freedom to name their Avatars; however, in Ultima VIII, the Avatar was presented as a fixed blond, blue-eyed male. Earlier titles allowed customization of gender, race, and physical traits. Dialogue mechanics evolved from keyword-based interactions in Ultima IV to fully voiced conversations in Ultima VII and Ultima Underworld, with digitized speech introduced in Ultima IX.

Originally conceived as a neutral vessel reflecting player identity, the Avatar concept pioneered customizable protagonists and helped popularize "avatar" as a term for digital representations. Over time, the Avatar acquired a more distinct look and personality, becoming a prominent symbol of player agency throughout the series.

The Eight Companions

In Ultima IV, the Stranger is joined by seven of eight potential Companions—excluding one who shares his profession—each embodying a specific profession aligned with one of the eight Virtues and associated towns. These initial followers accompany the Avatar across multiple Britannia-set games: Ultima IV, V, VI, VII (Part I), and IX. Many companions are recruitable to the player's party and may change professions during gameplay.

• Iolo is a celebrated bard and crossbow craftsman residing in Britain during Ultima IV. He is married to Gwenno, as revealed in the Ultima V manual, and composed the melody for "Stones," with lyrics by Gwenno. Owner of Smith, a talking horse, Iolo operates two bow shops by Ultima VII. His character is modeled after real-life bowyer and composer David R. Watson.

• Shamino Sallé Dacil originates from Skara Brae as a ranger and once ruled an ancient Sosarian kingdom. After assisting the Stranger in Ultima I, he became stranded in Britannia following Mondain’s defeat, separated from his beloved Beatrix. By Ultima IV, he serves as a ranger and later joins the Avatar on Serpent Isle in Ultima VII Part II. Shamino reflects Richard Garriott’s own persona name used within the Society for Creative Anachronism.

• Dupre is Trinsic’s mayor and a paladin who becomes a steadfast companion on the Stranger’s journey. Knighted between Ultima VI and VII, Dupre is known for his enjoyment of wine and women, frequenting taverns and authoring travel guides. In Ultima VII, he accumulates a notable bar tab that players can settle. Dupre sacrifices himself defending Serpent Isle but is resurrected to aid against the Guardian in Ultima IX. His character draws inspiration from Garriott’s friend Greg Dykes.

• Jaana serves as a druid allied with Lord British who becomes an outlaw under Blackthorn’s rule. She takes on healing duties in Cove and supports resistance movements opposing the Guardian. Jaana is named after a Finnish acquaintance of Garriott.

• Julia is a tinker from Minoc with a Scottish accent who critiques shipbuilding flaws during events in Ultima VII. In Ultima IX, she expresses romantic feelings toward the Avatar. Julia’s character is based on someone Garriott previously dated.

• Katrina is a shepherdess who survives a daemon assault that devastates Magincia. She remains among its ruins while New Magincia arises as an agricultural settlement embracing Humility. Eventually becoming its sole inhabitant, Katrina’s narrative emphasizes restoration aligned with virtue. She was inspired by Garriott’s friend nicknamed Trina.

• Geoffrey is a fighter initially encountered in Jhelom who later commands guards defending against gargoyle attacks before retiring at Lord British's castle. Geoffrey represents Jeff Hillhouse, Origin’s first and last employee.

• Mariah is an adventurous mage from Moonglow who hides in Lycaeum after Shadowlord assaults. She aids the Avatar by translating Gargoyle tablets in Ultima VI. Mariah endures depression following widespread mage insanity but recovers with assistance from the Avatar. Her character is modeled after Garriott’s personal assistant Michelle Caddel.

Additional Allies

Starting with Ultima V, the Avatar gains the ability to enlist a variety of other characters beyond the core Eight Companions. Some of these allies make recurring appearances throughout the series, while others feature only briefly or in a single installment. Many hold important roles and accompany the Avatar for the duration of an entire game.

