Spector (Ultima)

Ultima series

Industry	Video games
Founder	Richard Garriott
Products	Video games

This compilation outlines key or frequently appearing characters within the Ultima series of video games, specifying the titles in which they feature.

The Avatar and Companions

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

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
Julia ... (table continues similarly for other companions) ...

The Stranger and the Avatar

In the initial Ultima series, players assumed the role of the Stranger, experiencing open-ended gameplay that permitted actions such as theft and violence. Following Ultima III, creator Richard Garriott encountered parental backlash concerning the game’s moral ambiguity and accusations of Satanic themes, largely due to the depiction of a demonic villain on the cover art. To address these concerns, Garriott developed a framework of eight Virtues inspired by the Hindu concept of the Avatar, thereby crafting a protagonist with greater ethical significance for Ultima IV.

The Avatar made its first appearance in Ultima IV, charged with embodying these Virtues and securing the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. In later installments, the Avatar confronted tyrannical rulers (Ultima V), negotiated peace among diverse peoples (Ultima VI), and ultimately challenged the Guardian across Ultima VII, VIII, and Ultima IX: Ascension.

Except for Ultima IX, players had the option to name their Avatar; earlier titles allowed customization of race, gender, and appearance, whereas in Ultima VIII: Pagan, the Avatar was standardized as a blond-haired, blue-eyed male. Dialogue systems evolved from keyword-based inputs to fully voiced conversations by Ultima VII and Ultima Underworld, with digitized speech incorporated in Ultima IX.

Originally conceived as a blank canvas mirroring player identity, the Avatar was one of the earliest game heroes permitting selection of race and gender, laying groundwork for contemporary virtual avatars. Over time, this character gained more distinct traits and visual representation, enriching player immersion and storytelling complexity.

The Eight Companions

In Ultima IV, the Stranger is accompanied by eight Companions on his journey toward becoming the Avatar. Only seven join him directly, as one Companion who shares his profession is excluded from party membership. Each Companion practices a vocation connected to one of the eight Virtues and their respective town. These individuals serve as the Avatar’s initial allies and are featured across all primary Britannia-centric games: Ultima IV, V, VI, VII (Part I), and IX. Several return in later titles, occasionally adopting new roles.

• Iolo is a celebrated bard and expert bowyer famed for crafting crossbows, living in Britain during Ultima IV. He and Gwenno—revealed as spouses in Ultima V—composed the well-known ballad "Stones." Owner of Smith, a talking horse, Iolo manages two bow shops by Ultima VII. His character is modeled after real-life bowyer and musician David R. Watson.
• Shamino Sallé Dacil hails 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. By Ultima IV, he serves as a ranger and later accompanies the Avatar to Serpent Isle in Ultima VII Part II. Shamino’s 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 acts as mayor of Trinsic before joining the Stranger’s quest. Knighted between Ultima VI and VII, he frequently appears throughout the series. Known for his fondness for wine and women, Dupre accumulates bar debts and authors travel guides. He sacrifices himself to protect Serpent Isle but is revived to combat the Guardian in Ultima IX. His character is based on Garriott's friend Greg Dykes.
• Jaana serves as a druid allied with Lord British who becomes an outlaw under Blackthorn’s rule, joining resistance efforts. She later relocates to Cove as a healer and aids in opposing the Guardian. Her name honors a Finnish friend of Garriott.
• Julia is a Scottish-accented tinker from Minoc who exposes shipbuilding defects during events in Ultima VII. In Ultima IX, she confesses her affection for the Avatar. The character draws inspiration from a former acquaintance of Garriott.
• Katrina works as a shepherd and is Magincia’s sole survivor after a daemon assault, dwelling amid its ruins. When Magincia is resettled as New Magincia embracing Humility, she becomes its inaugural citizen. The Avatar assists in reestablishing this Virtue there. Katrina is based on Garriott’s friend nicknamed Trina.
• Geoffrey is a fighter from Jhelom who rises to captain of the guard defending against gargoyle incursions before retiring to Lord British’s castle. He was modeled after Jeff Hillhouse, Origin’s first employee.
• Mariah is an adventurous mage originating from Moonglow. After attacks by Shadowlords, she takes refuge in Lycaeum and supports the Avatar. She translates Gargoyle tablets in Ultima VI and recovers from mage-induced insanity with assistance from the Avatar. Mariah’s character 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 core Eight. Some of these characters appear multiple times throughout the series, while others join for limited periods or an entire installment.

