Spark (Ultima)

Ultima series

Industry	Video games
Founded	1981
Founder	Richard Garriott
Products	Role-playing video games

This section enumerates key and frequently appearing characters from the Ultima series of video games, specifying the titles in which they make an appearance.

The Avatar and Companions

• Yes : The character is present in that installment.
• No : The character does not feature in that installment.
• Join : The character can or does become part of the Avatar's group.
• AE : A different persona of the character is featured in that installment.
• AEJ : An alternate persona appears and may join the Avatar's team.
• M/R : The character is only mentioned or alluded to.

The Stranger and the Avatar

In the initial Ultima titles, 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. To address these concerns, Garriott incorporated significant philosophical concepts and symbolism in subsequent installments. Drawing inspiration from a television program on Hinduism and the notion of the Avatar, he developed a system of eight Virtues for the protagonist in Ultima IV, who was then named the Avatar.

The Avatar made its first appearance in Ultima IV, where the character’s mission was to embody the Virtues and recover the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. In later entries, the Avatar overthrew an oppressive government (Ultima V), negotiated peace between humans and gargoyles (Ultima VI), confronted the Guardian in both Ultima VII and VIII, ultimately culminating in a selfless act in Ultima IX: Ascension.

Except for Ultima IX, players were able to assign a name to their Avatar. Earlier titles permitted customization of race, gender, and appearance; however, in Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Avatar was standardized as a blond-haired, blue-eyed male. The dialogue system progressed from keyword-based interactions in Ultima IV to fully voiced conversations in later games, with digitized speech introduced in Ultima IX.

Originally intended as a neutral character reflecting the player’s identity, the Avatar was among the earliest protagonists allowing selection of race and gender, representing an early adoption of "avatar" within its contemporary virtual meaning. With time, the Avatar developed a more distinct personality and visual identity.

The Eight Companions

In Ultima IV, eight companions accompany the Stranger on his journey toward becoming an Avatar. Seven join him directly; one companion sharing his profession does not accompany him. Each companion originally practices a trade connected to one of the eight Virtues and their respective towns. They serve as the Avatar’s initial allies and reappear across multiple Britannia-centered games—namely Ultima IV, V, VI, VII (Part I), and IX—often joining the Avatar’s party with some adopting different vocations over time.

• Iolo is a celebrated bard and crossbow maker residing in Britain during Ultima IV. He is married to Gwenno, a fact revealed in Ultima V. Iolo composed the melody for "Stones," with lyrics provided by Gwenno. He owns Smith, a talking horse known for his sarcastic commentary directed at the Avatar. By Ultima VII, Iolo operates two bow shops. His character is modeled after real-life bowyer and musician David R. Watson.

• Shamino Sallé Dacil is a ranger hailing from Skara Brae and formerly ruled an ancient Sosarian kingdom. After aiding the Stranger in Ultima I, he became stranded in Britannia following Sosaria’s continental division. By Ultima IV, he serves as a ranger and later accompanies the Avatar to Serpent Isle in Ultima VII Part II. Throughout his journey, Shamino faces numerous challenges, including imprisonment by the Guardian before being liberated by the Avatar. 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 mayor of Trinsic before joining the Stranger’s quest. He becomes a recurring ally and is knighted between Ultima VI and VII. Known for enjoying wine and women, Dupre even authors travel guides. In Ultima VII, he accumulates a significant bar tab that can be settled by the player. Dupre sacrifices himself to save Serpent Isle but is resurrected to assist against the Guardian in Ultima IX. His character is based on Garriott’s friend Greg Dykes.

• Jaana is a druid allied with Lord British who becomes an outlaw under Blackthorn’s regime, joining resistance efforts. She later relocates to Cove as a healer and aids in combating the Guardian. Jaana is named after a Finnish friend of Garriott.

• Julia is a tinker from Minoc with a Scottish accent who identifies flaws in shipbuilding during events of Ultima VII. In Ultima IX, she confesses her affection for the Avatar. Julia’s character draws inspiration from someone Garriott once dated.