• Gwenno serves as an entertainer, scholar, and adventurer, frequently seen alongside her spouse Iolo. In Ultima V, she is recognized as the lyricist for the song "Stones". Her full name, Gwenllian Gwalch'gaeaf, draws inspiration from David R. Watson's wife.
• Sentri debuts as Sentri the Swashbuckler in Ultima II. He later becomes the Baron of Serpent Hold and provides combat training to the Avatar in Ultima VII. Although he does not appear in person in Ultima IX, his enchanted leggings are found in Trinsic.
• Gorn is a barbarian prisoner who assists the Avatar’s escape in Ultima V and returns as a companion in Ultima VI. In Ultima VII, he follows a deity named Brohm and is initially hostile toward the Avatar.
• Johne lost his vessel to a whirlpool before the events of Ultima V. Driven mad by shards of the Gem of Immortality, he created the Shadowlords. The Avatar encounters him stranded, and he later reemerges as Captain John, teaching the Gargish language and aiding gargoyles in Ultima VI.
• Maxwell (a novice fighter) and Toshi (a bard) make brief appearances in Ultima V.
• Saduj, affiliated with Blackthorn's "Oppression" faction, will betray the Avatar if recruited during Ultima V.
• Seggallion, a pirate lord first met in Ultima V, returns in Ultima VI. He claims to hail from Ashtalarea—a realm featured in Knights of Legend—and was stranded in Britannia.
• Beh Lem is a young gargoyle who guides the Avatar into Vesper during Ultima VI.
• Blaine is a Romani juggler who may join the party in Ultima VI.
• Leodon and Leonna are expert captains based at Buccaneer's Den offering their maritime services in Ultima VI.
• Sherry, a talking mouse scout introduced in Ultima VI, later appears as a nursery assistant in Ultima VII. This character was modeled after Richard Garriott’s former girlfriend.
• Spark is a youth pursuing justice for his father’s murder in Ultima VII, inspired by programmer Raymond Benson’s son.
• Tseramed is a ranger skilled with sleep-inducing bee venom arrows featured in Ultima VII. Holding a grudge against Fellowship leaders over his lover’s death, he is based on lead programmer Ken Demarest III.
• Selina is an adept from Moonshade with personal reasons for joining the Avatar’s quest in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle.
• Boydon, resembling Frankenstein’s monster, becomes an ally after being reassembled in Serpent Isle.
• Stefano is a magic thief who assists with an escape from the Mountains of Freedom during Serpent Isle.
• Wilfred is a Bear Knight from Monitor who may join but whose loyalty remains uncertain throughout Serpent Isle.
• Petra, an automaton who supports Rocco at the Blue Boar inn, aids the Avatar’s mission in Serpent Isle.
• Sethys has been preserved for centuries within the Temple of Tolerance and assists with summoning pivotal figures during events in Serpent Isle.
• Iron automatons can be brought to life using the Create Automaton spell and recruited into the party during Serpent Isle.
• Raven, daughter of Samhayne, initially betrays but eventually supports the Avatar. She grants access to her ship, The Silver Hart, before departing prior to the final confrontation with the Guardian.

Worlds of Ultima allies

• Dr. Johann Spector is an Earth-origin companion to the Avatar who falls under the corrupting influence of the Valley of Eodon in Ultima: Savage Empire. Adopting the name Zipactriotl, he proclaims himself chief of a formidable tribal community and seeks to rally the insectoid Myrmidex in a campaign to dominate Earth. Once the Avatar dispels the enchantment, he rejoins the group and subsequently travels with the Avatar to Mars in Ultima: Martian Dreams. This character draws inspiration from Warren Spector, a former employee at Origin.

Arch-enemies

• Yes : Character is present in that title.
• No : Character does not appear.
• M/R : Character is mentioned or alluded to.
• Mnl : Character is noted only 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	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#cfc;"| Mnl	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#cfc;"| M/R	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|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 central villain in Ultima I. As the second son of Wolfgang, the king of Akalabeth, he received rudimentary magical training but was prohibited from practicing due to his lack of empathy. In response, Mondain murdered his father and seized a gem to forge the "Gem of Immortality," which endowed him with vast power and dominion over sinister creatures. He engineered various hybrid beasts within his laboratories and constructed his fortress on Terfin Island.

Following his defeat by Lord British, Mondain unleashed numerous dark entities in an attempt to subjugate Sosaria. His immortality was tied to the gem, which could only be destroyed by traveling back a millennium. The Stranger utilized a time machine to obliterate the gem and kill Mondain, simultaneously annihilating his stronghold.

Fragments of the Gem of Immortality play a pivotal role in subsequent titles such as Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny and Ultima Online. These shards appear in Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, giving rise to the Shadowlords in Ultima V and influencing key gameplay elements. In Ultima Online, multiple shards symbolize alternate universes containing Britannia.

Mondain’s appearance changes across games: he is depicted bald with a goatee in Ultima Online and Ultima IX: Ascension, whereas he has a full head of hair and no facial hair in Ultima VI.