• Gwenno serves as an entertainer, scholar, and adventurer who frequently travels alongside her husband Iolo. She is credited with composing the lyrics to the song "Stones" in Ultima V and was inspired by the wife of David R. Watson.
• Sentri makes his debut as a swashbuckler in Ultima II and later assumes the title of Baron of Serpent Hold. In Ultima VII, he provides the Avatar and their companions with complimentary combat training. His enchanted leggings are featured in Ultima IX.
• Gorn is a barbarian prisoner who assists the Avatar in escaping captivity during Ultima V and returns in later titles such as Ultima VI and VII. His character design draws inspiration from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Conan.
• Johne lost his ship to a whirlpool prior to Ultima V. Driven mad by fragments of the Gem of Immortality, he created the Shadowlords using the blood of his fallen comrades. Renamed Captain John, he aids the Avatar in understanding gargoyles and teaches their language in Ultima VI.
• Maxwell and Toshi appear as a novice fighter and bard, respectively, in Ultima V.
• Saduj, affiliated with Blackthorn’s "Oppression" faction in Ultima V, will betray the group if recruited.
• Pirate lord Seggallion supplies the spyglass in Ultima V. In Ultima VI, he reveals his origins from Ashtalarea, a realm introduced in Knights of Legend, stranded far from Britannia.
• Beh Lem is a young gargoyle who accompanies the Avatar into Vesper during Ultima VI.
• Blaine, a Romani juggler, is available as a potential companion in Ultima VI.
• Ship captains Leodon and Leonna provide formidable combat assistance within Buccaneer’s Den in Ultima VI.
• The talking mouse scout Sherry first appears in Ultima VI and later returns as an aide at Lord British’s Nursery in Ultima VII. She was inspired by Richard Garriott’s former girlfriend.
• Spark is a young man on a quest to avenge his father’s murder in Ultima VII, modeled after programmer Raymond Benson’s son.
• Ranger Tseramed from Ultima VII employs bee venom-tipped arrows and harbors animosity towards Fellowship leaders; his character is based on lead programmer Ken Demarest III.
• Adept Selina from Moonshade joins the party in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle, pursuing her own objectives.
• The Frankenstein-like creature Boydon from Serpent Isle can be recruited after being reassembled.
• Magic thief Stefano assists with escaping the Mountains of Freedom during Serpent Isle.
• Bear Knight Wilfred of Monitor may join but conceals ulterior motives.
• The automaton Petra supports quests while working at Moonshade’s Blue Boar tavern.
• Ancient sage Sethys aids in summoning the shade of the Hierophant of Chaos.
• Iron automatons created through the Create Automaton spell are eligible party members in Serpent Isle.
• Raven, daughter of Samhayne, initially betrays but eventually aids the Avatar, granting passage aboard her ship The Silver Hart before departing ahead of the final confrontation with the Guardian.

Worlds of Ultima Companions

• Dr. Johann Spector originates from Earth and allies with the Avatar. In Ultima: Savage Empire, he falls under the influence of the Valley of Eodon's power, adopting the persona Zipactriotl and becoming leader of a formidable tribal community. His objective is to unify the insectoid Myrmidex forces to invade Earth. Once the Avatar dispels his enchantment, he returns to his true self as Dr. Spector and joins the Avatar’s group, later traveling alongside him to Mars in Ultima: Martian Dreams. This character pays homage to Warren Spector, a former employee at Origin.

Arch-enemies

• Yes : Character is featured in that title.
• No : Character does not appear.
• M/R : Only mentioned or referenced.
• Mnl : Cited 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	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Batlin	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	M/R	No

Mondain

Mondain serves as the chief villain in Ultima I. As the younger son of Wolfgang, the ruler of Akalabeth, he initially received instruction in basic magic but was prohibited from practicing it 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 base of operations was located on Terfin Island.

Following his defeat at the hands of Lord British, Mondain amassed enormous forces aiming to conquer Sosaria. The Gem of Immortality granted him invulnerability except when the gem itself was destroyed. Utilizing time travel, the Stranger destroyed the gem a millennium earlier, resulting in Mondain’s death and the ruin of his fortress.

Fragments of the shattered gem became significant elements in subsequent titles: Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny and Ultima Online. Within Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, three shards along with Mondain’s skull are discovered amid Terfin’s submerged ruins. These shards give rise to the Shadowlords in Ultima V and are essential for defeating them; Mondain’s skull possesses the power to kill nearby creatures but inflicts harm upon the Avatar’s karma. In Ultima Online, multiple shards exist across parallel universes that encompass Britannia.

Mondain’s visual portrayal differs across games: in Ultima Online and Ultima IX: Ascension, he is depicted as bald with a goatee, bearing resemblance to Ming the Merciless, whereas in Ultima VI he is shown with a full head of hair and no facial hair.

Minax

Minax is featured as the principal antagonist in Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress and also appears in Ultima Online. A formidable sorceress who was once both apprentice and lover to Mondain, she eventually exceeded his magical prowess and sought revenge following his demise at the Stranger’s hands.