• Katrina works as a shepherd and is Magincia’s sole survivor after a daemon assault destroys its port city. She remains amidst its ruins until New Magincia is reestablished as an agricultural community embracing Humility, becoming its first resident. Later abandoned again, she benefits from restoration efforts led by the Avatar. Katrina is based on Garriott’s acquaintance nicknamed Trina.

• Geoffrey is a fighter encountered in Jhelom who rises to captain of the guard defending against gargoyle attacks before retiring to Lord British’s castle. Geoffrey's character is inspired by Jeff Hillhouse, Origin's first and last employee.

• Mariah is an adventurous mage from Moonglow who goes into hiding on Lycaeum after Shadowlord attacks and assists the Avatar throughout their quest. In Ultima VI, she translates Gargoyle tablets but suffers from depression amid widespread mage insanity before being healed by the Avatar. Mariah is modeled after Garriott's assistant Michelle Caddel.

Additional Companions

Starting with Ultima V, the Avatar gains the ability to enlist a variety of characters beyond the core Eight Companions. Some of these figures appear repeatedly throughout the series, while others have brief or singular roles.

• Gwenno is both a performer and a scholar, frequently seen alongside her husband Iolo. She occasionally joins the Avatar in Ultima V and is credited with composing the lyrics for the song "Stones". Her persona is modeled after Kathleen Jones, spouse of David R. Watson (Iolo).
• Sentri debuts as a swashbuckling character in Ultima II and later attains the title of Baron of Serpent Hold. In Ultima VII, he resides within Britain and provides complimentary combat training once he becomes part of the party. Although missing from Ultima IX, his enchanted leggings can be found in Trinsic.
• Gorn is depicted as a barbarian prisoner who assists the Avatar's escape in Ultima V and returns in later installments. His character draws inspiration from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Conan.
• Johne lost his ship to a whirlpool prior to the events of Ultima V. Driven insane after uncovering fragments of the Gem of Immortality, he is responsible for the emergence of the Shadowlords. Renamed Captain John in Ultima VI, he studies gargoyles and imparts their language to the Avatar.
• Minor companions include Maxwell and Toshi, who serve as fighter and bard respectively in Ultima V.
• Saduj, affiliated with Blackthorn's "Oppression" faction, may betray the party if enlisted.
• The pirate lord Seggallion, encountered in both Ultima V and Ultima VI, claims his origin lies in Ashtalarea, a realm inaccessible via moongate travel.
• Beh Lem is a youthful gargoyle who guides the Avatar into Vesper during Ultima VI.
• In Ultima VI, companions such as Blaine, a gypsy juggler, and ship captains Leodon and Leonna offer their expertise.
• The talking mouse scout Sherry appears initially in Ultima VI and later assists at Lord British's Nursery in Ultima VII. Her character was inspired by Richard Garriott’s former girlfriend.
• A young ally named Spark appears in Ultima VII, driven by a desire to avenge his father's death; he is based on Raymond Benson’s son, one of the game's programmers.
• Ranger Tseramed from Ultima VII employs bee venom-tipped sleep arrows and harbors animosity toward Fellowship leaders; his character reflects lead programmer Ken Demarest III.
• In Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle, companions include the adept magic user Selina, Frankenstein-like warrior Boydon, stealthy magic thief Stefano, Bear Knight Wilfred, mechanical automaton Petra, and ancient sage Sethys, who assists with summoning rituals.
• The Avatar also has the ability to animate iron automatons through spells to bolster their party.
• Raven, daughter of Samhayne, initially betrays but ultimately supports the Avatar, granting access to her ship, The Silver Hart; their alliance reaches its peak before confronting the Guardian.

