Britain in Ultima IV

Britain in Ultima V

Britain in Ultima VI

    Britain, the largest city in Britannia, is the capital of Britannia and where Lord British has his castle. Protected by the mountains of Serpents Spine to the east and north, Britain is on the shores of Britanny Bay, and the busiest seaport in the land.The royal city of Britain is the centre of commerce for the entire realm, and has many excellent shops and inns. Famed for the art, theatre and music made by the many bards that live there, Britain is the city of compassion. There is also a museum there, where the avatar often finds interesting and usefull items, and liberates or borrows them, all in the name of virtue of course. ;)

    During it's early years the city of Britain was to the south of Lord British's Castle, and the settlements to the North, East and West of the Castle were known as North Britanny, East Britanny and West Britanny. As the city grew in size and prosperity so the Britannys were absorbed into the city and became all one large city. During the era of Ultima VII even Britain and Paws were only an short distance apart as Britain grew ever larger.

    During the era of Ultima VII when the city of Britain was at it's largest and most prosperous, there was an theatre where plays about the Avatar were often performed and a music hall, where young bards studied music. Since the great cataclysm which hit Britannia even this once majestic city has declined and now has only the museum, one pub and a few shops.

Patterson, Mayor of Britain during Ultima VII. Patterson was elected mayor of Britain two years ago, he seems to have a bit of an superiority complex as he boasts about his easy victory over the "peasant" Brownie the farmer. Patterson then unconvincingly denys that he views himself as superior and assures the avatar that Britannia no longer has an class system. He is also president of the Britannian Tax Council, *sigh* however could an idyllic land like Britannia have such evil things as taxes? ;) Is it virtuous to lie to an tax man? ;)

The Castle in Ultima IV

The Castle in Ultima V

The Castle in Ultima VI

The castle of Lord British is situated in Britain, nestled against the protective mountains of Serpents spine., overlooking Brittany Bay. Over the years it has undergone many changes, unfortunately one change which has not happened is getting rid of Chuckles the jester, quite possibly the most irritating character in the entire Ultima series. ;) The castle is well protected by cannons, battlements and the castle guard, it is considered a great honour to be chosen to serve as a guard, these valourous and loyal men and women are ready to spring into action whenever lord british or the castle are threatened. Only the best fighters are chosen to guard the castle and the town of Britain, even thy fighting skills, Avatar, are not sufficient to defeat the guards. Since the time of Ultima VI Geoffrey, the avatars companion on previous adventures, leads the castle guard.

Lord British has always enjoyed challenging the avatar to search the castle thouroughly and find items which may help him on his travels, search thouroughly and you may find secret doors and passages, magically locked doors and many usefull items. Lord Britsh seems to derive great entertainment and amusement from this game, and it is understood that the avatar may take whatever he finds if it will aid Britannia.

The castle has sometimes been the scene of dirty deeds, and I do not mean flinging dirty diapers at Shamino and wartching him beg for mercy, I refer of course to the practise of murdering our beloved lord british. Our long suffering liege has died in many different ways and many different places, and why ? Because some so called avatars find it entertaining to kill him, is it compassinate to feed him poisoned bread, or drop signs on his head, is it justice, is it honourable ? ;) Ok, so he sits there on his throne doing nothing and sends you off to risk your life saving Britannia yet again, I mean why cant he go and save Britannia himself for once ? Anyway I have always resisted the temptation to indulge in such unavatarly practises as murdering Lord B, and no-one can proove any different since I clearly recall removing all the evidence. :P

It is not known when the castle was first built, though it is certainly very old, it is also not known when exactly Lord British first started to live in the castle, or whether he had it built or not. If there are any people who know this information please inform me and I can add it to this section.

At the time of Ultima IV the castle is the greatest building in all Brittainia, though the avatar thought it smaller than expected and describes it as "made of roughly cut stones fitted together with mortar". He also says that "as I approached it even this small castle looked pretty massive".

The castle in Ultima IV is two stories high, with tall towers at each corner, it has a magnifient entrance hall lined with marble pillars. Just beyond the entrance hall there is a room with an indoor stream and a statue of an ankh. There are guardrooms, a healer and a magic shop, also a prison. The throne room is on the second floor.

When the avatar returns to Brittania in Ultima V, he discovers that the castle is much improved and enlarged, it is now an imposing five story building made of glistening white marble. There are two kitchens, a dining room, council chambers where the great council meet, an armoury with a rather grumpy shopkeeper, a jail, and stables where the finest horses in all the land are bred. At the entrance to the castle there is a beautifull ornate fountain running with crystal clear water, the thirsty traveller may drink these waters if he wishes, they are said to be very refreshing. The castle has five tall towers topped with battlements, one tower at each corner with powerful cannons to guard castle and town, the tallest tower in the centre, from which the Serpent flag flies for all to see.

There is much to explore in the castle with many locked and magically locked doors, and stairways to other parts of the castle, though Lord British is missing I am sure that he would not mind if you borrow things from the castle to aid in your quest.

Lord British's throne room is on the second floor of the castle, just by the entrance to his throne room there is a small indoor garden with green plants growing and a fountain, a pleasant peacefull place to rest a while. The throne room itself is the most splendid room in the entire castle, three pillars of white marble are on each side of the room, a path of dark marble tiles lead to the throne. There is a richly woven rug with a silver serpent on it, and a crystal ball, gaze into it and see what thou dost see in the swirling depths of the crystal.

The private chambers of Lord British are on the top floor, and include a roof garden with a telescope which our beloved liege uses to study the stars and planets.

In Ultima VI the castle is still a magnificent building of white marble with blue tiled floors, but it has mysteriously shrunk and is now only two stories high. A moat with drawbridge and portcullis adds to the castle defences, just beyond this there is a pretty garden with shurbs, grass and two fountains. The castle has a stunning entrance hall with rich blue tiled floor, deep clear ponds and two fierce statues either side of the doors to the thorne room. The throne room has changed little since Ultima V, though the throne is now on a raised dias, there is also a magnificient new rug which runs the length of the throne room and is embroidered with a serpent in gleaming silver thread.

The two main bedrooms have been much improved and now have four poster beds with richly coloured hangings, the larger room is Lord British's, the other is yours avatar. :)

Stairs in the corner towers lead down to the basement, and if you can unlock the doors, to the sewers beneath the basement. A good place for the avatar to practise his fighting skills and assist in getting rid of the giant rats there. Though the castle is tall and imposing and the towers high there does not seem any way to go up to the top of the towers, or battlements. Perhpas only the guards may go up there ?

The castle in Ultima VII is magnificient building, with many tall towers, and surrounded by a moat complete with a fierce moat monster. If thou dost wish then the moat monster can be fought, though I think it is rather unfair to go around picking on poor innocent moat monsters who are only doing their job. In the interests of compassion for moat monsters I valourously run past him very fast before he can get me. ;) At the enntrance there is a portcullis and drawbridge with swirling banners of blue and red. The castle has a courtyard garden with an ornate marble fountain, sundial, many fine trees and statues, Lord British likes to stroll here when he is not busy governing Brittania. The throneroom is a magnifient room, fully the height of the tallest tower, guards armed with steel halberds guard it. There are gleaming marble pillars, golden candlesticks and a throne in the shape of an ankh. Brightly coloured stained glass windows depict heroic scenes and tapestries line the walls.

The castle has many bedrooms, numerous secret passages and doors controlled by hidden levers, a training room for the guards, kitchens and dining room and the council chambers. It also has a new addition, a nursery where much fun can be had with dirty diapers, and flying babies :D The nursery is the only place in the castle which Lord British never goes to, he resists all attempts to persuade him to visit the nursery.