Minax

Minax is the principal antagonist in Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress and also features in Ultima Online. A formidable sorceress who was both apprentice and lover to Mondain, she eventually surpassed his magical prowess. After surviving Mondain’s demise, Minax sought vengeance by manipulating dimensional and temporal gates to create the Time of Legends at the Origin of Times, allowing her to assault future realities without consequence.

To thwart interference from the Stranger, she invaded Earth, causing temporal disturbances that led to its destruction. Two decades after Mondain’s death, Minax mounted an invasion against Sosaria with her armies of Darkness.

In Ultima II, Lord British summoned a hero to confront Minax. The Stranger navigated through timegates and protective force fields inside her fortress, Shadowguard, ultimately defeating her using the quicksword Enilno. Her demise unleashed dark energies that transformed Sosaria into two continents: Sosaria proper and Ambrosia. Unknown to many, Mondain and Minax had produced a child, Exodus, an entity neither fully human nor machine.

Exodus

Exodus acts as the chief antagonist in Ultima III: Exodus, born from Mondain and Minax’s union. Its emergence is signaled by a missing ship that returns with its crew vanished and "EXODUS" scrawled in blood on its deck. Exodus terrorizes Sosaria from its stronghold on the Isle of Fire. Twenty years after Minax’s death, the Stranger returns to confront Exodus.

The Great Earth Serpent, trapped near the Isle of Fire, blocks access; the Stranger frees it using a magic 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. The castle’s floors and creatures actively attack intruders.

Although Exodus appears demonic, it is actually a magical computer that can only be destroyed by inserting four cards—Love, Sol, Moons, and Death—into designated slots. After its defeat, the Isle of Fire sinks until its reappearance 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 quests.

Lord Blackthorn

Lord Blackthorn assumes the role of Britannia's regent following Lord British’s disappearance in Ultima V. Initially, he governs with fairness and wisdom but falls under the corrupting influence of the Shadowlords, transforming into a harsh tyrant. When Lord British eventually returns, Blackthorn is banished through a red moongate to an unknown realm. As revealed in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle, this destination is Serpent Isle, where Blackthorn attains redemption by joining the Xenkan Monks and becoming part of their community.

Contradicting this narrative, Ultima IX portrays Blackthorn departing before the Avatar’s arrival and later reemerging as a villain allied with the Guardian. His story concludes with his death in a magical duel against Lord British at the Great Stygian Abyss, presenting inconsistencies with earlier accounts.

In Ultima Online, which follows a timeline diverging after Ultima I, Blackthorn is depicted both as Lord British’s closest ally and greatest adversary. He advocates for personal freedom and individuality through his own virtue, chaos—a force not inherently destructive—though he eventually embraces dark magic and becomes malevolent. After an apparent demise during an attack on Yew, this evil incarnation was retconned as a duplicate; the authentic Blackthorn ultimately ascends as Britannia’s monarch. The character’s design was inspired by Ultima Online project director Starr Long.

The Guardian

The Guardian is an immensely powerful extraterrestrial conqueror from another dimension, first introduced in Ultima VII: The Black Gate. Initially manifesting as a disembodied voice, he aims to subjugate Britannia through his agent Batlin, leader of the Fellowship, by constructing a black moongate to physically enter the world. The Avatar disrupts this scheme by destroying the gate.

In Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, the Guardian renews his efforts by encasing Castle Britannia within a blackrock dome and dispatching forces via a portal to eliminate Britannia's rulers. The Avatar counters these moves by destroying both the dome and portal. This installment reveals multiple worlds already conquered or obliterated by the Guardian.

Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle uncovers the Guardian’s contingency plan: sending Batlin to Serpent Isle to continue his conquest. Batlin’s betrayal unleashes the Banes of Chaos, which the Avatar counters by reuniting the Serpents of Chaos, Order, and Balance. The game concludes with the Avatar captured by the Guardian.

In Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Guardian imprisons the Avatar on Pagan, where he controls elemental magic. The Avatar masters these powers and eventually returns to Britannia.

By Ultima IX: Ascension, the Guardian has erected eight colossal columns throughout Britannia designed to pull its moons from orbit and annihilate the world. The Avatar destroys these columns and defeats the Guardian, who reveals himself as the Avatar’s dark counterpart—born from evil rejected in Ultima IV. Using the Armageddon spell, the Avatar merges with this dark half into a single entity.