Worlds of Ultima Allies

• Dr. Johann Spector is an Earth-based ally of the Avatar. In Ultima: Savage Empire, he becomes corrupted by the power within the Valley of Eodon, adopting the identity Zipactriotl and leading a formidable tribal community. His goal is to unite Myrmidex insectoid creatures for an invasion of Earth. After being freed by the Avatar, he returns as Dr. Spector and accompanies the Avatar on Mars in Ultima: Martian Dreams. This character was inspired by Warren Spector, a former employee at Origin.

Arch-enemies

• Yes : Indicates the character is featured in that title.
• No : Indicates the character does not appear.
• M/R : Character is solely mentioned or alluded to.
• Mnl : Character is present only within the game 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:#FFFF90") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Yes	(style= "color:black;background-color:#A9A9A9;") M/R
Julia	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Yes	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Yes	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Yes
Katrina	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Join	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") No	(style= "color:black;background-color:#FFF59D;") Yes	(style= "color:black;background-color:#A9A9A9;") M/R
Geoffrey	"No"	"No"	"No"	"No"	"Join"	"Join"	"Yes"	"No"	"No"	"No"	"Yes"	"Yes"	"No"	"No"	"Yes"	"Yes"

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
The Guardian	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|Yes
Batlin	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	style= "background:#cfcfcf;" | M/R	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No

Mondain

Mondain serves as the chief villain in Ultima I. As the younger son of Wolfgang, the monarch of Akalabeth, he received elementary magical instruction but was prohibited from practicing magic due to his lack of empathy. In defiance, Mondain murdered his father and seized a gem to forge the "Gem of Immortality," which significantly enhanced his dark sorcery and dominion over creatures such as minotaurs, lizardmen, orcs, and goblins. His fortress was situated on Terfin Island.

Following his defeat by Lord British, Mondain summoned evil beings to subjugate Sosaria. The Gem of Immortality shielded him from death in the present era; only by destroying this gem could he be eliminated. The Stranger traveled back in time to annihilate the gem a millennium earlier, resulting in Mondain’s demise and the ruin of his stronghold.

Fragments of the shattered gem played pivotal roles in subsequent titles: in Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny and Ultima Online, these shards became central to the formation of the Shadowlords and contained alternate realms within Britannia. In Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, three shards along with Mondain’s skull are discovered amid Terfin’s submerged ruins; while the skull kills nearby creatures, it negatively affects the Avatar’s karma. Depictions of Mondain vary across installments, sometimes showing him with or without hair and facial hair.

Minax

Minax is the principal antagonist featured in Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress and also appears in Ultima Online. A formidable sorceress and former disciple—and lover—of Mondain, she eventually surpassed his magical prowess. Surviving Mondain’s death, Minax sought vengeance by targeting the Stranger’s homeworld.

Employing dimensional and temporal portals, she initiated the Time of Legends at the Origin of Times, allowing assaults on future worlds without fear of temporal retaliation. She invaded Earth, causing temporal chaos and its destruction. Two decades after Mondain's fall, Minax launched an offensive against Sosaria with her armies.

In Ultima II, Lord British called upon a hero to thwart her plans. The Stranger traversed timegates to reach Minax’s fortress, Shadowguard, overcoming protective force fields using an enchanted ring. After an intense confrontation, Minax was defeated with the quicksword Enilno. Her death unleashed dark energies that transformed Sosaria into two continents: Sosaria and Ambrosia. Unbeknownst to many, Mondain and Minax had created Exodus, a hybrid being neither wholly human nor machine.

Exodus

Exodus is the central antagonist in Ultima III: Exodus, born from the union of Mondain and Minax. Its initial sign is a missing ship that reappears with its crew gone and "EXODUS" inscribed in blood on its deck. Exodus instills terror across Sosaria from its fortress on the Isle of Fire. Twenty years after Minax's demise, the Stranger returns to confront Exodus.

The path to the Isle of Fire is obstructed by the imprisoned Great Earth Serpent, who aids the Avatar once freed. Castle Exodus is protected by magical wards that require specific symbols for safe passage. The castle contains hostile monsters and animated floors that attack intruders.