After surviving Mondain’s downfall, Minax retreated into hiding, growing more powerful over a decade. She uncovered knowledge about the Stranger’s homeworld and employed dimensional and temporal gateways to initiate the Time of Legends at the Origin of Times, allowing her to launch assaults on future periods without fear of temporal counterattacks. To eliminate obstacles, she obliterated Earth by destabilizing time itself. Two decades after Mondain’s death, Minax invaded Sosaria commanding her dark armies.

In Ultima II, Lord British summoned a hero to confront her. The Stranger responded, navigating through timegates and force fields that required an enchanted ring for entry into her stronghold, Shadowguard. After an extended battle, Minax was defeated by the Stranger wielding the quicksword Enilno. Her demise released dark energies that reshaped Sosaria into two landmasses: Sosaria proper and Ambrosia. Unknown to many, Mondain and Minax had a child—Exodus—a hybrid being neither fully human nor machine.

Exodus

Exodus acts as the antagonist in Ultima III: Exodus, conceived by Mondain and Minax. Its emergence is first signaled by a missing ship returning with its crew vanished and "EXODUS" inscribed in blood upon its deck. From its fortress on the Isle of Fire, Exodus summons creatures to terrorize Sosaria. Twenty years after Minax’s death, the Stranger returns to confront Exodus.

Access to the Isle of Fire is obstructed by the imprisoned Great Earth Serpent, which the Stranger liberates using a magical word. In gratitude, this serpent later aids in Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle. Castle Exodus is shielded by magical barriers that require specific marks for safe passage. The castle itself is filled with hostile monsters and animated flooring.

Though Exodus appears demonic, it is revealed to be a magical computer that can only be destroyed by inserting four cards: Love, Sol, Moons, and Death. Its destruction causes the Isle of Fire to submerge until events unfold in Ultima VII: The Black Gate. In the Forge of Virtue expansion, Exodus’s Dark Core persists; the Avatar must banish this entity 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 demonstrating prudent leadership, he gradually succumbs to tyranny under the influence of the Shadowlords. By the conclusion of the game, Lord British is reinstated, and Blackthorn is banished through a red moongate to an unfamiliar 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.

Contradicting this storyline, Ultima IX portrays Blackthorn departing Britannia prior to the Avatar’s arrival and later returning as a villain allied with the Guardian. His narrative ends with his death in a magical duel against Lord British at the Great Stygian Abyss, which conflicts with earlier accounts.

In Ultima Online, which diverges from the main series timeline after Ultima I, Blackthorn is depicted as both Lord British’s closest ally and most formidable adversary. He embodies the virtue of chaos, advocating for personal freedom and individuality—not as destruction but as transformation. Aligning himself with dark magic, he becomes a malevolent figure seemingly killed during an assault on Yew. This malevolent version was later retconned as a mere duplicate; the true Blackthorn ultimately ascended to Britannia’s throne. Notably, Lord Blackthorn served as the virtual persona for Ultima Online’s project director Starr Long.

The Guardian

The Guardian is a formidable extraterrestrial conqueror from another dimension, first introduced in Ultima VII: The Black Gate primarily as an unseen voice. His plan to dominate Britannia involves his agent Batlin, founder of the Fellowship, and constructing a black moongate to physically enter Britannia. The Avatar disrupts this plan by destroying the moongate.

In Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, the Guardian imprisons the Avatar beneath Castle Britannia inside a blackrock dome, intending to invade by sending forces through a portal. The Avatar defeats him by destroying both the portal and dome while exploring worlds already subjugated by the Guardian.

Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle reveals the Guardian’s contingency: dispatching Batlin to Serpent Isle to continue his conquest. Batlin’s betrayal results in his death but unleashes the Banes of Chaos. The Avatar neutralizes this threat by reuniting the Chaos, Order, and Balance Serpents but ultimately is captured by the Guardian.

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

By Ultima IX: Ascension, the Guardian has erected eight massive columns throughout Britannia designed to draw its moons into catastrophic collision. The Avatar destroys these structures and defeats the Guardian, who reveals himself as the Avatar’s dark half—an embodiment of abandoned evil from Ultima IV. Their final confrontation concludes with their fusion into a new entity via the Armageddon spell.

Industry commentators have theorized that the Guardian symbolizes Electronic Arts (EA), Origin’s parent company, reflecting alleged creative tensions with Richard Garriott. Supporting this interpretation are artifacts associated with the Guardian—the sphere, cube, and tetrahedron—that resemble EA’s early 1990s logo. Furthermore, two Fellowship members named Elizabeth and Abraham (E&A) deliberately mislead the Avatar and are exposed as antagonists. The Guardian’s moniker "Destroyer of Worlds" may allude to Origin’s slogan "We create worlds."