Fans often interpret the Guardian as a metaphor for Origin’s parent company Electronic Arts, rumored to have limited Richard Garriott's creative freedom during later series installments. This theory is supported by the Guardian’s three artifacts—a sphere, cube, and tetrahedron—resembling EA’s early 1990s logo. Furthermore, Fellowship members Elizabeth and Abraham (E&A) mislead the Avatar and are revealed as antagonists. The Guardian’s title "Destroyer of Worlds" may be an allusion to Origin’s tagline, "We create worlds."

Other notable or frequently appearing characters

• Yes : The character is featured in that particular game.
• No : The character does not appear in that installment.
• AE : An alternate persona of the character is present in that game.
• M/R : The character is only mentioned or alluded to within the game.
• Mnl : The character is referenced solely in the game's 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	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|Yes	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|Yes	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|Yes	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|Yes  |  style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No  |  -	Hawkwind	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#C0C0C0"| Mnl	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|Yes	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No	-	Smith	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Style= "background:#c0c0c0"| M/R	No	-	Style= "text-align:left;" Wisps	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		style= "text-align:left;" Nystul	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Style= "background:#c0c0c0"| M/R	No	Yes

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 during computer camp, with the prefix "Lord" added during Dungeons & Dragons gameplay. Garriott published early games such as Akalabeth under this alias and appeared as Lord British in Ultima Online. He maintained ownership of the trademark for the character, who also made an appearance as General British in Tabula Rasa.

Within the narrative, Lord British arrives from Earth to Sosaria via a moongate, adopting the name Cantabrigian British in reference to his birthplace, Cambridge, UK. He vanquishes the malevolent wizard Mondain and earns titles like "Champion of the White Light" and "Protector of Akalabeth." This figure is instrumental in establishing Britannia's institutions and offers healing and resurrection to the Avatar.

Although widely regarded as invincible, Lord British has been slain through various glitches and exploits throughout numerous titles, inspiring the "Lord British Postulate": every living being is susceptible to death. Noteworthy instances include his demise by cannon fire in Ultima III: Exodus, being crushed by a falling plaque in Ultima VII, and multiple bug-related deaths during Ultima Online's beta phase—highlighting player influence on game environments. In Ultima IX: Ascension, he can be eliminated using poisoned bread crafted on Earth.

Chuckles

Chuckles acts as Lord British's court jester, frequently found within Castle Britannia. While he occasionally assists the Avatar, he has also been known to mislead them. This character is inspired by Chuck Bueche, one of Origin Systems' co-founders.

The Time Lord

The Time Lord oversees the proper flow of time. He aids the Avatar by divulging crucial information in Ultima III, directing quests linked to the Fellowship in Ultima VII, and reappearing in Ultima IX.

The Great Earth Serpent

In Ultima III, The Great Earth Serpent is compelled to guard the Isle of Fire and later supports the Avatar in reestablishing harmony on Serpent Isle during Ultima VII Part II.

The Gypsy

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

Hawkwind

Initially introduced as a cartographer in Ultima III, Hawkwind ascends to become Seer of Souls in Ultima IV, residing at Castle Britannia. He mentors the Stranger toward becoming an Avatar and returns with a more detailed backstory in Ultima IX.

Smith

A talking horse character appearing throughout the series.

Other characters in the series

• The King of the White Dragon shared rule over the Lands of Danger and Despair (later known as Serpent Isle) alongside Shamino in Ultima I. Following Mondain’s defeat, which fragmented Sosaria, Shamino was separated from his homeland, causing Beatrix’s death from grief. The King descended into madness, slaughtered guests amid a goblin invasion, and ultimately took his own life. His spirit confronts the Avatar in Ultima VII Part Two, where it is finally laid to rest.
• Sir Simon
• Lady Tessa
• Gwenneth, apprentice to Iolo, manages Iolo’s Bows shop during his outlaw period in Ultima V and assumes full control after his retirement by Ultima VI.
• Dr. Cat
• Sutek
• Sin'Vraal
• Nicodemus
• Rudyom
• Penumbra
• Horance
• Nell
• Patterson
• Nastassia
• Erstam
• Beatrix—daughter of the King of the White Dragon and Shamino’s fiancée—her tragic fate unfolds in Ultima VII Part Two. Her death triggers her father’s insanity and subsequent massacre during goblin attacks; her restless spirit haunts Shamino’s deserted castle.
• Samhayne

External links

• The Ultima Wiki – comprehensive details on all Ultima characters