Though Exodus manifests as a demonic entity, it is ultimately revealed to be a magical computer destroyed only by inserting four cards: Love, Sol, Moons, and Death. Following its destruction, the Isle of Fire remains submerged until 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 role of Britannia’s regent following the disappearance of Lord British in Ultima V. Initially characterized by fairness, his rule deteriorates after the Shadowlords corrupt him, transforming him into a despotic figure. 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 seeks atonement by joining the Xenkan Monks and becoming part of their order.

Contradicting this storyline, Ultima IX portrays Blackthorn as departing before the Avatar’s arrival and reemerging as an antagonist aligned with the Guardian. His demise occurs in a magical duel against Lord British, presenting a narrative inconsistency with previous accounts.

In Ultima Online, which branches off from the main series timeline after Ultima I, Blackthorn is depicted both as Lord British’s closest confidant and his greatest adversary. He advocates for personal freedom and individuality through his own principle known as virtue chaos—not malevolent but symbolizing equilibrium. Following his alliance with dark magic, he turns into a malevolent entity and appears to be slain during an attack on Yew. This sinister incarnation was later retconned as a duplicate; the authentic Blackthorn ultimately becomes Britannia's monarch. It is noteworthy that Lord Blackthorn’s character was inspired by Ultima Online project director Starr Long.

The Guardian

The Guardian is an immensely powerful alien invader from another dimension who first emerges in Ultima VII: The Black Gate predominantly as a disembodied voice. His objective is to conquer Britannia through his agent Batlin, founder of the Fellowship, by constructing a black moongate to physically enter the world. The Avatar prevents this invasion by destroying the moongate.

In Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, the Guardian encloses Castle Britannia within a dome made of blackrock and attempts to seize control by assassinating its leaders via a portal. The Avatar counters this threat by destroying both the portal and dome while exploring worlds already subdued by the Guardian.

Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle unveils a contingency plan: Batlin is dispatched to Serpent Isle but betrays the Guardian by unleashing the Banes of Chaos. The Avatar restores harmony by reconciling the Chaos, Order, and Balance Serpents but is ultimately captured by the Guardian at the game’s climax.

In Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Guardian imprisons the Avatar on Pagan, a realm under his dominion. There, the Avatar gains mastery over elemental magic before returning to Britannia.

During Ultima IX: Ascension, while the Avatar remains trapped, the Guardian erects eight pillars across Britannia designed to pull its moons from orbit, endangering planetary stability. The Avatar dismantles these columns and defeats the Guardian, who reveals himself as the Avatar’s dark counterpart—formed from evil abandoned in Ultima IV. Their final confrontation results in fusion into a new entity through the Armageddon spell.

Industry analysts interpret the Guardian as a metaphor for Origin’s parent company, Electronic Arts, reflecting creative control conflicts during later series development. This theory is supported by artifacts associated with the Guardian—the sphere, cube, and tetrahedron—that resemble EA’s 1990s logo. Furthermore, Fellowship members Elizabeth and Abraham (E&A) act as misleading guides in The Black Gate, symbolizing corporate influence. The Guardian’s epithet "Destroyer of Worlds" parallels Origin’s slogan, "We create worlds."