Other Notable or Recurring Characters

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

Character	U0	U1	U2	U3	U4	U5	U6	SE	MD	UU1	U7:BG	UU2	U7:SI	U8	U9	UO
Lord British	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	AE	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Chuckles	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	M/R	No	No	M/R	No
The Time Lord	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	M/R	Mnl	No	Yes	Yes
The Great Earth Serpent	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
The Gypsy	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Hawkwind	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:#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	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
Smith	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:#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:#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:#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:#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:#C0C0C0"| M/R	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No
Wisps	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:#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:#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:#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:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|Yes
Nystul	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	, { { no } }	, { { no } }	, { { no } }	, { { yes } }	, { { no } }	, { { no } }	, { { no } }	, { { yes } }	, { { yes } }	, { { no } }	, style= "background:#C0C0C0"| M/R, { { no } }	, { { yes } }
Lord Draxinusom	{ { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { yes }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { yes }} | style= "background:#C0C0C0"| M/R, { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }}
Arcadion	{ { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { yes }} | { { no }} | { { yes }} | { { yes }} | { { no }} | style= "background:#C0C0C0"| M/R,
The King of the White Dragon	{ { no }} | { { yes }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { yes }} | { { no }} | { { no }} | { { no }}
Sir Simon	{ { ... (table continues with remaining characters in similar compressed format)

Lord British

Lord British serves as the sovereign of Britannia and represents the in-game identity of series originator Richard Garriott. The moniker originated as a friendly nickname and was enhanced by Garriott’s involvement in Dungeons & Dragons. Early works such as Akalabeth were released under this alias, with Lord British also appearing prominently in Ultima Online. After departing from Origin Systems, Garriott retained the trademark, and the character resurfaced as General British in Tabula Rasa.

Hailing from Earth, Lord British takes on the name Cantabrigian British, reflecting his birthplace of Cambridge, UK. He triumphs over the dark sorcerer Mondain and earns 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 frequently offers healing and resurrection to the Avatar.

Though traditionally deemed invincible, Lord British has been defeated due to programming flaws and player exploits, giving rise to the "Lord British Postulate"—the idea that gamers will attempt to kill any living entity within a game. Despite Garriott’s dissatisfaction, these occurrences took place in titles like Ultima III: Exodus, Ultima VII, and during the Ultima Online beta, where his demise marked a pivotal moment by enhancing player agency. Similarly, General British met his end during Tabula Rasa beta testing. In Ultima IX: Ascension, he can be eliminated using a poisoned loaf of bread made on Earth.

Chuckles

Chuckles acts as the royal jester within Lord British’s court at Castle Britannia. While occasionally aiding the Avatar, he is equally known for misleading them. This character is inspired by Chuck Bueche, one of Origin Systems’ co-founders.

The Time Lord

The Time Lord oversees the proper progression of time throughout the universe. He provides guidance to the Avatar in Ultima III, Ultima VII, and Ultima IX, offering vital insights into major quests and foes such as Exodus and the Fellowship.

The Great Earth Serpent

In Ultima III, The Great Earth Serpent is captured by Exodus to guard the Isle of Fire. Later, in Ultima VII Part II, it assists the Avatar in reestablishing harmony on Serpent Isle.

The Gypsy

Before embarking on quests in Ultima IV, V, VI, and IX, the Avatar seeks counsel from the Gypsy to evaluate their virtues’ strengths.

Hawkwind

Initially appearing as a cartographer in Ultima III, Hawkwind evolves into the Seer of Souls residing within Castle Britannia by Ultima IV. He directs the Avatar toward becoming an Avatar himself and returns with a more detailed backstory in Ultima IX.

Smith

A sentient horse featured throughout the series.

Additional Characters in the Series

• The King of the White Dragon once ruled alongside Shamino over the Lands of Danger and Despair (later known as Serpent Isle) in Ultima I. After Mondain’s defeat caused Sosaria’s fragmentation, Shamino found himself separated from his homeland. The King’s daughter, Beatrix—betrothed to Shamino—died from heartbreak. This tragedy drove the King insane; during a Solstice Festival amid a goblin siege, he slaughtered his guests before taking his own life. His restless spirit appears to challenge the Avatar in Ultima VII Part Two until finally finding peace.
• Sir Simon
• Lady Tessa
• Gwenneth co-manages Iolo’s Bows with Gwenno during Iolo’s outlawing by Blackthorn in Ultima V. By Ultima VI, she assumes sole proprietorship following Iolo’s retirement.
• Dr. Cat
• Sutek
• Sin'Vraal
• Nicodemus
• Rudyom
• Penumbra
• Horance
• Nell
• Patterson
• Nastassia
• Erstam
• Beatrix's narrative unfolds within Ultima VII Part Two. As both Shamino’s betrothed and daughter of the King of the White Dragon, her death precipitates her father’s descent into madness and his castle massacre amid goblin attacks. Her vengeful ghost confronts Shamino during the Avatar’s quest.
• Samhayne

External links

• The Ultima Wiki – an extensive database covering Ultima characters