Other notable or recurring characters

• Yes : Character is featured in the game.
• No : Character does not appear.
• AE : An alternate persona of the character is present.
• M/R : Only mentioned or alluded to.
• Mnl : Cited 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	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Hawkwind	No	No	No	Mnl	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Smith	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Wisps	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Nystul
Lord Draxinusom
Arcadion
The King of the White Dragon
Sir Simon
Lady Tessa
Gwenneth
Dr. Cat
Sutek
Sin'Vraal
Nicodemus
Rudyom
Penumbra
Horance
Nell
Patterson
Nastassia
Erstam
Beatrix
Samhayne
Nelson %} Lord British Lord British serves as the sovereign of Britannia and represents the in-game identity of series creator Richard Garriott. This moniker originated as a nickname among Garriott's friends, with the "Lord" title appended during his Dungeons & Dragons sessions. Early games such as Akalabeth were released under this alias, and he also portrayed Lord British in Ultima Online. Garriott maintained trademark ownership of Lord British, who additionally appeared as General British in Garriott's now-defunct title, Tabula Rasa. In the series' mythology, Lord British travels from Earth to Sosaria through a moongate, adopting the name Cantabrigian British, reflecting his Cambridge origins. He defeats the malevolent wizard Mondain and earns titles like "Champion of the White Light" and "Protector of Akalabeth." This figure plays a pivotal role throughout many Ultima narratives and institutions, offering healing, resurrection, and various forms of assistance to the Avatar. Lord British is famously regarded as invincible; however, he has been slain due to game glitches and exploits—a phenomenon dubbed the "Lord British Postulate," which posits that any active game character will eventually be targeted. Although Garriott was displeased by such occurrences (for example, being killed by cannon fire in Ultima III: Exodus), these moments became memorable within gaming culture. In Ultima VII, an easter egg permits his death by a falling gold plaque—a reference to an actual accident at Origin Systems. During the beta phase of Ultima Online, Lord British was notably killed because of bugs and oversights, marking a significant moment in player impact on online environments. Similarly, General British met his demise during Tabula Rasa's beta testing. In Ultima IX: Ascension, players have the ability to eliminate Lord British by using poisoned bread crafted on Earth. Chuckles Chuckles functions as Lord British’s court jester, typically found within Castle Britannia. Although he occasionally assists the Avatar, he is also known for providing misleading guidance during quests. This character is modeled after Chuck Bueche, one of Origin Systems’ founders. The Time Lord The Time Lord oversees the orderly progression of time throughout the universe. In Ultima III, he directs the placement of Four Cards necessary to defeat Exodus; in Ultima VII, he offers intelligence regarding the Fellowship; and he returns to aid again in Ultima IX. The Great Earth Serpent In Ultima III, the Great Earth Serpent is imprisoned by Exodus to guard the Isle of Fire. Later, it assists the Avatar in restoring equilibrium on Serpent Isle during Ultima VII Part II. The Gypsy Before embarking on quests in Ultima IV, V, VI, and IX, the Avatar consults the Gypsy to evaluate their virtue levels. Hawkwind Mentioned initially as a renowned cartographer in Ultima III, Hawkwind ascends to become Seer of Souls in Ultima IV and resides within Castle Britannia, guiding the Stranger toward becoming an Avatar. He reappears with a more developed backstory in Ultima IX. Smith A talking horse featured throughout the series. Other characters in the series The King of the White Dragon once co-governed the Lands of Danger and Despair (later known as Serpent Isle) alongside Shamino in Ultima I. After Sosaria was fragmented following Mondain's defeat, Shamino found himself separated from his homeland. Beatrix—his betrothed and daughter of the King—died from heartbreak. The King descended into madness, slaughtered guests during a Solstice Festival amidst goblin assaults, and ultimately died by falling from his castle tower. His restless spirit haunts his castle in Ultima VII Part Two until vanquished by the Avatar. Sir Simon Lady Tessa Gwenneth serves as Iolo's apprentice and takes over management of Iolo's Bows shop after Iolo becomes an outlaw in Ultima V and retires by Ultima VI. Dr. Cat Sutek Sin'Vraal Nicodemus Rudyom Penumbra Horance Nell Patterson Nastassia Erstam The story of Beatrix is elaborated upon in Ultima VII Part Two. As Shamino’s fiancée and daughter to the King of the White Dragon, her demise triggered her father’s insanity and subsequent massacre during goblin invasions. Her vengeful ghost confronts Shamino during the Avatar’s quest on Serpent Isle. Samhayne External links The Ultima Wiki – detailed resource covering all Ultima characters